L.M. Archer

Archive for the ‘Pinot Noir’ Category

Spoiler Alert: Fork in Road

In Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR., Wine Tasting, Woodinville Wineries on June 10, 2013 at 11:09 pm

 

As some of you may already know, I started binNotes as an antidote to drudgery while writing a historical novel set in WW II Burgundy France. Here I could ‘play scales’ word-smithing while riffing on wine as art, not just beverage.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the novel’s re-write. I fell in love with Pinot Noir. I also fell in love with the industry, and not just the art, of wine.

A college professor once grudgingly told me that I had a ‘real gift for recognizing BS.’

Well, I’ve reached a fork in the road. I call ‘BS ‘on my passive sideline-sitting, writing content.

As a pragmatist and corporate escapee, I value the opportunity to work in the wine industry and understand the reality, not just the image. Hence my recent acceptance of a position at Lachini Vineyards  handling Marketing and Special Events.

As mentioned previously, I’ve worked hard to achieve actual, not fabricated, designations in order to write accurately about Burgundy in the book, as well as unleash my Wine Geek on this blog. I consider writing as essential as breathing.

But I also have an analytical side that needs care and feeding.

Just to reiterate: I will continue to write for freelance publications, and on this blog when it does not present a conflict of interest. And if I’ve insulted anyone for past attempts at levity to pierce the wine world’s sometimes pretentiousness, my regrets. The intent was not to insult.

Thanks for your ongoing interest, understanding and support – Cheers!

☂☂☂

Continue to subscribe to binNotes for links to forthcoming freelance and event writing on Sonoma County, Wine Region Eco-Travel, and  International and Regional Pinot Noir wine events.

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Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Sonoma Pinot Classic

In California Wineries, Pinot Noir, Sonoma, Wine Tasting on June 8, 2013 at 2:19 pm

 

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Still recovering from the Sonoma Pinot Classic Paulée dinner on Friday night at Arista Winery and the Russian River Valley Passport to Pinot Saturday and Sunday. Please stay tuned for more. Cheers!

Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

WITWWBB? IPNC 2013!

In Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR. on May 30, 2013 at 7:00 am

The love affair between binNotes and Pinot continues…with a much coveted invite to the International Pinot Noir Conference Passport to Pinot Sunday Walkabout on July 28th 2013.

When: Sunday, July 28, 2013, 2PM – 6:00PM

Where:  The Oak Grove at Linfield College, McMinnville, OR

What:  This event features:

  • Over 70 world-wide wineries pouring first-class Pinot noirs.
  • Over 35 different winemakers pouring during each of two sessions, plus a break in the middle for winemaker introductions.
  • 15 top-notch Northwest chefs offering specially paired culinary fare.
  • First-time ever pouring of aged Pinot noir from  a vast cellar of domestic and international wines.

Why:  International Pinot Noir Conference benefits ¡Salud!, Oregon’s one-of-a-kind  health care program for seasonal workers.

More on ¡Salud! here.

Looking forward to covering this event and sharing it with you.  ¡Salud!

☂☂☂

Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

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Pinot: A Love Story

In Burgundy, Burgundy, France, France, French Wine, Pinot Noir, Terroir, Wine Tasting on May 27, 2013 at 8:13 pm

Yesterday, Andy the Purveyor of Only the Finest Pinots paid a visit. In town from Atlanta with his lovely wife to visit his equally lovely friends (all names save Andy’s have been redacted in the interest of national security), we discovered a kindred affinity for all things pinot while tasting Lachini Vineyards wines.

This was no ordinary visit. I could tell by the twinkle in his eye – that twinkle known only to those of us in that most secret of societies, bound by a shared love of all things Pinot, and most especially all things Burgundian.

With him, Andy brought a bottle of Chateau de la Tour Clos-Vougeot 2005 Grand Cru. Viewing the bottle alone brought tears to this Pinot-phile’s eyes. Uncorking it for enjoyment (later, of course) proved surreal. In my hands I bore one of the Holiest of Pinot Grails. Pinch me. On second thoughts, please disregard. For this is one dream from which I wanted never to awake.

