guest blog : a wine review.



I asked my friend Steve, who has gotten into wine within the past couple of years, to start doing some guest blogs regarding his deep love of this highly-loved beverage. Enjoy!

When did you first started getting into wine?
When I first went to Australia. I met a 95 year-old wine barrel maker and started tasting wine. I am the type of person who easily gets obsessed with things. I worked at Stumptown Coffee for quite some time and was really into tasting and all that goes into the body and flavors of foods and drinks, which sort of translated into a love of wine.

How do you feel regarding your wine obsession?
I admit, I'm sort of embarrassed about it. It's generally thought of as fancy and not very DIY. I also can't really afford it since it's an expensive hobby.

Has it changed your life at all?
I have met some good people and it gives me something to talk about. I feel that I am now more appreciative of food and what goes into making things in general.

In your opinion, what makes a good wine?
I like wines that are different. I would rather have a wine that tastes different than a wine that tastes "good." Wine tends to be sugary and fruity, but I like ones that are earthy, that have minerally, vegetal, or savory components. People who know something about wine can sometimes make others feel stupid about it, but everyone should just drink what tastes good to them.





For his first review, Steve enjoyed a bottle of Foris, Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, 2006. Here is what he had to say about it:

"Red pepper flakes, canned cranberry sauce, and sweet ripe cherries dominate the nose. The palate leans more towards white pepper, all-spice, tart cherry, and a little bit of rust. For better or worse, this guy has more body and up-front fruit than a lot of Willamette Valley Pinots. The Foris features firm tannins, a nice touch of acidity, and really good structure for a pinot at this price. It lacks some of the barnyard and earthiness of a classic pinot but still has really nice long focused finish. I would be interested in drinking this over the next 3-5 years to see how the tannins soften and the flavors come together. Overall, I have found that Foris produces a number of varietelly-correct wines with a real hint of Rogue Valley terroir at a great price. This entry level Pinot is no exception."

Thanks Steve!

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