Most white wines see no oak at all, Chardonnay being a notable exception. Most red wines get some treatment in oak, though not because oak is an inexpensive storage medium; in fact, it is not. Oak barrels are very expensive as compared to stainless tanks, but oak gives off desirable aromatic qualities, and its porous nature allows slow oxidation that softens the wine.

French oak has traditionally been the gold standard for oak barrels, but its cost, more than twice as expensive as American oak, has had a growing minority of winemakers looking for suitable alternatives. The tighter grained French oak produce subtle aromas and add more tannins. The wider grained American oak adds bigger, bolder vanilla and, some say, coconut aromas. Toasting the inside of the barrel adds further aromas, from the natural wood flavor of light toast to the caramel-like flavors of medium toast to the charcoal-like flavors of heavy toast.

Obviously, the first year a new barrel is used, it provides the most aromatics to a wine. However, this impact fades with each year of use. By its fifth year of use, a barrel is considered virtually neutral, not imparting any unique flavors to the wine. Many winemakers not only use some combination of French and American oak, but new and older barrels to get just the right combination of wood flavors that they want in their wine. In order to further reduce costs, some winemakers today are flavoring wine produced entirely in stainless tanks by soaking it with oak chips, shavings, or barrel staves without the expense or effort of using wine barrels at all.

Just like you selecting the right bread to toast with breakfast, it’s important for the winemaker to select the right barrel and toast it just right.

Toast: It’s not just what’s for Breakfast; it’s what’s in the Barrel was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Regular readers know that as far as white wines go, we Wine Peeps love Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. But as far as Mom (LaGayle) is concerned, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the best wine period. Therefore, today, in honor of Mom’s birthday, I thought it was fitting to feature one of her favorite go-to wines.

The Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc is consistent from vintage to vintage and widely available. It is crisp, refreshing, and an excellent sipper no matter whether you are sitting on the deck on a sunny afternoon or curled up with a book on a winter’s evening.

In the 1940’s, Nikola Nobilo emigrated from Croatia and planted some of the first commercial grapevines in New Zealand. He was one of the pioneers responsible for the worldwide popularity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

“Light yellow in color with green hues and brilliant clarity. A distinctive bouquet of ripe tropical and citrus fruit. Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with flavors of lemon, passion fruit, and melon. Crisp and zesty, the palate has excellent weight and balance, lingering in a full, refreshing finish.” –Winemaker’s notes

2008 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Greenish straw yellow and very aromatic. Gorgeous aromas of grapefruit, grass, lemon zest, apricots, and melon come through on the nose; grapefruit, lemon, and green apples on the palate. Light-bodied, extremely crisp and refreshing. Well-balanced with a long finish. A classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $9.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Markham Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in California’s Napa Valley. Originally established as Laurent Winery by Bordeaux immigrant Jean Laurent in 1874, Bruce Markham purchased and renamed the winery in 1978. Today, Markham Vineyards is one of the brands in the Terlato Wines International portfolio.

Each year, Markham Vineyards awards two $25,000 grants to individuals or groups in the U.S. who are committed to philanthropic efforts in their neighborhood, town, or city. The winners are awarded the Markham Mark of Distinction. The 2006 inaugural vintage of The Philanthropist and The Altruist are dedicated to the 2008 Mark of Distinction winners.

Both wines are single-vineyard, limited production, estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The Philanthropist is sourced from Markham’s Yountville Estate Vineyard, located on a hillside benchland in the Mayacamas Mountains range. Meanwhile, The Altruist is sourced from Markham’s Calistoga Estate Vineyard, located further north at the base of Mt. St. Helena.

While both are excellent, well-made wines that received a Quality rating of 4 stars, I personally gave a slight edge to The Philanthropist which is just a bit bigger and more fruit-forward. I encourage you to give either of these wines a try if you have the chance.

2006 Markham Vineyard The Philanthropist Cabernet Sauvignon (Yountville Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley, California): Medium-deep red and very aromatic. Cinnamon and spice dominate the nose; blackberries, black cherry, black plums, and spice come through on the palate. Fruit-forward, medium to full-bodied, and lively with drying tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $55; Winery, $55

2006 Markham Vineyards The Altruist Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley, California): Medium-deep red and aromatic. Aromas of wood and vanilla lead to flavors of red and black fruits and spice. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $55; Winery, $55

Markham Vineyards: Cabernets and Philanthropy was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

For those of you who will be attending Taste Washington for the first time, I’d like to share some tips for making the most of the event. Taste Washington is a huge event and can be overwhelming if you are not prepared. You will be wise to plan a strategy ahead of time.

Whether you attend the Grand Tasting which lasts three hours or pay extra for an additional two hours of tasting, it is impossible to visit every booth and taste every wine being poured and every bite being served.

First, I suggest that you visit the Taste Washington website to preview the list of participating wineries. Make a list of the wineries that you’d like to visit, and then prioritize that list. Start with the ten you don’t want to miss, then mark the next ten you’d like to visit if you have time and so on. According to the Washington Wine Commission, the event program should be posted on the Taste Washington website sometime next week which will include a map of where the winery booths will be located. I encourage you to print it out so you can plan your route. It really gets crowded during the general admission hours, so you might not get to as many wineries as you’d like. But if you visit only ten winery booths and try all three wines they are serving, that’s thirty wines right off the bat. Then depending on time, crowds, etc., you can try more if you’d like.

If you’re looking for suggestions of which wineries you should be sure to try, I encourage you to take a look at our “go-to” list of Washington wineries for 2009.

Once you have determined which wineries you’d like to try and you are actually at the event, there are several things to keep in mind to make sure you make the most of the event while tasting responsibly. These tips are important to remember for wine tasting newbies and veterans alike.

• Remember the Taste Washington motto: It’s Hip to Spit! This is extremely important. We always spit when we attend large tasting events like this or are visiting wineries. Otherwise, you end up drinking too much which won’t feel good the next morning and you won’t be able to really tell which wines you like and don’t like after the first few you taste.
• Drink water. Alcoholic drinks dehydrate your body so it is important to drink lots of water to help your body rehydrate.
• Eat. Be sure to eat a good meal before the event begins so that you are starting with a full stomach. Then, once inside, stop at the restaurant booths to keep your stomach full. Try to eat something at least between every fifteen to twenty wines you taste.
• Make safe transportation arrangements. After you’ve enjoyed this fabulous event, we want to make sure you get home safely.

And last, but certainly not least, have fun!

Tips for Taste Washington was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Pomum Cellars, founded by Javier and Shyla Alfonso, is located in Woodinville, Washington. Javier was born in Sunnyside, Washington, but was raised in Ribera del Duero, Spain, the home of his father’s family. He returned to Washington to attend college. Now, he spends his days as an aerospace engineer and his spare time as winemaker for Pomum Cellars. Given his Spanish roots, it is no wonder that he has decided to try his hand at producing a Tempranillo blend here in Washington. Pomum’s vineyard sources include vineyards in the Yakima Valley and the Horse Heaven Hills.

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, is the largest producer in the state. Regular Wine Peeps readers know that we have long been fans of Columbia Crest. Head winemaker Ray Einberger and his team continue to pump out great wines. Well-known for their Grand Estates, Two Vines, and H3 lines, it is their Reserve line that puts them in the league with the premier producers in the state.

This was a fun tasting. Both wines are very good, and the Pomum Tinto delivers the “most bang for your buck” as well.

2007 Pomum Tinto (Columbia Valley, Washington): 72% Tempranillo, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Merlot. Deep, dark purple. Very aromatic with blackberry, licorice, and bacon coming through on the nose; black cherry and raspberry on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity that seems tart on the mid-palate, medium tannins, and a long finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $22

2006 Columbia Crest Reserve Tempranillo (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 83% Tempranillo, 8.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8.5% Merlot. Deep, dark purple. Some funky, gamey aromas along with maple syrup lead to flavors of cherry cola, seaweed, and leather. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long finish. Improves with food.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery [Fall 2009 Wine Club selection], $35

Private Tasting: Washington Tempranillo was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Carbonic maceration is a red wine-making process which transforms a small amount of sugar in grapes which are uncrushed into ethanol, without the intervention of yeasts. It is used typically to produce light-bodied, brightly coloured, fruity red wines for early consumption, most famously but by no means exclusively in the Beaujolais region of France.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Carbonic maceration, also known as whole-berry fermentation, is the process that places whole grape clusters in an oxygen-free environment to break down the grape sugars to create alcohol without adding yeast.

