Portteus 2007 Bistro Red

*Bottle #88: Portteus 2007 Rattlesnake Hills Bistro Red
*Price Tag: $6.99
*Running Tab: $1,211
*Retailer: Cost-Plus World Market, Seattle (Market location)

Once upon a time in an era, long, long ago called “The 70’s,” Yakima was the place to be. People did more than summer there on the river, the local government was starting to base itself in the area and the supple soils of the land were the bees knees into maintaining farmer status yet still gaining innovation credentials through a crazy little thing called wine.

After the boom hit California, a few guys caught on and starting planting some dead-stick-like looking things into that unique soil in Eastern Washington resulting into today’s classy chic shtick on alcoholism: a Washington Wino.

Cabs in Napa

Like the yellow ones with insolent, cheap and LA-minded drivers… I saw two of them in the small town of Napa, California.

Yes, life goal achieved: I went to “the land of food and wine,” according to the Terminator, I mean, Governor Schwarzenegger. And Napa, California, has two taxi cabs and a shit ton of wine and food.

First stop on this too-short, jammed “vacation” weekend: San Francisco aka the Golden Gate City, Frisco or simply, “The City.”

First stop goal: Eat, drink and be merry – in the most literal (and somewhat biblical) sense that we can be. We had approximately 19 hours in the city to blast through an itinerary placed loosely for us by a local friend of a friend, noting all of the “not to miss” yet anti-tourist regional joints. Mentioning a few…

La Ferme Julien 2006 Blanc

*Bottle #87: La Ferme Julien Blanc 2006 Côtes du Lubéron
*Price Tag: $7
*Running Tab: $1,204
*Retailer: Trader Joe’s, Seattle (Queen Anne location)

Simplicity is utterly and unworthily underrated. And I state of mind I rarely venture into considering my written verbosity. However, I do respect it. Simplicity is a big, warm blanket or a predictable TV show or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Or your “neighborhood grocery store” where the employees are dressed in floral island print shirts and are boxed in a tiki atmosphere with faux bamboo-boarded walls. Simplicity is Trader Joe’s.

With somewhere just under 300 stores nationwide in over half of the states of this supply-and-demand driven nation of ours, Trader Joe’s is the singleman-pocket-pincher’s safe haven. Many pre-made meals and pre-packaged portions are sized for 1-2 people, the term “organic” shows up frequently without its typically matching high pricetag and the majority of the wine selection skims under $8.

At $6.99, simplicity couldn’t be sweeter, or cheaper and therefore, extremely satisfying even if it’s shit in a bottle.

Château la Canorgue 2007 Côtes du Lubéron

*Bottle #86: Château la Canorgue 2007 Côtes du Lubéron
*Price Tag: $18
*Running Tab: $1,197
*Retailer: McCarthy & Schiering, Seattle (Queen Anne location)

2006 was a good year for Château la Canorgue. More specifically, as in with the Ridley Scott movie, “A Good Year.” That beautiful winery was the scenery for 70% of the film that was shot at la Canorgue’s idyllic property, including the 17th century château faced on the well-packaged label.

And wisely sold to me as so – I totally look like a Russell Crowe fan. So what if he’s dreamy and super angry and in a band and won lots of awards… Don’t judge me!

The movie tells the story of a young investment banker, played by Crowe, who inherits his uncle’s vineyard in Provence and château, where the gorgeous estate is made to look a run-down and bankrupt farm.

Olivier Rivière 2008 Rayos Uva Rioja

*Bottle #85: Olivier Rivière 2008 Rayos Uva Rioja
*Price Tag: $18
*Running Tab: $1,179
*Retailer: Champion’s Wine Cellars, Seattle

When a eno-enthused Frenchman suggests a bottle of vino (regardless of its origin), you willingly accept. Even if the vintage isn’t listed, the varietals are unknown and the label is bland, you willingly accept. Especially when he is a client of yours…

Four hours later, with a failed cheese sauce (Harvati was a bad idea) for Trader Joe’s gnocchi that were accidentally boiled to a lovely soggy texture (don’t underestimate the recipe), any wine was needed.

Enter the Frenchman’s Spanish Rioja rec: the 2008 “Rayos Uva” from Olivier Rivière, Rioja made by a Frenchman… Getting the connection here…

Pappas Wine Co. 2008 Pinot Blanc

*Bottle #84: Pappas Wine Co. 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc
*Price Tag: $16
*Running Tab: $1,161
*Retailer: Sixth Avenue Wine Seller, Pacific Place, Seattle

From what I’ve been told, husband and wife operated-companies can be the best of times and the worst of times. I would think the path to doom comes down to the fact that you take your work home with you and take your home to work with you.

However, when it comes to any type of relationship, be it with your business or soul mate, it all about the effort put forth that makes it a success.