Upon uncorking, the bouquet wafted heaventoward, a fragrance particular to the Côte du Nuit, and best described as delicately floral. The taste bright, with judicious tannins, discrete cherry notes, a hint of truffle, and lingering finish. Alcohol: 13%.

To anyone who carries a torch for Pinot, this is what life is all about – sharing the joy of this most expressive, elusive, and mysterious of pours with others of like spirit.

Merci, Andy & crew. Santé!

Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

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WITWBB? RRVP2P 2013

In California Wineries, Pinot Noir, Wine Tasting on May 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm


Video courtesy Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association

It’s official…binNotes attends Russian River Valley’s Passport to Pinot  June 8-9 2013 on behalf of  Palate Press.

binNotes also enjoys a unique Paulée dinner on June 7th at Arista Winery, dining alfresco with some of Russian River Valley’s famous winemakers and inbibing in…aahhh…pinot, of course!

More on this special event later.

This means missing WBC 2013, slated for the same weekend. However, as you have already discerned from recent posts, pinot ranks first, last, always as a priority – so the decision proved an easy one.

Pinot forever. Cheers!

☂☂☂

Copyrighted 2013. All rights Reserved.

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WITWIB? @LachiniVineyards!

In Pinot Noir, Wine Tasting, Woodinville Wineries on April 26, 2013 at 4:05 pm

binNotes moves to the Dark Side as a Tasting Room Associate for Lachini Vineyards in Woodinville Wine Country, pouring “Pinots Worth Coveting, ” effective this weekend.

What pouring at Lachini Vineyards means for binNotes the Blog remains uncertain, but binNotes’ author will continue to write on topics that do not present a conflict of interest until further notice.

Some personal observations:

I started binNotes the Blog as one writer’s avenue of appreciation for ‘wine as an art, not just a beverage.’

I studied hard to achieve designations and industry knowledge in order to credibly tell the stories I cover.

Along the way, my focus shifted from the wines to the wine makers and their communities, which my freelance writing in Palate Press showcases.

Wine makers merit attention. To make wine requires not only skill, but heart, soul, and cojones.

Making wine means staring down the muzzle of the loaded gun of Mother Nature every year – who can be a real Mother.

Making wine means risking everything on red, when all your friends have played it safe on the penny slots.

Making wine means ‘manning’ – or ‘ womaning’ up when you feel you can’t plow one more row, lift one more pallet, sterilize one more tank.

When the tough get going, the tough get going to a vineyard.

I am so grateful to all the wine makers and industry leaders who graciously granted me interviews this past year, and honored  to tell their stories to the world.

However, wine is not just an art, it’s a business. Working at Lachini Vineyards brings me up-close and personal with the day-to-day wine industry, rather than viewing it from afar.

I look forward to you joining me on this next leg of my journey…and thank you for your support. Cheers!

The Drunken Cyclist – this especially means you!

Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

#WW: Beaux Frères

In Oregon Wines, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Wineries, Willamette Valley, OR., Wine Tasting on April 24, 2013 at 7:00 am

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This week’s #WW showcases another of binNotes’ followers ‘who consider wine and art, not just a beverage’.

Today’s spotlight: Beaux Frères in Willamette Valley, OR.

Wine maker Mike Etzel and his crew produce gracefully balanced, delicately perfumed Pinot Noir on their Ribbon Hill vineyards in Chehalem Valley near Newberg, OR. Don’t let the fact that one of his two business partners include brother-in-law and wine critic Robert Parker. Etzel is his own man, and the wines reflect his unpretentious yet exacting nature.

Beaux Frères‘s philosophy? Simple: A combination of high quality vines, low yields,  minimal intervention, natural yeasts, and no fining or filtration.

The result? Elegant New World wines with Old World soul – well worth a pour in this lifetime. Cheers!

For more on Beaux Frères and the Willamette Valley, please see my article in Palate Press.

Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved. Image: Courtesy Beaux Frères.

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LIVE @Youngberg Hill: a binNotes Exclusive

In Burgundy, Burgundy, France, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Wineries, Willamette Valley, OR., Wine Tasting on March 6, 2013 at 1:09 am

Welcome to binNotes, a blog for those who consider wine an art, and not just a beverage.

