January 25 2007

Cover Story (Wine Diva's Love Affair with Oregon Part II)
A Bounty from Piedmont (Marc de Grazia-Canadian Tour)
New Reviews (recently tasted)
Taste Bites  (How Cheesy, Chic Tofu?)
Wine Diva-isms (Sake and Other Intrigues)

Wine Diva's Love Affair with Oregon
 
Part II

In December I
wrote about a recent trip to Oregon and how I fell in love with the pristine rolling hills and the close knit family of wine producers. I did not need be sold on their wines as I'd been a fan for years. But I did have the opportunity to taste many wines not available here in British Columbia. I also spent my very limited time in Portland, eating and drinking my way around the city.
The restaurant scene is phenomenal-similar in many ways to Vancouver with a focus on local ingredients. But, the one thing they have in spades that we certainly don't. Mexican restaurants...like we have sushi joints.
But that's another trip and another story...
                                                                                                            Read Oregon Part 1

 

Dining
 

Paley's Place Bistro & Bar

Certainly Wine Diva's most memorable dining experience of the trip! A quaint neighborhood restaurant located in a cozy Victorian house complete with front veranda. Inside has all the markings of a intimate bistro with soft lighting, low ceilings, subtle colours and white tablecloths.
Its obviously a popular Portland spot because by the time we had received our appetizers there wasn't a free seat in the house.
And little wonder.
With the vibrant generosity of Kimberly Paley (a petit blond firecracker of a woman) running the front of the house-all engines firing and her husband Vitaly creating in the kitchen.

This place has the whole package, service, food and an elegant but comfortable ambience.

The seasonal bistro-style menu has a Pacific Northwest focus with delicious starter options like; Local Romaine & Grilled Onion Salad with House Blue Cheese Dressing ($10),Grilled Winter Squash, Salami, Spicy Greens & Apples ($13), Hand-Cut Fries with Mustard Aioli ($5), Sweet Beets, Roasted Hazelnuts & Honey Mustartd Sauce ($7). And mains like; Autumn Vegetable Bread Pudding, Apple Cider & Pumpkin Cream ($17), Potato Gnocchi, Oregon Dungeness Crab & Preserved Lemon ($23), American Kobe Beef Culotte, Brisket, Cabbage& Mashed Potaotes.
The weekend we were there Vitaly was offering Spit Roasted Suckling Lamb on Friday and Paley's 30 Day Dry Aged Ribeye with Onion Rings and Creamed Spinach on Saturday.

Oh and the cheese cart that tempts you cheekily near the front door from the moment you walk into the restaurant is exceptional as well! It offers lactose bliss in the form of sheep, goat and cow from France, Spain, Vermont, California, Washington, Georgia and Oregon.
Just in case you decide against their decadent desserts...

We had both.

The wine list is based upon French and local offerings. The local wine selections were amazing. The hardest part was choosing one.
So, in the end we chose two.

Dusky Goose Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills Willamette Or, 2004-This is one of those wines you want more of...Smokey, earthy and brimming with sweet cherry and cedar box aromas. Absolutely velvety on the tongue with raspberry, dark cherry, leather, herbs and tobacco. Sinfully delicious!

Patricia Green Cellars Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Or, 2004-Lighter and somewhat more austere than the Dusky Goose but lovely just the same. Sour cherry, earth and forest undergrowth, iodine and a hint of sweaty leather. Soft in the mouth with loads of pepper and spice and herbal flavours.

I highly recommend you  experience Paley's Place on your next trip to Portland.

Paley's Place
1204 NW 21st Ave. Portland Or.
503-243-2403
www.paleysplace.net
 

clarklewis

We weren't sure where the heck the taxi was taking us when we requested Clarklewis.
We seemed to be traveling into an industrial area of downtown and it was very dark.
But when the driver suddenly pulled over, there is was like an old Firestone Tire's garage staring us in the face.
Sitting upon a concrete loading dock the entire front-side of Clarklewis is constructed of functional glass garage doors.

