Newsletter - August 2007

REDS

OREGON – RED:

PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER
2005 Cameron Pinot Noir, Abbey Ridge, Cuvee L&E, Willamette Valley, Oregon 515.00 case / 275.00 six-pack.
What kind of Pinot Noir do we love? This kind! This is classic Abbey Ridge, offering wonderful violet, earth, and raspberry aromas that segue to a silky smooth seamless palate. Flavors of dark raspberry fruit, earth and spices are perfectly framed by snappy acidity in this impeccably balanced wine. This is classic Wadensville fruit from one of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the new world. Payment confirms your order. Very limited. Magnums are available. Ready fall/winter 2007.

FRANCE – RED:

2005 Burle, Vacqueyras, Southern Rhône Valley, France 15.99/171.00
Early word in the press suggests that 2005 vintage in the Southern Rhône Valley blends 2003’s ripeness with the elegance of 2004, yielding classic, versatile wines of depth, approachability and longevity. As long-time L&E aficionados know, Burle’s wines offer a ton of terroir character for their modest tariffs. The 2005 Vacqueyras highlights the boldness of the vintage with the rustic beauty that defines the very best Vacqueyras. The wine opens with an opaque plum-ruby color and a bouquet filled with notes of licorice, leather, ripe plums and tar. The Vacqueyras then transitions to deep, soulful expressions of ripe figs, blackberries, cassis and plums framed by firm, food-friendly tannins and a haunting note of eucalyptus. Tarry fruit, black licorice, menthol, juniper and cloves mark the long, palate-staining finish. Enjoy now or over the coming seven years with roast leg of lamb, ratatouille and recipes favoring rosemary and fresh garlic.

2002 Domaine de Nizas, Le Mas, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 10.50/112.50
The pioneering John Goelet, a principal of California’s Clos du Val, Australia’s Taltarni and Tasmania’s Clover Hill wineries, has recently established his first wine estate in France, the Domaine de Nizas in the Languedoc. Combining 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Syrah, Goelet has combined the elegance of the Bordeaux varietals with the tarry, leathery personality of the Syrah. A bright, limpid black-purple color the “Le Mas” (little farm) opens with a fusion of Merlot’s plum and chocolate aromas, Cabernet’s black currant core and a hint of sappy, peppery Syrah. Displaying the palate weight of an elegant Bordeaux, the wine transitions to flavors of blackberries, leather, garrigue and tar. The lush mouth-feel and complex fruit expressions persist through the long, saturated finish, complemented by hints of licorice, bay leaf and vanilla. Delicious and elegant, this little wonder is ready for your dinner table tonight with daubes of beef, grilled lamb, burgers and savory stews.

2005 Thierry Germain, Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, France 13.99/149.50
Thierry Germain is the up-and-coming rock star of the Loire Valley. Hailing from Bordeaux, he brings an obvious Bordeaux aesthetic to this Cabernet Franc-based Saumur-Champigny. Deep black-purple in the glass, Germain’s Saumur opens with aromas of plums, cloves, birch bark and spicy oak. Deep and generous on the palate, the wine shows lush, stone-infused plum, cassis and raspberry fruit spiced with hints of cinnamon, sappy oak and suave, silky, mouth-coating tannins. Plum, vanilla and gorgeous cocoa notes mark the wine’s long, supple finish. This is a lush, rich and balanced Cabernet Franc. It’s a terrific choice now and over the next five years for fresh and mild chèvres, grilled rib-eye steaks, braised rabbit, liver, and rich potato and cheese casseroles.

