Russian River Valley Pinot Noir; Buy Wines in Manila

Pampanga Clark Wine Shop reports news about wine: Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

May 27, 2011

After the challenges of 2008, the 2009 vintage in the Russian River Valley should have been a thing to behold. It was relatively cool and long as growing seasons go, with ample sun and – assuming Pinot grapes came in at a reasonable moment before mid-October rain – more than enough time to ripen without peril.
The potential was there for great flavor with less alcohol. And some of the wines reflect exactly that, brimming with flavor without falling back on power.
But too often the ’09s from what has been ground zero for California’s Pinot prowess were data points for the shortfalls of Pinot ambition: too much oak, too much heat, too much overripe fruit. One of our bigger tastings of the year yielded a surprisingly small roster of recommendations.
40 wines tasted
To help with this latest crop, I was joined by Ian Becker, manager of Arlequin Wine Merchant in San Francisco; and Eric Railsback, sommelier at RN74. And we found a healthy list of bright spots in our lineup of about 40 wines. Relatively new labels like Zepaltas and Sequana broadcast a welcome fleetness of flavor that’s the very essence of Pinot. So did established ones like Dutton-Goldfield.
But too often we found low-acid, slightly sweet, indistinct bottles from notable names that seemed to pay tribute to a cynical view of taste. That, plus a proliferation of new plantings with fashionable vine clones, is fueling a certain sameness up and down Westside and Eastside roads.
Could it stem from a sense of self-importance? While some producers would gladly have filled our entire lineup with their vineyard designates, we were overwhelmed by the number and underwhelmed by the quality. Fewer are the wineries content to rest their fate with a simple “Russian River Valley” label.
If 2009 adds to the evidence, let’s be clear these are trends witnessed over the past several years. And as Anderson Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and the overlapping Sonoma Coast capture ever more attention, Russian River is in peril of becoming lost in the crowd.
A few caveats: First, some 2009s from wineries that release later than usual have yet to cross our transom, so hopefully we’ll find more to like as the year progresses. Though we tasted most 2008s a year ago, the handful we tasted last month for reference showed the nuance possible in that vintage – further casting a shadow on the ’09s.
Even so, many charms
Which isn’t to say there aren’t many charms to be found in 2009, often from spots that maintain the presumed cool marginality that all of Russian River once lauded. We’re talking here of the Petaluma Gap and Green Valley, spots closer to the coast that still keep growers up nights praying for ripeness. (Those prayers evidently have been more than answered as you move inland.)
But, as Napa Valley can attest, reputation comes with a risk of the complacency that success can bring. If Russian River has a cachet that emerging areas can only covet, now might be the time for a dose of reinvention.

2009 Dutton Goldfield Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($38, 13.5% alcohol): Dan Goldfield’s commitment to restraint is paying off as a lighter-touch style of Pinot is again gaining its due attention. The Dutton Ranch is a mix of parcels from the Duttons’ wide holdings; this latest is heady and exotic, with mint and curry leaf accents to fresh raspberry and cherry. Great mineral tension and subtle tannin to reward aging. The Emerald Ridge Vineyard bottling ($58, 13.5% alcohol) further finesses that texture, though at a cost.
2009 EnRoute Les Pommier Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($60, 14.5% alcohol): The stylized Toulouse-Lautrec look to the label might hint at EnRoute’s provenance as the Sonoma chapter of the Far Niente roster. A fine example of the heftier, rich style found on the Goldridge sandy loam that permeates the valley. Opulent and dark, full of extracted cherry, sweet oak and liqueur, with a tart wild-strawberry kick and roasted spices.
2009 Freeman Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($44, 14.2% alcohol): Ed Kurtzman again nailed this blend for Ken and Akiko Freeman, predominantly from the Petaluma Gap area. There’s a stylistic leap in the Freeman lineup, and if the 2009 Keefer Ranch ($48, 14.2% alcohol) is heady with fruit leather and earth, this multi-vineyard blend is a counterpoint: beautifully energetic, with dried bay leaf and birch branch, cardamom, wild strawberry and a richer black-fruit tone. It frames the potential of Petaluma’s colder corners.
2009 Holdredge Selection Massale Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($45, 14.4% alcohol): John and Carri Holdredge pay homage to the concept of “mass selection” – or choosing a vineyard’s own material to grow new vines. Massale can be a key to complexity, and this is a classic, loam-driven Russian River profile, full of black cherry and moist earth. Big and robust, with a freshness that adds a lemony zing.
2009 Mossback Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25, 13.9% alcohol): The Giguiere family created this label to highlight Sonoma fruit. Their affordable Russian River bottle comes with a small dose of Yolo County Syrah – a subtle tribute to their past at RH Phillips? – and it’s fresh and fleet-footed. Plenty of floral and stony accents to its raspberry and zesty orange fruit.
2009 Picket Fence Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($18, 13.8% alcohol): Fred Franzia’s 585 Wine Partners harnesses Silverado Premium Properties’ broad holdings in Sonoma for this perfect example of mass-appeal Pinot. Winemaker Alison Crowe brings in smoky oak tones that frame solid black cherry fruit and an orange-peel accent. Immediately enjoyable in a don’t-think-twice way, which is a rarity for Pinot in these parts.
2009 Sequana Dutton Ranch Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($45, 13.9% alcohol): There seems to be a stylistic shift afoot at this Hess-owned label. The alcohol here dropped nearly a percentage point from 2008, and if James MacPhail’s prior efforts with these wines have impressed with lucsious impact, the 2009 Dutton, still with robust flavors, is gorgeously light on its feet. A tight-knit leather and cherry profile, with a heady kirsch aroma and accents of soapstone and nutmeg.
2009 Zepaltas Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($31, 14% alcohol): For his own label, Santa Rosa-based Ryan Zepaltas primarily used fruit from Windsor’s Nunes vineyard and blended in a bit from the W.E. Bottoms and Suacci sites. (We often like Zepaltas’ Suacci Carciere wines quite a bit.) Here’s to the broader appellation label – this is alluring and subtle, with floral tones that bring life to deep raspberry and leather flavors. A savory fenugreek accent makes for a pretty, layered package that barely reveals its 40 percent new oak.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/FD4A1JERQ9.DTL#ixzz1MTTiLNUH

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com