This week we have had quite a few new arrivals. The list has been reworked and will be up and ready to view on Thursday. A few bottles of particular interest are from Oregon and Australia.
First , we hit the northwest with a trio of wines from the Willamette Valley. Oregon has become known for its fantastic Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris. Chardonnay is another grape that done quite well in this Burgundian area, with crisp acidity and a wonderful amount of fruit and minerality.
The St. Innocent Chardonnay is sourced from the Anden Vineyard in Willamette. The Anden was formerly part of the highly esteemed Seven Springs Vineyards and is located in the hills west of Salem. Made from a blend of Dijon Clones and allowed to age for 1 year in 29% new French Oak barrels.
Mark Vlossak, the winemaker for St. Innocent, say of the 2006 vintage of Anden Vineyard Chardonnay : "2006 was a vintage that produced wines with an added dimension of concentration. The end of September was warmer and sunnier than normal for Oregon. This coincided with the final ripening phase resulting in an extra level ripeness and intensity in the fruit.
One of my favorite wineries to see year in and out is Shea. Dick Shea has done a fantastic job growing grapes for some of the biggest names in Oregon wines for years. Now, he is making some of the greatest wines in the Country.
We have been out of last vintage for a while now, but the 2006 Estate Pinot Noir and the 2005 Shea Vineyard Chardonnay now grace our cellar.
The 2005 Chardonnay shows great fruit and mineral with gentle acidity to balance it all out. A dreamy little wine to go with the upcoming spring bounty.
In 2006 the Shea Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from throughout their 200 acre site and contains every clone of Pinot that they grow. Always a pleaser with a heady aroma and supple body, this wine is one to sit down and enjoy slowly.
Finally, we send this installment of "New Wine Wednesday" off with a gathering of over the top Aussie Shiraz. The Torbreck "The Factor" is 100% Shiraz sourced from six different regions in Barossa Valley. It spent 24 months in 30% new French Oak. Its rich, ripe, full bodied flavors are balanced with fantastic tannin. One of the great Shiraz of Australia.
Our next two wines are from Two Hands. The first, the 2006 "Gnarly Dudes", is made from old vine Shiraz in the Barossa Valley. This intense full throttle wine is well balanced with dark fruit, acidity, and modest tannins. The 2005 Lily's Garden is based on fruit from the McLaren Vale region. Part of the "Garden Series" of regional Shiraz from Two Hands, the "Lily's" is a wonderful and complex wine that will open up well with decanting.
Check back next Wednesday for another look into our new wines.
No comments:
Post a Comment