Does Vintage Matter when Choosing a Rosé?

Spring has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and of course this brings to mind picnics, drinks on the patio, and of course dining with rosé! What better accompaniment with lighter dishes than an acidic, lighter & fruit forward wine with a palate complimenting dryness. Rosé has surged in popularity in recent years in the States thanks to its ability to be paired with a vast range of foods & appealing color.

Choosing a Rosé
First off, there are quite a few misconceptions about this delightful drink. Firstly, color does NOT matter. Many people think that a lighter colored rosé means better finesse and overall improved quality; this is not true. One of the best known rosé producing regions (Tavel) is known for making deep-colored, bone-dry, robust rosé wines. Another example is a Languedoc rosé: expect a very deep blush colored wine that is not only light, but refreshing! It really comes down to the producer and the quality of the wine in the bottle: color does not apply.

Production
True rosé is bled, not blended. Look for the word ‘saignee’ when choosing a French rose, meaning the production is in fact ‘bleeding’. When producers combine two separate grapes (one red and one white) the overall quality is compromised and the final product does not stand the test of time.(Note: one area where blending is practiced is Tavel, so in this particular region choosing the latest vintage is necessary.)

Vintage
People have come to believe that rosé is only good in its current vintage. This again is only true with poorly made rosé wines. Rosé of good quality can age in the bottle for a few years and be even better than in its current vintage. The taste is what matters, not the year.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Domaine de La Croix Bouquie 2010 Pinot d’Aunis Rosé
(pictured above & one of the prettiest in the shop!)
Reg. Price: $15.99 | Insider: $14.99 | Mixed Case: $12.79

Heitz 2010 Grignolino Rosé
Reg. Price: $22.99 | Mixed Case: $18.39

Chateau Rivière 2010 Minervois Rosé
Reg Price: $14.99 | Insider Price: $13.99 | Mixed Case: $11.99

Chateau Barbanau 2010 l’Instant Rosé
Reg Price: $22.99 | Insider Price: $21.99 | Mixed Case: $18.39

Cheers!
Kyle

A Conversation with Lobo Hills

I had the opportunity to sit down with local winemaker (and motorcycle aficionado) Tony Dollar and ask him a few questions about his winery, Lobo Hills. Prior to winemaking, Tony had worked in the hospitality/restaurant industry at such places as Canlis. His opening venture into wine was in the winter of 2010 with three wines totaling 234 cases; 2009 Riesling, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, and a non-vintage Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Lobo Hills aims to produce almost 1,200 cases thanks to the created fan-base in and around Seattle for their wines.

The aim of Lobo Hills wine is to produce ‘wine for food’, in other words balanced and acidic wines that are drinkable throughout a meal. The winery itself is based out of the Dollars’ home in the Wedgewood neighborhood in North Seattle, and uses minimal intervention in its production techniques. Tony sources his grapes from throughout Eastern Washington: white varietals from around the town of Sunnyside, red varietals from near Benton City, the Red Mountain AVA region, and Wahluke Slope.

Since Lobo Hills wine is made with food in mind, I asked Tony what his favorite food pairings were for the vintages carried here at Portalis:

Right Bank Red Blend: Beef stew, or roasted Portobello mushrooms

Cabernet Sauvignon: Beef Tenderloin

Riesling: Grilled Pork medallions or Lemon roasted chicken

Look for new vintages to arrive in April (among them being a new to the market white blend!)

Cheers!

Kyle

A Little Bit about Syrah & Shiraz

Warner Vineyard Shiraz, Giaconda Winery, Beachworth, Victoria

First of all, this is the same grape – a dark grape with thick skin that needs a lot of heat to ripen.  It just has a different name, depending on where the grape is grown,  but because of the impact of the land, weather, altitude, soil & winemaking style of where the grape is grown, the use of Syrah or Shiraz has become indicative of the style of wine you will get.

It’s unclear where the grape originates, but it was first cultivated in France’s Rhône Valley.  Red wines from the Northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côtes Rôtie, St. Joseph & more) are mainly (up to 100%) Syrah (with up to 5% Viognier “to make things more interesting” Jens says).  They tend to be higher-end, require aging (due to the level of tannins) and are known for flavors of dark fruit, black olives and a notable gaminess. We don’t carry many Northern Rhône wines are they tend to be pricy and not easily accessible, but if you get the urge to try them out, they are wonderful, lesser-known examples French Syrah.

