Mercer Estates Pinot Gris (2007 – White Wine)

Jul 31 2009

Mercer Estates Pinot Gris

This week being “Passion for Pinot” week here at PalateBomb.com, we the writers all chose a different pinot based wine for you to hear about. For today’s Friday post, Content Diva Wendy Cantu takes us for a walk on the lighter side of the pinot family… — SH

As I’ve mentioned before, white wines have never really been my thing (aside from a good solid month in 2007 in which I would only drink Silver Lake’s Roza Reisling – I know, madness, right?) So, when it came to reviewing a pinot, I was at a loss for which one to pick. Leaving it up to fate, I headed to Yoke’s Fresh Market and “spontaneously” picked up a bottle from the shelf – a 2007 Mercer Estates pinot gris.

Alright, I admit my pick wasn’t completely random. The bottle was situated conspicuously on a display at the end of a row and was hailing from vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA, which I’ve heard produces a nice pinot grape. And Being from the paramount wine producing Mercer family’s latest venture only helped its appeal. Finally, the fabulous $12 price tag sealed the deal (bargain wines are where I’m at three days before pay day!)

After giving this wine a chance to warm up (silly me, I over-chilled it), I could smell the rich and citrusy bouquet. Observing the color, it was a rich golden hue. On initial tasting, I was taken back a little by the almost honey-like sweetness. Not that it was bad, but, as I’ve said, sweet wines have not been my thing. The sweetness wasn’t overwhelming on the palate but I must say it was surprisingly full-bodied. The finish was crisp and evenly-balanced, lingering on the tongue for a few moments.

Because of my own preferences, I’m not sure if I’d actively seek out this wine again. I would recommend it for those who tend to enjoy the sweeter whites but are looking to expand their horizons. Those who are used to dryer whites (or reds) might find this wine a little too sweet for their tastes.

If I were to serve this with dinner, I’d most likely pair it with salmon fillets with a mango chutney to complement the citrusy flavor present in this wine.

Category
Pinot Gris
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Wine

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River’s Edge Pinot Noir (2007 – Red Wine)

Jul 29 2009

River's Edge Winery

What do you get when you take great soil, lots of sunlight, and some hard work? Oregon wine! What do I think Oregon does REALLY well? Pinot noir! Yes, today we talk a little about Pinot Noir. Specifically the River’s Edge 2007 Pinot Noir, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

A little history: Pinot noir (pronounced Pino nwar), is a red wine grape. The name is French, coming from the words “pine” & “black” or “dark”. While grown in many places of the world, a couple that really stand out to me are the Burgundy regions of France and of course the Willamette & Umpqua valleys of Oregon.

Now, on to the tasty part. River’s Edge winery, really does sit on the edge of the Umpqua River and produces some very fine wines. One of my favorites from this particular hotspot, is the 2007 Pinot Noir. Here’s my thoughts on it:

Bouquet. Aroma. Nose. All the same thing, but all VERY important in this particular wine, and in any wine or food really. If you can smell something, you can taste it THAT much better. Get into this bottle. Open it up, let it set, or better yet, dump the whole thing into a decanter and give it a nice rough swirl. Don’t be shy, you wont hurt it. Now, pour yourself a glass, stick your nose into it, and let the smokey, fresh cigar aroma get you ready for what comes next.

Your first sip. I’m talking earthy, dark current, cherries, and a slight vanilla undertone that pairs AMAZING with a nice seasoned pork chop. Hell, I’ve even cooked pork IN this wine. Have a glass with a crazy goat cheese, or a nice creamy brie. As with many pinots, it goes amazingly well. You may notice a buttered toast finish if your palate is extra sharp!

Go out and grab a bottle for around 18 bones. You’ll be glad you did!