Mt Tabor Fine Wines

Spanish reds have become, over the last few years, one of the top categories in the world of wine for excellent value. Ten to fifteen years ago it was all about Australia………remember them? Next, Argentina stepped up and those deep, full Malbecs that still hold their fair share of the market. But overall, it’s the reds of Spain that have the stronghold now. Ten years ago most of the wines we had access to were from Rioja and Ribera Del Duero but the number of regions available now are overwhelming! Navarra, Toro, Valencia, Bierzo, Rias Baixas, Basque………….it just goes on and on. Even Madrid has its own DO.

I’ve selected some of those so called excellent values as well as some other fun things. There’s a wine from the Canary Islands that I think is intriguing. Mineral, spice, some blueberry……..just unusual and different than any of the other wines.
There is a classic, traditional Reserva from The Rioja in the Marques De Murrietta. And…..I was really impressed with the Cabernet from the Penedes, a great region for the grape. I’d say it tastes like a $50 Bordeaux to me. Anyway, all in all, a fun, informative tasting from your pals at Mt Tabor Fine Wines.

PS- Get excited by a new offering from us. I just put some honey bee hives in our back yard up on Mt Tabor, with the help of Damian, the bee guy from Bee Local. We’ll be offering our “Thompson Terroir” Mt Tabor honey from the lovely bees foraging from our back yard. It will be delicious. However, don’t look for any honey/ wine pairings in the future!

The Lineup

2012 Lezaun, Tempranillo “No Sulphites Added”/ Navarra $11

2011 Bodegas Sindoa, El Chaparral “Old Vine Garnacha”/ Navarra $15

2009 Palacios Remondo, La Montesa/ Rioja $17

2010 Tierras De Aponte, Tinto/ Abona-Canary Islands $19

2007 Marques De Murrieta, Reserva/ Rioja $25

Premium Pour ($3)

2005 Jané Ventura, Cabernet Sauvignon “Mas Vilella”/ Penedes $35

Sandy Thompson, Proprietor

Mt. Tabor Fine Wines
4316 SE Hawthorne Bl
Portland, Or. 97215
(503)235-4444

Another idea for a Friday tasting theme. The concept here is to pour wines that are ideal for back deck sipping or just when you want something refreshing. We begin our adventure with a beautiful Prosecco from the Veneto region of Italy followed by what I call the “lemonade” of the wine world, Txakoli. This wine hails from the Basque region of Spain and is refreshment in a glass. Very light with low alcohol and a slight spritz this is a perfect aperitif on a warm summer day. Ditto everything except the spritz for the Muscadet from one of the finest producers in the region, Luneau Papin. The Bisci has become a house favorite when we’re feeling fancy. I can’t remember having a better Verdicchio. You may notice that we finish up with two rosé’s from the south of France. I must admit that these are my very two favorites of the year so far. Last time we did a rosé tasting we featured the big brother to the Clos Cibonne; the reserve. Over the last month or so I’ve had both wines a number of times and it has become clear that I prefer the “regular” bottling. And it’s $5 cheaper. Such a deal. The Domaine Marquiliani may just be my favorite of all. This tiny winery on Corsica is a rosé specialist and that’s the only wine they make. I hear that they also make the finest olive oil on Corsica but I haven’t had the pleasure. If you ever wonder what to drink when it’s warm out, this tasting’s for you!

The Lineup

NV Casa Coste Piane, Prosecco/ Valdobbiadene, Italy $22

2012 Arregi, Getariako Txakolina/ Basque region, Spain $16

2011 Luneau Papin, Muscadet “Clos des Allees”/ Loire Valley, France $17

2011 Bisci, Verdicchio Di Matelica/ Marche, Italy $17

2011 Clos Cibonne, Tibouren Rosé/ Provence, France $25

Premium Pour ($3)

2012 Domaine de Marquiliani, Vin De Corse Rosé/ Corsica, France $28

Sandy Thompson, Proprietor

Mt. Tabor Fine Wines
4316 SE Hawthorne Bl
Portland, Or. 97215
(503)235-4444

It’s fitting that we end our May tastings with Oregon Pinot Noir. I mean, after all, May is Oregon Pinot Noir Month around these parts.

I was telling someone the other day that with vintages 2010 and 2011 being the focus of our Pinot tastings over the past year or two it’s been difficult to find wines that are ready to drink. The best 2010’s will eventually become some of the greatest ever, but……………………they need time. They are not forward, easy drinking young wines. I consider a vintage like this to be cerebral, needing ones total focus and imagination to determine where these delicate, oh so beautiful wines will end up. Smart consumers bought their favorite wines, put them in their cellars and just trusted that they will become things of beauty. Believe me, in the best cases, they will. With the 2011’s, most just need some bottle age as they have only been under cork for a short while. Again, a delicate vintage of “pretty” Pinots.

