The early months of the year bring chilly weather to most of the Northern hemisphere. This typically brings out the cyclocross racers who love racing in the bad weather. Conversely, the pro road racers scramble for warmer climates, drawn to locations such as Australia and Argentina.
This Luchavino matchup follows the pros to Argentina where they competed in La Vuelta de San Juan, a week long stage race that takes place at the end of January. The majority of the 7 stages take place around the city of San Juan which is located in the wine region of the same name and just to the North of the Mendoza region.
37 Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Caremelo Patti 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Showing posts with label Washington Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington Wine. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Washington Mystery Syrah Match
Love him, or hate him, one thing is for sure, Jon Rimmerman has created a cult-like online wine buying experience with his Garagiste website and "exclusive" email list. Once you subscribe to the Garagiste email list you will begin receiving some of the most over the top wine missives you have ever read. If you are anything like me, you will find these offers hard to resist. Then, one day you will wake up with a cellar full of French wines that all taste like you are licking minerals from rocks strewn on a pathway running with streamlettes of acid rain.
If that isn't enough to make you question your will power, Rimmerman introduced his Mystery Wine series a few years back. I repeatedly confirm P.T. Barnum's observation that there is a sucker born every minute by succumbing to far too many Mystery Wine offers that appear in my inbox. Luckily, I have probably enjoyed about a 90% success rate with my Mystery Wine purchases. The 10% failures? They are failure like you could never imagine! Search for Garagiste Mystery Wine on Google and you will see what I mean about failure, love and most of all hate.
This week's matchup features two Washington Syrahs that were Garagiste Mystery Wines. Both of these wines fall into my mystery wine addiction success bucket. They are also excellent Washington Wine representatives for this month's Monthly Wine Writing Challenge. The Drunken Cyclist won last month's challenge and earned the honor of picking this month's theme - Mystery.
On to the matchup!
If that isn't enough to make you question your will power, Rimmerman introduced his Mystery Wine series a few years back. I repeatedly confirm P.T. Barnum's observation that there is a sucker born every minute by succumbing to far too many Mystery Wine offers that appear in my inbox. Luckily, I have probably enjoyed about a 90% success rate with my Mystery Wine purchases. The 10% failures? They are failure like you could never imagine! Search for Garagiste Mystery Wine on Google and you will see what I mean about failure, love and most of all hate.
On to the matchup!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Washington Merlot a Trois
This past weekend featured a number of races and Team Sky is already dominating the early season. They had victories in the Tour of Oman and the Volta Ao Algarve last week.
In the Seattle Urban Wineries feature for the month of February, Ward Johnson Winery one ups Team Sky with three medal winners grappling for an opportunity to represent Washington state in a future match with the Old World.
Keeping it in the family. Ward Johnson Winery Merlot 2006 v. 2007 v. 2008 in a stupendous sibling rivalry.
In the Seattle Urban Wineries feature for the month of February, Ward Johnson Winery one ups Team Sky with three medal winners grappling for an opportunity to represent Washington state in a future match with the Old World.
Keeping it in the family. Ward Johnson Winery Merlot 2006 v. 2007 v. 2008 in a stupendous sibling rivalry.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Gold Medal Washington Cabs
The Summer Olympics started this weekend in London and that got me inspired to think about medal winners.
Here is a test. Pick your favorite Olympics event. Do you remember who came in 4th in the 2008 Olympics? Do you remember who won the Silver medal? How about the Gold? If you are like me, you probably only remember the Gold medalist. Most people are so focused on Gold they call everybody except the Gold medal winner a "loser." Seriously? If you won the Silver or Bronze you were still the 2nd or 3rd best person in the world on that day. It might not have been gold, but Silver and Bronze doesn't seem like "losing" to me.
After all that philosophy, I am going with a Gold Medal matchup between two Washington State Cabernet Sauvignons this week.
