2019 Gargantua Oregon Syrah tasted

2019 Gargantua Oregon Syrah

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, fruit forward, juicy, liquorice, spices, nuanced, long. Firmer finish. 90

06 Bergström Cumberland Reserve

2006 Bergström Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Ruby. Ripe strawberries, touch of plums, spices and warmer fruit Pinot nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, little development since last bottle a few years back, lost it's baby fat, somewhat more nuanced, serve on a chilled side to hide the alcohol for my taste, long. 90

Range from USA, 09 Harlan Estate (retasted), 10 Opus One (retasted) and more

2011 Bergström Bergström Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir:
Ruby. Red berries, fruity, intense, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, slight herbal notes on the palate, red berries and unripe strawberries with spicy and smoky notes, long. 91

2010 Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir:
Bright ruby. Ripe, red berries and intensely fruity nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded texture and body, good length. 88

2011 Turley Howell Mountain Rattlesnake Ridge Zinfandel:
Ruby. Ripe, sweet, dark berries and liquorice nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, sweet, fruity, intense and rich, long. 91

2011 Caymus Special Selection:
Deep ruby. Rich, fruity, ripe, vanilla, cassis and blackberries nose, intense. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, edgy texture, feels like a barrel sample. Long. 93

2010 Robert Mondavi Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon:
Deep ruby. Rich, fruity, sweet, ripe and dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe and rich palate, sweeter feel than last bottle. 91

2010 Opus One:
Deep ruby. Fruity, cassis, leather, ripe, nuanced, rich, almost minerals behind on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe and intense palate, long. 94

2008 Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon:
Ruby. Ripe, fruity, intense nose of dark berries and liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounded texture, fruity, intense and long. 92

2008 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill:
Ruby. Ripe, intense, cassis, coffee and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, intense and ripe, long finish. 92

2009 Bond Pluribus:
Ruby. Intense, fruity, rich, big nose, dark berries. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, oak, intense, big palate, not an easy drink, warm and oaky finish. 90

2009 Harlan Estate:
Ruby. Intense, ripe, rich, fruity and layered nose, big. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, rich, fruity, big, fruity again, just so much! More nuanced than last bottle two weeks back or so. Very long. 94

07 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve

2007 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir:
Bright ruby. Fresh strawberries, touch of vanilla and cinamon. Quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins. Again rich palate and ever so slightly warm (14,1%) but manages well. Serve it on the slightly chilled side for my palate, very long finish. 90

06 Bergström

2006 Bergström, Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir;
Ruby, berries, rich, but not sweet Pinot, the barrel notes that was a bit too evident a few years back have lost it's grip, morellos and dark chocolate. Fresh acidity, some wood tannins left, but they have the passport ready in they're hand and will soon depart. This is tighter and fresher now than it was, will last further, but will it get more exciting? 90

08 Domaine Serene Yamhill

2008 Domaine Serene, Yamhill Cuvée Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Ruby with pink rim, sweet strawberries and cinamon, drizzled with vanilla sugar. Medium acidity, ripe tannins and few of them, quite elegant, just a faint touch of alcohol and oak on the finish. 87

08 Domaine Serene

2008 Domaine Serene, Mark Bradford Vineyard, Dundee Hills Pinot Noir;
Ruby, elegant nose of slightly ripe strawberries and cinamon. Fresh acidity, soft tannins, elegant and lovely length. 91

4 Chefs, matching food and wine.....

This tasting was held by Wine Spectator with four famous chefs preparing the food, and one of the other chefs should match it with wine, and this is also done by Thomas Matthews, excecutive editor of Wine Spectator. Interesting to try, and interesting to see how they can hit and sometimes misses. But with José Andrés comment:'-When you eat, you eat, when you drink, you drink, why match?' you see the kind of attitude that is all about the ego of the chef, and who cares about the custommer.

As a restaurant customer, what you drink is normally as important as the meal itself. Anyone driving and sits at a nice restaurant drinking water, knows how utterly boring even the best dishes get to be. But, do José Andrés really mean it?


