TRAINSIPPING. SIXTY wines were tasted & tracked over the course of SIX days, as I sipped & shared my tasting notes from a sleeper car while traveling by train across the country from Chicago to San Francisco and back again. Of these sixty wines represented from the railways, over a third of them were from Northwest Wines To You. Below is a re-cap of what I found when exploring each.

Dukes Family Vineyards 2009 Alyssa Pinot Noir
toasted cranberry walnut bread
with red & black currant preserves
This Pinot presents dense and concentrated aromatics
followed by flavors of raspberry gelatin parfait and cherry soda on the palate.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

CAW 2008 Pinot Noir
pomegranate, sweet hay covered in dew
cherry cheesecake and cinnamon candies
As soon as it lands on your palate, this Pinot lifts off with bright, sharp flavors
that project with a fabulous formula of tannin & acid.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

LOVE A Wine Company 2009 'Pour It' Dessert Syrah
mincemeat pie, raisin bread french toast
coriander and rich plum sauce
A Port style Syrah, this wine is defined by its density of flavor that sips without subtlety.
Not only does it talk the talk, but it walks the walks.
SEE it here.

Trout Lily Ranch 2008 Chehalem Valley Pinot Noir
vibrant violets, green apple
baby powder and raw vanilla bean
Light to start & dense to finish, this Pinot finishes with delectable cherry notes & well-rounded acid.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Ghost Hill Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir Blanc
pineapple pulp, lemon meringue, white peach
and sonnets of salt water taffy
Incredible acid makes this wine fantastic for food or for solo sipping.
With the richness of its flavor maintained on the mid-palate, the finish is one with a long & vivid nature.
SEE it here. BUY it here.
 
LOVE A Wine Company 2009 'De Vine' Dessert Wine
silky nectar, velvet caramel
and cashmere dark honey
It tastes as smooth at it smells
with a sensual character that slides across your palate.
It’s good. It’s REALLY good.
SEE it here.

ROCO Winery 2009 Private Stash Pinot Noir
cherry cordial, red rose petals
strawberry licorice and gingerbread
Soft to start and firm to finish, it’s a solid & stunning wine from the Wit’s End Vineyard.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Cleo's Hill 2008 Pinot Noir
cherry preserves, dried eucalyptus
talc powder and a vase of violets
Consistent in weight and flavor across the palate,
this Pinot finishes with prominent acid presented with cranberry notes.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

LOVE A Wine Company 2008 Pinot Noir
raspberry preserves, dried bay leaves
red currants and anise
Dramatic herbal notes on the nose are followed by sharp keys of forward red fruit on the palate.
This Pinot concludes with a dry finish polished up in bright acid.
SEE it here.

Carlton Hill 2008 Estate Pinot Noir
fresh, ripe cherries, light brown sugar
pomegranate puree and cinnamon stick
The taste & texture of this wine evolves as it crosses your palate.
With the closing of your lips comes the opening of this Pinot.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Nicolas Bazan Wines 2008 Una Vida
intense violets, perfumed talc, lavender notes
and raw vanilla extract
A spectrum of red & black fruit peak on the palate then come down with a smooth, sultry mouth feel.
Firm, finite flavors are light to the touch & lovely through the finish.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Nicolas Bazan Wines 2007 Mis Nietos
cranberry chutney, red apple
wild flower potpourri and raw sugar cane
Elevated by a high platform of acid,
this Pinot broadcasts its bouquet on the palate at center stage with every sip.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Cliff Creek Cellars 2005 Claret
blueberry buckle, black licorice, black berry
and lavender essential oil
The berry portion of the bouquet is built on a foundation of rich spice and sharp acid found on the palate.
Cab Franc heavy, this beautiful blend is balanced out with Cab Sauv & Merlot.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Abbey Creek Vineyard 2010 'Melange' White Blend
baked pear, red apple pulp
honey and hazelnut notes
Upfront acid and backstage fruit give this wine’s performance
texture and depth with moderate tannin at its conclusion.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

AlexEli 2009 Bubela's Blend
ripe lemon, chamomile talc
black tea and intense cantaloupe
The semi-sparkling nature of this wine raises all its flavor to the top of your palate,
as every nuance become effervescent & dynamic.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Ardiri 2009 Due Stati Pinot Noir
a garden of roses, a field of violets
and a ripe bush of raspberries
While delicate on the palate, this Pinot Noir has a degree of acid & flavor that is anything but fragile.
Intense aromatics are accented by vibrant notes on the palate.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Anthony Dell Cellars 2007 Sunset Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir
fresh dill, boysenberry
autumn leaves and intense red cherry
A solid structure of tannin serves as a base
on which prominent flavors and punctuating acid is built.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

A Blooming Hill Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir
black cherry jam, nutmeg
raspberry sorbet and red ink
A gymnast of a Pinot, this wine's tannin & acid perform flawlessly on the balance beam
and stick the landing on the palate.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Johan Vineyards 2009 Estate Pinot Noir
cranberry sauce, ripe olive, raw sugar cane
and sweet black cherries
The first impression on the palate
leaves an imprint that causes one to pause & pour more.
The spectrum of flavor on the nose is spread with succulence across the palate.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Artisanal Wine Cellars 2009 Dukes Family Vineyard Pinot Noir
sweet red apple, fresh cranberry
raspberry syrup and french vanilla
Bright red fruit is gathered and held by vanilla notes on the palate
then seamed together with light acid through the finish.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Domaine Pouillon 2009 Katydid
red cherry, blueberry
blackberry and dark caramel
Red, black & blue flavors are harnessed by dark carmel notes & gripping tannin.
This red blend races across your palate with acid that takes the reigns from start to finish.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

ROCO Winery 20009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
red cherry skins, delicate marmalade
toasted brioche and raspberry tart
Flavors blend & bind with one another for an experience on the palate both delicate & decadent.
With the finish you beg for another beginning.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Robison Ranch Cellars 2008 Syrah
dark red plum, black berry syrup
baking spices with sea salt topped caramel
You almost have to strap in as you sip.
The intensity of this wine increases on the palate and maxes out on the finish with rustic tannin & rigid acid.
SEE it here. BUY it here.

Cheers to wine & wayfaring!
Allie Merrick
NW Wine Correspondent
Tweet