IPNC Report 2

			From: drwo@woteki.com Subject: Pinot noir report Date: July 26, 2004 8:07:42 PM EDT To: aroundthekitchen@aroundthekitchen.info Reply-To: aroundthekitchen@aroundthekitchen.info Cathie and I had the good fortune to attend the Int’l Pinot Noir Celebration with our friends Jack and Irene for the second year in a row. See: http://www.ipnc.org/ The fomrat for the event was similar to last year, on which I reported: Friday morning in a vineyard (Dom. Serene), followed by a tasting seminar at Domaine Drouhin followed by a “name brand chef” lunch this time at the Carlton Wine Maker’s Studio. And yes wine being poured all along. And them more wine in the afternoon. Saturday was a little different. The highlights were a tasting seminar on Burgundy with the vignerons (Disappointing wines; more on that later) and jazz, followed by a luncheon with wine followed by jazz on the lawn -- with wine. There are also wonderful dinners on Friday and Saturday night (with yet more wine) and a sparkling wine bunch on Sunday. I won’t go into details on the food just now, except to say that Friday night featured an authentic Japanese menu, prepared by a noted Japanese chef flown from Tokyo, wherein the food was paired with -- what else -- mostly pinot noir. Sad to say, this menu was not entirely successful. We four found the food to be rather bland, if not uninspired. That all said, the real highlights of this bacchanalian weekend (besides being in the heart of the Oregon wine country and actually putting faces (many young) and places to labels) are the alfresco tastings on Friday and Saturday evening. Each evening approximately 30 (!) pinots are poured freely. On Friday it was 2001 wines. On Saturday it was a different group of 2002s all from ‘round the world. The ‘01 - ‘02 comparison among the Oregon wines was instructive: By and large the ‘02s are lusher, bigger, fruit forward wines. The ‘01s are no slouches but nit everyone was a sure fire winner as the ‘02s seemed to be. To our palates the Oregonians, particularly the ‘02s, blew all other comers away including the French and CAlifornia wines that were there. Here are my top picks: ‘01: Witness Tree Vintage Select, Dom. Serene Evenstadt Rex., Westrey Res., Adelsheim Elizabeth’s Res. ‘02: Almost anything I tasted but certainly including: Andrew Rich (a newcomer, very small production), Rex Hill, Cristom, Chehalem Rex., Broadley (CA?), Etude (CA), Chalone (CA. Said by the winery rep to be $25 at retail. An absolute knockout. Buy!) Ponzi Res., Robt Mondavi Res., Rob Stuart, Brickhouse Regards, Tom