in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day ninety-seven (Bear Boat Pinot Noir 2007)

Oh man, day 100 of the juiciest wine tour is coming up quick. Believe me, I’ve had more than 100 bottles of wine since April 1, 2010, when I began this blog, but, currently, I’ve only written about 96. Today I will write about my experiences the Bear Boat Pinot Noir 2007 from the Russian River Valley.

The Russian River Valley, located in northern California, has a fine reputation for wines. I’ve had a couple other wines from this region. I can’t remember what they were. I just remember goodness.

And so I’ve also heard good things about the Bear Boat. I’ve actually been saving it for a month or so.

This has been breathing for about an hour now, so it should be good to go.

When I poured it into the glass I noticed two things. One, it had a thin cherry color as it fell from the bottle into the glass. Two, it reeked of alcohol. That’s probably not a good thing, but it could be.

I love the transparency of this wine. It’ like 50% transparent. It looks like a sunset off the Oregon coast. It looks like an Oregon Pinot Noir.

As I look for pictures of this bottle of wine, the glass sits on my desk and the alcohol wafts up into my nose. This is powerful stuff. I’m a bit nervous to try this.

But before I do, you can see the picture of the bottle to the right. On the label are two bears. If you can’t read the label, the bear rowing the boat on the left says, “Full body, exquisite nose …”. The bear leaning on the bow on the right responds, “Careful, I’m spoken for.” Oh, good times are sure to ensue from this wine.

The story on the back label reads:

This is the story of Mac and Zeke, two inquisitive bears who find themselves on a quest to enjoy life’s great curiosities. With no actual destination in mind, they prefer to take in their surrounding and simply enjoy the journey. You’ll find them adrift wherever the current and the occasional row may take them.

It continues:

The Russian River Valley’s cool morning fog and moderate afternoon temperatures give the BearBoat Pinot Noir richness and texture with bright acidity that balances beautifully. The aromas are a blend of raspberry and red cherry with a toasty vanillla spice flavor and lingering finish.

Enough of all that. To the wine.

The nose is alcoholic. I also get toast and raspberry. It smells better than when I poured it. And I pick up a hint of cola. My girlfriend gets Dr. Pepper, lots of alcohol, and hint of musky flowers, like lilies.

On the palate, it’s quite plain, and tastes bigger than it looks. There is some spice, too. My girlfriend picks up pulled-pork that has cola in the sauce. Ha, I wish. Then it’d be good.

It has an acidic finish. That is it tastes sour or tart. Like sour cherries. It’s bitter. After a few sips, though, this acidic finish goes away, but it doesn’t “balance beautifully.” My girlfriend picks up fresh cucumbers.

It does get better with more sips, but not a lot.

I wouldn’t buy this again, especially for $16. It’s like a B wine. Like 87 points.//

in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day ninety-four (Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Silver Label Pinot Noir 2009)

It’s been a while since I did a tasting because I’ve been busy, and I still am. So tonight’s tasting will be quick.

Tonight’s wine is Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Silver Label Pinot Noir 2009. (That’s a long name.) A friend recommended this to me at Mahan’s.

The nose is musky and peppery. There’s also a vanilla, currant jam smell to it. It smells juicy, which is what I want.

It’s thick on the tongue. It feels like a Salvador Dali painting on my tongue.

Metamorphosis of Narcissus. (Click it to see it big.)

I pick up currants and cherries and some herbs.

On the finish, it’s slightly tart with a hint of pepper.

Despite the fact this Pinot is 50% opaque and a Pinot, it’s pretty heavy. It’s quite odd. I don’t mind, but I don’t expect it.

I like this. It’s one of the better California Pinot Noirs I have had. I still prefer my Oregon Pinots, though.

I’ll give it a B+.//

How Many Calories Are in a Glass of Wine?

I know some of you wine drinkers are counting calories or watching your weight, and you are probably wondering how many calories are in a glass of wine. As a result, I have been doing some research to determine how many calories are in a glass of wine. The calories vary by varietal, but they all have a similar number of calories. Below is a chart I made for the most common varietals, or the ones I drink most.

Three notes.

One: I broke this down by ounces, glass, and bottle. A bottle is 750 milliliters or 25.36 ounces, and a bottle is supposed to hold four glasses of wine plus a little more. (There are 1.36 ounces more, which, I have been told, have absolutely no calories!) So that is why there is a 6 oz column, because that’s a glass of wine. If you pour smaller or larger amounts in your glass, then you can multiply the 1 oz column by how many ounces you poured.

Two: Calories will also vary by vineyard. So the Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 may have a more or fewer calories than the Columbia Crest Cabernet Grand Estates Sauvignon 2007.

Three: Yes, I made that image above. Pretty good, hunh?! (Click it to see it large. Then click it again. I’m quite impressed with this image. I made the glass see through.)

Here’s the chart. It doesn’t include Tempranillo, but I assume they will be like a Granacha. If you want a printable version, click How Many Calories Are in a Glass of Wine?

//

in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day thirty-eight

I’ve been away for nine days. My mouse feels very odd and my chair unfamiliar. But anything feels better after 11 hours on the road from Dixfield, ME, (“The only one”) to Brockport, NY. Next year I will plan better because there was quite the side-walk festivities in Woodstock, VT, a wonderful town that everyone should visit, and arts-and-crafts festivities a half-hour away in Rutland, VT. My girlfriend and I wanted to go to both, but, alas, we wanted to get home more. So, next year we will plan an extra day of travel so we can attend one or both of those events.

So, after 11 hours of driving, and now entering my last real day of vacation, I will be drinking Ryan Vineyards Calera Pinot Noir 2005 Thirtieth Anniversary Vintage. Normally a $50 bottle of wine, but I got it on sale for $25 at Mahan’s about six or 12 months ago. Yay Mahan’s!

My mouth is dry, but here it goes. Allons-y.

A beautiful full nose of cherries and RC Cola. Some plums and maybe some green apples. It smells like it has a full body – a full body of hugs. The body is bigger than I expect from a Pinot Noir, it’s almost like a Merlot body, and I love it. (My girlfriend gets cooked potatoes on the nose, and I agree, and she also gets vegetable soup, and I kind of agree, at least if it’s a red broth vegetable soup.)

Anyway, this Pinot Noir is  juicy with berries, black cherries, and plums. I can just swirl my tongue around in this happiness.

There’s also a bit of tartness lingering around on the front and middle of the tongue, and this tartness is enjoyable.

Then there’s the spicy finish that vanishes quickly. Oh, so lovely. So delicious. I need to quote William Carlos Williams:

This Is Just To Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

That’s how I feel about this wine.

And now, after six hours of sleep, 11 hours of driving, a half-hour of typing this, and a glass of wine, I feel buzzed or very tired or both. But I’m gonna have another glass [*big smiles*].//