2009 Cedar River Ava's Crush Cabernet Sauvignon v. 2009 JB Neufeld Artz Cabernet Sauvignon
Here is a test. Pick your favorite Olympics event. Do you remember who came in 4th in the 2008 Olympics? Do you remember who won the Silver medal? How about the Gold? If you are like me, you probably only remember the Gold medalist. Most people are so focused on Gold they call everybody except the Gold medal winner a "loser." Seriously? If you won the Silver or Bronze you were still the 2nd or 3rd best person in the world on that day. It might not have been gold, but Silver and Bronze doesn't seem like "losing" to me.
After all that philosophy, I am going with a Gold Medal matchup between two Washington State Cabernet Sauvignons this week.
2009 Cedar River Ava's Crush Cabernet Sauvignon v. 2009 JB Neufeld Artz Cabernet Sauvignon
Friday, May 25, 2012
Walla Walla Cab v. Napa
This week I take a break from following the Giro and chase the pro peleton through California.
The Tour of California is an 8 stage race that starts in Northern California and traces a route South ending in Los Angeles. This race is a new comer to the pro race scene and after 3 years of racing in February moved to May to take on one of the three Grand Tours - the Giro d' Italia. How much tradition is this California upstart taking on? 2012 marks the 95th edition of this race through Italy while 2012 marks the 7th edition of the Tour of California.
When you want to put on a show you go BIG. The final stage of most of the big stage races, like the Tour de France, is really just a ceremony. A spectacle celebrating the glory of the race and place, oh and don't forget the bike racers...
Where do you go for this type of spectacle in California? Hollywood? Beverly Hills? Los Angeles? How about all three?! Yes, the Tour of California ended with a race that visited all three of these California hot spots. The stage started in Beverly Hills, passed through Hollywood and then ended on the streets of Los Angeles. The winner of the tour had already been decided the day before on the final mountain stage. So that left this stage for the sprinters to go for glory one final time. And Peter Sagan from Liquigas-Cannondale flexed his muscles again, winning his 5th stage of the ToC. I think that was a record.
If you are going to go big with California wine you can go a variety of places. Napa, Sonoma County, the Central Coast ... For this week's matchup we go to Napa the AVA some people consider to be the King of US Appelations. And while we are at it we will select a Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape many consider to be the King of grapes.
This week's matchup features a new comer from Walla Walla Washington taking on the old timer from California.
2007 Skylite Cellars v. 2007 Beringer Private Reserve
The Tour of California is an 8 stage race that starts in Northern California and traces a route South ending in Los Angeles. This race is a new comer to the pro race scene and after 3 years of racing in February moved to May to take on one of the three Grand Tours - the Giro d' Italia. How much tradition is this California upstart taking on? 2012 marks the 95th edition of this race through Italy while 2012 marks the 7th edition of the Tour of California.
When you want to put on a show you go BIG. The final stage of most of the big stage races, like the Tour de France, is really just a ceremony. A spectacle celebrating the glory of the race and place, oh and don't forget the bike racers...
Where do you go for this type of spectacle in California? Hollywood? Beverly Hills? Los Angeles? How about all three?! Yes, the Tour of California ended with a race that visited all three of these California hot spots. The stage started in Beverly Hills, passed through Hollywood and then ended on the streets of Los Angeles. The winner of the tour had already been decided the day before on the final mountain stage. So that left this stage for the sprinters to go for glory one final time. And Peter Sagan from Liquigas-Cannondale flexed his muscles again, winning his 5th stage of the ToC. I think that was a record.
If you are going to go big with California wine you can go a variety of places. Napa, Sonoma County, the Central Coast ... For this week's matchup we go to Napa the AVA some people consider to be the King of US Appelations. And while we are at it we will select a Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape many consider to be the King of grapes.
This week's matchup features a new comer from Walla Walla Washington taking on the old timer from California.
2007 Skylite Cellars v. 2007 Beringer Private Reserve
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
PNW Pinot Supremacy Battle Royale
Wine is an unusual drink. It gets better with age and as it maintains contact with air. Most other beverages get worse, not better, under these conditions. Over and over again I am surprised by the evolution of a wine over hours or even days. Lucha Vino materialized early in 2011 as I considered a way to combine exploring wine from around the globe and cycling. Comparing wine as it evolves over time reminds me of a wrestling match. Check out The Rules (Most have been broken. What did you expect? Wrestling - Lucha Libre - is more spectacle than sport.)