2004 Domaine des Terrisses, Gaillac Rouge, Southwest France 11.50/123.00
The under-heralded Gaillac was one of the first regions in France known to be planted with wine grapes. The Romans, who first cultivated Gaillac’s rolling fields, must have understood the region’s natural potential. Modern Gaillac rouges, including this superb example from Domaine des Terrisses, are based on the obscure, local varietals, Fer Servadou and Duras. Captivating and beguiling from the first sip, Terrisses’ Gaillac rouge casts a deep, black-purple color from the glass followed by an intensely perfumed nose of wood smoke, boysenberries and ferrous earth. In the mouth, the wine coats the palate with a viscous texture, notes of spice, menthol and black currants, and a lashing of ripe, round tannins. The Terrisses’ finish is long, clean and marked by echoes of red and black fruits, crunchy acidity and hints of tar. Enjoy this rich, satisfying rouge now with rack of lamb, hearty vegetable casseroles or rib roasts of beef, or cellar it for a few years to allow the tannins to resolve.

ITALY - RED

2004 Fattoria di Petroio, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 11.99/128.00
Fattoria di Petroio’s Chianti Classico is fast becoming an L&E and Portland favorite. The estate continues its streak of successes with the 2004, a heady, fruit-driven wine defined by a deep black-plum core, a crimson rim, and a highly perfumed bouquet of tar, violets, ripe black raspberries and saddle leather. Hailing from the prestigious Castelnuovo Berardenga village in the very south of the Classico zone, the Petroio offers a palate of tar, leather, saturated raspberry and plum fruit. The wine finishes long and earthy, with complex notes of tar, game, dried rose petals and bitter chocolate. Lovely now for hearty pastas, roasts and rustic tomato-and-vegetable casseroles, the Petroio Chianti Classico will also reward three to five years’ patience in your cool cellar.

2004 Marchesi di Grésy, Nebbiolo, Martinenga, Piedmont, Italy 18.99/203.00
Submitted for your approval is di Grésy’s declassified Barbaresco cru Martinenga. Here we have all the perfume and elegance of a Martinenga cru Barbaresco in a more up-front, approachable style. Brilliant ruby, with a hint of Nebbiolo amber-orange at the rim, di Grésy’s Nebbiolo Martinenga opens with gorgeous strawberry, raspberry scented fruit accented by hints of orange peel and earth. Deft, transparent and delicious right out of the chute, the Martinenga offers notes of pie cherries, earth, menthol and clove on the palate. The finish reprises the wine’s transparent palate and elegant presentation of raspberry and cherry fruit laced with complex notes of menthol, bitter orange and calcareous earth. Enjoyable now with hearty Piemontese fare like risotto, polenta and beef brasato, the di Grésy Nebbiolo Martinenga will also sing with everyday fare like grilled burgers, chicken, Portobello mushrooms, and pastas dressed with butter sauces.

2004 Fratelli Ponte, Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy 10.99/117.50
It is a sincere joy to present to you an honest Barbera that tastes like the kind that is served in Piedmont’s local caffés and osterias. The enchanting label is your prelude to one of the most honest Barberas on the market. The Fratelli Ponte Barbera begins with a purple-ruby color and a nose of earth, plums and mesquite smoke. Restrained plum and black raspberry fruit grace the palate in a suave, medium-weight package that balances rich, ripe fruit with brisk, bracing acidity. Notes of cherries and earthiness emerge on the long finish and increase with aeration and food. This wine begs to be paired with classic Piemontese cuisine like risotto, osso buco, tajarin, and agnolotti. Tremendously versatile, it will also work well with simple pastas, pizzas, burgers and roast chicken. Drink now or over the coming three years.

2004 Li Veli, Passamante Negroamaro, Salento IGT, Puglia, Italy 9.50/101.50
Negroamaro is the unsung hero of southern Italian red wine grapes. In Li Veli’s Passamante, Negroamaro finally gets to show its nobility and strut its stuff as a solo performer. The Passamante opens with an impenetrable black core and a lovely vermilion rim. Sweet on the nose with suggestions of rose petals, raisins, figs and licorice, the Passamante shows its aristocratic nature on its spicy palate, chock full of dried cherries, tar, oregano, sweet tobacco and star anise. On the finish, the wine just sings, with a kaleidoscope of nuances including sweet tobacco, brown spices, dried figs, lead pencil and a complex, utterly distinctive lash of smoky volcanic terroir. Perfect with pizza margherita, pasta in a sun-dried tomato, pine nut, garlic and olive oil sauce, tomato-based casseroles and rich braised pork recipes. Enjoy now and over the next five years.

