Standout California Reds

We are coming back to the West Coast this week with two standout reds from California. These wines are perfect as the weather starts to cool off. Let us know what you think about these two incredible California Reds.

Cheers!

2014 Clos Saron' Stone Soup', $64
Grapes: Blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier

Tasting Notes: Way up in the northern Sierra Foothills, Gideon Beinstock and his wife, Saron Rice, produce small batches of wines unlike anything else coming out of California. As a result, this Syrah's expression is strongly individual: lighter than most in body and alcohol, it has intense color, vibrant acidity, and fresh aromas. Incredible bottle of Cali Red!

2019 Ridge 'Three Valley' Red, $36
Grapes: Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mataro, Alicante Bouschet

Tasting Notes: Iconic California producers. Deep garnet-red color. Aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry fruits, fresh mint, exotic spices, with clay-earth minerals. Beautiful fruit tones up front, medium-full body, integrated tannins, and great persistence to the finish.

New Arrivals from Austria

This week we are heading to Austria to sip some fun, unique, and surprisingly tasty wines. We don't get many wines from Austria, so we knew we had to taste them quickly when they came in the door. Read on to hear what to expect from these excellent wines. 

2017 Maria Hick Gelber Muskateller , $24
Grapes: 100% Gelber Muskateller

Tasting Notes: Persistent fresh flower aromas, touches of lemon zest, and an utterly quaffable light, dry palate. This wine is the perfect aperitif for afternoon sunshine!

2019 Meinklang Burgenland Red Blend, $20
Grapes: Blend of Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent & Zweigelt 

Tasting Notes: Meinklang is a multifaceted biodynamic farm and winery located in Austria's Neusidlersee region near Lake Neusiedl in eastern Austria. Ripe blackberry dominates the palate and nose of this uncomplicated but delicious red. Bright juiciness leads into a ripe yet electric finish.

New Arrivals from France!

This week we are keeping it simple with a white blend and a red, both new to the shop from France.

Are you ready to add a few new varieties to your weekly mix? These are the ones! Cheers!

White Blend

2019 Thierry Forestier Mont de Marie "Anatheme", $23
Grapes: Blend of Viognier and Ugni Blanc

Tasting Notes: All natural, vegan, and sustainably farmed white blend with a unique expression: the natural fermentation imparts wild and savory streaks through the center palate, but the spirit of the wine is fresh and citrusy. Superb!

Red

2019 Clos D’Audhuy ‘Les Polissons’ Cahors, $17
Grapes: 100% Malbec

Tasting Notes: Great French red for under $20! This wine is soft and fruity, with only the lightest tannic touch. It is juicy, fresh with red fruits and good acidity.

September Case of the Month

We are just on the cusp of the end of summer and the beginning of Fall.

In this month's case, we celebrate this transition with a nice mix of wines that can be enjoyed in the temperate September sunshine and the cooler evenings.

Of particular note are two stellar Willamette Pinot Noir's new to the shop, a tasty dry Lambrusco and a rustic Portuguese red made from the lesser-known grape, 'Baga.'

We hope you enjoy this wonderful mix this month! Cheers!

Whites & Rosé

(Italy) NV Paltrinieri Sant Agata Lambrusco di Sorbara

Grapes: 100% Sorbara
Notes: Tart, lively, and a touch peppery sparkling red wine from central Italy.

(Oregon) 2020 Colene Clemens Rosé

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Colene Clemens is one of our neighborhood's favorite Pinot Noir producers. This rosé has bright cherry notes and crisp acidity on the palate, with a lovely rich mouth weight. Delish!

(Spain) 2020 Azul y Garanza Rosé 1L

Grapes: 100% Garnatxa
Notes: Fruit forward and dry, fleshy textured Spanish rosé. Perfect with a spritz of bubbly and over ice with a twist of lemon. 

(Washington) 2020 Owen Roe Pinot Gris

Grapes: 100% Pinot Gris
Notes: Everything you want in a local Pinot Gris: Tangy, crisp, and just a touch aromatic.   

(France) 2019 Chateau Lestrille Bordeaux Blanc

Grapes: Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Notes: Medium body, with a perfect balance between the two grapes- the Sauv Blanc gives the wine notes of lemon peel and a nice mineral backbone. The Semillon imparts soft edges and a full finish. Great with a Nicoise Salad!