Likewise, when husband and wife duo, Stewart Boedecker and Athena Pappas, couldn’t come together on winemaking styles, they did what any stubborn individual would do – go their own way and try to kick more ass than your opponent, er, partner, with an outcome of two critically-acclaimed styles. And that’s just about their Pinot Noirs.

Qupe 2007 Santa Ynez Valley Marsanne

*Bottle #83: Qupe 2007 Santa Ynez Valley Marsanne
*Price Tag: $18 (fortuitous luck with a half bottle for $6)
*Running Tab: $1,145

Spotted. Frozen in front of her laptop for an attempted non-work related typing sesh. Has Erin Thomas’ composition style hit a rough patch or has she just turned a lazy corner onto Excuse Street?

Some have tried to disparage with snarky Twitter remarks, explicit commentary by pissed-off industry folk have been posted and eye-rolls performed in perfect tween disposition were witnessed.

But despite criticisms and a recent 16 day absence, I am back. 2010 is my masochistic bitch and wine is my slightly sexy, slightly scary whip.

All of that excessive verbiage being said… With a vengeance, my resolution is to suck up my burnout due to job madness and still pump out some quality prose for your reading pleasure.

Seeing Stars, Bubbles and Sparks

No sex in the Champagne room. Or is it no Champagne in the sex room?

Whatever your pleasures may be this New Year’s Eve, let’s make it a Champagne alternative bubbly festivity. I say that not because I don’t like the real thing (I really do), but because it’s cheaper and we’re all a little downmarket this year, aren’t we?

So bring in the auxiliary! Cava and Prosecco and Cremant glore!

That’s right, the glass you’re handed at midnight on Thursday at some swanky joint most likely will not be legitimate Champagne, but a MUCH more affordable sparkler in its place that you, contently intoxicated at 11:55pm, will surely and wholeheartedly consume in entirety, fully believing you downed Dom Perignon (a vintage Brut, of course), Vegas-style.

And why shouldn’t you? This shit is good. And duly noted as an affordable option.

Here they are, my strategically mapped out “consumer-friendly” options for your NYE extravaganza. Be it you are supplying these wines for party guests or you are fusing it into a flask hidden in your belt/pocket/flashy undies to drink under the table at a should-be-illegally exorbitant Belltown partay.

The Bunnell Family Cellars 2007 “VIF”

*Bottle #82: The Bunnell Family Cellars 2007 Columbia Valley VIF
*Price Tag: $30 (Homie hook-up for me this time though)
*Running Tab: $1,139

A rarity that the wine industry stills holsters close to its heart and main functioning is the concept of “family.”

With the major holidays of the year nearing, this concept is reflected upon, acknowledged, appreciated and even tried. However, I believe it to be an innate human characteristic to have a general, overall draw and respect to the concept of family.

This rarity is held with high honors in the wine industry as well, with the concept being slapped on labels for more than just a marketing ploy, but as a mission statement for the winery itself.

“Family Cellars,” “Family Estate” or “Family Winery” are all titles that are not loosely coupled.

One such story is that of The Bunnell Family Cellars. After harvests spent with Chateau Ste. Michelle, Kendall-Jackson and Beringer, Ron Bunnell branched off on his own to create small lot, hand-crafted Rhone-style gem factory from the greater Columbia Valley and posting up in Prosser. Referring to his specific blending practices, Ron’s wines are “vins de l’esprit,” meaning “wines of the creative spirit.” To take the experience one step further, Ron’s wife, Susan, brings a “culinary flair” to their tasting room with her acclaimed cookery. Together, they offer Prosser an exclusive bon vivant escapade.

2007 Renato Ratti Colombè Dolcetto d’Alba

*Bottle #81: 2007 Renato Ratti Colombè Dolcetto d’Alba
*Price Tag: $15
*Running Tab: $1,139
*Purchased At: Garagiste, Seattle

I’m on this wine mailing list that I happen to believe was one of the innovators of Seattle-area online wine retail – Garagiste.

Whossawhat’s it? Yeah, it’s a neat concept. Their Web site defines itself as so:
“Garagiste:\ga-räzh-eest\ n fr. garer to dock, to protect
1. a passionate winemaker who creates fine limited production wines(occasionally in his or her garage)
2. a selective, Seattle-based retail emporium dedicated to the wine artisan and consumer…”

And they do so through email.

They’ve received numerous nods from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Paul Gregutt, the Seattle P-I (RIP print!) and creator John Rimmerman got buzz for a 2008 Innovator of the Year title.

Needless to say, this “loosely-Seattle-based” retailer does amazing business, through their multi-daily email blasts not only detailing the wine but enabling the consuming to get to know the wine and winemaker better than most opportunities.

Back when I was more eager about spending money early last year, I purchased a few bottles from Garagiste (and got exceedingly lost in Sodo trying to find the warehouse to pick it up). One of them being this week’s 2007 Renato Ratti “Colombè” Dolcetto d’Alba.

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