AUSTRALIA – RED

2006 Tamar Ridge, Pinot Noir, Devil’s Corner, Tasmania, Australia 13.50/144.50
When this rarity passed our lips, there was no doubt in our minds that we were encountering one of the most delicious, honest, unique and affordable Pinot Noirs in recent memory. A gorgeous deep crimson color in the glass, the Devil’s Corner Pinot opens with bright, high-toned aromas of loganberries, cranberries, pie cherries and Chinese five spice. Crisp, refreshing and driven by snappy red fruits, the wine dances on the palate and emphasizes crispness and freshness over extract and density. The finish reprises the bright Chambolle-like red-fruit notes and adds an earthy soil signature that may be unique to Tasmania. Throw this in as a ringer in your next Oregon Pinot or Chambolle-Musigny tasting and we believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its showing. Better yet, buy a case to drink as an everyday Pinot with grilled salmon, roast chicken, duck, grilled summer squashes, burgers and other everyday fare. What a delightful surprise!

WHITES

OREGON - WHITE

2006 Siltstone, Pinot Gris, Guadalupe Vineyard, Vinetenders Selection, Willamette Valley, Oregon 13.50/144.50
Siltstone is the winery label of legendary Willamette Valley vineyard manager Joel Myers. Myers has captured all the power and authority of the Willamette Valley’s 2006 vintage and fashioned a succulent Pinot Gris from the famed Guadalupe Vineyard (think Ken Wright). In the glass the Siltstone Pinot Gris shows a pale straw color and textbook Oregon Pinot Gris nose of buttered pears, honeysuckle and smoke. The wine’s palate has a crisp, minerally presence thanks to the vintage’s warm, dry growing season. Clean Bartlett pear and apricot fruit mixed with a spicy soil signature and Pinot Gris’ inimitable buttery smokiness make this one of the most distinctive and powerful Oregon Pinot Gris in many a vintage. We like the wine both as an apéritif and as a complement to broiled salmon, halibut, fresh cheeses and light vegetarian fare. Drink now or over the next three years.

FRANCE – WHITE:

2006 Hugues Beaulieu, Picpoul de Pinet, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 7.99/85.50
The word “Picpoul” means “lip stinger” in the local dialect, and refers to the wines of yesteryear that were tart, lean and acidic. Today’s Picpoul retains ripe, refreshing acidity, but its tartness is balanced by fully ripened fruit and its freshness retained by modern winemaking techniques. A Chablis-like green-gold in color, the Picpoul casts aromatic notes of lime, bitter almond and grapefruit from the glass. The wine’s crisp, enticing bouquet leads to a juicy, full and zippy palate suggesting Meyer lemon, kiwi fruit and stony minerals. Crisp, clean and super-refreshing, this wine begs you to pair it with delicate white-fleshed fish dishes, grilled and sautéed zucchini, calamari, periwinkles and oysters. Superb for hot summer evenings, please be sure to serve this wine well chilled. Enjoy over the coming year.

2005 Gérard Millet, Menetou-Salon, Loire Valley, France 13.99/149.50
Across the Loire river from Sancerre, the wines of Menetou-Salon offer a lot of what makes Sancerre the world’s reference point for Sauvignon Blanc at a much more affordable price. From the classic 2005 vintage, we’re delighted to present this winner from Gérard Millet. Millet’s Menetou begins with a green-tinged straw-gold color and a piquant flinty, gooseberry, Sauvignon Blanc nose. Musky lemon and honeydew melon fruit impressions are coupled on the palate with an intense blast of limestone and flint terroir. The 2005 growing season allowed the fruit in the region to ripen perfectly without compromising the Sauvignon’s crisp acidity or appetizing herbal undercurrent. This perfect balance of ripeness and soil character follows through to the Millet’s long, crisp, lemon finish where it’s spiked by another punch of the Loire’s inimitable flinty soil signature. Serve with freshwater fish preparations, oysters on the half-shell, crab and other seafood delicacies. Drink now or over the coming three years.

