Portland Wine

A Blog for Clients, Customers, and Wine Geeks everywhere.

“We had noticed that the purest wines were made with biodynamic viticulture, and it was out of the question that I would poison myself or others. I think that every living element plays a crucial role in the characteristics of the grapes.”
~ Winemaker Catherine Maisonneuve
       This month we challenge your palate Old World style. Get ready—our first wine involves some tannic tough-love, but it truly rewards an open mind and a meat-centric food pairing. It comes from France’s Cahors region in the Dordogne, where the Malbec grape reigns (yep, they were doing it long before Argentina). This beautiful area is one of France’s oldest wine regions, with many vineyards dating back to the Roman occupation. These so-called “black” wines, because of their inky color, reveled in their tannic greatness early on but were later overshadowed by Bordeaux’s mellower blends and lost all but local popularity. These classics remained relatively obscure outside the region until recently when, thanks to a few dedicated and talented winemakers, Cahors came back, this time with the unruly intensity of the Malbec grape tamed. Literally crushed into submission—although delicately, mind you.
       The team of winemaker Catherine Maisonneuve and Matthieu Cosse of Domaine Cosse-Maisonneuve make this month’s Cahors “Les Laquets” and they’ve really set the bar high for the region. Catherine, an oenologist, spent many years in other wine regions of France honing her craft before settling in Cahors with ex-rugby player Matthieu. An elegant (think oenologist) yet rough-and-tumble (think rugby) wine: just what one would expect from the synergy of these opposites. Together they have bridged the gap between traditional and modern winemaking techniques. The vines are farmed biodynamically with very low yields. Each parcel is vinified separately to highlight the terroir. This 100% Malbec comes from a tiny 5.6-hectare parcel of land, and the grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, and aged in a combination of old and new oak. This wine has a dark fruit palate with a rustic edge. Enjoy by a warm fire with a hearty meat dish!
       Our second wine, Cortese di Gavi, or just “Gavi” comes from the hills of the province of Alessandria in Italy’s northern Piedmont region, expanding over thirteen communes. Tassarolo is the municipality where Castello di Tassarolo makes their biodynamically farmed wine from a single vineyard of 40-year-old vines. This food-friendly wine is bone dry in character, with a hint of flintiness that emerges from the mineral-rich soils of the area. The bouquet hints at white flowers, green apples, and honeydew, yet the unique concentration and complexity bring a richness that comes from barrel fermentation and a subsequent 12 months in barrique. This depth is cut with bold acidity to balance out the weight. Due to its close proximity to the Ligurian coast, the region’s winemaking and gastronomic traditions lean more toward the Ligurian than the Piemontese. Try with seafood, or even traditional pesto Genovese.

Les Laquets
Cahors
100% Malbec
Region: Appellation Cahors Contrôlée, France
Vintage: 2002
This deep-hued red is no fruit bomb, as one might expect from a New World Malbec, but rather it’s traditional in style, coming from the grape’s place of origin, France. The nose is muted with blackberry, plum, sassafras, and anise. The palate is slightly earthy with a rustic edge. Malbec is the primary grape of the Cahors AOC, and in an effort to reclaim the prize that was once theirs, they have priced them reasonably well to compete with their New World counterparts. This is a great example of an Old World Malbec ready to drink now.

Castello di Tassarolo
Gavi
100% Cortese di Gavi
Region: Gavi DOCG, Piemonte Province, Italy
Vintage: 2008
Gavi is Piedmont’s shining white star. Made from the indigenous Cortese grape, it’s blessed with all the noble characteristics of a true Gavi. The nose is floral and citrusy, with a slight minerality. The body is medium with a degree of richness and texture on the palate. The finish is crisp and clean. As the Castello di Tassarolo Estate says, “an intense and persistent bouquet that develops for up to 15 years. A classic table wine for seafood and white meats.”

Recipe of the Month
Lamb and Lentil Stew
Serves 4

This fairly simple dish is easy to prepare so long as a few simple cooking rules are followed. First, marinating the lamb overnight and properly drying it before browning. Second, not crowding the pan when browning the meat. And third, cooking the lentils separately and adding to the lamb just before serving.

