Drink Northwest: A Wine Blog
Pinot Noir, How Do I Love Thee? Tuesday, February 14th 2012 by
NW Wine Correspondent - Allie Merrick
 Pinot Noir, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... 1. Of all the red wines, you are the best conversationalist. Some are too forward and loud. Others are too laid back and soft spoken. You, however, always have something to say on the palate. And when you speak, you do so with balance worth talking about. 2. I love to dine with you. Don’t get me wrong, when it’s just just you and me with no food involved, you’re great! But when it’s time to dine, you’re mine. Your acid is unrivaled by most any other red. You make every dining experience more memorable. 3. You are great to lay down. Not to go on and on about your acid, but when you are right you are so very right. I don’t feel the need to rush our relationship. I can enjoy laying you down, allowing you to you evolve, and opening you up when you are ready. Whether it takes months or years, you are worth the wait. 4. The fairest of the land. Not only the fairest, but the sexiest too, there is a feminine, elegance you embody. And while I may be dressed in casual attire, it seems you’re always wearing something more formal in style. Please know your fine formality doesn’t intimidate me. Rather, it inspires me to sip slower and enjoy your elegance. 5. Loving you isn’t easy, but it’s what I chose. Many other varietals are far easier to work with. Simpler to manage in the vineyard, they may be, but I’m not looking for easy. Again, I’m all about elegance, and so are you. That is why I love thee. Cheers to Pinot Noir! Allie Merrick NW Wine Correspondent Tweet 2012 Tasting Games: Round 1: Recap Thursday, February 2nd 2012 by
NW Wine Correspondent - Allie Merrick
Round 1 of the Northwest Wines To You 2012 Tasting Games featured Nicolas Bazan Wines. Allie Merrick, the NW Wine Correspondent, broadcasted LIVE with commentary contributed by the featured Tasting Team. Jim Wiskerchen & the Blue Tooth Wine Society from Arizona represented well with a combined score of 310 points. Three Pinot Noirs, the 2007 Mis Nietos, the 2008 Una Vida & the 2009 Haydee were tasted & talked about. While each had favorable qualities to offer, it was the 2008 Una Vida that was the favorite of the night. A special thanks goes out to Nicolas Bazan Wines & to the Blue Tooth Wine Society for a memorable first round. Join us for Round 2 on February 29th. The sipping will start at 6:00pm PST. Click HERE to learn more. If you'd like to taste along with us, click HERE to get the wine shipped to you. Tweet 2012 Tasting Games: Round 1: Nicolas Bazan Wines Monday, January 16th 2012 by
NW Wine Correspondent - Allie Merrick
 Ding! Ding! Ding! Round 1 of the NWWTY 2012 Tasting Games will soon begin. Our first virtual tasting features Nicolas Bazan Wines. Dr. Nicolas Bazan, owner of Nicolas Bazan Wines, will be joining me on Wednesday, February 25th at 6:00pm PST to share the story of his wine. Not only will we be talking. We’ll be tasting as well. (Yes. I love my job.) The 2007 Mis Nietos, 2008 Una Vida & 2009 Haydee will be opened & explored, as I will be joined by the first tasting team to compete in the 2012 Tasting Games - the Blue Tooth Wine Society from Arizona. Together we’ll define each wine in our own words as we share our thoughts on what we see, smell & taste. During this virtual tasting, the team will gain participation points for every comment they contribute to the conversation. Here’s a little prelude to the pouring. Dr. Nicolas Bazan is a neuroscientist who resides in New Orleans. He is the Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the LSU Health Sciences Center. Born in Argentina, his dedication & devotion to studying the mind brought him to New York (Columbia University) and Boston (Harvard) for his education. A neuroscientist by day, Dr. Bazan became a novelist by night. He wrote a story named after the main character in his book - ‘Una Vida’ which translates to ‘One Life’. Another translation to mention is that of his book being translated into a movie that is soon to be released. A book. A movie. It doesn’t stop there. Una Vida is also a wine. The Nicolas Bazan Una Vida Pinot Noir has a story all its own to tell. Want to join us for the first virtual tasting of the 2012 Tasting Games? We’d love to have you join us as we taste the three expressions of Pinot Noir from Nicolas Bazan Wines and talk to Dr. Nicolas Bazan himself. As a spectator, you are certainly welcome to sip along at home and participate in our online conversation if you wish. Here’s what you will need to do. 1) Click HERE to order the wine we’ll be tasting (at a discounted rate for the occasion). 2) Get online and go HERE on Wednesday, January 25th at 6:00pm PST. Cheers, Allie Merrick NW Wine Correspondent Tweet Happy New Vintage! Tuesday, January 3rd 2012 by
Allie Merrick - NWWTY Wine Correspondent
 With the New Year comes a new vintage. And what will this one bring? That song is yet to be sung. With 2011 still in barrel or held in bottle and 2012 in the vineyard, the only tales that can be told are those from previous vintages. Here is the tune of Oregon’s 2011 vintage, as hummed by Harvey Steiman (Wine Spectator): “For four months, 2011 vintage looked like a disaster waiting to happen for Oregon vintners. The vines produced a huge crop and it didn't look as if conditions would ever get warm enough to ripen it. It was, in the end, the latest vintage in Oregon history. Most wineries didn't start picking until after Oct. 15, and were still picking in the first week in November. Most of the grapes were brought in under warm, sunny skies. Rain was forecast in late September and early October, but only a few showers materialized. Alcohols were low, about the same as in 2010, but color and flavor surprised vintners with their depth. They are calling it a miracle vintage.” The lyrics of the new vintage were sung out in this exclusive vineyard report with Rebecca Marie Pittock-Shouldis (Winemaker at Ghost Hill Cellars). Listen to audio captured onsite at the Bayliss-Bower Vineyard. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If this cliche holds true, Oregon's 2011 vintage will be one worth singing praises to. Let us await what comes with glasses half full (not half empty) with the fruits of labor we have in hand. As we ring in the new vintage, let's reflect on vintages past one bottle at a time... 2005 Anthony Dell Cellars - 2005 Rio Red 2006 Artisanal Wine Cellars - 2006 Pinot Noir Adams Vineyard Reserve 2007 Kelley Fox Wines - 2007 Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard 2008 AlexEli Vineyard - 2008 Riesling 2009 Stag Hollow Wines - 2009 Dolcetto Yamhill Carlton 2010 Purple Hands Wines - 2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Cheers to vintages those old & those new! Something old. Something new. When it comes to wine, both will do. As we wait for the new vintage to come at last, Let’s enjoy what we sip from vintages past. Santé, Allie Merrick NWWTY Wine Correspondent Labels: 2011 Vintage, Northwest Wines To You, Purple Hands Wines, Stag Hollow Wines, AlexEli Vineyard, Kelley Fox Wines, Artisanal Wine Cellars, Anthony Dell Cellars, Rebecca Marie Pittock-Shouldis, Ghost Hill Cellars, Allie Merrick
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'Tis The Season! Wednesday, December 21st 2011 by
NWWTY
'Tis the season to toast the past & raise our glasses to the future.
Cheers to you & yours! Northwest Wines To You
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