Charlie Trotter:
Terrine of Tripe and Maine Lobster with Wild Mushroom Jus and Saffron

Daniel Bouloud's wine:
1993 Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva White;
Golden, the typical slight oxidation, minerals, oxidized apples, low acidity, a touch rustic finish, still one of the fresher bottles I've had. 86

Thomas Matthews' wine:
2009 Paul Hobbs Richard Dinner Vineyard, Sonoma Mountains Chardonnay;
Pale lemon, slight popcorn, flinty minerals, some flowers, good acidity, fatty texture, good length. 89

To sort of waste the lobsters delicate fragrance with all these ingredients is a bit strange to me, even if the onions gives it freshness and liven it up, the saffron over-shadows the aftertaste. The texture of the dish on the other hand is excellent.

Viña Tondonia complements it nicely on flavours, but barely, with a bit more acidity it would work nicely. The Paul Hobbs works even better on aromas, but the minerality of the wine drowns the allready exhausted lobster even more, and Emeril Lagasse finds it to heavy as well. I can't say I disagree.



José Andrés:
Jamon Iberico de Bellota"Fermin"with Salmon Tartar and Trout Roe

Charlie Trotter's wine;
2006 Soter Vineyards Willamette Valley Brut Rosé; (Sparkling)
Pale pink with small bubbles, artificial strawberries, elegant mousse, OK acidity, short and lean, if refreshing. 75

Thomas Matthews' wine;
Champagne Barons de Rothschild Brut NV;
Pale lemon, tiny bubbles, brioch and apples, elegant mousse, fine acidity, refreshing. 87

Fantastic dish, salty and elegant, the Iberico giving texture and a slightly smoked taste, even nutty, then the roe exploding with licquid and salt, with the salmon tartar dampening the effect being a bridge between the two. The Soter is not to bad on the flavour match, but has no chance otherwise, it feels metallic and lean and just a bit to dry, you need some sweetness with all the salt. Rothschild Champagne works well indeed, blending the flavours of the wine and dish into a new flavour picture, even if a slightly fatter bodied Champagne but without more acidity would probably do even better. How about a Charta Riesling?



Emeril Lagasse:
Stuffed Pig Trotter with Apple-Brussel Sprout Salad and Tangerine Brown Butter Vinaigrette

José Andrés' wine:
Antonio Barbadillo Olorose Jerez Dulce Amoroso San Rafael NV;
Deep amber, heavy minerals, some salt, oxidized. Fresh acidity, sweetness balances well, good length, softer style Oloroso. 88

Thomas Matthew's wine:
2009 Guigal Condrieu;
Pale lemon yellow, lime, minerals, elegant nose. Acidity keeps playing throughout the taste curve, even if never feeling fresh, as always with white Rhône, I'm confused. 85-92?

A bit too stuffed I'm affraid, heavy texture, flavours a bit bland and somehow confusing, to much going on, and in no particular direction. Luckily the vinaigrette is easy going, and even if vinaigrette's normally manages to overshadow everything else completely, this one was refreshing to the otherwise too heavy and compact dish. The sprout is slightly refreshening things up as well, but goes terribly with the wine, absolutely awfull, to green and harsh. The Oloroso working well flavor wise, but overshadows, it's too intense. The Guigal works with the spiciness of the dish, and somehow the acidity that feels like it isn't there manages, just.....



Daniel Bouloud:
Rabbit Porchetta with Chorizo, Porcini, Argula and Hazelnut

Emeril Lagasse's wine:
2009 Joseph Drouhin Morey-St.-Denis;
Ruby, easy. fragrant, strawberries and a touch of spices. Elegant flavours, good acidity, ripe tannins, oak shines through in the finish. 87

Thomas Matthews' wine:
2001 Bodegas Roda Rioja Cirsion;
Deep ruby, dark plums, blueberries, vanilla and licorice. Rich Rioja, towards Baigorri de Garage, but not as complex. Fresh acidity, tannins soft, vanilla in the aftertaste, rich and still elegant, long. 90-91
This dish was exceptional on the balance between fresh and lively, refined in flavours and texture. Very elegant, complex, gorgeous flavours, how you needed to have all the elements of the dish in your mouth at once, or something would be missing. Andrés stated '-Amazing dish.' and Trotter said '-Delicious.' and I can't disagree. Superb. The Drouhin falls totally apart with this dish, doesn't stand a chance, it's totally over shadowed, the Roda works well, maybe on the verge of lean together with the food, but only maybe.

