Sometimes I just feel the need to sulk. Not often. Just sometimes. It could be something someone said or did. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter — is wine. Some wines are perfect for sulking. You can sit by yourself, sip wine and sulk. It’s a thing. On this occasion, I opened a bottle of 2016 WillaKenzie Kiana Pinot Noir. I tend to decant wine and either leave it in the decanter or pour it and let it sit in the glass. Today I did both. About an hour to an hour and a half total. Its character evolves with time, which is another way of saying I took small sips along the way. At first, the wine was a bit brusque. I could relate. But eventually this Pinot Noir emerged to show its true colors. It was lovely, fragrant and complex. This seven year old wine has lots to offer. It was moody but then so was I.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lemon zest. I’ve taken to sprinkling it on everything. Chicken, salads, vegetables, cheese, soups, stews, olives. Everything. I’m thinking of brushing my teeth with it. Which brings me to a thoroughly enjoyable wine paring:
A dish of those big green olives from Castelvetrano, Sicily doused in fresh lemon zest. And a glass of Talley’s 2020 Chardonnay from Oliver’s Vineyard in Edna Valley.
For whatever reason, Chardonnay from there always seems to be about extra citrus. It’s an Edna Valley AVA thing, I think. My lemon zest olives should fit right in. Let’s find out.
Melons and honeysuckle. There’s fresh oak too. It’s California, so why not?
When I was a boy I used to nibble on the nectar of snap dragons that grew wild on the hillsides where we lived. Aromas and flavors are easy to recall and that’s what I sensed. Nice. This is a full flavor, not so subtle Chardonnay.
Kathy is making a pasta salad for later this afternoon and she typically stirs in lemon juice, mint, red pepper, olive oil, garlic, and celery. I’ll have to try this wine with that as well. Chardonnay, nicely done.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sometimes I drink wine without thinking too much about it. Sometimes I’ll savor it, taking an hour to drink a single glass. Today is one if those occasions.
I opened a bottle of WillaKenzie’s 2019 Estate Chardonnay, poured a glass and just let it sit there. We live near a forest of Douglas Fir in Oregon and I like to just sit outside. I stare at the trees and watch the hawks. It’s cool today, so I’m wrapped in a blanket.
The Chardonnay sits quietly too. Undisturbed. But I can see the wine in my glass at my side. In this light, it looks bright. It shimmers a bit. Seems darker near the surface. Almost a bit golden. I’m not in a hurry but neither is the wine.
The trees are perfectly still. There is no wind. I wait. It’s a game I like to play. How long before my senses tell me that the wine is ready? I wait until I smell lemons. For me, that’s always the first hint. Now I get to hold the glass. I take a real sniff. It’s a garden. The aromas come at me all at once. All that cool fresh air had cleared my mind and senses so I quickly picked up some wet pine — but that may actually be wet pine or fir and not the wine. However, it was a welcome nuance and it added to the mix.
I take a sip and the show goes on as the oak flavors have their turn. Cinnamon and cloves. Subtle. I kept going — taking a bigger sip. The wine changed with time and not in subtle ways. The tannins softened while the Chardonnay grape itself dominated. Seems appropriate.
Now I take a break. I know what’s there. For the next hour or so I’ll sip now and then. I stare at the trees and watch the hawks. Time well spent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2016 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Kiana
9/24/2023 - Palette49 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Sometimes I just feel the need to sulk. Not often. Just sometimes. It could be something someone said or did. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter — is wine. Some wines are perfect for sulking. You can sit by yourself, sip wine and sulk. It’s a thing.
On this occasion, I opened a bottle of 2016 WillaKenzie Kiana Pinot Noir. I tend to decant wine and either leave it in the decanter or pour it and let it sit in the glass. Today I did both. About an hour to an hour and a half total. Its character evolves with time, which is another way of saying I took small sips along the way. At first, the wine was a bit brusque. I could relate. But eventually this Pinot Noir emerged to show its true colors. It was lovely, fragrant and complex. This seven year old wine has lots to offer. It was moody but then so was I.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2020 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Oliver's Vineyard
11/8/2022 - Palette49 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lemon zest. I’ve taken to sprinkling it on everything. Chicken, salads, vegetables, cheese, soups, stews, olives. Everything. I’m thinking of brushing my teeth with it. Which brings me to a thoroughly enjoyable wine paring:
A dish of those big green olives from Castelvetrano, Sicily doused in fresh lemon zest. And a glass of Talley’s 2020 Chardonnay from Oliver’s Vineyard in Edna Valley.
For whatever reason, Chardonnay from there always seems to be about extra citrus. It’s an Edna Valley AVA thing, I think. My lemon zest olives should fit right in. Let’s find out.
Melons and honeysuckle. There’s fresh oak too. It’s California, so why not?
When I was a boy I used to nibble on the nectar of snap dragons that grew wild on the hillsides where we lived. Aromas and flavors are easy to recall and that’s what I sensed. Nice. This is a full flavor, not so subtle Chardonnay.
Kathy is making a pasta salad for later this afternoon and she typically stirs in lemon juice, mint, red pepper, olive oil, garlic, and celery. I’ll have to try this wine with that as well. Chardonnay, nicely done.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2019 WillaKenzie Estate Chardonnay Estate Cuvée
10/29/2022 - Palette49 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sometimes I drink wine without thinking too much about it. Sometimes I’ll savor it, taking an hour to drink a single glass. Today is one if those occasions.
I opened a bottle of WillaKenzie’s 2019 Estate Chardonnay, poured a glass and just let it sit there. We live near a forest of Douglas Fir in Oregon and I like to just sit outside. I stare at the trees and watch the hawks. It’s cool today, so I’m wrapped in a blanket.
The Chardonnay sits quietly too. Undisturbed. But I can see the wine in my glass at my side. In this light, it looks bright. It shimmers a bit. Seems darker near the surface. Almost a bit golden. I’m not in a hurry but neither is the wine.
The trees are perfectly still. There is no wind. I wait. It’s a game I like to play. How long before my senses tell me that the wine is ready? I wait until I smell lemons. For me, that’s always the first hint. Now I get to hold the glass. I take a real sniff. It’s a garden. The aromas come at me all at once. All that cool fresh air had cleared my mind and senses so I quickly picked up some wet pine — but that may actually be wet pine or fir and not the wine. However, it was a welcome nuance and it added to the mix.
I take a sip and the show goes on as the oak flavors have their turn. Cinnamon and cloves. Subtle. I kept going — taking a bigger sip. The wine changed with time and not in subtle ways. The tannins softened while the Chardonnay grape itself dominated. Seems appropriate.
Now I take a break. I know what’s there. For the next hour or so I’ll sip now and then. I stare at the trees and watch the hawks. Time well spent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment