The
‘Sideways’ shunning of the poignant Bordeaux grape varietal gave rise to Miles’
beloved Pinot Noir, at least domestically, in the years following the popular
wine flick. Why? I have no idea. The fact that a single film could have such a
drastic effect on the market is beyond me, even as Merlot-based wines from Bordeaux, such as
Petrus and Cheval Blanc continue to fetch top dollar on the auction and futures
markets.
I’m partial to Pinot,
and have found it a theme in my wine-work-travel ventures around the globe. All
of the wineries I’ve worked for have been high-end Pinot producers. Living for
three months in Burgundy only solidified my love for the delicate ‘Queen’ grape
as one winemaker called it (Chardonnay being King of course). Recently,
however, I’ve started a new love affair with an old friend, Merlot. It’s only
in the beginning stages, like third-date new; Hand-holding is a given, we’re
way beyond the first kiss. Splitting the tab is out of the picture; I’ve got
it. I can’t get her out of my mind and every glance is met with a glimmering
smile. Where did she come from? Is this love? Will it fade? We were ‘just
friends’ for so long and now that we’ve finally given it a go, I can’t imagine
the world without her.
Okay, sorry for the
romanticizing, but I taste a lot of wine. It’s part of my job. When something moves me,
it really moves me. Sometimes it’s nearly to tears. Two years ago when I was
working as a wine buyer up in the Twin Cities I was blessed to welcome a number
of Washington State winemakers to my store for a night of tasting during
Washington Wine Month. The focus was on smaller producers: Dusted Valley,
Amavi, Trust, and Pepperbridge. For many wine-loving people, Washington wine still
doesn’t conjure up much for thought. Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling maybe? For
the geeks, maybe Leonetti or Cayuse in terms of notable producers. Columbia
Valley and Walla Walla usually elicit a reaction in terms of regional terms. Yakima
is there, but maybe it’s known more as the name of a car-top bike-rack. Check
out the Washington State Wine Commission for
all sorts of great information.
In short, Washington
is HOT SHIT right now for winemaking. Only second in terms of production behind California, it
boasts incredibly diverse sub-regions and soil-types with unique microclimates
that enable experimentation and success across the board with grape varietals.
Smaller producers are honing in and making incredibly expressive wines that
represent the true potential of their vineyard sites. Pepperbridge Winery is my
‘gateway drug’ to the excitement. Back to the in-store tasting.
Jean Francois Pellet the winemaker/partner of
Pepperbridge was a welcomed presence. Perhaps it was the rare opportunity for
me to speak a little French in a blue collar Minnesota suburb, or his reserved
demeanor that I saw right through, sensing a wealth of knowledge and winemaking
wisdom that I could pick apart. Ever so gracious and humble, it was a pleasure
to have him pour his wines for me. The 2008 Merlot (current vintage at the
time) quite literally spoke to me. So complex, I had a hard time wrapping my
mind around it all. I couldn’t stop coming back to the glass, voraciously
swirling the dense, young wine to elicit any aromatics it would offer (which
were astounding). The palate was not heavy, it was not overly juicy. It was not
closed, it was not open. It drew a perfect line. I couldn’t help myself from
imagining what the wine would taste like in five years. JF’s winemaking
experience was presenting itself, not on paper, but through his wine, as it
should. The poignant ‘take-away’ from all I gathered was his philosophy on
making wines that present well young, express the unique estate vineyard sites,
and are meant to evolve with a number of years in bottle.
Fast forward to last
week, July 2 2013. I found myself sitting shoulder to shoulder with some of
Madison’s finest wine personalities. The minds and palates that form the wine lists
for Osteria Papavero, L’Etoile, and Square Wine Company to name a few, all
gathered around a communal wine table. The night’s blind tasting theme: All
American Reds. Seven wines, all relatively different in their own right. One
stood out. My exact tasting notes:
‘Age. Color separation
on the rim proves it. Oak influence, spicy cinnamon. Cigar Box. Cherry
caramels. Ripe dark fruit and integrated tannins. Bordeaux blend?’
The wine? 2006
Pepperbridge Merlot. Magnificent! Granted I didn’t call it head on, in terms of
varietal and site specificity it seemed perfect. My world came full circle. I
was, quite nearly on the verge of tears when I realized the potential of a wine
with which I had become smitten only a few years prior. A few extra years of
age in bottle did wonders on the juice. It was in perfect balance. Given the
fact that most wine produced for the market these days (last I heard was 90%)
is meant to be consumed within the first year of bottling, JF’s vision of
creating a wine for longevity had become a true reality. Wow.
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Points gathered? Step
out of your comfort zone. You are limiting yourself by saying ‘I only drink
California Chardonnay,' 'I don't like sweet wine,' or ‘I only drink wines from Morocco’ (wink). Merlot, as passé as it
might currently be, grows in vineyards on nearly every continent and there are winemakers
there who are making it well. Investing in a case of a wine that moves you and
letting some bottles age for a few years might reward exponentially down the
line. Drink wine with people of diverse backgrounds and palates; they will
bring you things you never imagined. Winemakers are rockstars, but they really
just care about sharing their bounty with you, the consumer, and hope you enjoy
it. Drink more Washington wine.
Cheers!
#FEELTHEWINE.
