Wine Tasting - Owen Roe Spring Release Party

OWEN ROE SPRING RELEASE PARTY - Ecotrust Building, Portland, OR (5/3/2008)

Owen Roe Winery's annual Spring Release wine tasting event, featuring their 2007 Crawford-Beck vineyard Pinot Gris and 2006 DuBrul vineyard Merlot. Held at the EcoTrust Building, in the Pearl District area of NW Portland. Attended with my girlfriend, Kristina and enjoyed some fine Oregon wines!

Owen Roe Whites

Current release white wines. Did not taste the 2006 O'Reilly's Chardonnay, 2007 O'Reilly's Pinot Gris, 2001, 2002, and 2007 Owen Roe Crawford-Beck / Casa Blanca Vineyard Pinot Gris.

• 2007 O'Reilly's Riesling - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Very sweet, seemed like a lot of residual sugar. Fairly smooth, nice citrus on the nose. First wine of the day...Good/Very Good - 84 points. (84 pts.)


• 2007 Owen Roe Riesling DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Very floral nose, citrus, some grapefruit maybe. Seemed somewhat young, with the flavors not really pulling through yet. Still a very nice white, with solid acidty, and nice sugar levels. This one is built to last! Very Good/Excellent - 87 points. (87 pts.)

Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical

Vertical tasting of the DuBrul Vineyard Merlot, 1999 - 2006.

• 1999 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  VERY impressive! Smooth, great fruit flavors...lots of blueberry, blackberry, and a hint of something floral. Just like drinking velvet...soft and luscious on the tongue. Outstanding - 92 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (92 pts.)


• 2000 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Nice wine, good nose of plums, with a touch of olives. Flavors of dark berry fruit, no olives, and some decent acidty, although not as integrated or velvety as the 99. Outstanding - 90 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (90 pts.)


• 2001 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Huge wine, with tons of smells and flavors running around. Cassis, blackberry, chocolate, some earthiness in there. Just a wonderfully complex, full-flavored wine, and Wine of the Tasting for me. Outstanding - 94 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (94 pts.)


• 2002 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Seems somewhat more closed than previous vintages in this tasting. Still lovely nose, earth, smoked meat, blackberry. Some of the same hits the palate, but not the intensity of fruit flavors as I was expecting, although it is still delicious, but compared to the previous 3 vintages, not as much. Outstanding - 91 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (91 pts.)


• 2003 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Now we're talking! After a somewhat disappointing 2002, the 2003 is rockin' it! Great blackberry, cherry, and vanilla flavors. A bit tannic and oaky still, with solid acidity. Some drying tannins on the finish. Outstanding - 93 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (93 pts.)


• 2004 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Fruit bomb! Huge huge berry fruit nose and flavors. Just way over the top, over extracted, without the tannins or acidity to keep the fruit in check. It's still a really nice merlot, but the fruit really pushes the limit. Excellent - 89 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (89 pts.)


• 2005 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Young still, but you can tell this one is age-worthy. Excellent integration, with good acidity levels, tannins are still a bit harsh, but berry fruit, licorice, some oaky vanilla flavors are there to back it up. Outstanding - 92 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (92 pts.)


• 2006 Owen Roe Merlot DuBrul Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  A monster! Huge wine, very very young. One of the most powerful merlots, if not THE most powerful, that I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. I won't be opening my bottle anytime in the next several years. Needs time, but I can tell it's going to be a phenomenal wine as it matures. Outstanding - 93 points (Owen Roe DuBrul Merlot Vertical, 99-06). (93 pts.)

Owen Roe Reds

Current release red wines.

• 2006 Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon "Sharecropper's" - USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley
  Happy that I have a bottle in the cellar. Very nice, smooth wine, not too tannic or acidic, smooth and easy to drink. Might need to pick up a couple more (great QPR at $15-$18 retail). Outstanding - 91 points. (91 pts.)


