Last Week's Tasting Notes

​Gothic Telltale Pinot Noir Rosé ($16.99)
Oregon
From the producer:
"Named after the thrilling Edgar Allan Poe story, The Tell-Tale Heart, this wine is an assemblage of fruit from vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Telltale owes its pale pink hue to a brief saignée of Pinot Noir. Flavors of fresh, wild berries and cherry blossoms are joined by refreshing acidity."

From me:
A lot of people tell me, sheepishly, that they often choose wine by the label. I freely admit that I did just the same when bringing this wine into the store. Since my area of literary expertise is in Gothic literature, I suppose it's more accurate to say that I brought it in for the name. It turns out to be a gorgeous, luscious, elegant rosé. The wine exhibits nearly prefect balance between fruit and acidity, with a little bit of body and a delightful floral note.

Montinore Gewurztraminer ($17.99)
Oregon
From the producer:
"This is a wonderfully forward, floral wine in our traditional dry style, making for a crisp wine that pairs beautifully with food. Straw gold color introduces an intense aroma of pomelo and rose water with hints of kaffir lime leaf and a palate bursting with tropical notes and powdered ginger. The finish is dry and bright, leaving the impression of fresh citrus."

From me:
This Gewurztraminer has a nice bright freshness compared to some of its Alsatian cousins, which tend to be a little heavier on the palate. The acidity balances out the fruit, and the floral notes give the wine a fine complexity. This is a dry wine that will pair nicely with white meat, salads, roasted vegetables, and ham.

Michel Gassier Nostre Païs Blanc Costières de Nîmes ($19.99)
France
From the producer:
"Appearance: the pale yellow color tinted in green announces a wine with a great deal of freshness and purity
Nose: the complex nose reveals floral and mineral notes with accents of fresh citrus fruits
Taste: lively and fresh, the aromas of flowers and white fruits, blends with flint. The very soft finish evinces a great deal of minerality."

From me:
52% Grenache blanc, 22% Roussanne, 17% Viognier, 7% Clairette & 2% Bourboulenc
Gassier makes outstanding wines with organically farmed grapes, and the Nostre Païs line (white and red) is no exception. This white has body and depth of flavor balanced by mineral undertones. It is soft and smooth on the palate, but has complexity and character. This can be enjoyed now or aged for up to three years. It pairs well with chicken, game fowl, rabbit, strong cheeses, pumpkin, and leeks.

Underwood Pinot Noir Can ($7.50)
Oregon
From the producer:
"The craft beer movement took a lot from wine packaging as it came of age and continued to take it to whole new places. We think we can shift some of our focus back to something that has more fun, rooted in craft but less stuffy. #Pinkiesdown is how we communicate that big idea, simply. We feel like drinking wine doesn’t have to come with all of the pretension that it often does. We know a lot of people are turned off by that and want something less pretentious. Having a glass of wine with friends ought to be fun, not make you feel inferior, in our view. We think we’re not alone.

It’s hard to keep your pinky up when you’re drinking wine from a 375 mL can. These are the most approachable and ready-to-travel anywhere wines we produce. Whether you’re sitting in a hot tub after a good day of riding or heading where other wines dare not travel, we have you covered without sacrificing the craft taste Union is known for. 

Pinot Noir tasting notes: Cherries, raspberries, and chocolate"

From me:
I was skeptical about wine in a can, and there are certainly canned wines that aren't so great. This one is very good. It's got nice fruit on the palate, but it is also very light and dry--perfect for a summer red. The cans are lined, so there's no impact on the flavor, but if you have a glass or plastic cup handy, I always suggest using it. I also like to open the can and let it breathe for 10 minutes or so. My best piece of advice, though, is to remember that this can contains half a bottle of wine, so be careful how fast you drink it!

Kipu Malbec ($10.99)
Argentina
From the producer:
"From our best vineyards in Altamira (at 1,150 meters [almost 3,773 ft] above sea level) and Gualtallary (at 1,350 meters [almost 4,430 ft] above sea level), KIPU Malbec displays the unique characteristics of the Uco Valley, a terroir with cold climate, mineral and rocky soils. The trellis system used is espalier and the grapevines are head trained. The average yield is 8 t/ha (approximately
3.24 t/acre). Drip irrigation is used. Our vineyards have always been managed using sustainable agriculture practices.

Manual harvest takes place in the first week of April. Destemming is gentle,
without breaking the grains. A cold pre-fermentation maceration is carried out, following KIPU style, to preserve primary aromas. Then, fermentation at low temperatures and a short post-fermentation maceration are performed. The wine is aged in first, second, and third-use French oak barriques for 10 months.

Intense violet color. In the nose, aromas of black fruits, violets and spices. Mineral and graphite notes. Great balance and freshness in the mouth, with good concentration and medium structure. Soft tannins and persistent finish."

From me:
Kipu is a little more my speed when it comes to Malbecs: it has a little more body and the spicy notes are apparent. This is a full-bodied, smooth wine with a nice round mouth feel. You can pair this with red meats or hearty vegetable dishes, as well as charcuterie and bolder cheeses.