Then Andrés came up with something genious, I'have never heard anybody mention this before. '-Adding ingredient's to a dish, can alter it, even if a small, or bigger amount, it can lift or ruin it. (nothing new so far) It's the same with wine match, a sip, a mouthfull, just wetting the lips, makes the match different.'

So, the Roda, small sip, with the dish, became mineraly, earthy, blending nuances and matching delicately with the dish (still Bouloud's) Bigger sip, more fruit dominated, complement each other, works well, if not as great as the smaller sip.

Thank's to the four chefs and to Wine Spectator for arranging this event, this was my second tasting of this style, and so much better than the one in 2008!

Different perspective, wine from superstars!

Wine from superstars can mean different things to different people. On this Saturday in New York, a special tasting took place with some superstars. I had heard of three of them before to be honest.

Christian Moueix, owner of several prestigious Bordeaux estates, amongst them Château Trotanoy was first out. It wasn't actually in quite the same setting, but anyway, the same people were there to taste. Christian, making wine for drinking, took big gulps of his 2005 Trotanoy, and I cant blame him. 2005 Château Trotanoy; Ruby, leather, anise, cinamon, layers of spices and herbs, vanilla, tea hints lingering above, mint. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced, elegant palate, long length. 94

In my world, Christian is a superstar. Today talking lot's of fact's, proclaiming how frost is rarely an issue in Bordeaux, but can be so in California, how there are 200-250 berries in a bunch normaly, how one berry weighs in at about one gram, that a dried and shriveled grape (because of draught) way in at 0,7 and one bursting from exsessive water (from rain) weighs in at between 1,4 and 1,6 grams. Fascinating man to listen to.

I have also heard of Greg Norman, golfer. "-I love the way you drink your wine." he said to Christian after seeing how he drank the Trotanoy. When Christian said that he still had a way to go, his father had been drinking two bottles a day, but so far Christian was only doing one, Greg replied asking if anyone had ever answered truthfully at their doctor's, when asked how much they actually drink? He drinks two bottles a day. 2006 Greg Norman Estates Shiraz South Eastern Australia Reserve; Ruby, leather, touch of anise and cinamon in the back, peppered beef, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe and soft tannins, elegant play of slightly sweet dark berries and milk chocolate flavours and the acidity, good length. An elegant Aussie Shiraz! 90

Gregory John Norman AO (born 10 February 1955) is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s. He is nicknamed The Great White Shark or sometimes simply The Shark – a reference to Norman's blond hair, size and aggressive golf style and the shark inhabiting Australian waters.

Was it here Mr Norman found out that grapes tastes better than grass?

This guy was totally unfamiliar to me, Drew Bledsoe, quarterback of New England Patriots in American football. This is quite a small sport here in Norway, and I know that because my (half-)brother plays it (different genes). Anyway, seeing the gear he wears for practice, it's tough... No. it's on the verge of insane. They say that if one of these guys hits you, meaning runs you down on the field, it's like a truck hitting you at 30 km/h. It's a reason why I drink wine instead.... Was it after one of these collitions he started dreaming of something elegant to drink?
Drew McQueen Bledsoe (born February 14, 1972) is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise. Bledsoe, a Pro Bowler, All-American for the Washington State Cougars and #1 overall draft pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, announced his retirement from the sport on April 11, 2007.

New style Lagare treading in Walla Walla Valley

Expecting a wine as harsh and violent as the sport, finding something completly different.... 2008 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley; Ruby, fresh fruit, spicy, floral and cinamon. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and quite refined texture and structure, quite cool and refreshing, lovely finish. 90

Let's hope they don't do this with wine!

