2008 C. Donatiello Floodgate Vineyard Block 15 Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley

Cranberry color, slightly opaque. (A thankful break from the ridiculously dark Pinot’s being produced today by many.) On the nose, cherry, cranberry, with a pleasant touch of earthiness. On the Palette: elegant. Despite the youth of this release, it’s a pleasure in the mouth, with velvet texture, wonderful balance and mouthfeel. Flavors of cherry and red fruit, with a nice finish, and lingering acidity. Read the full review on Simple Hedonisms.

Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2006 Piluso Vineyards Pinot Noir

This elegant yet complex, medium-bodied Pinot noir (from the lesser-known east side of the Willamette River) opens up immediately with ripe red cherries and raspberries. Keep swirling and discover layers of tobacco, rose petals and mint will come through. Slightly savory notes balance out the sweet, red fruit and the peppery finish adds an element of interest that persists long and pleasurably in the mouth. This is a classic Oregon Pinot Noir; pair this wine with cedar-plank salmon or try it with coffee-crusted pork tenderloin. Read more about Piluso Vineyards at Sip With Me.

2006 Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir – Santa Lucia Highlands

Clear with medium cranberry red color. Clean nose, developing, with medium intensity. Aromas of cedar, cherry, plum, strawberry, floral/perfumed notes, spice and cinnamon. Dry with medium acidity, well integrated alcohol, medium tannin, and body. Flavors of cherry, strawberry, vanilla, spice, red fruit. Bright cherry, medium intensity with a long finish. Read more on oe•no•phile.

A Tasting Primer: Easy Tips to Learn About & Enjoy Wine

Tasting wine can be a wonderful experience that incorporates nearly all of your senses with a wide variety of aromas, flavors, and sensations. However, it can also be an intimidating experience if you’re a wine novice. While learning about all the intricacies of wine tasting can be a time consuming commitment, there are a few basics that you can easily learn and practice making the experience even more enjoyable.

2008 Phelps Creek Cuvée Alexandrine Pinot Noir – Columbia Gorge

Clear, ruby to purple color. Clean nose, earth, barnyard, vegetal, black cherry, and smoke aromas. Dry, medium body, tannin, and acidity. Flavors of mushroom and cherry with a medium-plus finish. Old world flare on new world juice.

2008 Undone Pinot Noir – Rheinhessen, Germany

The best to be said of this wine is that it is interesting. Chances are, neither you nor the person you pour this for will have had an unoaked Pinot Noir from Germany before. Once you have tried this thin, cherry-licorice flavored attempt, you will both be able to say you have.

2006 Piluso Vineyards Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley

This elegant yet complex, medium-bodied Pinot noir (from the lesser-known east side of the Willamette River) opens up immediately with ripe red cherries and raspberries. Keep swirling and discover layers of tobacco, rose petals and mint will come through. Slightly savory notes balance out the sweet, red fruit and the peppery finish adds an element of interest that persists long and pleasurably in the mouth. This is a classic Oregon Pinot Noir; pair this wine with cedar-plank salmon or try it with coffee-crusted pork tenderloin. Read more about Piluso Vineyards at Sip With Me.

Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2007 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir

Pinot noir can presented in a hundred different ways, depending upon clone, terroir, and the decisions of the winemaker. In this case, a small mountain vineyard, low yields, and 45% new French oak, and wine bottled unfined and unfiltered created a glass of silk, flavored with cherries, dried strawberries, cola, and a bit of suede. The wood has a complimentary, rather than obtrusive, effect, contributing to sweet tannins and adding a touch, just a touch, of vanilla. Drink it with pork loin.

2007 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir, Biagini Vineyard – Santa Cruz, CA

Pinot noir can presented in a hundred different ways, depending upon clone, terroir, and the decisions of the winemaker. In this case, a small mountain vineyard, low yields, and 45% new French oak, and wine bottled unfined and unfiltered created a glass of silk, flavored with cherries, dried strawberries, cola, and a bit of suede. The wood has a complimentary, rather than obtrusive, effect, contributing to sweet tannins and adding a touch, just a touch, of vanilla. Drink it with pork loin.

A Once in a Lifetime Visit Behind Closed Gates at Bodegas Vega Sicilia

Passing through a guarded gate, my wife and I, on an anniversary trip to Spain, entered the bucolic 1000-hectare estate of the storied Vega Sicilia. This Bordeaux-style winery, founded in 1864, originally was a small village inhabited by the wineries’ employees and connected by rail to Valladolid, 40 kilometers to the west.

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