Bentley’s Wine Steward, Brian Kemmerle regularly offers his insight and experience to help select the perfect wine to accompany Chef Derek Ridgway’s dishes.
Having felt like I’ve made some inroads in showing off the quality of Oregon Pinot Blanc on the Featured Wines by the glass. My new goal is to promote our fine Northwest Rieslings.
To that end, two Riesling replace the two Pinot Blanc on the menu. The first wine is from the venerable Chehalem Winery in Newberg. I’ve chosen their 2008 Reserve Riesling to pour by the glass. Comprised of select lots from two single vineyards, this wine shows complex layers of aromas and flavors glass including lime, stone fruits (peach & nectarine), white flowers and wet stone. The wine finishes dry with around ½% residual sugar. This wine will pair nicely with shellfish.
The other Riesling is the 2008 Anam Cara Nicholas Estate Chehalem Mountains. This wine shows how good an off dry Riesling can be with slightly more residual sugar and aromas and flavors of Golden Delicious apple, ripe pear, cantaloupe melon and hints of flowers, citrus and stone fruits. This wine will pair nicely with Equatorial cuisines.
I have not forgotten about all you red wine drinkers on this menu. My limited supply of Tamarack Cabernet Franc is still holding out, the Grochau Cellars Tempranillo will pair nicely with our new mixed grill entrée. The new Cristom Mt. Jefferson Pinot Noir has been well received and this week I’m introducing the new 2008 Cubanisimo Estate Pinot Noir.
The grapes for this wine come from 8 acres of Pommard and 2 acres of Dijon vineyards planted in the Eola Hills. With only a 700 case production this wine sells out every year. The wine shows a beautiful red coloration and is crystal clear. Aromas of wild cane berries and local strawberries burst from the glass. The wine is medium bodied on the palate and finishes with good fruit intensity, silky tannins and refreshing acidity. Not exceptionally complex, just very tasty. This wine has garnered a handful of medals at local competitions and has become my favorite offering from this winery since the 2005 vintage.
Cheers!
