One of the coolest things about wine bars is that even at their most boisterous, they are safe places to convene in convivial fashion, and one never hears about fights breaking out within their confines. A quick YouTube search on “bar fight” returns an endless stream of mayhem. Try “wine bar fight” and you pretty much get nothing on point. So, what was I to think or do, when during the holiday season even, a melee broke out around my wine tasting.
Ok, actually I was at home, most of the festivities were over, guests gone, and all I wanted to do was sit down and spend a contemplative moment with the 2010 Illahe Vineyards Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. We met Brad and Bethany Ford two years ago on a bone chilling winter night in Norwich, VT when they were on a distribution tour. We really enjoyed spending time with them, and thought that they made really pleasing and honest wines. A down-to-earth small family operation where the relationship with the land is the basis, and even the work horses and dogs get equal billing with the proprietors.
Recently Joe Roberts at 1WineDude.com had a chance to taste the Illahe wines after finding that a longtime commenter on his pages was their Assistant Winemaker Gabe Jagel. Joe is as stoked about the wines as we are, and it turns out that the Illahe post made his Top 10 most “shared” articles this year. I hope we get to raise a glass of the stuff some day. Last week, I was making a pit stop for a bite at the Bethel Sandwich Shop & Third Branch Wines and while waiting for Dave to put my order together, I was happy to notice the Illahe Pinot bedecked with an ornament that read “JOY”.
So, after the rush of the holidays, and along with a seriously satisfying smorgasbord of holiday leftovers, we enJOYed the unpretentious yet better than ‘every-day” wine. I was planning to drone on about the sound characteristics, and unencumbered qualities of this Pinot Noir, with its “just ripe enough” sensibility and the simple clarity of the tart cherry and cranberry, while still retaining an elegance that belies its price. Instead, the pets busted up the moment, with little Lexi, the recent adoptee, on a special stocking-stuffer smoked-beef-bone high, being the main instigator. She’s actually fitting into the mix extremely well, and I highly suggest that you check out the Illahe and get it into your mix too. For under $20, it is a fine representation of Oregon Pinot Noir, and the Ford family’s example of the quality that can be achieved by small operations, should be an inspiration for aspiring Vermont vintners. Happy holiday cheers.