The vineyards of E. Guigal, Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône

Reds from the Southern Rhône also have Syrah, but as a blend of Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre/Cinsault.  These wines are more accessible, a little juicier but still with a lovely, soft earthy spiciness, building from a nice, $12 straight-forward, bottle of Côtes du Rhône to a big, fuller-bodied, old world style Chateauneuf, which is full of liquorice, herbs, and meaty flavors.  Jens said that some of the old Chateauneuf houses are starting to produce a New World style which is super fruity, super oaky … and a big disappointment if you’re a traditionalist and like wines to taste like where they’re from.

Vines growing next to rosemary (Baumes-de-Venise, Southern Rhône)

Australian Shiraz is a big boy due to the hotter climate of the regions where it is grown, most famously the Barossa Valley (although it must be noted that many of the more nuanced (and often not available in Seattle) wines are from lesser-known, less hot areas.  Jens was in Australia last Februrary, a guest of the Australia Wine Commission for a tour of Victoria Pinot Noir country, but he still had the pleasure of visiting several areas growing top notch Shiraz, e.g. the Giaconda Winery located in Beachworth, north-east Victoria (note the photo – top).  For Shiraz (available in Seattle) that show off big, well-balanced wine with the nuance of minty herb that can be Australia’s lovely touch, try: D’Arenberg 2008 Laughing Magpie or for a splurge D’Arenberg 2006 The Dead Arm Shiraz, both from the McLaren Vale Valley & both with a touch of Viognier. An excellent example of 100% Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is John Duval 2007 Entity Shiraz.

South Africa is making some notable Shiraz as well.  Still big and dark, they use a yeast additive in fermenting that gives the wine a special smoky flavor.  Neil Ellis (known for his Pinotage) makes a tasty, as well Boekenhoutskloof (calling it Syrah) makes a beautiful 100% Syrah.

Last, I will end with the wonderful & varied Syrah coming out of our home state.  Washington State sits at the same latitude as the Rhône Valley, so it enjoys many of the same growing conditions, and its Syrah is known for its dark fruit flavors of black currant & blackberry with some nuance of black pepper, licorice, clove, thyme, sandalwood & cedar.  WA growers don’t seem to differentiate style by the use of Syrah vs Shiraz on the label, but both styles are readily available (usually called Syrah), from what could be called the “hedonistic pleasure bomb” (as quoted from our friend Catherine Reynolds) style. Wonderful examples of this style are Chris Sparkman Darkness Syrah, Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah, Owen Roe Ex Umbris, Darby The Dark Side Syrah.  In the other camp you have a leaner, more subdued, arguably more complex wine, with notable examples including Efeste Syrah Jolie Bouche & wines by Chuck Reininger.

Other notable around the world Syrah:  California offers up some excellent examples of Syrah.  Darioush is perhaps the best known. We currently serve one by the glass at the bar: Qupé.  As well Novy has, through the years, produced a nice quaffable, well-priced Syrah.  Argentina, while known for Malbec, has several producers offering up exceptional Syrah, try: Benegas 2006 Syrah from Mendoza.

It’s the time of year for these wines, so come pick out a few and go exploring!

Cheers!
Julie

Produttori del Barbaresco

On my recent trip to Italy, I had the pleasure of visiting some of Piedmont’s famous wine growing sub-zones: Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Asti & Dogliani to name a few. I would love to highlight all of my winery visits here (stay-tuned) and all the delicious food & wine I consumed, but then I’m sure you have other things to do today, right? I decided to feature one of the most interesting visits I had and that was to Produttori del Barbaresco, located literally in Barbaresco the village.

Most of you are familiar with the wines of Barbaresco (lesser known than Barolo – but equal in quality & often cheaper) and the famous producers that put them on the map: Gaja, Giacosa & Produttori del Barbaresco. But did you know the latter is actually an old cooperative and helped establish Barbaresco as one of the most important wines of Italy? I have to be honest, I wasn’t really familiar with how a cooperative winery works. Often cooperatives don’t get the accolades & distinction that a family owned-operated winery may or that it lacks the quality that a traditional winery can produce.

