Another great IPNC

I know this is a bit late, but did want to say a few things about this year's IPNC event at Linfield College. As with every one I attended, this was one of the most enjoyable, informative and intesting wine experiences of my year. We tasted about 70 2001 and 2002 pinots from around the world and sampled some wonder and unusual fare to go along with it.

My friend John joined me on this one, while our designated drivers (Lynne and Amy) occupied themselves in the antique stores in Lafayette. Cribbing from John's excellent notes, here's a sampling of what we liked:


Kingston Family Vineyards, Chile
2003 Casablanca
www.kingstonvineyards.com
Domaine Marc Roy, France
2001 Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos Prieur
+33 03 80 51 81 13
Dry River, New Zealand
2002 Dry River
Liza_lanier@rowines.com (importer)
Fromm Winery, Switzerland
2002 Malanser
www.frommwineries.com
Domaine Alfred, California
2001 Califa
www.domainealfred.com
Goldeneye Winery, California
2001 Anderson Valley
www.goldeneyewinery.com
Hitching Post Wines, California
2001 Highliner, Santa Barbara County
www.hitchingpostwines.com
Skewis Wines, California
2001 Demuth Vineyard, Anderson Valley
www.skewiswines.com
Chehalem, Oregon
2002 Reserve
www.chehalemwines.com
Elk Cove Vineyards, Oregon
2002 Roosevelt
www.elkcove.com
Firesteed Cellars, Oregon
2001 Willamette Valley
www.firesteed.com
Ponzi Vineyards, Oregon
2002 Reserve
www.ponziwines.com
Sokol Blosser Winery, Oregon
2001 Estate, Old Vineyard Block
www.sokolblosser.com
Yamhill Valley Vineyards, Oregon
2000 Estate Reserve
www.yamhill.com

My favorites were Hitching Post -- wonderful deep and brambley fruit. I like a pinot that really stands up in your mouth with lots of dark fruit. This pinot pretty much exceeded my expectations. The Firesteed was without doubt the steal of the show. At $18, it was outstanding and more than adequate as an everyday pinot (if there is such a thing). Chehalem's Ridgecrest -- a perennial favorite of mine -- was wonderful as well.

This year's event was a little shorter -- three hours -- and for the first time in three years, I was reasonably coherent when we left (probably thanks to having John along). We all went to the Bistro in Dundee on the way home and had a perfect meal to end a perfect day.

Last Sunday, we attended the Stoller Vineyard picnic on the family property west of Dundee. They provided picnic baskets and wine and we brought our blankets. They served '01 and '02 pinots as well as the most recently chardonnay bottling. We enjoyed the '02 most, though Bill is doing a very nice chard and is a big believer in the Oregon chardonnay industry. That's super interesting because for the longest time, I just gave up on Oregon chards. They just didn't taste like chards and the excuse was always that they were made in the burgundian style. Fine, but I didn't like them.

With the arrival of the Dijon clones, that is changing quite a bit. We barrel tasted the new chard (probably the '03, but I forgot) and it was wonderful and will get better. Bill's definitely onto something. He's got about 150 acres of grapes planted now on this hillside property, 20 of which are in chardonnay. The rest is primarily pinot. Work has also begun on the new winery very near the oak grove where we picnicked. Argyle is still making some very nice chards as well. We like the reserve that sells for about $23. Lots of tropical fruits with just the right vanilla/creamy finish.