Friday Sips
IT'S A CAMERON FESTIVUS
Special Guest, John Paul from Cameron Winery
Today Friday December 16 from 5:00 – 8:00 (John will be here during this time)
Pre-Funkcfrom 3:00 – 5:00 before John arrives
$10.00 Tasting Fee for this event
For the first time ever, we have the legend himself in the house and we will be pouring and featuring 5 Cameron wines along with a lineup of Festivities to celebrate Festivus!
5:15 – Opening Ceremonies with the Official Poet Laureate of Festivus, The Right Reverend David Bennett...5:45 – The Airing of Greivances...6:15 – Feats of Strength...followed by more jocularity until we shut this place down...and who knows, there may be an older bottle or two uncorked.
2014 CAMERON PINOT NOIR
CLOS ELECTRIQUE
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
CLOS ELECTRIQUE
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
Produced from 30 year old vines, we are really starting to get a peek behind the curtain to the seriousness of this maestro Pinot Noir. Clos Electrique (Electric Fence) is John’s home vineyard, the one out front of the winery is one that is rather historic in stature due to the multitude of clones that John planted back in the early 80s. John has been stating that this is the one of the finest Clos Electrique Pinots that he has been produced and experiencing this wine from barrel and now from bottle, we have to concur.
Quite extroverted at a young stage, the 2014 is typical of this slightly warmer vineyard site. Commencing with smoke, leather and violet, after 10 minutes or so, morphs into more alluring floral notes of violet and lilac that rule the day and are followed up by elevated Italian plum. In the mouth, the voluptuousness of this vintage delivers a core of rich, ripe red fruit, with exotic warm spices and a long lively finish. One might think that this site is only about warmth and power, however with its alluring perfume and suave personality this pinot seduces you in. At 12.5% alcohol, this is a complete bottle of wine and very much the real deal when it comes to the greatest of Oregon Pinots. In the mouth the purity of cherry fruit fills and the lively acidity makes you want another bottle...quickly! This wine will easily live for 15+ years as it has sneaky structure, however it is pretty enticing right now!
ONLY 240 CASES PRODUCED
Quite extroverted at a young stage, the 2014 is typical of this slightly warmer vineyard site. Commencing with smoke, leather and violet, after 10 minutes or so, morphs into more alluring floral notes of violet and lilac that rule the day and are followed up by elevated Italian plum. In the mouth, the voluptuousness of this vintage delivers a core of rich, ripe red fruit, with exotic warm spices and a long lively finish. One might think that this site is only about warmth and power, however with its alluring perfume and suave personality this pinot seduces you in. At 12.5% alcohol, this is a complete bottle of wine and very much the real deal when it comes to the greatest of Oregon Pinots. In the mouth the purity of cherry fruit fills and the lively acidity makes you want another bottle...quickly! This wine will easily live for 15+ years as it has sneaky structure, however it is pretty enticing right now!
ONLY 240 CASES PRODUCED
2014 CAMERON PINOT NOIR
'ABBEY RIDGE'
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
'ABBEY RIDGE'
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
The famed Abbey Ridge Vineyard is now 40 years old and that is the defining statement of this wine. Since the seventies, vineyard owner/manager Bill Wayne has built this vineyard into one of Oregon's Grand Cru sites, and when placed in the hands of a master like John Paul, the wines are usually destined for greatness. 2014 was a relatively warm vintage and has gained recognition for making pretty full bodied wines with an added level of richness. That being said, when vines are this old, not irrigated and the winemaker is true to the site, greatness is surely destined to come.