Barbaresco is located in the beautiful Langhe hills overlooking the great River Tanaro. It sits half-way between Torino and the Ligurian coast at over 1200 feet above sea level. With its ancient medieval tower, and only about 700 inhabitants, it is both charming and worth a visit. To understand the beginnings of the cooperative Produttori del Barbaresco you have to go back to the history of the district itself. At that time, Nebbiolo (the grape used in Barbaresco wines) was only grown & sold to make Barolo wine since the district was controlled by nearby Barolo.
Any grapes not used for Barolo was simply labeled “Nebbiolo di Barbaresco”.  In 1894 the first cooperative was formed by Domizio Cavazza,  who was allowed to form the “ Cantine Sociali” with 9 Barbaresco vineyard owners to make wine in the local castle which he owned. Cavazza understood that the Nebbiolo grown in Barbaresco was characterly different than that of Barolo and he believed in the potential it had as a winemaking zone.

Entrance to the Produttori del Barbaresco winery

Gina in the Produttori del Barbaresco tasting room

The cooperative was forced to close in the 1920′S due to hard economic times, but was revived again in 1958 by the parish priest of Barbaresco. He realized in order for the small vineyard properties to survive, they would have to join forces. He gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the current Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, then they built a winery in the square of the village where it presently resides. Today the cooperative operates 100 hectares between 53 growers. If you’ve done your math right, you’ll realize that each grower only has a small amount of property. The land is divided by hills and each hill has different growers. Many of the families are 4 or 5 generation growers who own their land.

What does it take to be a part of the cooperative? Our guide, Aldo Vacca (Director of Produttori del Barbaresco) explained there were 3 primary rules for the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative:
1) 100% of the fruit from the growers goes into the cooperative 
2) Members are not allowed to vinify on their own or make their own wine
Though the first two rules seem like strict guidelines, 3) - the cooperative pays top dollar for quality fruit, making it very attractive for its members (and thus a waiting list for membership). I asked Aldo who governed the cooperative and its growers? He explained that the cooperative has a board of 9 people made from the family of growers and selected by the family of growers. Every 3 years they elect a new president from the family of growers. Note the emphasis on family? I was really digging this cooperative idea. It is a well-organized system that allows local farmers to focus on what they do best, grow grapes and the potential to make a very good living at it. My eyes were wide-opened! What a fantastic example of a community helping their community by employing people, supporting the farmers and establishing a legacy for future generations.

 After our tour of the cellar, we tasted a line-up up of delicious single-vineyard Barbarescos. Complex, full-bodied with tannic structure Barbarescos are approachable young but have the ability to age many years. Below is a list of Produttori del Barbaresco 2005 Cru wines available through special order at Portalis:
Barbaresco Riserva “Asili”
Barbaresco Riserva “Ovello”
Barbaresco Riserva “Paje”
Barbaresco Riserva “Rio Sordo”
Barbaresco Riserva “Pora”
Barbaresco Riserva “Moccagatta”
Barbaresco Riserva “Montefico”

Stay tuned for more.  (I leave for my next trip to Italy at the end of September!)

Cheers,
Gina

April Showers Bring May…Rosé!

Though the weather hasn’t felt like it lately, nothing says spring like a refreshing bottle of rosé. Whether you like your rosés slightly sweet, off-dry or bone dry there is a rosé for any occasion and almost any food.

If you’ve been afraid of trying a rosé due to it’s color or its misunderstood reputation, here’s a little 101:  Rosé is the product of the fermentation of red grapes, where the skins are left on for a short time, resulting in a light color, lower tannins and a lower alcohol level compared to red wines.  The longer the skin contact, the bigger the body and the darker the color.  Rosé is usually made using the same grape varietals as the red wines from any given region. So perhaps if you have been known to enjoy a bottle of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Grenache or Tempranillo (just to name a few) there’s probably a rosé to please even the hard-core red wine drinker.

The home of rosé is Southern France, with the French drinking more rosé than white wine. About 75% of the wine production in the Provence appellation is rosé. The production of the Tavel appellation in the Southern Rhone is 100% rosé. Other big rosé-producing appellations in France are Bandol, Lirac, Côtes Du Ventoux and Côtes Du Luberon, with the most common grapes being Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Tibourin.

Today, most wine producing areas produce rosé, including Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, California, Oregon, Washington and more. Most rosé falls in the price range of $12 to $18 and most of them won’t disappoint you. Below is a list of rosés we currently carry in stock, but we will be getting more as the rosé season has just begun.