This week I’ve chosen Pinots that can be consumed young. Some will take well to a number years in a cool, dark, space. Others are ready to go now. There are a number of interesting stories behind the wines being poured. Too many to bore you with now but I’d be happy to discuss these at the tasting. I’m sure many of you aren’t familiar with Twelve or Two Messengers or Seufert. Of course we all know about our friend Steve at Lenné. He should be here to answer your questions about the 2010 version of his “Estate” Pinot, always a superb wine.

The Lineup

2009 Twelve, Estate/ Yamhill-Carlton $15

2011 Cameron, Willamette Valley $19

2010 Anam Cara, Vineyard Selection/ Chehalem Mountains $23

2011 Two Messengers/ Willamette Valley $29

2009 Seufert Wines, “Vista Hills Vineyard”/ Dundee Hills $35

Premium Pour ($5)

2010 Lenné Vineyard, Estate/ Yamhill-Carlton $45

Sandy Thompson, Proprietor

Mt. Tabor Fine Wines
4316 SE Hawthorne Bl
Portland, Or. 97215
(503)235-4444

I can’t believe it. Our Joanna is leaving us for the Midwestern metropolis of Chicago. She’s been one of the “angles” at our Friday night tastings for almost 10 years and many of you have developed close friendships with her. I know we’ll all miss her terribly and this Friday will be a good opportunity to come in and say goodbye as she’ll be working her final tasting (tears!).

And while you’re here you can taste a flight of delicious Chardonnay from Italy, California and, of course, France. It’ll be fun to compare wines made from the same grape, grown in different climates and soils. Always informative and fun, but…………………………you have to pay attention!

See you, and Joanna, on Friday,
Sandy

The Lineup

2012 Domaine La Croix Belle/ Cotes De Thongue- S. France $12

2010 Foxglove/ Central Coast, California $14

2010 Olivier Morin, Chablis/ Burgundy, France $20

2010 Branko/ Collio-Friuli, Italy $22

2010 Deux Montille, Rully/ Burgundy, France $35

Premium Pour ($5)

2011 Philippe Chavy, Meursault “Narvaux”/ Burgundy, France $49

Sandy Thompson, Proprietor

Mt. Tabor Fine Wines
4316 SE Hawthorne Bl
Portland, Or. 97215
(503)235-4444

I was thinking it was time to mix up the tasting themes. I wanted to do a Tuscan tasting because there are two wines that I’ve been in love with for months and I realized that we haven’t done a Tuscan for a long time. When it comes to Italy, with a few exceptions, most of the “great” wines of the country come from Tuscany and the Piemonte. Like everywhere else, you have fruity reds that taste like they could come from anywhere, wines manipulated in the winery in order to make them friendly but which strips the terroir right out of the wine. But when you taste a Tuscan that smells and tastes like it’s for sure from Italy, that’s terrific. But when you taste one that smells like the hills you’ve driven thru in Chianti or Montepulciano or Montalcino…………….now that’s thrilling and exciting! The two wines I mentioned above are just that. Thrilling. First up, the Poderi Sanguineto Vino Nobile De Montepulciano. This, to me, is the epitome of the terroir of the area. I tend to find many Vino Nobile have that lead pencil, earthy, clean dirt thing. All it takes is a whiff and there it is. Tuscany! The second one, La Fornacina, is of the best Rosso De Montalcino’s I’ve ever had. Then we move to the slopes of Mt Etna in Sicily. For years this terroir was neglected and most wines were made at the other end of the Island where often the wines are overripe and pruny due to the intense heat, Wine importer exceptionale Marc De Grazia was looking for a place to settle down in Italy and discovered old vines neglected high up on Etna where the climate is more moderate. He has established a bench mark estate called Terre Nere. For the past ten years or so he has set the gold standard for Sicily.The “Guardiola” that we’re pouring is one of his best cuvees made from 40 year old vines from a two hectare vineyard. The wine is stunning. Enough, I can hear you snoozing so I’m out. These are Italian reds that should be tasted by any serious wine lover!

Sandy

The Lineup

2012 Regaliali, Le Rosé/ Sicily $14

2011 Poggio Romita, Chianti Colle Fiorintino/ Tuscany $13

2010 La Querciolina, Monteccuco Rosso Sangiovese/ Maremma-Tuscany $21

2008 Fornacina, Rosso Di Montalcino/ Montalcino-Tuscany $26

2009 Poderi Sanguineto, Vino Nobile De Montepulciano/ Montepulciano-Tuscany $39

Premium Pour ($5)

2010 Terre Nere, Guardiola Norello Mascalese/ Etna-Sicily $47

Sandy Thompson, Proprietor

Mt. Tabor Fine Wines
4316 SE Hawthorne Bl
Portland, Or. 97215
(503)235-4444