Quercus Harmonia Pinot noir is best value every vintage. Michael Beckley's winemaking talents are obvious in this easy going Pinot noir.
An Avalon Wine of the Week Retro chic, Water Aerobics, and Value Pinot
2-14-08
Fashion trends, water aerobics and wine don't generally assimilate, but somehow found their way into my week...
Retro chic is everywhere these days from wide wale corduroy to fondue, but my favorite is water aerobics class at the community pool. I had horrible visions of Jane Fonda in water wings when I first agreed to take my grandma to class last summer but was pleasantly surprised to find a young hip class of working professional women. We banter about politics, swap recipes and review the work day. Inevitably, I end up chatting about wine.
Last night, slightly out of breath from wall push-ups, I discussed the merits of "value pinot" as a necessity to have on hand. "Value pinot" is a workhorse of a wine, extremely versatile for a range of weeknight dinners, unexpected guests, or just a glass to unwind with at the end of the day. My current favorite is the Quercus Harmonia 2006. Light and supple, full of red raspberry a little bit of sweet baking spice and just a touch of earth it is refreshing and charming. Harmonia is the perfect daily drinker that won't break the bank.
Though retro chic may be the current fad, I think "value pinot" is a trend that is here to stay.
Happy drinking and good eating,
Amy
Impressive! Michael Beckley, hot Indie winemaker, scores big with this noteworthy 2006 Pinot. Marcus was taken with this wine, tasting and immediately getting the word out. he says:
Another outstanding value from Michael Beckley's Quercus Winery.
Aromas of raspberries shaded with black fruit, wild herbs and cream.
An elegant core of red cherry is wrapped with mixed berry. The
Harmonia is soft on the front of your palate, with tannins appearing
on the long finish of spicy berry pie and earth. There's a whole lot
of Pinot in this Pinot!
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
"Fred Astaire in a glass? Well balanced with a great texture & mouth feel. This is a pretty Pinot Noir that held a moderately spicy flavor, coupled with red fruit and earthiness, through to an equally pretty and impressive finish. The 14.5% alcohol wasn't noticeable; this wine is a good example of a higher alcohol wine that has finesse, power and focus." - David Johnstone, David's Muse wineblog
2005 Vintage tasting Notes
Expressive aromas of berry fruit, roses and sandalwood. The 2005 Harmonia has a juicy, lush mouthfeel with red berry and pie cherry that gives way to hints of milk chocolate and creamy berry. The finish is spicy and long. -ml
"Great acidity-almost closer to a Burgundy- with delicate flavors from the fruit that came in after the rains." -Michael Beckley
When he founded Quercus Wines (aptly named for the oak genus used to make wine barrels), Berkley determined he would run it as closely as he could to how a small Burgundian producer operates, "without," he added, "the family involvement." Quercus is a one-man band.
"I try to emulate the hands-off technique from Burgundy, gently herding the wine to its final destination," said Beckley. "I don't have any delusions that Oregon is Burgundy-it is still Oregon, with its own unique grape-growing atmosphere.
"But the [winemaking] techniques are interchangeable," he added. "They generally mimic what has been done in Burgundy for hundreds of years." An analogy Beckley might draw is to the way a jazz standard is played differently each time it's approached by a new musician. The song is the same, and there are traditional methods with which to play it; the interpretation is unique.
Beckley believes that, in winemaking, some traditional methods are marks of integrity, and that, "many dedicated, small producers of all kinds of reds will use these techniques now."
A great pinot for twenty dollars- blows away bottles twice its price. Fairly big body for a pinot, but not too big. Also dry but balanced with softly... more...