Keep in mind that you drink these wines young and for the most part they hit the market  starting in May and are gone by fall, so enjoy them while they last:

Domaine Saint Roch Les Vignes 2010 Rosé (Provence, FR) $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99  50% Grenache & 50% Cinsault ~  Don’t let the price fool you, it packs a lot of flavor for the price. Delicate & dry this rosé is a staff favorite. Pale salmon in color with aromas of peaches, juicy red berry flavors and lively acidity.

Domaine Sorin 2010 Rosé (Provence, FR) $13.99 | Nixed Case $11.19                            40%  Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Carignan, 5% Rolle, 5% Orgi. A crisp and delightful rosé, soft pink & light orange in color, notes of pears & strawberries. Has nice subtle herbal spiciness on the finish, perfect with fish or summer pizza on the grill.

Triennes 2010 Rosé (Provence, FR) $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39  This Cinsault dominated blend is produced from the free-run juice and with only 2-3 hours skin maceration. It’s pale blush color sets it apart from the cluster of other rosés on the shelf. Aromatic nose with round red fruits and bone-dry finish. So refreshing and near perfect, we pour it by the glass!

Andrieux & Fils 2010 Côtes De Provence Rosé (FR) $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19             60% Grenache, 40% Syrah ~ Despite it’s sexy fun bottle, this is a serious rosé. Light rosey-pink color and aromas of wild strawberries & raspberries. Flavors of stone fruits and hints of almond makes for an exotic quaffer with a long finish.

PattonValleyVineyard 2010 Pinot Noir Rosé (Willamette Valley,OR) Reg $21.99 | INSIDER $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99   100% Pinot Noir ~ Elegant rosé with bright acidity. The entirety of the rosé was aged “sur lie,” on its fermentation lees which makes this wine very complex and rich for a rosé.  Wonderful flavors of tropical fruits, peaches, strawberries & and lemon zest.

And more to come …including 3 direct imports from J. Strecker Selections!

Stay tuned & cheers!
Gina & Jens

De-confusing Italy: Part 1 ~ Barbera

April in Piedmont. Photo by Gina on a previous Premier Vineyards Tour.

I have grown to love the grapes and wines of Italy since working at Portalis. They have so much to offer. Throughout the country, from the far south of Sicily to the mountainous north of Piedmont and all the way in between, Italians grow acre after acre of grapes. However, with all the wine regions of Italy, and all the grape varieties grown, understanding Italian wines can become quite confusing. In this confusion, the wines of Italy become intimidating, therefore unapproachable. No one wants to appear as the unsophisticate standing in a shop in front of a tower of Italian wines not knowing the difference between a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and a Montepulciano. Don’t worry, if you don’t know the difference you are far from being alone.  In early days I needed a little lesson on this, but really it is pretty simple: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a grape variety grown in the Abruzzo region of Italy while Montepulciano is a town in Tuscany known for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a wine made primarily from sangiovese (known locally as prugnolo gentile). …Are you lost? Yes, Italy can be so confusing. But so worth de-mystifying as it produces some of the best wines from the grand dame classics: Brunello, Barolo, Barbaresco and Amarone, to great everyday drinking wines, for example sangiovese of Tuscany and the dolcetto and barbera of Piedmont.

Nebbiolo vineyard north of Alba. Photo by Gina

Over the next few months, I plan to set out on a wine venture to sort out the complex system of Italian wines by focusing on a region or a grape. Let’s start at the top, or if you prefer, in northern Italy with Piedmont. Piedmont (map) is the mountainous northwest region of Italy with Switzerland to the north and France to the west. It is renowned around the world for producing the prestigious Barolo and Barbaresco wines made from the nebbiolo grape.  Only the best of the best land is planted with nebbiolo vines destined to become Barolos and Babarescos. However, Piedmont produces much more than just those two wines and grows many different kinds of grapes. They grow white grapes: arneis, cortese and moscato and for reds they grow: dolcetto, bonarda (a blending grape), nebbiolo (also used to make Gattinara and Ghemme wines when blended with Bonarda) and barbera. 