Then a Baseball star, again a tiny, if excisting sport at all here in Norway, with Tom Seaver. George Thomas "Tom" Seaver (born November 17, 1944), nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets. During a 20-year career, Seaver compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts and a 2.86 earned run average. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the highest percentage ever recorded (98.84%), and has the only plaque at Cooperstown wearing a New York Mets hat. As of 2010, Tom Seaver and Gil Hodges (played for the Mets in 1962-63) are the only Met players to have their jersey numbers retired by the team (Gil Hodges' number was retired as a manager even though he also played for the Mets).

2008 GTS Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District Seaver Family Vineyards;
Ruby, sweet plums, blackcurrant's. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and quite long finish. This was the simplest wine here, and the most easy going with bunches of ripe fruit. 88

What a wine glass, even if I preffer Riedel....

Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els (born 17 October 1969) is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature (he stands 1.91 metres [6 feet, 3 inches]) along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing. Among his numerous victories are three major championships: the U.S. Open in 1994 at the Oakmont Country Club and 1997 at the Congressional Country Club, and The Open Championship in 2002 at Muirfield.
Other highlights in Els' career include topping the 2003 and 2004 European Tour Order of Merit (money list), and winning the World Match Play Championship a record seven times. He is the leading career money winner on the European Tour, and was the first member of the tour to earn over 25 million Euros from European Tour events. He has held the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings and holds the record for weeks ranked in the top ten with over 780. Els was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010, on his first time on the ballot, and was inducted in May 2011.
2007 Ernie Els Stellenbosch Signature; Ruby, intense of herbs and nettles over cassis and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and refreshing, even if some around the table felt it a bit to green on the nose, I admired the freshness, and it's one of the best red's I've ever tried from South Africa. Long length. 91

06 Bergström Pinot Noir

2006 Bergström, Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir;

Ruby, more elegant fruit and nose than the Brewer-Clifton, spices, vanilla, strawberries and plums, more complex as well. Good acidity, ripe tannins, more intense, again just a touch of alcohol in the finish. 88

06 Bergström

2006 Bergström, Cumberland Reserve, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Bright ruby, elegant nose, some fresh strawberry jam, pepper, some vanilla, touch of alcohol. Lean body, elegant in it's sweetish style, fresh acidity, very ripe tannins, slightly warm finish. 84

06 Bergström

2006 Bergström, De Lancelotti Vineyard, Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir;
Bright ruby, very closed, some oak shines through. Power, oaky, a bit huge, alcohol is showing, sweet liquorice, hint of pepper and strawberries, some chocolate, good length. Not as iegd now as a year back, needs time to open up again. This bottle was open for several hours without much happening. For now. 85

Oregon Drouhin

1999 Domaine Drouhin, Oregon Pinot Noir;
Deep ruby, ruby rim. A bit earthy and liquorice, sweet plums and some prunes starting to show. Good balance, ripe and mature, some vanilla still, not too complex, ok length. 84

04 Serene

2004 Domaine Serene, Evenstad Reserve, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Bright ruby, almost pink rim. Sweetish strawberries, vanilla overtones, touch of liquorice behind. Fresh, elegant, good acidity, ripe tannins, the oak is kind of flying around the fruit, needs a bit of time to fully integrate. 87

Willamette riesling

2006 Chehalem, Willamette Valley, Dry Riesling Reserve;
Straw yellow, touch of lime, minerals, starting petroleum, elegant nose. Good acidity and mouthfeel, even if a bit hollow, good grip, bitter apple finish, good length. 80

Dom. Serene, Dominus, Ducru and Faiveley

2006 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Pale ruby, clean and fresh nose, some spices, strawberries, pepper, tiny hints of barrel, elegant and complex nose. Nice acidity, some and very ripe tannins, very clean fruitiness and nice fruit intencity, long finish. 91


2006 Dominus Estate Napa Valley;
Ruby red, sweet plums, cherries, cool fruit, but still some sweet dark fruits and jam in the back. Ok acidity, ripe tannins, and lots of them, ok finish. 90