Each week I select a Washington State wine and compare it to the same varietal from another part of the globe. The challengers are selected based on where the pro cycling peloton is racing. Since the pro tour just wrapped up with the Giro d Lombardia, I am taking the opportunity to explore wines from regions the pro racers do not typically visit.
This week the Lucha Vino matchup features a tag team bout for the Pacific North West Pinot Noir Heavy Weight Championship Belt.
Syncline 2009 Pinot Noir teams up with Tunnel Hill 2009 Pinot Noir to take on Oregon and British Columbia represented by Cristom 2007 Sommers and Blue Mountain 2009.
Tale of the Tape
Team BC Oregon:
Blue Mountain 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the Okanogan Valley Appelation
Aged in French Oak for 10 months.
Purchased for $25.99 in Vancouver BC wine shop.
Cristom 2007 Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the following vineyards:
87% Eola -Amity Hills, 7% Willamette Foothills, 5% Dundee Hills, 1% Yamhill-Carlton District (65% Estate fruit)
Aged for 17 months in Burgudian cooperage, 53% new oak.
Purchased for $24.99 at Esquin.
Team Washington:
Syncline 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the Celilo Vineyard (51%) and Underwood Mountain Vineyard (49%) and aged in neutral oak for 11 months.
Purchased for $28.99 at Esquin.
Tunnel Hill 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir all estate grown on the South shores of Lake Chelan.
Purchased at the winery for $24.95.
Round 1. First Opening:
The Blue Mountain Pinot is the first into the ring for Team BC/Oregon and is showing a nose featuring salt-n-pepper, blue berry and some funky smokiness. The palate is buttery with blue berries and a tart cedar and pepper spice finish.
Tunnel Hill checks in for Washington with a nose showing light smoke, salt, pepper and strawberries. The palate has strawberry notes with sweet Asian spices and a finish that tails off into dry tart cherry bark.
This matchup is close with a slight edge going to Tunnel Hill, but before Team Washington can start celebrating the Cristom from Oregon tags into the ring and brings down the hammer with a nose of red berries, all spice and pepper with some peat bog and sea breeze wafting in the background. The palate is full of smokey red berries and mineral with a tart fresh finish.
Tunnel Hill is struggling on the ropes but manages to get a hand out to Syncline and that spells doom for Team BC/Oregon. The Syncline has a nose of sour currants, smoke and underbrush. The palate shows some floral notes along with dark berries and a sweet finish.
The Syncline is definitely the most well balanced of the four luchadors and it shows by finishing off the round in Team Washington's favor.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
The battle rages on with Syncline throwing down some spicy in your face attitude with a nose of sour stone mineral red fruit and cranberry bog. The palate is sweet, tart and spicy showing strawberry, rhubarb and cedar spice box that trails on to the finish.
Trying hard to match up, the Blue Mountain has a nose that mingles cranberry, strawberry and smokey peat bog character. The palate is similar and trails off into a tart cherry pit finish. Nice try but you better tag in your partner.
Cristolm gets a bit tangled in the ropes but recovers to show a nose of dark fruit, earth and light pepper. The palate shows similar character of earth, dark fruit and light cracked pepper that ends with a light tart finish.
Syncline doesn't really need any help against these two challengers, but tags Tunnel Hill in for the fans. Tunnel hill slides into the ring with a nose showing smoky strawberries and brambles with a palate of strawberr and light tart Asian spices that continue on into a tart dry finish.
Round two is dominated by the Washington Pinot Pair. Pinot may be hard to find in Washington, but this team is certainly showing some machismo.
Round 3. One day later
About all that team BC/Oregon can hope for now is a knock out, or at least some points to maintain some street cred.
The Tunnel Hill is skipping around the ring with a nose of strawberry and smokey pepper. The palate is strawberries and cedar spices with a dry cedar finish. Lightening up a bit, but tough to bring down.