Barbera is Piedmont’s most widely planted grape producing wines that are juicy and deliciously straightforward. Barbera is predominately grown around the towns of Alba and Asti in Piedmont. On the label you will see Barbera d’Alba or Barbera d’Asti denoting the two different villages from which the wine was produced. Piedmont is hilly and mountainous; Alba lies in the Monferrato range while Asti is in the Langhe range. The barbara grape produces wine that, in general, is supple and velvety filling your mouth with cherry, fig, chocolate and a hint of licorice. The grape’s natural high acidity leads to wines that are lively and have zip. Barberas from Asti and Alba express slightly different qualities from each other. In Alba, babera wines are deeper, darker and richer. Their fruit, more intense: the cherry becomes black cherry, the fig becomes dried fig. All around delicious! While in Asti, the barbera wine is bright and vibrant. The fruits are fresh, the balance is soft and elegant and every bit as tasty. I recently drank Pio Cesare 2008 Barbera d’Alba, it was dark and rich with notes of dried plum, dark chocolate and black licorice.  From start to finish, the bottle was greatly enjoyed by all. At Portalis, we pour Pico Maccario 2009 Barbera d’Asti by the glass and it is always an easy recommendation due to its silky fleshy body and bright fruits with hints of smooth vanilla that make it a great sipper on its own or with some nibbles like our charcuterie plate. Stay tuned for more on Italy…I’m off to do some more “research”.

Cheers,
Karli

Pio Cesare 2008 Barbera D’Alba
$22.99 | mixed case $18.39

Pico Maccario 2009 Barbera D’Asti
$14.99 | mixed case $11.99

Ribera Del Duero – A Spanish legacy of fine wines

While the wines of Ribera Del Duero are getting more & more recognition in the international market, winemaking in this region dates back about 2000 years, to the Roman times.  Located in Spain’s northern plateau, 2 hours north of Madrid, the Ribera region stretches along the Duero River. This harsh, rugged plateau is known primarily for one grape: Tempranillo, which thrives on its extreme climate and high elevation (up to 3000 feet).

Photo by Fernando Fernández / WENAEWE ~  Granted by the Consejo Regulador de Ribera del Duero. 47 more wonderful photos of Ribera del Duero at DrinkRiberaWine.com>

I first traveled through Ribera del Duero in 1982 in an old Passat station wagon with my friend, Stephan Griesmeyer. My memories are of rural desert where we drank lots of jug wine and had a great time.  I revisited the area in 1986 when I lived in Barcelona and already the change was underway. More wineries had popped up and the wines were different: more modern, not as rustic. I anxiously await my next trip to Ribera del Duero (which with the import business shouldn’t be too far off) because the transformation since my last visit is amazing.  Simply put, the wines coming out of this part of Spain are world class, with their flair directly linked to the extreme climate & terroir. With piping hot summer days, cool nights and a short growing period, the older vines are stressed & compact, producing wines that are dense, full-bodied and I am in full agreement with Catherine Reynolds (owner of Queso y Vino & Tasting Circle panelist), who once described a wine these wines as hedonistic pleasure bombs. 

There are several classifications for wines produced in Ribera Del Duero.  Joven wines, which are, in general, fruiter, and are aged 3 to 6 months, show no oak characteristics & are meant to be consumed young. Crianza wines are aged for 2 years & display well-balanced tannins & a velvety mouth-feel. Reserva wines are aged 3 years, with a minimum of 1 year in oak barrels. They are elegant & intense with a rich, lingering finish. Gran Reserva wines are aged 5 years, with a minimum of 2 years in oak barrels & show complexity, good structure & are well ageing wines.

Arzuaga 2005 Eibera Del Duero Crianza
Elegant, focused & well-balanced, with wonderful dark fruit, herbal & leather notes. Lovely depth & a smooth, long finish.

El Quintanal 2006 Vendimia Seleccionada Ribera Del Duero
Sweet bouquet of black cherries, toasty oak, licorice & smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, complex & good concentration. Packed with blackberry & cassis fruit & notes of licorice, black raspberries & minerals. Fine tannins on the long finish.

Protos 2008 Ribera Del Duero Roble
Wonderful effort for the money. Wonderful aromas & flavors of ripe blackberries, black cherries, dark chocolate & notes of smoked herbs. Elegant, smooth texture & structure. Delicious all the way to the fruity finish.

Creta 2007 Ribera Del Duero Roble
Another wonderful value.  Aromas of ripe dark berry fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant, with an almost lush texture. Lots of blackberries, cassis, dark plums & prunes with some spicy & herbal components. Fine tannins on the fresh finish.

It’s a lovely part of the world with delicious wines! 

Enjoy & cheers…
Jens (owner, Portalis Wines)

“Uruguay?! They make wine?”