2006 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou;
Deep ruby, very young, intence nose of leather and darker fruits, some chocolate, very complex and quite a charmer allready. Elegant, great balance, nice acidity, ripe tannins, very long. I would wait at least ten years. 93


2007 Domaine Faiveley Latricieres- Chambertin Grand Cru;
Pale ruby, clean fruity nose, strawberries and some spices, a bit simple fruit, ok acidity, ok length. Some barrel flavours. Either boring or extremely closed down. For now.88

Pinot fra Oregon og California

2006 Bergström, Bergström Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Ruby med rosa kant, jordbær, røde frukter, ørlite mokka og kaffe langt bak, noe fat og litt lukket. Røde bær, litt fattanniner, fin syre, intens og kompleks, ok finsih. 84
(Ikke en topp flaske)


2007 Antica Terra Willamette Valley Pinot Noir;
Ruby med svakt lilla kant, intens duft, jordbær, urter, ørlite grønt, snev av mokka. Lett søtlig frukt, markjordbær, sødmefull, før en elegant ettersmak som en litt høy alkohol ødelegger. Endel fat. 81


2004 Marrimar Torres Christina, Don Miguel Torres Vineyard, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir;
Og hvem synes tyskerne har lange vinnavn?. Ruby med garnet kant, mye fat, krydder, nesten litt tørket frukt og løv, varmt radiatorstøv. Fin syre, modne tanniner, røde bær, ok balanse og finish, ikke veldig kompleks. Fruktig. 81


2005 Kistler, Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Valley;
Ruby med rosa kant, ganske lukket, litt jordbær, middelhavsurter, granateple, modne røde epler, rød plomme og steinfrukt. Pen syre, elegant, deilig balanse, kompleks, litt vanilje og fat. Flott vin. 87

SN Endel hvite Amerikanere

2007 Dr Constantin Frank, Finger Lakes Dry Riesling;

Strågul. Fin duft av epler, noe tropisk langt bak, ren fruktdreven freshet, ørlite hint av petroleum. Ok munnfølelse og frukt, ikke kompleks og relativt kort, lettdrikkelig frisk og behagelig. 78

2007 Rancho Sabaco Dancing Bull, Sauvignon Blanc;

California, lyst gullgul, litt grønt, noe vegetal, kattepiss, ok nese men litt slapp SB. Lett frukt, grei syre, kjedelig frukt, lett tropisk bak og litt sødmefull frukt. Null finish. 61

2007 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumè Blanc;

Lyst strågul, litt småfet nese, noe fat, avslep en frukt, ikke spesiellt intens, grapefrukt, honning og vanilje. Litt fattanniner og fat skinner igjennom, kort finish, grei syre. 66

2008 Melville Clone 76 Inox;

California, Strågul, litt svovel først, trenger enel lufting. Så gule epler, noe gjæraromaer a la Champagne, intens men ikke veldig kompleks. Fet munnfølelse, ok syre, fin balanse, noe marsipan, ren fin frukt, renhet fremfor kompleksitet, grei lengde. 77

2005 Ramey Hyde Vineyard Napa Valley Chardonnay;

Sitrongul, fedmefull nese, melon, vanilje, lett tropisk, mineraler lengre bak, ørlite marsipansnev. Stor kropp, fet frukt, endel fat, ganske lukket, nøtter, noe alkohol, ellers fin balanse. Ok lengde. Ikke en optimal flaske. 84

2005 Kistler McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay;

Dyp sitrongul, litt krydret med midelhavsaromaer langt bak, litt fat, pent av sitrus og eple samt marsipan, deilig nese. Pen syre, fin frukt, noe fat, litt sødmefull, noe smør, pære og sitrus, fet kropp, fin finish. Vellaget. 87

2005 Peter Michael Point Rouge Sonoma Chardonnay;

Sitrongul. Noe fat, moden nese, mineraler, nøtteskall, marsipan og noe søt frukt og overmodne pærer. Pen syre, noe alkohol i ettersmaken, søtlig frukt, tørr finish, grei finish. Litt fat. 84