Stories from Elevage
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Vincent futures offer is out
Elevage &bull Jul 28, 2010
It's been great to see several Alevage readers let me know over time that they wanted to get on my now official winery mailing list. This morning I sent out the first offering of our 2009 Vincent wines to the… Full Story »
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Nocino Sunday
Elevage &bull Jul 20, 2010
This past Sunday I took the opportunity to make two gallon jugs of nocino. What's that? Nocino (no-CHEE-no) is a green walnut liqueur common to Italy and southern France. It's traditionally made at the end of June, when walnuts are still immature and easy to quarter. It's a late year here in the northern Willamette Valley, so the walnuts weren't ready at the usual time. My friend and wine conspirator Anne Hubatch of Helioterra Wines and her husband Robert host a terrific… Full Story »
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Reflecting on Evesham Wood
Elevage &bull Jul 14, 2010
I was shocked but not necessarily surprised to read the news today of the sale Evesham Wood in Salem, OR. Russ and Mary Raney are headed to an early retirement, and Erin Nuccio and his wife Jordan of the Haden Fig label, made at Evesham Wood, are buying the property, including the house and winery and inventory. Russ will apparently stay on in a consulting role but the Raney's focus seems on changing the pace of life, including spending a few months each year in France. Man does that sound sweet. Russ and Mary have worked hard for years. They… Full Story »
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PDXploration on Seven of Hearts|Luminous Hills & Honest Chocolates
Elevage &bull Jul 5, 2010
Luminous Hills as well as Honest Chocolates. Both get detailed reviews. Both get gorgeous photo collages. I've written it before, but you really need to seek out Byron and Dana at their place in Carlton. Great wines, great chocolate. Great… Full Story »
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Racking the 2009s
Elevage &bull Jun 28, 2010
Here is a picture of the my nine barrels of 2009 Vincent pinot noir, getting racked at the winery in Portland. For those not clear on racking, that's the process of moving the wine from barrel to barrel to separate it from its sediment. It's also a nice… Full Story »
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Alevage and 32 Days of Natural Wine
Elevage &bull Jun 26, 2010
My contribution on natural wine is the feature of Day 8 of Saignee's 32 Days of Natural Wine. To me, natural wine is all about your intention to make something that reflects the grape, the place and the season without… Full Story »
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A field trip to reWine Barrels in Salem
Elevage &bull Jun 24, 2010
Anne Hubatch of Helioterra and I took a field trip recently to reWine Barrels in Salem, OR. What an interesting visit. I bought a rehabbed barrel from reWine for the 2009 harvest and I'm buying another one for 2010. I like the idea of recycling barrels. As Todd says emphatically, it doesn't make… Full Story »
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2007 La Gramiere rouge
Elevage &bull Jun 21, 2010
Sometimes wine isn't a simple, "like it" or "don't like it" proposition. Sometimes wines perplex, engage, delight, all at once, leaving you satisfied but uncertain how or why. For example, the 2007 La Gramiere rouge, one of the "natural" wines we're hearing so much about (in… Full Story »
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1995 Ch. Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape
Elevage &bull Jun 19, 2010
When we moved to Portland ten years ago next month, I brought with us several cases of wine. I'd been collecting bottles throughout the 1990s and just finished working for a Berkeley-based wine importer and retailer. In that position, I took advantage of the significant employee discount to stock the wine larder. I bought a significant amount of wine, at least at the time. I wasn't making wine yet, you know. Then came the great move north, with baby, cat and… Full Story »
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Armstrong Vineyard, Part 3: June
Elevage &bull Jun 15, 2010
For reports earlier in the growing season, see here and here. I got out to Armstrong Vineyard again the other day to check on things. Remember that this new vineyard will be the primary source for Vincent Wine Company grapes… Full Story »
