The family’s history in the wine industry started around 1300 when Berto de’ Frescobaldi left his properties to his children which included houses, mills, vineyards, orchards, farms, and other various properties. The wine produced on those properties was exported to Flanders and England. During the next 700 years, their wine business grew and flourished. Frescobaldi wines have received numerous accolades from wine publications. Today, many family members continue to be actively involved in the winery.

We recently had the opportunity to taste the current vintage of one of the most well-known wines within the extensive Frescobaldi portfolio, the 2008 Nipozzano Riserva. It is produced at the Castello di Nipozzano. We have enjoyed previous vintages of this wine, and this vintage is another good one.

With a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5), it is an excellent value that is worth a try if you see it on the shelf at your local wine shop. I look forward to trying it again, this time with food. I think it would be great with pasta dishes or beef stew.

2008 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva (Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG, Italy): 90% Sangiovese and 10% complementary grapes (Malvasia Nera, Colorino, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon). Deep, dark ruby red in color and very aromatic. Red Vines, fresh red fruit, earth, and leather come through on the nose; more red cherry, raspberry, and leather on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $23; Available elsewhere, $16 to $25

Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2008 was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of their white wines are made in Woodinville, all of their red wines are made at Canoe Ridge Estate in eastern Washington. The fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from vineyards in the Columbia Valley including Cold Creek, Canoe Ridge Estate, and Indian Wells.

“Our goal with the Columbia Valley Cabernet is to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. This is our inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins. It’s also very versatile with food—try it with beef, pork or pasta.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Dark red in color. Aromatic with red fruit, earth, and smoked meat on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $16; Available elsewhere, $10 to $18

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

After consulting What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, we decided to try a Gewürztraminer and a Pinot Noir. The two wines that we had with the meal were the 2009 Ardiri Due Stati Pinot Noir from California and Oregon and the 2010 Dowsett Family Gewürztraminer from Washington. Both wines were excellent! We vacillated back and forth as to which was the better pairing with the food—at first, the Gewürztraminer seemed to be the favorite, but once the meal was completed, we concluded unanimously that the Pinot Noir paired better. But really, you couldn’t go wrong with either one. If you are in the mood for a white wine, a Gewürztraminer is a good choice; and if you would prefer to have a red wine, a Pinot Noir works wonderfully.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2009 Ardiri Due Stati Pinot Noir (70% California and 30% Oregon): Medium deep purplish red in color. Nice nose with strawberry, red cherry, and oak aromas. Beautiful red cherry, strawberry, earth, and spice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish. An excellent food wine.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $38; Available elsewhere, $43

2010 Dowsett Family Gewürztraminer (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Pale to medium greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, and white peach on the nose. More gorgeous white peach and pear come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $17 to $25

Challenging Wine Pairing: General Tso’s Chicken was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Rodney Strong founded Rodney Strong Vineyards, located in Healdsburg, California, in 1959. It was Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery. Current owner Tom Klein and the Klein family purchased the winery in 1989. Zinfandel vines have been thriving in Sonoma County for the last three centuries. When Rodney Strong acquired vineyard acreage on the west side of the Russian River, he became the proud owner of 15 acres of old, gnarled Zinfandel vines that had been growing there since 1904. The winery still harvests Zinfandel from those old vines in addition to farming vineyards in the Alexander Valley.

“Fresh, bright berry fruit from our heritage Russian River vineyard combined with the ripe peppery jamminess from our Alexander Valley vineyards make for wonderful diversity of flavor showcasing the best that zinfandel can offer in one wine.” –Winemaker Rick Sayre

2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel (Northern Sonoma, California): Deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with strawberry and cinnamon on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18.50; Available elsewhere, $14 to $22

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, has been one of our favorite sources of value wines for many years. Last year, Juan Munoz Oca took over as head winemaker from Ray Einberger. Einberger had been at the helm since 2002 when he took the reins from Doug Gore who had been the winemaker since Columbia Crest was founded in 1983. The Columbia Crest winemaking team has produced more 90+ scoring bottles of wine than any other winery in the world. For those of us who live in Washington State, it is nice to have such a consistent, affordable producer in our own backyard.

