Water into Wino

Movia Vila Marija Merlot 2005

Movia Vila Marija 2005
Brda, Slovenia ($15)

Shortly after Long Island turned me on to merlot, a friend mentioned a bottle he had had while dining at Felidia restaurant in NYC. The sommelier recommended a merlot from the Friuli region of northern Italy. Having been blown away by the wine, he managed to salvage the label and pass along the good word to me. I have since-found a couple other producers from that area which make merlot in the same minerally, lightly tannic, and vibrant style.

These wines aren't easy to locate as even wine boutiques that only carry Italian wines may only have one such bottle to choose from if any, with retail prices in the mid twenty dollar range. Movia, the Slovenian producer of this bottle is situated on the border of Friuli and Slovenia. They practice organic and biodynamic winemaking while producing only about 13,000 cases a year. This bottle was on sale for $11 (from $15) at my favorite local wine store. This 2005 bottling is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir, surprising since it is labeled as merlot.

Ruby red color and bursting with cherry and raspberry aromas. This wine jumps out of the glass and greets you with a big hello. It has a silky mouth-feel that dances on the tongue while gaining the attention of every taste bud on my palate. What makes this wine so memorable is a streak of minerality that quickens the pulse and sharpens the senses. The finish is clean and satisfying albeit not all that long. It leaves me thirsting for another sip and wondering what a case discount would come to. My Grade: A-

Update on last post

I found this link the day after my last post on Pinot Noir on the Niagara Escarpment, USA. Business must be booming for Warm Lake Estate to be expanding its plantings by 50%.

Quick taste of Warm Lake

Warm Lake Estate has literally put the Niagara Escarpment AVA on the map. Banking on a climate that has been compared to Burgandy, they have found investors from around the globe to plant 45 acres of pinot noir. The winery has been open for only a few years but has been successful at distributing their wine throughout the state and beyond. Their location on the sloping bench of the escarpment was meticulously picked to provide an ideal terroir for pinot.

My first visit to this winery was almost two years ago and was regrettably not a memorable event. Last friday we stopped by while driving through the area and I'm glad I did cause it was an eye opening experience. Along with the tasty 2005 vintage were three single vineyard wines available to taste and buy. The point of course is to showcase the differences of each vineyard separated by soil type. I've studied up on the area's geography enough to know that the Otis and Rhinebeck wines are named after the loam soil on which they are planted. The other bottle, whose name escapes me at the moment, consisted of their newest planting and was my favorite despite the vines only being 3 years old. Each was extremely Burgundian in style and worth the hefty penny they are charging, and I only say that because the area is young and the other wines tend to be inexpensive.

Overall it was an inspiring day driving around the country up in good ole Niagara County, south of Lake Ontario. Even with snow covered roads and blustery winds this wino wasn't slowed down enough not to get a few tastes in with his new fiance and soon to be mother in law.

Avila Pinot Noir 2003

Avila Pinot Noir 2003
Arroyo Grande AVA, San Luis Obisbo, California ($13)

Most serious pinot drinkers would be horrified to drink a $13 bottle of that little thin skinned grape. I, on the other hand, am thrilled to experiment with these hit but most commonly miss bottles. I don't often find interesting bottles under $15 from California but it took my local store being sold out of my favorite cheap Chilean pinot for myself to buy this one I knew nothing about.

Avila is the second label of the Arroyo Grande producer Laetitia. The appellation of Arroyo Grande Valley includes a 16 mile long valley in San Luis Obisbo County. The climate is moderated by coastal fog and Pacific breezes and Avila lies at the colder northern region of the AVA. This winery focuses on value wines and offerings include Chardonnay, Merlot, a Rhone Blend, Syrah, and a Cabernet. There were 10,000 cases of this Pinot produced.

Solid purple color that caught me by surprise. Floral aromas, but strawberry and cherry aromas dominate. The silky texture was another surprise and made me think the wine was under priced. There were some funky earth flavors that complimented as well. This wine had enough structure to stand up to my mustard crusted pork tenderloin and I wish I hadn't used a cup of it for my red wine reduction because it was that good for the dough. My grade: B

Vina Porta Pinot Noir 2005

I'm back on my Chile kick after a few short days. This time it's Pinot Noir that I'm hunting down. Seems like every time I go to the wine store, there's another Pinot selection from Chile. Most of the decent ones I've seen are from the Bio-Bio Valley which is considered one of the most southern regions in Chile. Because of it's cool climate, Pinot seems to do well along with Sauvignon Blanc.

Vina Porta was established in 1954 by the Gutierrez family who arrived from Spain and it evolved into one of the first boutique wineries in the area. After a larger company acquired the winery in 1997, the winery developed a plan to utilize the different growing regions and plant accordingly to the terroir. This includes the Aconcagua, Maipo, Rapel and Bio-Bio valleys. Among the grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. This bottle I drank is grown at the Negrete Estate Vineyard.

Porta Winemaker Reserve Pinot Noir 2005
Bio-Bio Valley, Chile ($13)

Bright ruby color with delicate aromas of strawberrys and roses. Light bodied and supple with soft red berry flavors. There is a pleasing tart cherry note that really rounds out the flavor. The mouth feel is very elegant for such an inexpensive wine. For some reason the shape of a diamond comes to mind when I think of the flavor of this wine. This is the first Pinot I've drink for under $20 that I want to buy again. Luckily my random around the corner liquor store has a few bottles. My grade: B+

Argyle Pinot Noir 2003

Argyle Pinot Noir 2003 Oregon, Willamette Valley ($23)

I have to admit... I am not the hugest Pinot fan. Could be due to the fact that I've never spent over $20 on a bottle of Pinot Noir. Could be that the latest buzz over Pinot is a turnoff. So many reviews, articles, and suggestions. A lot of hype and a lot to live up to. After combing through my limited cellar the other day I decided I needed a Pinot in there just because I may just need one to pair witht that perfect pork loin someday. I chose a Willamette Valley winery, paying just over $20. The man at the store said that this one was a popular gift. Argyle has a recognizable name, I guess, so why not try what a typical Pinot from the area tastes like. They did have a $45 bottle called "The Nuthouse" from the same winery, but I don't tend to pay that kind of cash for a wine I haven't tried.

This bottle is sealed with a screw cap for starters. I stay away from them usually, unless its a cheaper bottle. I think I'm too impulsive for screw caps. That extra time it takes to uncork a bottle might delay my decision to open it, which is a good thing as Martha would say. Very dark red color. Aroma was full extremely floral with plum and raisin. This was a "big" Pinot. Full bodied and over powering. Wasn't nearly as delicate as I thought Oregon Pinots were. Very jammy. It mellowed out a bit with time but it was still unbalanced. Not a bad wine, but not what I was looking for. My grade: B-

Rex Goliath Pinot Noir "Giant 47 lb Rooster" 2003

Rex Goliath Pinot Noir 2003 California, Central Coast ($10)

Picked this one up at one of three neighborhood liquor stores I frequent. I thought I had seen it reviewed by another wine blogger but I didn't remember the verdict. Surprisingly has a smell of maple syrup as well as red berries. Strawberry and cherry palate with good acid ratio. Very drinkable smooth texture. Finish was quick but satisfying. My grade: C+