“Uruguay?!” I questioned, last week, as I picked up a wine bottle, “they make wine?” 

Still being somewhat of the new kid on the block, I was unaware that Uruguay produced wine.  Uruguay is not your run of the mill wine exporting country like its relative South American neighbors, Argentina and Chile, which produce and export a vast collection of wine to North America.  This was my first in-counter with Uruguayan wine.  Upon exclaiming my question, I was quickly informed that ‘yes’ Uruguay does produce wine and that their ‘national grape’ is tannat, which I held a bottle of  in my hand.  Further, some really great tannat comes from Uruguay.  Gina went on to tell me that last year we had an Uruguayan tannat in the shop that was, as she says, “DE-lic-IOUS!”  The bottle of last year sold for about $20 a bottle and this bottle, clocking in at only $10.99, made us all a bit wary of this new Uruguayan tannat.
 
Feeling very curious, I had never had Uruguayan wine, let alone never seen one, and figuring at $10.99 a bottle, I didn’t have much of an investment to lose, so I bought a bottle to try at home.

A few days later, on a mellow Monday night, I decided to give the Uruguayan tannat a try.  And I was pleasantly surprised.  The tannat had a nice strong backbone from the tannin, though less tannic and softer than its sibling French tannat, followed by dark berry fruits of blueberry and blackberry and a hint of warm cinnamon spice in the finish.  For a laid back Monday night pasta dinner, the Uruguayan tannat made a great and affordable easy drinking wine.  Curiosity and novelty drove me to this Uruguayan tannat and after trying, quality and value will keep me coming back to it.  I think it is going to make a regular appearance in my line-up of affordable and enjoyable go-to wines.

Pueblo de Sol 2009 Tannat $10.99 | Mixed Case $8.79 

Cheers!
Karli

Neil Ellis & Pinotage (South Africa)

Neil Ellis came to Portalis for a tasting in the summer of 2009.  Warm weather, though, is not when we sell Pinotage and a visit from a winemaker of this magnitude merited its proper spot in the featured lineup, with the proper spot being deepest winter … so here we go:

We are always delighted to have winemakers in for tastings, but this was a special one & we were all solemn with excitement. (Can that be?)  We had sold thousands of glass pours of Neil Ellis Pinotage and along with a hard core following of customers who love this wine, we were so excited that we were a little nervous.  And rightly so.  Mr. Ellis was not that jokey-jokerton, engagingly accented funny story-teller from former British colonies who often shows up (much to our delight, I might add).  He was a solemn, professorial man, with a lovely, understated sense of humor, who sat on a stool with the tasting participants around him and modestly shared his history (starting out with KWV, a huge South African wine co-operative, with stints at the Groot Constantia Estate & Zevenwacht, before striking out on his own in 1986 & making a name for himself as the rogue, entrepreneurial producer he has become) as well as his philosophy on wine, wine production & the role of wine in life.

Pinotage is just one of many wines in Neil Ellis’ lineup, but it’s one of our favorites and is excellent Pinotage for the money. Pinotage has an unusual history.  It’s a cross between Pinot Noir & Cinsault, grown as an experiment at the University of Stellenbosch in the 1930’s, forgotten & then rediscovered later in an overgrown patch of vines.  It’s known for its dark brambly fruit with notes of smoke and even bacony flavors.  Wine from this grape makes a statement & customers tend to really like it or really not like it.  The likes win by far, and Pinotage at Portalis has a sizeable fan club with Jens leading the charge (he loves this grape!).  So if you’ve never tried it & are open to this style wine, go exploring.  Neil Ellis was European in his belief that food belongs with wine and every meal is enhanced by a well-paired combination of the two.  Pinotage pairs beautifully with all kinds of grilled red meats & game.  It’s a lovely sipper, though, too.  And with evenings by the fire in front of us, we highly this wine.