Ingredients:
3 pounds stewing lamb – cubed
1 bottle course red wine
2 large onions – medium dice
1 pound carrots – medium dice
1 pound French lentils
½ gallon chicken or beef stock
1 bunch parsley- chopped
Orange peel from one orange
1 head garlic peeled
Clove and/or allspice – pinch
Salt and pepper

Directions
1. Combine lamb, red wine, onions, carrots, garlic, clove, pepper, and orange peel in large bowl. Hold overnight.
2. Remove lamb from marinade, separating from veggies. Hold marinade. Dry lamb on towels.
3. Heat a large heavy pan until just smoking, add pieces of lamb but not too many at a time. Brown on all sides and remove.
4. Repeat process until all lamb pieces are browned.
5. In a large pan add marinade, beef and enough stock to cover meat, bring to a boil before turning to simmer. Stir frequently. This part takes around 3 hours.
6. In a separate pot, gently boil lentils in remaining stock with salt and pepper. If using a package of lentils, follow their directions or cook according to your own preference. This takes no more than 45 minutes.
7. When lentils are just tender, remove, strain, and hold.
8. When lamb is tender and comes apart with a fork add lentils and parsley.
9. Adjust seasoning to taste and enjoy with a nice bottle of Cahors!

“Evening land….may quickly produce the greatest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay yet made in the New World—particularly if one measures greatness by the standards of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.” - Mannie Berk, The Rare Wine Co
      This month starts not only a new year but a new decade, and we’re kicking it off by keeping it local. But fear not, Francophiles, this month’s red has got Old-World chops. Take Oregon’s Willamette Valley’s most expressive terroir, add legendary Burgundian winemaker Dominique Lafon and Master Sommelier Larry Stone, stir in some serious local talent in winemaker Isabelle Meunier, and there’s a recipe for excitement: Evening Land Winery. With the goal of sourcing the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards on the West Coast, they secured three heritage vineyards in three very different American wine regions: the Willamette Valley, the Sonoma Coast, and the Santa Rita Hills. In total, they have 120 acres of organic and biodynamically farmed vines producing 13 estate wines, each expressing its own unique terroir. In Oregon, Evening Land has acquired the renowned Seven Springs Vineyard, known for producing benchmark Pinot Noir. Isabelle Meunier is guided by Dominique Lafon, one of Burgundy’s top producers and owner of Domaine des Comtes Lafon, a legendary estate that produces bottles costing thousands. Says Lafon, “I have tasted Oregon Pinot Noir, and while it is not the same as wines in Burgundy, Oregon is close in style to what we do. For me, it is about elegance, purity, and silkiness, not about alcohol and overripe fruit.” Piqued your interest? Check out our website or the enclosed list for other Evening Land wines.
      Our second wine this month is also from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon. The Love and Squalor Riesling comes from vines planted on their own rootstock, which is quite remarkable in an age where phylloxera has forced most vineyards into grafting (to protect the vines from this root louse). Love and Squalor winemaker Matt Berson is also assistant winemaker at Brooks Winery, and his experience shows. Using the least invasive means, the grapes were gently pressed whole-cluster and fermented in small stainless steel drums using five different yeast strains—including a native cultivar. You won’t find this off-dry, luscious Riesling outside of Oregon. Only 185 cases of this biodynamically farmed wine were produced. Enjoy!

Wines:

Love & Squalor
Riesling
100% Riesling
Region: Eola Hills Vineyard, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2009
This is another prime example of how great the potential for the Riesling varietal can be in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. All the pure and recognizable Riesling characteristics are alive and dazzling—minerality and stone with crisp green apple and a touch of peachy sweetness to balance out the remarkable acidity. A rich lusciousness comes through mid-palate while retaining its freshness and vitality.
Evening Land
Seven Springs Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir
Region: Seven Springs Vineyard, Willamette Valley, OR.
Vintage: 2008
This medium-bodied Oregon Pinot wafts aromatics of sweet rose hips and red berries. The palate is more focused with an earthy touch and a silky fineness, a luxurious characteristic found only in the delicate Pinot Noir grape. Aged 16 months in 33% new oak, with moderate tannins, this wine is accessible now, but also should evolve beautifully in the next couple of years.

This month’s food and wine pairing is … Raclette!
It’s been pretty cold around here and my spirit for cooking elaborate meals was well saturated last month. That means this is the right time for Raclette. I’m happy to report that both of this month’s wine selections go quite well with it. To do this right, you really need the specialized tabletop griddle w/ broiler. Raclette, never quite as popular as fondue, is still common enough that any kitchen supply store should carry the cook top; it’s also a reliable thrift store find.
Basically, with this dinner dish you all sit around a table with the cooker in the middle, and each person heats slices of cheese (I prefer Comte but it’s fun to try 3 or 4 different ones) on these special utensils under the broiler. Once it’s nice and melted, you scrape it onto your plate or directly onto bread and eat it. On the griddle top, you can put sausages, vegetables, and potatoes. Side dishes like pickled things go well with the food but do no justice to the wine. While the Riesling wine is an obvious pairing, the pinot from Evening Land offers layers of depth with its dark cherry fruit. Traditionally, an evening of Raclette is followed by a glass of cherry brandy so the pinot delivers on the tail end. Try it and just follow the basic instructions that come with the cooker.