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.

Domaine Notre Dame des Pallieres 2006 Gigondas

*Bottle #80: Domaine Notre Dame des Pallieres 2006 Gigondas Red Rhone Wine
*Price Tag: $17
*Running Tab: $1,124
*Purchased At: Vino Verite, Seattle

Translated Web sites make me giggle.

Being a linguistic of one tongue (excluding two years of Spanish from high school that I don’t remember enough of to even consider my skills as pigeon), I have no room to talk. However, when punctuation ceases to exist and words are used in 100% literal context, it has to make you laugh.

I’m reading the site of this week’s wine, brought to you by the two cousins that run Domaine Notre Dame des Pallieres in Southern Rhône.

Exhibit A:
“In the field, the successive generations, working the land planting vineyards, building the firm to watch if Provencal style, digging cellars, all they have contributed to give these places an atmosphere of calm happy that we feel when the first visit.”

I love calm happy.

How to avoid know-it-alls at the grocery store searching for T-Day wines by being a know-it-all.

I almost fought a 55+ year old woman at the grocery store over “wines that work with Turkey.” We shall call her Puzzled Peggy, for the story’s sake.

We were hub nubbin’, like everyday averagers in the wine section, with no steward to be seen and Peggy looking puzzled. Being a frequenter to the aisle, I offered my assistance, if she needed a recommendation or help, what have you.

Me: “So what are you looking for?”
PP: “Oh, just something to go with turkey.”
Me: “Aren’t we all. You know… Most things go with turkey. Try this Cab with it – it’s lighter and fruity and pretty good!”
PP: “You can NOT pair a Cab with turkey. It will completely overpower it.”
Me: [to myself] I hate people like you.
Me: [aloud] “Okay, yeah, just go with the completely sold out Riesling or Pinot Gris for $8. Have a good day!”

That being said, to prevent running into me at a grocery store and getting yelled at, I’ve prepared a recommended list of “unconventional” varietals that can go with turkey.

“But OMG, that’s a red wine…” recs:
- Coeur de Terre 2007 Pinot Noir: This is the first PN this prestigious Willamette Valley producer has released at this price range of sub $20. Family owned and ran, these guys have been doing PN for over 10 years and know their juice. Bright cherry and strawberry, followed by a blanketed texture of brambles, spice, smoke and grainy minerality. Balanced with acid to cut through the richness of holiday food. Perfect for deep fried turkey.
- Georges Duboeuf 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau: According to the Washington Post, Beaujolais and Thanksgiving go together like a horse and carriage, just as Champagne and New Year’s Eve. Why come? The annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau is always the third Thursday of November, aka exactly one week prior to Turkey Day and meant to be drunk right away. And this is French law. Tres bien! The wine is fruity with red berries, light and lively with acidity and spice. No tannins, but decent structure for a juice bomb. Meant for your uber juicy roasted turk.

“Finally, a white wine” … that isn’t overdone recs:
- Volker Eisele 2007 Gemini: 71% Sauvignon Blanc and 29% Semillon with a smidgen of time in oak, this is the latest from this Napa winery’s wine series that year after year racks in 90+ point wines from the organic estate vineyard. The oak adds in toasted vanilla and spice tones with some depth in tropical and citrus fruits, finishing out bone dry. It’s just asking for cranberries or stuffing.
- Quady 2007 Essensia Orange Muscat: Yes, this is a dessert wine. Which means more sugar and more booze, awriigh. The winemaker from Quady also used to work in “pyrotechnics” in the 70s… I love it! $17. Heady juice, not necessarily in the booze and sugar, but added with the fruit flavors of apricots, butterscotch and vanilla, there is some serious potency. This is all defied with some crisp acidity to balance it out. It also helps when the International Wine Review says it is the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie pairing wine.

And now… You are thirsty! Go and drink wine. And laugh at Puzzled Peggy because you know what you are getting. Ha!

Love you,
Erin

La Corte 2005 Negroamaro Puglia

*Bottle #79: La Corte 2005 Vigne Vecchio Negroamaro Puglia
*Price Tag: $14
*Running Tab: $1,107
*Purchased At: Jack Cellars, Seattle

In light of this glorious evening in which Stephan and whatsherface finally did the deed in “The Vampire Diaries” and the “Twilight” sequel comes out in less than an hour, I drink red wine because it looks like blood, and because I have to drink it.

Don’t judge me because of these recent fads (I’ve never read those silly books), I have been a supporter of the vampire-sex-appeal-dramas since Sarah Michelle Gellar was kicking sharp-teethed ass in chunky-heel boots and bad bangs.

And the beverage I choose to quench my thirst (wine, not blood, weirdos) is one of ancient times and cultures, much like the age of many brooding, in vogue vamps most women under 40 are shamelessly fantasizing about tonight.

Okay, enough… I’m taking it back to the roots of wine, for the most part. Technically, most believe the Greeks may have put the vine in the ground, but I tried some last week, and I really don’t plan on going down that path again. $4 glasses of Retsina (so-called “Wine of the Gods” aged in pine barrels) ruined me possibly for life.

The other old country, Italy, is one of the oldest wine-producing countries, full of some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. With vineyards planted by the Romans nearly 2,200 years ago, these people have got the vine down to a craft. Or at least one would hope.

This week (sorry, it’s been awhile), I take on Puglia, a wine region of Italy that is just starting to be taken seriously. The “heel” of the Italian boot, Puglia (or Apulia in Italian) has long been producing bulk wine and racks up numbers that nearly doubles the amount produced in Australia alone.

Wine Meets the Real Housewives

I blame Seattle winos for making me watch “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

The leading topic of conversation on Thursday night’s Washington Wine Commission’s 20Something Wine Preview with “social media leaders” (yours truly included?) was the deranged, high-class bitches of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

Now I sit – still hungover from the tasting since I had to chug to prove to Marcus Pape of WineChatr.com that I was not a (gasp!) snob – watching this heinous, ridiculously highly-rated show and am completely captivated. Damn it, another show that’s sucked me in!

No worries, winos, you can still sleep at night. Your cultural and (anti)social Facebook and Twitter leaders of the greater Seattle area discussed several other keynotes including stealing a bottle of wine and drinking it in the bathroom/hallway, Michael Jackson’s children (RIP) and how to correctly spell host/sommelier Shayne Bjornholm’s name.

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