GERMANY – WHITE

2002 Schloss Saarstein Serriger, Riesling, Spätlese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 20.99/225.00
This stunning 2002 Spätlese is just now turning the corner and starting to offer hints of maturity. Pale green-gold in the glass, the Schloss Saarsteiner Spätlese opens with salty, slightly marine aromas complemented by hints of petrol, gardenia blossoms, lemons and tangerines. On the palate the wine begins with a blast of minerals and then broadens to reveal buttery, near-mature Riesling fruit lifted by crisp acidity. The finish revisits the elusive and oh-so-delectable buttered peach tart. This wine is utterly delicious. Riesling fans, stock up and have something good to drink while your 2004 and 2005 Spätlesen shed their puppy fat. Enjoy now and over the coming seven years with poached trout, grilled zucchini, mild pork preparations, sausages and veal. Very limited.

ITALY – WHITE

2006 Inama, Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy 13.50/144.50
Crisp, clean, authentic Soave is just the answer for warm summer evenings. Crafted from Garganega grapes grown in Soave’s Classico zone, Inama’s artisanal 2006 Soave casts a lovely straw gold color from the glass. Swirl it and the wine opens to reveal exotic aromas of sweet meadow flowers, lemon and lime zest, hawthorn blossom, acacia and chamomile. Full, ample and satisfying on the palate, the ’06 Inama Soave is marked by suggestions of sweet lemon curd, minerals, honeydew melon and Mirabelle plums. The wine finishes crisp, juicy and balanced by a dose of ripe, gooseberry-like acidity before segueing to lingering notes of sweet almond, kiwi, lemon basil and smoky dissolved minerals. Drink now or over the next year with brook trout, halibut, sautéed vegetables or shellfish and discover why Garganega is one of the world’s most under-appreciated fine white varietals.

SPAIN – WHITE

2006 Arregi Getariako, Txakolina, Basque Country, Spain 11.99/128.00
On the rocky Biscay coast of Basque Spain, stubborn traditionalists fight the harsh local climate to produce one of the most racy and exciting white wines in the world. Pale straw in color, Arregi’s Txakolí (cha-co-lí) offers distinctive aromas of lime zest, chalky minerals and celeriac. Fresh and still sporting a happy dose of dissolved CO2, the Txakolí has enough ripping acidity to handle the most wine-challenging vegetables, even asparagus and green beans. Underlying is a rich and resinous fruit expression reminiscent of lemon zest, lime juice and crisp green apples. The finish is intense and flinty, reprising the lime expression in the nose and on the palate. This staff favorite will please fans of crisp, mineral-driven wines such as Chablis, Riesling, Vinho Verde and Grüner Veltliner. In addition to vegetables, pair the Txakolína with seafood tapas. Enjoy this spring and summer to capture its youthful vigor.

ROSÉ

2006 Château d’Oupia, Minervois Rosé, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 9.99/107.00
André Iché, the man behind the delicious and affordable Château d’Oupia and Les Hérétiques rouges, has fashioned a splendid 2006 rosé that will hold its own with the vintage’s finest. Pale watermelon colored, Iché’s d’Oupia rosé bursts from the glass with sweet aromas of watermelon and strawberry followed by notes of lavender and sage. Juicy on the attack, the d’Oupia rosé tightens mid-palate before blossoming on the back palate with delicious notes of ripe watermelon, raspberries, rose petals and dried Southern French garrigue. The finish is clean, fresh and accented by a lovely, appetizing herbal note. This is textbook Southern French rosé and a lip-smacking way to refresh on a hot summer day. Enjoy by itself or with grilled sockeye salmon, steelhead, summer vegetables, burgers, pizza—just about anything! Be sure to finish your case before November to capture all the wine’s juicy exuberance.