Neil Ellis Pinotage is solid year after year and is excellent wine for the price.  Jens is also a big fan of Southern Right Pinotage (a little bigger fruit) & the Kanonkop which is a huge wine made from old vines, but also commands a higher price:

Neil Ellis 2008 Pinotage  (Stellenbosch)
$21.99  | Mixed Case $17.59
Spice Route 2007 Pinotage (Swartland)
$21.99  | Mixed Case $17.59
Southern Right 2007 Pinotage (Walker Bay)
$24.99 | Mixed Case $19.99  
Kanonkop 2005 Pinotage (Stellenbosch)
$37.99  | Mixed Case $30.39

Pinotage Blends (with Cab Sauv/Merlot combinations):
Kanonkop 2006 Kadette  (Stellenbosch)
$17.50 | Mixed Case $14
Warwick 2005 Three Cape Ladies (Stellenbosch)
$27.99 | INSIDER $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39   
Spice Route 2004 Malabar (Swartland)
$73.99 | Mixed Case $59.19  

Enjoy & cheers!
Julie

Jens’ Holiday Dream Case

 Jens Strecker (Owner, Portalis Wines) picks his 12 favorite holiday wines

These are some of my current favorite picks from around the world.  If Santa got my wish list, these wines would be at the top! 

Domaine De La Meuliere 2008 Chablis 
Burgundy, France  ~ $25.99 | Sale $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Fine, flowery nose. Vibrant fruit with lots of weight & a long, stony, delicious finish.

Abeja 2009 Chardonnay
Washington State ~ $39.99 | Sale $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79
Elegant, rich & full. Smoky, toasty aromas give way to fantastic apple & pear fruit with some peach notes. Butterscotch & hazelnut on the finish that lingers.

Evening Land 2009 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon ~ $29.99 | Sale $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
Spicy baked cherry pie, plum & wild berry aromas turn elegant & refined. Full-bodied, but not too heavy to allow the rich flavors to dance on the palate. Long finish.

Gary Ferrell 2007 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, California ~ $44.99 | Sale $40.99 | Mixed Case $32.79
Elegant & powerful, with lots of raspberry & cherry fruit, with notes of clove & anise. The aromas & the long finish leave you wanting more.

Château Pichecan 2003 Margaux
Left Bank, Bordeaux, France ~ $43.99 | Sale $39.99 | Mixed Case $31.99
Concentrated blackcurrants & blackberries on the nose. Super-elegant, with soft, velvety mouth feel, but firm structure. Wonderful concentrated cassis fruit with cocoa & herbal notes all the way through the finish.

Domaine Faury 2007 Saint Joseph
Northern Rhône, France ~ $41.99 | Sale $37.99 | Mixed Case $30.39
Dark but racy, with fantastic aromas of raspberries, olives & lavender. Flavors of cassis, ripe, dark plums, olive tapenade, with a dash of roasted sage on the finish. This wine is so interesting; it will keep you busy for a while.

Dessilani 2005 Caramino
Piedmont, Italy ~ $39.99 | Sale $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79
This wine is a symphony! Super-complex & elegant with a violet bouquet. The vibrantly pure fruit quality of this fine red, with its flavors of black cherry & smooth, dark chocolate is irresistibly seductive & beautifully balanced. Out of this world.

Arzuaga 2005 Ribera Del Duero
Ribera Del Duero, Spain ~ $33.99 | Sale $30.99 | Mixed Case $24.79
Elegant, focused & well-balanced, with wonderful dark fruit, herbal & leather notes. Lovely depth & a smooth, long finish.

Mollydooker 2009 The Boxer Shiraz
McLaren Vale Valley, Australia ~ $28.99 | Sale $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
Ripe, fleshy & full-bodied, with gorgeous flavors of black cherries, blackberries & blueberries, with notes of bay leave & black olives, swirling all the way through the long finish.

Achaval Ferrer 2007 Quimera
Mendoza, Argentina ~ $40.99 | Sale $37.99 | Mixed Case $30.39
Powerful & complex, dark & brooding, with intense aromas of blackberries, black cherries & licorice. Full-bodied, with a velvety texture & polished tannins. Beautiful down the road.

Mark Ryan 2008 Dead Horse
Red Mountain, Washington ~ $49.99 | Sale $44.99 | Mixed Case $35.99
Full, dark & dense, but smooth, velvety texture with lots of blackberry, black cherry & raspberry flavors, combined with dark chocolate & coffee notes. Mark keeps his foot on the gas pedal all the way through the finish. Very impressive!

Sparkman 2008 Ruckus Syrah
Columbia Valley, Washington ~ $45.99 | Sale $41.99 | Mixed Case $33.59
Big, plush & dark, with layers of dark fruit, black cherries, blackberries & black olives. Supple, harmonious & expressive as the finish goes on & on. Amazing!

Happy holidays & cheers!
Jens