Inside was open, airy and modern and packed to the rafters.
Not to worry I said, we were here for the bar stools. Instead we ended up sipping wine on massive black ottomans in the lounge area until a couple seats at the bar were freed up.
Clarklewis is modern and sexy (as is the clientele) with an open kitchen and the constant dull roar of the chatting diners bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Something I don't mind at times when I want to feel part of a large celebratory crowd.
The inventive menu is Italian inspired relying upon local, organic or sustainable products.

The P.M. menu is captivating, breaking dishes down into; starters, pasta's and from the stove and hearth. Better yet, each menu item is available in three sizes...small, large and family the prices are charged per person and vary depending on the dish.

Why can't we see more of this. It takes sampling to a new level!

Starters include: Bulls blood beets-from Groundwork Farms with Watercress, Dijon Vinaigrette, Farm Egg and Ricotta Salata ($7, $9, $8), Butter Lettuce-Black Truffle Lemon Cream, Toasted and Chopped Pistachios, Parmesan ($&, $9, $8), Farm Egg-Poached, Anson Mills Polenta, Young Fontina, Black Truffle Oil ($9, $8), A selection of Ken's Artisan Breads Demi-Levain with Sweet Butter or California Ranch Arbequina Olive Oil ($5-$8)

Pastas include: Gnocchi-Russet Potato, Strawberry Mountain Beef Braised with Princess Pumpkin ($14, $18, $17), Ravioli-Cypress Grove Goat Cheese, Toasted Walnut Pistou, Sage, Parmesan ($14, $18, $17), Tagliarini-Veridian Farms Leek Cream, Poached Diver Scallops, Black Truffle Oil ($14, $18, $17).

From the Stove and Hearth include: Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Beef, Lamb or Pork dishes.

I can guarantee, everything we tasted was delicious, fresh and well flavoured and I will return on my next visit!

The wine list focuses on Italy-North to south with a few local options with 10 by-the-glass options.

clarklewis
1001 SE Water Ave. Portland Or
(503) 235-2294
www.clarklewispdx.com

Blue Hour

Think Vancouver's Yaletown warehouse ambience when you envision the neighborhood surrounding this ultra swanky spot.
By the time we arrived (around 9pm) the place was hopping and we could only grab a deuce in the curtained off lounge.
Fine by me.
I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-a-bar type of gal.
Soaring ceilings, white-on-white decor with dark wood details and soft lighting-this room is stunning. I could easily wander in here on any late night, grab a seat at the bar and order up a glass of wine and a side of their thin and crispy Kenny's French Fries with garlicky aioli sauce($5).

The bar menu was more than enough to make me happy.
They offer a chef's daily Bruschetta trio ($7.50), an Artisan cheese fondue with selection of dippers ($11) or Butchers platter with cured meats and olives ($10) three different salads ($8-14) Classic pizzas, burgers or panninis ($9-10.5).
Or...
Yes, a Wine Diva favorite-Artisanal Cheese Plate!
Bluehour actually has a cheese master on the payroll!
Amanda rolled out an embarrassingly large wheeled tray of cheeses for my inspection and I was in lactose-heaven.
Classic Chabichou, Petit Livarot and Gouda were available but passed up. I was here to try something more south of the border exotic; Like Red Darla-a cow's milk cheese from Washington, Mutton Button-A sheep's milk cheese from New York, Constant Bliss-a milky cow's milk cheese from Vermont or Fiscalini Cheddar from California.
We chose a selection of five ($25) or you can choose any one cheese for ($6) each.
The wine list runs the gamut from Italy to France and South Africa to neighboring states, Washington, Idaho and California.
Wines-by-the-glass are a saving grace when you are skipping around town trying different restaurants.
My sampling focus is always local whenever possible. We chose (almost local) Sawtooth Viognier, Idaho, '03 ($7), J.Albin Pinot Gris, Oregon, '05 ($10) and the always delicious Panther Creek Arcus Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon, '00 ($13).