Blue Mountain is trying to land some body blows with attempts at a full throttle attack on the senses with a nose showing funky,peat bog, smoke and sandal wood intermixed with notes of dark red berries. The palate is darker with currant and cedar cigar box spices that end in a tart finish. This Canadian Luchador is definitely showing some stamina.
What's this? Syncline has dropped into the match without a legit tag in taking Blue Mountain by surprise. Syncline unleashes some sinister kung fu with a nose of raspberry, brambles, leather and hints of spice. The palate is similarly complex with raspberry and cloves that lead into a spicy clove finish.
Not to be out maneuvered, Cristolm joins forces with Blue Mountain in the ring going two on one. Cristolm still has some oomph left in the tank, but not much. The nose is red berries, with some barnyard funk and peat bog overtones. The palate is showing dry tart dark fruit character that leads to a similar finish.
Even when Cristolm and Blue Mountain join forces they are finding this Washington team to be formidable foes.
Final tally - Washington 3, Team BC/Oregon nil. Better luck next time.
Wrap up and over all observations
It ain't easy to find a Washington Pinot. There seem to be several wineries in the Lake Chelan AVA that are having success with this finicky grape. Tunnel Hill is one of those wineries. Syncline is also doing good things in the Columbia Gorge.
All four of these Luchadors presented solid variations on Pinot Noir. All were worthy combatants earning the following scores: Blue Mountain 86, Cristolm 87, Tunnell Hill and Syncline each with an 88.
Each week I select a Washington State wine and compare it to the same varietal from another part of the globe. The challengers are selected based on where the pro cycling peloton is racing. Since the pro tour just wrapped up with the Giro d Lombardia, I am taking the opportunity to explore wines from regions the pro racers do not typically visit.
This week the Lucha Vino matchup features a tag team bout for the Pacific North West Pinot Noir Heavy Weight Championship Belt.
Syncline 2009 Pinot Noir teams up with Tunnel Hill 2009 Pinot Noir to take on Oregon and British Columbia represented by Cristom 2007 Sommers and Blue Mountain 2009.
Tale of the Tape
Team BC Oregon:
Blue Mountain 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the Okanogan Valley Appelation
Aged in French Oak for 10 months.
Purchased for $25.99 in Vancouver BC wine shop.
Cristom 2007 Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the following vineyards:
87% Eola -Amity Hills, 7% Willamette Foothills, 5% Dundee Hills, 1% Yamhill-Carlton District (65% Estate fruit)
Aged for 17 months in Burgudian cooperage, 53% new oak.
Purchased for $24.99 at Esquin.
Team Washington:
Syncline 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir from the Celilo Vineyard (51%) and Underwood Mountain Vineyard (49%) and aged in neutral oak for 11 months.
Purchased for $28.99 at Esquin.
Tunnel Hill 2009 Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir all estate grown on the South shores of Lake Chelan.
Purchased at the winery for $24.95.
Round 1. First Opening:
The Blue Mountain Pinot is the first into the ring for Team BC/Oregon and is showing a nose featuring salt-n-pepper, blue berry and some funky smokiness. The palate is buttery with blue berries and a tart cedar and pepper spice finish.
Tunnel Hill checks in for Washington with a nose showing light smoke, salt, pepper and strawberries. The palate has strawberry notes with sweet Asian spices and a finish that tails off into dry tart cherry bark.
This matchup is close with a slight edge going to Tunnel Hill, but before Team Washington can start celebrating the Cristom from Oregon tags into the ring and brings down the hammer with a nose of red berries, all spice and pepper with some peat bog and sea breeze wafting in the background. The palate is full of smokey red berries and mineral with a tart fresh finish.
Tunnel Hill is struggling on the ropes but manages to get a hand out to Syncline and that spells doom for Team BC/Oregon. The Syncline has a nose of sour currants, smoke and underbrush. The palate shows some floral notes along with dark berries and a sweet finish.
