"Move Over Dear"

Just remember that simple (albeit not likely used) phrase and you will be on your way to enjoying another top finds from our wine buyers. The grape is Mourvedre, and the vineyard is Cline Cellars and the grape is grown in Oakley California, about 40 miles east of San Francisco. Warm days and cool nights offer an ample environment to grow this highly concentrated grape on vines that range from 80 to 120 years old.

The mourvedre grape is a typical grape used in blending grown in Southern France and Spain. The Spanish names of the grape, Monastrell and Mataro are familiar, and the grape is also a principal grape to improve color and structure in Cotes du Rhone, Chateuneuf-de pape, and Cotes de Provence. In Spain, the grape is commonly blended with Grenach (Garnacha).

This grape was once very widely planted in California, but now only a few vines remain, and Cline owns most of those vineyards.

Soft tannins and flavors of chocolate, rich plums, and cherries make this a very delicious wine. It is very easy to drink on its own or with a big steak, such as our Porcini Mushroom Dry Rubbed Grilled Ribeye. The lush mouth feel of chocolate covered cherries belies the higher 15% alcohol found in this wine. At $8.50 a glass and $33.00 a bottle we have uncovered a real winner here. Come in on Monday and purchase this (or any) bottle for half price.

By the glass wines, value finds, and darn good grapes

I wanted to kick off the blog hi-lighting an aspect of our list that is the core philosophy of everything we try to do here at 518...quality, value, and freshness. now it may seem like the word "freshness" may not apply so much to wine, but considering the by the glass pour we are now offering, the Lange Pinot Noir, after trying this wine, I think you may agree. The wine, at $10.25 a glass and $40.00 a bottle certainly offers the value and quality aspect.

When we taste wines to put on the Glass Pour Specials list, we are looking for wines that are unique and special. The wines may be a varietal that is not very common, or a little known winery that deserves some recognition. The wine may be a super value to us and to our customers due to the volume buying we can do. We work very close with our purveyors to pick unique wines that are quality and value driven to offer our guests a little something different when choosing a wine... and the Lange hits a home run on all fronts.

The Lange vineyard is located in the Dundee Hills area of the Willamette valley in Oregon, and with it's steep hills and red soil is considered the best area in Oregon to grow the Pinot Noir grape.

These are the tasting notes from the vineyard:


"Our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is always approachable upon release and the 2006 i s a very friendly wine that is sure to be appreciated by a broad audience. This juicy palate pleaser is a wine that showcases a warm, dry vintage that demanded every ounce of energy from the Lange production staff . The nose entices with bright , red raspberry , candied cherries and a hint of allspice while the palate displays luscious red plum, red currant and berry characteristics complimented by an earthy note of minerality in the finish. An expansive mid-palate, lively acidity , and a succulent texture that is indicative o f the 2006 vintage make this wine a well - rounded, exceptionally balanced and varietally correct representation of the grape for which the Willamette Valley i s known."

So what does all that really mean? Upon tasting our staff to this wine, nearly everyone was in agreement that this Pinot is a classic representation of a truly great Willamette Valley wine at an affordable price. Here is everything you could want in a Pinot Noir.

Blaine

518 West Italian Cafe Wine Blog

Welcome to our blogspot. Our goal and intention here is to host a discussion about the wines on our list, how we pick those wines, and our comments about them. Feel free to post your own comments pertaining to a wine, or any other wine features that you would like to see.

thanks for visiting,
Blaine