Bluehour
250 NW 13th Ave. Portland Or.
503-226-3394
www.bluehouronline.com
 

Dundee Bistro

There is nothing better than a great lunch spot in the middle of wine country where you can stop between tastings. Somewhere with a strong focus on local wine country fare and lots of wines by-the-glass for sampling. The Dundee Bistro is just that. Owned by the Ponzi family (I wrote up their wines in "My Love Affair with Oregon Part 1" in  December) it lies right on HWY 99 directly across from the Argyle Winery.
Its a bright airy room, full of colour and warmth and seems to attract locals and tourists alike. As with so many restaurants and wineries we visited on our trip there is a strong commitment to using local ingredients and sustainable products.

The lunch menu was fresh, light and I found just what I was in the mood for.

Selections included:
Appetizers: Muscovy Duck Pate ($9), Puget Sound Manilla Clams or Northwest Oysters on the half shell ($11-$16).
Soups and Salads: Roasted Corn Soup($7), Roasted Beet and Chevre Salad($10) (see photo).
Mains: Cascade all Natural Bistro Burger ($13), Roasted Turkey Ciabatta ($13), Alaskan Halibut Fish-n-Chips ($15) or a selection of Hand Tossed Pizza's ($11-$13)
Sides: Broccolini with Oregon Blue ($7), Cured Olives ($5), Truffle Fries ($6)

The wine list by-the-glass options were all local Oregon wines.

Dundee Bistro
100A SW 7th Street Dundee Oregon
503.554.1650
www.dundeebistro.com
 

Wines

Cuneo Cellars

Located in Carlton, Cuneo has a intriguing selection of intense reds, cuvees and single varietal wines made from classic French and Italian grapes they source from Washington and Oregon.
Cuneo is located beside the Carlton Winemakers Studio.

Cana's Feast Pinot Noir, Cuvee "G", 2002-Sweet ripe cherry, earth and rhubarb aromas. Intense and masculine in style with dried fruit, tobacco and cedar box on the palate with gripping tannins on the finish.
$75 USD

Cana's Feast Bordeaux-Style,  Red Mountain 2003-Sweet black fruit and chocolate covered cherries with earthy aromas. Intensified flavours, almost Amarone-like with dried fruit and roasted coffee flavours. Chewy tannins on the finish show this wine will do well with some cellar time.
$55 USD

Domaine Merriwether

I tasted these wines at the Carlton Winemakers Studio in Carlton.
The studio is a shared space for small batch winemakers like Andrew Rich and Merriwether. In the tasting room you can sit down, have some cheese and purchase rotating flights to sample.
A brilliant concept- like a one-stop-shop.

The following three sparkling wines were a flight offered for $11.

Domaine Meriwether Cuvee Discovery Brut NV-Crisp with sweet orchard fruit, delicate bakery-croissant-aromas, white flowers and wild honey with a chalky minerality. Good mousse and persistent bubbles.
$17 USD

Domaine Meriwether Captain Clark Brut NV-More intense toastiness in the Clark with citrus blossoms, honey and pear and a long subtly creamy finish. Good mousse and persistent bubbles.
$23 USD

Domaine Meriwether Prestige Cuvee Rose, 1999-Earthier than the other two sparklers with some typical Pinot Noir aromas-forest undergrowth and a fresh stream minerality. Creamier and smoother texturally than the two non-vintage bruts with lovely structure and melon, red berry, cranberry and cocoa on the palate. Lovely!
$30 USD

Carlton Winemaker's Studio
801 N Scott Street
Carlton Or.
503-852-6100
 

WD
pink & cheeky

Upcoming


What's in Wine Diva's Crystal Ball...

February- Wine Diva's 3rd Birthday
February-wines for Romance
March-Wines to seek at the Vancouver  Playhouse International  Wine Festival
April-New BC Releases wines we'll drink this summer!
Ongoing-New Releases

 

Go To Next Section

January 25 2007

Cover Story (Wine Diva's Love Affair with Oregon Part II)
A Bounty from Piedmont (Marc de Grazia-Canadian Tour)
New Reviews (recently tasted)
Taste Bites  (How Cheesy, Chic Tofu?)
Wine Diva-isms (Sake and Other Intrigues)