Wine Word of the Week: Carbonic maceration was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining

I first came across the writings of Rex-Johnson in Wine Press Northwest, where she writes a food and wine pairing column. I’ve passed on several of her columns to LaGayle, our Wine Peeps food and cooking expert, and she has been impressed as well. I’ve also read about a Texas connection, I believe it was her father-in-law, and that always wins points with me.

While I was familiar with most of the wineries she mentions in the book, I really liked the way she organized them geographically and found many winemakers who are also great cooks or who have a related restaurant on their property with a great chef. Rex-Johnson and her husband, Spencer, did over two years of research seeking out the best winemaker-cooks, chefs and restaurants, bed and breakfast inns and other neat places in the Pacific Northwest that combine good food and good wine.

The photos by Jackie Johnston really bring the stories to life and make it a great coffee table book for anyone interested in the Northwest lifestyle. I really like this book, and I believe that you will, too. My mouth begins to water when I think about some of my favorites from the book, such as Canlis classic prawns with off-dry Riesling, flank steak roulade with Syrah, pesto-glazed halibut with Sauvignon Blanc, buckwheat-honey pancakes and ice wine peaches, and the list goes on and on.

If this isn’t enough, there are also some great personal stories about Northwest winemakers. My favorite was about how Bob Betz went from managing a Spaghetti Factory restaurant (I guess that’s why he’s such a good home cook) to becoming a Master of Wine and owning his own Betz Family Winery. I could tell you more, but just go out and buy the book for yourself.

Have you already read Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining? If so, please leave a comment and let us know what you thought of it.

Book Review: Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining by Braiden Rex-Johnson was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Goats do Roam, a Rhône-style blend, was created in 1999 as another label for Fairview Winery in South Africa. Fairview’s owner/vintner Charles Back took the suggestion of a wine buyer to make a blend and give it the humorous name that is a takeoff on the Côte du Rhône wines of France. Even so, Back tells a much more interesting “story” as to how Goats do Roam came about:

“One afternoon, at harvest time, my mischievous son Jason and his friend Justin let the goats out of their tower and sent them for a walkabout amongst the vines. As in the legend of the Yemeni goat herder – whose roaming flock first discovered the joys of coffee beans, our goats picked out the best and tastiest fruit – their choice serves as our inspiration for this wine.” –Charles Back

Don’t let the humorous name, the “story,” or the low price point deter you. This wine is remarkably rich and complex for an under $10 bottle.

Today, Goats do Roam operates as its own independent company aptly called The Goats do Roam Wine Company.

Mom (LaGayle) and Dad (John) had the pleasure to meet Charles Back on their trip to South Africa last year. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the video interview in which Charles answers their questions on a wide variety of topics and explains why he believes that South African wine is not truly New World nor Old World but somewhere in-between because of the unique geology of South Africa’s winemaking regions.

2007 Goats do Roam Red (Coastal Region, South Africa): 40% Shiraz, 18% Pinotage, 17% Cinsault, 13% Carignan, 10% Mourvedre, and 2% Gamay Noir. Medium-deep ruby red and very aromatic. Red fruits, spice, smoke, beef jerky, and bacon come through on the nose; red fruits, black pepper, and vegetal notes on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth. Good complexity for a $9 wine.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8.99; Available elsewhere, $7 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2007 Goats do Roam Red was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

For this year’s Open That Bottle Night, Dad (John) graciously went deep into his cellar and pulled out a wine on his bucket list that he has been holding onto for years. We enjoyed a bottle of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild with Mom’s fabulous, Julie & Julia-inspired meal of Beef Bourguignon, roasted garlic mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans with tomatoes. Wow! The wine, the food, the pairing, and the evening spent with family were truly amazing…just what OTBN is all about.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild is one of the famous First Growths of Bordeaux, the only one elevated to that status after the original 1855 classification. After years and years of lobbying by owner Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild was promoted to First Growth (or Premier Cru) status in 1973.

Located in the village of Pauillac in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, Chateau Mouton Rothschild was originally known as Chateau Brane-Mouton until Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild bought and renamed it in 1853. No one else in the family took a real interest in the Chateau until 1922 when Baron Philippe decided to devote his life’s work to it. Today, Chateau Mouton Rothschild is owned by his daughter Baroness Philippine and her children and continues to be regarded as one of the world’s finest wines.