(Oregon) 2019 Red Electric' Alpine Lily'

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Notes: Harmoniously constructed Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley. Full-bodied, with crisp acidity, yellow apple fruit and a hint of neutral oak on the nose. 

(Italy) 2019 Olianas Vermentino

Grapes: 100% Vermentino
Notes: This classic Sicilian white table wine has fresh aromas of saltwater, with granite and seashell minerality and a touch of salinity on the finish. The perfect wine for a plate of Kumamoto Oysters on the half shell!

Reds

(Oregon) 2017 Resonance Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Super cool new Oregon Pinot arrival, made by famed Burgundy vintner Louis Jadot. This bottle is lean and elegant, with spice-tinged black raspberry and cherry aromas that carry a subtle floral top note. So good!

(Portugal) 2019 Filipo Pato Vinho Tinto

Grapes: 100% Baga
Notes: All natural and sustainably farmed red wine from Portugal. Light on its feet, with deep aromas of black plums, blackberries, violets, and dried herbs. This wine drinks like a Cru Beaujolais, at half the price.

(Italy) 2019 Francesco Brigatti Colline Novaresi

Grapes: 100% Vespolina
Notes: Natural, light-bodied, tart, zippy, black pepper- screams for a charcuterie board!

(Washington) 2018 Pomum Red Blend

Grapes: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc
Notes: Full-bodied, well balanced Washington red, with prominent 'Cab Franc-y' green bell pepper aromas, and that lovely dense west coast Cab Sauv blackberry fruit. 

(Oregon) 2018 Patricia Green Cellars' Dollar Bills Only'

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Great new project from Patricia Green Cellars! Light-hearted, light on its feet and fun to drink. This is an excellent red for snacks and a game of cribbage.

Fun new arrivals by vintners!

This week we bring you two new arrivals to the Portland Bottle Shop wine wall. There is a super unique white blend from here in the Willamette Valley and a fresh summer red from Austria. We hope you enjoy! Cheers!

2019 Shiba Wichern Willamette Blanc, $18
Grapes: Blend of Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes: Akiko Shiba studied in Germany before moving to our famed Willamette Valley, where she produces Pinot Noir primarily. Lucky for us, she stumbled upon a block of Auxerrois, a relatively obscure grape grown mainly in France, where it is typically used as a blending grape. Shiba blends hers too but places the Auxerrois front and center, deftly highlighting what is usually a background player.

The blanc is medium-bodied with a nice mouthfeel, prominent minerality, and fresh acidity. The juice is fermented in large Acacia barrels, imparting a subtle and uniquely wooded mid-tone on the palate. So interesting and delicious!!

Christina Winery Red, $24
Grapes: 100% St. Laurent

Tasting Notes: Charming new bottle of Austrian red with dark berried and spicy red/blue fruits. This wine shines with a slight chill (no more than 20 minutes in the fridge). It pairs perfectly with grilled veggies and salsa verde and is a great one to enjoy in honor of #nationalredwineday!

New wines from the Cotes du Rhone!

This week we are spotlighting two new arrivals from Domaine la Remejeanne. The winery is located in the Southern Rhone Valley in France and is run by a father and son team.

Remejeanne is certified organic and uses sustainable farming practices to make their outstanding whites and reds. These wines are both fun, elegant and well outperforms the price.

2019 Domaine la Remejeanne Les Chevrefeuilles Blanc Cotes du Rhone, $21
Grapes: Blend of Clairette, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc

Tasting Notes: Medium/Light bodied, pleasantly textured, delicate aromas of pear and citrus. It presents a fresh and lemony nose. On the palate, it opens lemon and tangerine zest with a touch of saline on the finish. Superb!

2019 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone "un Air”, $18
Grapes: Blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 15% Syrah and 15% Tibouren

Tasting Notes: Lively on the palate, with light ruby color. The nose has ripe red fruits with notes of wild strawberries and violets. Crunchy, fresh and fine, and supremely food-friendly.

Great wines for warm weather foods!

This week we are offering two suggestions that will make great accompaniments for summer-friendly foods. Think charcuterie and cheese, grilled veggies, fresh salads, and things straight from the grill.

These outstanding European wines will help you beat the late summer heat. We hope you enjoy! Cheers!