SPARKLING

NV François Montand, Brut Blanc de Blancs, Méthode Traditionelle, France 11.50/107.00
Here’s the bubble deal of the season. A blend of Airen and Ugni Blanc crafted in the same laborious manner as the finest Champagnes, this laughably-priced French fizz offers a superb and persistent stream of pinpoint bubbles along with penetrating aromas of pie crust, brioche, crisp red delicious apples and sweet lemon curd. Lively on the attack, the wine segues on the palate to overt red-fruit flavors of Morello cherries and raspberries. Long, clean and far more interesting and complex than its price tag suggests, notes of Wheat Thins, biscuits combine with a reprise of lemon fruit to make this your party bottle du jour. There’s no need to age this sparkler: just cool and serve it. Enjoy by itself or over the coming year with wedding cake, hors d’oeuvres and simple picnic fare.

New Address:
2222 NW Quimby St. (at 22nd Ave.)
Portland, Oregon

800-903-9463 • 503-241-9463

Events & Tastings:

Friday Tastings

Saturday Tastings

Special Events at L&E

Featured Wines:

Sampler

Reds

2005 Cameron Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge Cuvee L&E

2005 Burle Vacqueyras

2002 Dom. de Nizas Le Mas

2005 Thierry Germain Saumur-Champigny

2004 Dom. des Terrisses Gaillac Rouge

2004 Petroio Chianti Classico

2004 Marchesi di Grésy Nebbiolo

2004 Fratelli Ponte Barbera d’Asti Superiore

2004 Li Veli Passamante Negroamaro

2006 Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir

Whites

2006 Siltstone Pinot Gris Guadalupe Vineyard

2006 Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet

2005 Gérard Millet Menetou-Salon

2002 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Riesling Spätlese

2006 Inama Soave Classico

2006 Arregi Getariako Txakolina

Rosé

2006 Ch. d’Oupia Minervois Rosé

Sparkling

NV François Montand Brut Blanc de Blancs

Aug. 3 Italy’s Finest Whites: Jermann, Schiopetto, Felluga, and more.

Aug. 17 Oregon Pinot Noirs

Aug. 24 An Evening of Great Rieslings with Johannes Selbach of Selbach-Oster

Sept. 7 The Best of the New 2006 German Rieslings.

Aug. 4 French Goodness! NV François Montand Brut Blanc de Blancs, Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet, Ch. d’Oupia Minervois Rosé, Dom. de Nizas Le Mas Vin de Pays d’Oc, and Burle Vacqueyras.

Aug. 11 The fine folks from Galaxy will be on hand to pour Li Veli Passamante Negroamaro, Marchesi di Grésy Nebbiolo Martinenga, and Inama Soave Classico. Plus: our Italian White Wine Sampler.

Aug. 18 Arregi Getariako Txakolina, Schloss Saarstein Serriger Riesling Spätlese, Fratelli Ponte Barbera d’Asti Superiore, and Fattoria di Petroio Chianti Classico.

Aug. 25 Old and New World Delights! Gérard Millet Menetou-Salon, Thierry Germain Saumur-Champigny, Dom. des Terrisses Gaillac Rouge, Siltstone Pinot Gris, Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir from Tasmania.

2005 ZIND-HUMBRECHT TASTING
Tuesday, Aug. 21 6:30 p.m.

Liner & Elsen is proud to present our seventh annual tasting of the wines of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. Join us for this gonzo event. Last year’s tasting demonstrated a return to an older, more restrained style from this great winery. Together we will find out what’s in store from the 2005 vintage, which has been superb all over France. Seating will be very limited, and prior payment will confirm your reservation. $75.00 per person. Contact L&E for your reservation.

* * *

SELBACH OSTER RIESLING TASTING -
Meet Johannes Selbach at L&E
Friday, Aug. 24 5:30-7:30

Join us in welcoming Johannes Selbach, winemaker for Selbach Oster, one of Germany’s finest estates. Joined by the effervescent Ewald Moseler, Johannes will be on hand to introduce his 2006 Rieslings. Plus, we will feature a number of older vintage wines from this esteemed estate.
Glass fee 15.00. No reservation needed.

Note: We will be closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 3