The Syncline is definitely the most well balanced of the four luchadors and it shows by finishing off the round in Team Washington's favor.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
The battle rages on with Syncline throwing down some spicy in your face attitude with a nose of sour stone mineral red fruit and cranberry bog. The palate is sweet, tart and spicy showing strawberry, rhubarb and cedar spice box that trails on to the finish.
Trying hard to match up, the Blue Mountain has a nose that mingles cranberry, strawberry and smokey peat bog character. The palate is similar and trails off into a tart cherry pit finish. Nice try but you better tag in your partner.
Cristolm gets a bit tangled in the ropes but recovers to show a nose of dark fruit, earth and light pepper. The palate shows similar character of earth, dark fruit and light cracked pepper that ends with a light tart finish.
Syncline doesn't really need any help against these two challengers, but tags Tunnel Hill in for the fans. Tunnel hill slides into the ring with a nose showing smoky strawberries and brambles with a palate of strawberr and light tart Asian spices that continue on into a tart dry finish.
Round two is dominated by the Washington Pinot Pair. Pinot may be hard to find in Washington, but this team is certainly showing some machismo.
Round 3. One day later
About all that team BC/Oregon can hope for now is a knock out, or at least some points to maintain some street cred.
The Tunnel Hill is skipping around the ring with a nose of strawberry and smokey pepper. The palate is strawberries and cedar spices with a dry cedar finish. Lightening up a bit, but tough to bring down.
Blue Mountain is trying to land some body blows with attempts at a full throttle attack on the senses with a nose showing funky,peat bog, smoke and sandal wood intermixed with notes of dark red berries. The palate is darker with currant and cedar cigar box spices that end in a tart finish. This Canadian Luchador is definitely showing some stamina.
What's this? Syncline has dropped into the match without a legit tag in taking Blue Mountain by surprise. Syncline unleashes some sinister kung fu with a nose of raspberry, brambles, leather and hints of spice. The palate is similarly complex with raspberry and cloves that lead into a spicy clove finish.
Not to be out maneuvered, Cristolm joins forces with Blue Mountain in the ring going two on one. Cristolm still has some oomph left in the tank, but not much. The nose is red berries, with some barnyard funk and peat bog overtones. The palate is showing dry tart dark fruit character that leads to a similar finish.
Even when Cristolm and Blue Mountain join forces they are finding this Washington team to be formidable foes.
Final tally - Washington 3, Team BC/Oregon nil. Better luck next time.
Wrap up and over all observations
It ain't easy to find a Washington Pinot. There seem to be several wineries in the Lake Chelan AVA that are having success with this finicky grape. Tunnel Hill is one of those wineries. Syncline is also doing good things in the Columbia Gorge.
All four of these Luchadors presented solid variations on Pinot Noir. All were worthy combatants earning the following scores: Blue Mountain 86, Cristolm 87, Tunnell Hill and Syncline each with an 88.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Introducing Lucha Vino
Based on Lucha Libre - the phenomenally popular form of Spanish & Mexican professional wrestling - Washington wines will do battle with wines from around the globe.
Each week there will be a new match that pits a select Washington wine against an out of state challenger.
Many challengers will be selected based on proximity to UCI cycling races which should provide a wide ranging global perspective to the match ups. Other challengers will be selected based on arbitrary and seemingly random criteria - very similar to how the UCI applies the rules of professional cycling.
Combatants will be matched up based on vintage and varietal. For blends the matchup will be determined based on the dominant varietal and best match on remaining grapes in the blend.
The battles are sure to be epic.
Let the games begin!
Each week there will be a new match that pits a select Washington wine against an out of state challenger.
Many challengers will be selected based on proximity to UCI cycling races which should provide a wide ranging global perspective to the match ups. Other challengers will be selected based on arbitrary and seemingly random criteria - very similar to how the UCI applies the rules of professional cycling.
Combatants will be matched up based on vintage and varietal. For blends the matchup will be determined based on the dominant varietal and best match on remaining grapes in the blend.
The battles are sure to be epic.
Let the games begin!
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