Part 2 of 2: Youngberg Hill – McMinnville, OR.

binNotes exclusive interview with Wayne Bailey, owner of Youngberg Hill.

Recently binNotes sat down with Wayne Bailey, owner of Youngberg Hill to taste and talk Pinot.

Thanks again to Wayne for sharing his passion for Pinot!

Tasting Notes:

2009 Natasha Block:  Earthy, peaty, hints of leather. Moderate in approach, despite high alcohol content. 

Exposure: SE

Elevation: ~600 ft.

Soil(s): marine –  clay, dense, sandy

Planted: 1989 – 6.6 acres

Alcohol: 14.4%

Oak: 25% new oak/15 mos.

Case Production: 225

2009 Jordan Block – 4 acres: Transparent garnet hue, elegant Burgundian body, finish.

Exposure: SE

Elevation: ~750-800 ft.

Soil(s): Volcanic

Alcohol: 13.8%

Oak: 25% new oak/15 mos.

Case Production: 194

2008 Jordan Block: Ruby hue, red fruit, feminine nose. (Specs unavailable).

2008 Youngberg Hill Barrel Select:  Deep red hue, full-bodied, excellent paired with hearty fare, beef,  stews.(Specs unavailable; see video.) 

Additional Notes;

2011 Aspen Pinot Gris – SOLD OUT

Copyrighted. All videos courtesy of author.All Rights Reserved.

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Burgundy Behind the Bottle

In Burgundy, Côte d'Or, France, French Wine, French Wineries, Pinot Noir, Wine Tasting on January 10, 2013 at 7:00 pm

Image: Wine Oh TV: Burgundy Wine Behind the Bottle

 

While doing research on a recent project, I located this wonderful video on Burgundian wine production by Bejot Vins & Terroirs. It’s a great little intro into the art of Old World wine making. It’s also a grace note on the Burgundian wine industry today. I’ll talk a little more about that in a bit.

First, the video presents a ‘behind the bottle’ look at wine production by season. Very briefly, these include:

Winter: Pruning

Spring: Bud break

Summer: Fruit set, véraison (when the grapes change color before harvesting.)

Fall: Harvest

After harvest comes fermentation, élevage (which literally means ‘bringing up’ or ‘raising’), barreling, and bottling.

As for that grace note on the Burgundian wine industry. The video producer, Bejot Vins et Terroirs, owns and operates vineyards throughout France, including Moillard of Burgundy’s Cote-de-Nuits. Begun in 1850, Maison Moillard of Burgundy sold to Bijots Vins et Terroirs in 2008. The transition from boutique family maison to industry powerhouse often sacrifices artistry over production.

Interestingly, recently (prior to locating this video) I had the opportunity to taste a Moillard – Mercurey 2009 Pinot Noir*. While not a Grand Cru or Premier Cru, the wine held forth with all the translucence, grace, and subtlety of any of its noble Côte d’Or counterparts. Bijots Vins et Terroirs appears to honor the spirit of Maison Moillard well. Sante!

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Copyrighted 2013. All Rights Reserved.

WV: Salud Auction – November 9-10 2012

In Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Wineries, Willamette Valley, OR. on November 8, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Image: http://www.saludauction.org

It’s not too late to participate in Willamette Valley’s annual  ¡Salud! The Oregon Pinot Noir Auction this Friday, November 9th and Saturday, November 10th.

Don’t miss out on the only opportunity to procure exclusive cuvées blended by premiere regional winemakers, and preview the 2011 vintage.

Tasting and Big Board Auction
Friday, November 9, 2012
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Casual Attire
Dinner and Auction Gala
Saturday, November 10, 2012
The Governor Hotel, Portland
5:00 p.m.
Black Tie Optional

The  ¡Salud!Annual Pinot Noir Auction, a collaboration between Willamette Valley winemakers and Tuality Healthcare Foundation, benefits seasonal vineyard workers and their families.

Learn more at: www.saludauction.org

¡Salud!

 

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