2019 Pago Casa Gran Bianco, $15
Grapes: 100% Malvasia

Tasting Notes: Sustainably farmed, organic, and vegan Spanish white wine. Crisp acidity, with beautiful floral aromas and a tangy lime-aide. Surprisingly fun value wine!

Boffalora ‘Pietrisco’ Valtellina Superiore, $38
Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo

Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of red cherry, roses, leather and tar. Zippy acidity and a firmly tannic structured finish- this wine is absolutely superb.

August Case of the Month

We are very excited to bring you August's Case of the Month! This case has a mix of new arrivals that are perfect for summer sipping. 

Standouts include a super tasty Willamette Valley white blend made predominantly from the lesser-known variety 'Auxerrois' (pronounced Ax-err-wah), a fantastic fruity Austrian red by Christina Winery and an elegant bottle of 100% Poulsard from the Jura region in eastern France.

We hope you enjoy the great mix this month! Cheers!

Sparkling, Whites and Rosé

(Italy) 2020 Tintero Langhe Rosé
Grapes: 100% Barbera

Notes: Spritzy, citrusy, and tart red berries in this fun bottle from Piedmont in Northern Italy.

(France) 2020 L’Arnaude Rosé
Grapes: Blend of Grenache and Syrah

Notes: This rosé comes from a tiny appellation on the Southern coast of France called Var. It is medium-bodied, with fresh and zippy acidity, finishing with a nicely rounded mouth texture. Superb!

(California) 2020 Three by Wade California White Wine
Grapes: 95% Chenin Blanc, 5% Viognier

Notes: Super fun California white blend from iconic NBA basketball player Dwayne Wade. (Somewhat surprisingly) this bottle is both unique and delicious! Zesty lemon, juicy tropical fruits, and aromas of white flowers with a nice tangy finish. 

(Italy) 2019 Casale Marchese Frascati Superiore
Grapes: Blend of Malvasia and Trebbiano

Notes: A cool Italian white blend that showcases both grapes harmoniously. The Malvasia imparts floral aromas and a subtle stone-fruitiness, while the Trebbiano provides a lean and mineral drivel backbone.   

(France) 2019 Cochonnet Melon 1L
Grapes: 100% Melon de Bourgogne

Notes: Sustainably farmed liter bottle of summery white from southern France. Nicely textured, balanced, easy-going and food-friendly.

(Oregon) 2019 Shiba Wichern WV White Blend
Grapes: Blend of Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir

Notes: Love this new arrival to the shop and currently cannot recommend it to patrons enough! The blend of local white grape juice is fermented in large Acacia wood barrels, imparting unique wooded aromas and a lightly wooded texture to the wine. Overall, it is medium-bodied and fresh, with prominent minerality and pleasant acidity. 

Reds

(Spain) 2018 Litrona Tinto 1L
Grapes: 100% Sumoll

Notes: Crunchy tart red berry fruit, forward black pepper, tight charred wood finish. Great BBQ wine! 

(Italy) 2017 Mani di Luna ‘Checcarello’
Grapes: Blend of Sangiovese and Barbera

Notes: You want wine for pizza and pasta, alas- look no further- this Italian red screams for a hot tomato. Ripe red and blue fruit, excellent density, pleasant tannic structure- yet smooth on the palate and very food-friendly. 

(Austria) 2020 Christina St. Laurent
Grapes: 100% St. Laurent

Notes: Sustainably farmed and vegan. Great approachable summer red. Aromas of forest herbs balanced against bright, tangy red fruit notes. Fun picnic wine to be enjoyed with charcuterie and other salty snacks. 

(Oregon) 2018 Day Winery WV' Deep Blue'
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

Notes: James Beard Award-winning vintners. Classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir flavors: Earthy, lovely blue fruit tones, and a touch peppery in the finish. Boooooom. 

(France) 2018 Domaine Ligier Arbois
Grapes: 100% Poulsard

Notes: Poulsard is a pinot noir-like grape and is only grown in Jura, a small appellation in eastern France. This bottle is outstanding and well out-performs the price. Lush raspberry and pluot, lavender aromas, soft grippy textured tannic finish. It's terrific. 

(France) 2015 Chateau Lafond Fronsac
Grapes: Blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc

Notes: Dense black hue, charming aromas of baked cherries, black currants, and bright herbs. Licorice and leather on the palate- fleshy textured, and ready to drink!