1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France): Very dark, garnet brick in color. Lovely nose of prunes, licorice, smoke, and bell peppers. Gorgeous black fruits come through at first, amazingly vibrant fruit considering its age. Lots of layers to this wine. Licorice, prunes, spice, cinnamon, and smoked game also on the palate. Full-bodied with good acidity and medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with stunning complexity and a lengthy finish. Decanted 2 hours prior to serving, and remarkably, got even better during the hour it was open with dinner.
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Hart Davis Hart (Chicago, Illinois), $475; Available elsewhere, $740 to $2550

You might be wondering how a $475 wine can have a QPR rating of 4 bangs for your buck. Please keep in mind that a high “bang for your buck” does not always mean a low price. It means that the wine has a good price compared to wines of similar quality within the same varietal or category (i.e. this wine’s QPR is calculated in comparison to other Bordeaux wines). For a more complete explanation of our ratings system, visit Wine Ratings.

If you missed this year’s OTBN, go ahead and open your special bottle anyway. Or you can join us for next year’s OTBN on Saturday, February 26, 2011 (always the last Saturday in February).

What did you open for Open That Bottle Night this year?

Open That Bottle Night: 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Last week, we met for the second time and explored Cru Beaujolais. This was the perfect theme to expand our palates as a quick search of Wine Peeps reveals that we have only written about one other Cru Beaujolais (in last month’s Challenging Wine Pairing with Spiral Baked Ham).

Beaujolais is located north of Lyon, France, and is a sub-region of Burgundy. Cru Beaujolais, the highest classification in Beaujolais, account for the production within ten villages or areas in the foothills of the Beaujolais Mountains. These wines do not usually list the word “Beaujolais” on their labels, in an attempt to differentiate themselves from mass-produced Beaujolais Nouveau. From north to south, the Beaujolais crus are: Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly, and Côte de Brouilly.

Gamay is the primary grape in Beaujolais. Wines made from Gamay are generally light, fruit-driven, have low tannins, and are best consumed young. Gamay is also known for its floral aromas. As a result, these wines can be excellent summer-weight reds. Some of the Cru Beaujolais can be a bit fuller-bodied than other Beaujolais and may be able to age a bit longer, though no Beaujolais wines are meant for long-term cellaring.

We tasted seven wines, and the consensus favorite was the 2006 Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes “Cuvee des Ambassades” Côte de Brouilly. Thankfully, given the limited number of Cru Beaujolais available in local wine shops, we did not have any duplicates. We did have the same wine, Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes “Cuvee des Ambassades” Côte de Brouilly, from two different vintages, though, which always makes for an interesting comparison (the 2006 finished first while the 2008 finished sixth).

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2006 Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes “Cuvee des Ambassades” Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Medium ruby red, the darkest of these seven wines. Aromas of rocks and minerals lead to flavors of strawberry twizzlers and more minerality. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. A lot going on in this wine. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Garagiste (Seattle, Washington), $21

2007 Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent (Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Medium ruby in color. Very Old World nose on this one with barnyard and dirty diaper aromas. It mellows out a bit with some air and raspberry notes come through on the palate. Light-bodied and crisp with medium tannins.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue, Washington), $23.39; Available elsewhere, $18 to $23

2007 Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Les Garants (Fleurie, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Ruby red in color. Earth notes on the nose; more earth as well as sour cherry on the palate. Light to medium-bodied with low to medium tannins, low viscosity, and a long, somewhat sour finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $21 to $22

2007 G. Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes (Morgon, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Light to medium ruby red. Aromas of spice, cinnamon, and clove lead to flavors of bitter cherry. Drying tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $22 to $33

2006 Georges Duboeuf Morgon (Morgon, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Ruby to garnet red with some brown brick around the edges. Earth and floral aromas on the nose; cherry and a bit medicinal on the palate. Light to medium-bodied with low tannins and a plain finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue, Washington), $12.99; Available elsewhere, $11 to $17

2008 Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes “Cuvee des Ambassades” Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Light, almost transparent, ruby. Nice nose with cranberry and floral aromas. Red fruit flavors. Lots of acidity, almost seems effervescent. Light to medium-bodied with a somewhat bitter finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue, Washington), $16.79; Available elsewhere, $19

2007 Chateau Thivin Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais, Burgundy, France): Light ruby in color. Green olives come through on the nose; sour cherry Kool-Aid powder and green olives on the palate. Light-bodied and lively with low tannins.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $19 to $25

Tasting Group: Cru Beaujolais was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.