“This complex red exhibits layer flavors of blackberries and plums with a subtle spiciness and silky mouthfeel that leads to a long, elegant finish.” –Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca

2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage Red Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 64% Merlot, 19% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Malbec, and 5.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with creosote, black fruit, and smoke on the nose. More black fruit and smoke as well as leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $7 to $13

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage Red Blend was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Oregon ranks third in the number of wineries and fourth in wine production in the United States. In its relatively short 40-year history, the Oregon wine industry has evolved into a world-class wine region. With Oregon’s 16 AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas) found in both warm and cool climates, Oregon winemakers are able to produce wines from over 70 different grape varieties. However, Pinot Noir is the variety that propelled Oregon onto the worldwide wine stage and is still what many people think of when it comes to Oregon wine. While Oregon wine is far from a one-trick pony, Pinot Noir is still the queen. Over 12,000 acres of vineyards in Oregon are planted to Pinot Noir and production of Pinot Noir is over three times the next leading variety, Pinot Gris. As you will see in the lists below, we tasted more Pinot Noir than anything else at the event.

Unwine’d was a huge success, especially for a first-time event. By the time the doors opened to the public at 3pm, the line wrapped around the outside of the Left Bank Annex building. Once inside, attendees were treated to great wines and yummy food. Kudos to the Oregon Wine Board and Jamie Peha of Peha Promotions for a job well done!

Considering the time and gas money attendees saved not having to travel around the state visiting tasting rooms and making appointments, the $50 ticket was money well spent. Hopefully, those who attended discovered some favorite new wines and wineries and will make plans to travel to the wineries to visit and taste again. There is nothing like spending a long weekend in wine country.

Between the three days I spent in Oregon wine country on a media tour in March and attending Unwine’d last weekend, it has been a pleasure to immerse myself in all things Oregon wine and get to know so many key players in the Oregon wine industry.

With 100 wineries pouring three to five wines each, we were not able to taste wine from every winery at Unwine’d. Instead, we tried to taste wines from a good representative sample of the participating wineries. We hope you enjoy the following lists that show some of our favorite wines and wineries of those we did taste at the event.

Overall Favorite Wines (Highest Quality Ratings):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5

Best Wines <=$20:
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 4
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Chardonnay, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Pinot Gris, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 4

Best Value Regardless of Price (Quality >=4 and QPR=5):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2008 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley, $27, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $28, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Lachini Pinot Port, Willamette Valley, $28 [375ml], Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2009 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30, Quality: 4, QPR: 5

Top 10 Favorite Wineries (in alphabetical order):
Adelsheim Vineyard
Amity Vineyards
Archery Summit
Argyle Winery
Lachini Vineyards
Phelps Creek Vineyards
Sokol Blosser Winery
Stoller Vineyards
Van Duzer Vineyards
Watermill Winery

If you were at Unwine’d, we’d love to hear what some of your favorites were. And if you missed the event, I encourage you to enjoy some Oregon wines during the month of May and throughout the year.

Cheers!

Unwine’d 2012: Highlights from Oregon Wine’s Big Event was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20*
• Must be widely available

Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, Washington, near the Oregon state line in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Owner/winemaker Richard Funk and his wife Anita, both natives of Montana, moved to Walla Walla in 1991. Rich became acquainted with a number of the area wineries while working as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department. Through his work at the Health Department on water quality and wastewater issues, he got a firsthand look at the vineyards in the area and developed a relationship with a number of local winemakers who helped him get his start in the industry. Saviah Cellars was founded in 2000 and currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother. Saviah Cellars consistently produces high-quality wines. The Jack is a value line in the Saviah portfolio produced with declassified fruit.