• 2006 Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  VERY young, with heavy tannins and oakiness. GV would say "oak monster!" I liked the fruit under the tannic crush of oak, but it took some time swirling in the glass to bring it out. Excellent - 89 points. (89 pts.)


• 2006 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris - USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Valley
  Rich, luscious, great smokey dark fruits, some chocolate in there. Lovely wine. Very happy that I have 4 in the cellar. Time will tell if this one can stand up to the extrordinary 2005. Outstanding - 92 points. (92 pts.)


• 2006 Owen Roe Cabernet Franc Slide Mountain - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Outstanding wine with lots of diverse flavors. Cedar wood, tobacco, blueberry, with some chocolate in there as well. A very nice way to end the tasting! Outstanding - 92 points. (92 pts.)

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Wine Tasting - Jeff's Sunday Dinner

SUNDAY DINNER - Jeff McHugh's (4/27/2008)

Sunday Dinner at my good friend Jeff McHugh's place. Dinner was an incredible spicy shrimp fettuccini with cheese & cream sauce, with appetizers of chevre, sharp cheddar and hummus prior.

• 2005 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Decanted 4 1/2 hours prior to first taste. INCREDIBLE! Upon decant, the aromas consumed my apartment. 4 1/2 hours later, the nose was still incredible fruit and pepper. The palate was overwhelmed with blueberry and pepper, with vanilla and mocha/coffee flavors. Wow. The biggest, most intense wine I've ever tasted. Absolutely incredible! Extrordinary - 97 points. (97 pts.)


• 2005 Château Cornelie - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
  Had immediately after 2005 Mitolo GAM, so didn't taste much until after cleansing palate with some strong chevre. Nice earthy notes, with great fruit integration. 3rd time I've tasted this one and it remains consistent. Excellent - 89 points. (89 pts.)


• 2006 2 Up Shiraz - Australia, South Australia
  This one had been open for several days, resealed with screwcap after each pour. Had opened up quite nicely, and heavy fruit and pepper showing through. Very smooth, with excellent integration. One of my favorite sub-$15 Shiraz's, and always a crowd pleaser. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2005 Zerba Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
  VERY NICE Syrah! Great blackberry, coffee, and smokey pepper nose and flavors, with great integration of acidity and tannins. One of my favorite wines of the evening. Outstanding - 92 points. (92 pts.)


• 2004 Liberalia Toro Cero - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
  Earthiness overwhelmed most of the other flavors, but this was a pop-and-pour. Recommend decant on this wine. Lovely fruit once the earth blew off, about an hour after being open. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2006 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Big blueberry fruit, with smooth tannins and heavy acidity. Recommend decanting for this one, as previously it helped with the integration. Outstanding - 90 points. (90 pts.)


• 2002 Paraiso Vineyards Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  While some great terrior flavors, unimpressed with the bitter finish. Might do better with some more time in the bottle, or a decant for several hours. Not sure, but not a great wine to be sure. OK fruit flavors, but that bitter finish ruins the wine. Very Good - 85 points. (85 pts.)


• 2006 Concha y Toro Carménère Casillero del Diablo Reserve - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley
  Never had this varietal before. Interesting nose of green pepper, mushroom, with a little fruit showing through. Once it had been open for awhile, the vegetal flavors faded and more berry fruits were apparent. Nice drinking wine, and at $9, great QPR! Excellent - 86 points. (86 pts.)


• 2006 O'Reilly's Pinot Noir Oregon - USA, Oregon
  Earth, strawberry, and some coffee. Lovely integration. One of the better sub-$20 Oregon Pinot's I've had. Excellent - 88 points. (88 pts.)


• 2005 Domaine Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  As per previous note, this wine really needs time to breathe. I highly recommend decanting, actually. Heavy alcohol and tannins, overshadowing the blackberry fruit and terrior. Good - 83 points. (83 pts.)

There were many other bottles of wine at the dinner party, but I either can't remember them, or didn't get a chance to taste them.

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