“The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon is a winner! Classic aromas of mint, black cherry, cassis and barrel spice are present in spades. Delicious flavors, beautiful balance, and a long smooth finish. Enjoy!” –Owner/winemaker Rich Funk

2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with caramel and black cherry aromas. Caramel, blackcurrant, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18; Available elsewhere, $14 to $18

*We have expanded the price tag criteria for this “A Wine for Tonight” series to include wines less than or equal to $20.

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Wine Out West wines are produced by Mercer Estates. The Mercer and Hogue families founded Mercer Estates, located in Prosser, Washington, in 2006. Rob and Brenda Mercer of Mercer Canyons in the Horse Heaven Hills and Ron and Barb Harle of Hogue Ranches in the Yakima Valley lead the partnership. Both families have long histories in the Washington wine industry. Mercer Estates’ vineyards are located in the Horse Heaven Hills and the Yakima Valley. David Forsyth, who has over 25 years experience working in the Columbia Valley, leads the winemaking team for Mercer Estates but will be leaving in May to focus on his own winery. The Wine Out West labels feature the artwork of Diane Whitehead, a native of eastern Washington whose boldly colored oil paintings express the beauty of the west.

“Brimming with fresh fruit, our Wine Out West 2010 Riesling displays fresh peach and tangerine, with a hint of beeswax and good minerality. Crisp, fresh, and semi-dry in style, the palate begins with peach and stone fruit which lead to honey, lingering with floral accents.” –Winemaker David Forsyth

2010 Wine Out West Gone Fishin’ Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington State): 99% Riesling and 1% Pinot Gris. Pale, greenish yellow. Nice nose with white peach and floral aromas. White peach, apricot, and a hint of lime come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1.8%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12.99; Available elsewhere, $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Wine Out West Gone Fishin’ Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Brian Carter has over thirty years of winemaking experience in California and Washington. He arrived in Washington State in 1980 to be winemaker for Paul Thomas Winery and has since founded Apex Winery and served as consulting winemaker for a number of other wineries. He officially opened his own namesake winery, Brian Carter Cellars, in Woodinville in 2006. Brian Carter focuses on European-style blends. He admittedly buys more fruit than he needs to craft his primary Brian Carter wines in order to give him the most flexibility during blending. The leftovers go into this value-priced Abracadabra blend.

“Abracadabra is a blend which uses the same great red varietals and aged in quality oak barrels used in Brian Carter Cellars wines. However the blend varies each year depending on the ‘Magic’ of the harvest. While using traditional grape varieties, Abracadabra is anything but traditional in its final blend. Instead it is a bit unpredictable, curious, mysterious and amazingly delicious. Dark in color, the wine’s aroma has witches hats full of cherries, cedar and tobacco with pinches of anise, bacon and spice. Big flavors show soft, well-integrated tannins and food friendly acidity.” –Brian Carter, owner/winemaker

2009 Brian Carter Cellars Abracadabra Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 19% Sangiovese, 17% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 9% Tempranillo, 7% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cinsault, and 2% Counoise. Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with bright red fruit, spice, and creosote on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Brian Carter Cellars Abracadabra Red Wine was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

The Crusher is produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons. The Sebastiani name has been synonymous with quality winemaking in California for over 115 years. Sourced from Merwin Vineyard in the Clarksburg AVA, The Crusher is a tribute to the fundamental relationship between the grower and the winemaker. Winemaker Greg Kitchens joined Don Sebastiani & Sons in 2001.

“100% sourced from the Merwin Vineyard in the heart of the up and coming Clarksburg appellation, our 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir is rose petal pink in the glass, displaying a fragrant bouquet of wild strawberry, apricot and rose hips notes. A nicely balanced mélange of tangerine, strawberry and subtle Key Lime flavors follow, leading to a crisp palate cleansing finish. Vibrant, racy acidity and a light to medium body make this a wonderfully versatile food wine as well as a great summertime sipper.” –Greg Kitchens, winemaker

2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir (Merwin Vineyard, Clarksburg, California): Pale pink. Aromatic with watermelon, raspberry, and strawberry on both the nose and palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, refreshing finish. A nice wine to enjoy on the porch as the weather gets warmer.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.