These wines are about an expression of a place more than they are about primary/simple flavors. While the 2014 Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir is vinous with an abundance of red raspberry and pure cherry fruit it is the alluring perfume of dried lavender, potpourri and this wines ultimate finesse and elegance that propels the wine into its grand stature. At this moment, it is tighter and more introverted than the Clos Electrique yet both will converge at the ultimate destination of profundity but will take different routes. By far one of the most beautiful wines of the 2014 vintage, especially due to John Paul and his knack for making refined and beautiful wines that defy the overtly alcoholic stereotype (this one is 12.8% alcohol!) that this vintage possesses. As usual, Abbey Ridge is for the cellar and doesn’t reveal its whole tale of the tape at 2 years old, past experiences show that this wine can and does live a long time. Put this away until 2020 and drink it through 2030 and beyond. ONLY 240 CASES PRODUCED
These wines are about an expression of a place more than they are about primary/simple flavors. While the 2014 Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir is vinous with an abundance of red raspberry and pure cherry fruit it is the alluring perfume of dried lavender, potpourri and this wines ultimate finesse and elegance that propels the wine into its grand stature. At this moment, it is tighter and more introverted than the Clos Electrique yet both will converge at the ultimate destination of profundity but will take different routes. By far one of the most beautiful wines of the 2014 vintage, especially due to John Paul and his knack for making refined and beautiful wines that defy the overtly alcoholic stereotype (this one is 12.8% alcohol!) that this vintage possesses. As usual, Abbey Ridge is for the cellar and doesn’t reveal its whole tale of the tape at 2 years old, past experiences show that this wine can and does live a long time. Put this away until 2020 and drink it through 2030 and beyond. ONLY 240 CASES PRODUCED
2014 CAMERON
CLOS ELECTRIQUE BLANC
$59.99 BTL./$359.94 - SIX PACK
CLOS ELECTRIQUE BLANC
$59.99 BTL./$359.94 - SIX PACK
As we know and have believed for many years, John Paul is a master with pinot noir, but when you speak to him, he always waxes about the qualities of his unreal chardonnays. I once had a friend ask John whose chardonnays he most admires in Oregon. Unfortunately, his reply would draw a response like the overtly talented, eloquent, articulate and way more intelligent than you, Richard Sherman has orated so many times….We'll put it this way, he models his wines after the likes of Jobard in Meursault and other great names in Burgundy. Like Richard Sherman, if there is anyone who can back up his strong words, it's John Paul, and simply put, he produces some of Oregon's most compelling, influential and ageworthy Chardonnays and has done so for well over 2 decades.
The 2014 Clos Electrique Blanc definitely takes its cue from Chassagne-Montrachet and more so on the superb Premier Cru level. Clos Electrique is always about the many clones that John uses for this wine. Beautifully defined and scintillating aromas of orange, cream, buttered toast, cinnamon and mineral waft from the glass and instantly draw you in. Being the temptress that it is, this wine immediately cries out to go onto the palate which is ripe and rich, but has lots of spine and lift and citrus character. Brilliantly delineated around the edges, this wine carries into a long, polished and graceful finish. Perfect for white Burgundy aficionados or for anyone who loves the most striking of chardonnays. Drink this wine with any hedonistic seafood dish but proof is in its aging potential and ultimately be at its best 2020 - 2030. A bottle of 2008 was uncorked in September and age 8 was just starting to strut its stuff. ONLY 150 CASES PRODUCED
The 2014 Clos Electrique Blanc definitely takes its cue from Chassagne-Montrachet and more so on the superb Premier Cru level. Clos Electrique is always about the many clones that John uses for this wine. Beautifully defined and scintillating aromas of orange, cream, buttered toast, cinnamon and mineral waft from the glass and instantly draw you in. Being the temptress that it is, this wine immediately cries out to go onto the palate which is ripe and rich, but has lots of spine and lift and citrus character. Brilliantly delineated around the edges, this wine carries into a long, polished and graceful finish. Perfect for white Burgundy aficionados or for anyone who loves the most striking of chardonnays. Drink this wine with any hedonistic seafood dish but proof is in its aging potential and ultimately be at its best 2020 - 2030. A bottle of 2008 was uncorked in September and age 8 was just starting to strut its stuff. ONLY 150 CASES PRODUCED
2015 CAMERON CHARDONNAY
'DUNDEE HILLS'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'DUNDEE HILLS'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
While not the famed Clos Electrique Blanc, Cameron’s Dundee Hills Chardonnay is always one of the most prominent value wines made in Oregon. John tends to work backwards so the new barrels that are purchased at the winery are utilized on this cuvee. Don’t be fooled, there still isn’t much new oak and if you prefer what French Chardonnay offers with detail, poise, richness without being heavy and extension offer, then this is a must-try.
The 2015 is chock full of lemon, papaya and pear aromas that intermingle nicely with subtle stony character and undertones of spiced cereal. Flavorful without being overblown, owning a silky smooth mouthfeel and great balance, this wine is a consistent winner that pairs beautifully with most Northwest seafood like salmon and halibut, or makes the perfect match with roasted poultry.
The 2015 is chock full of lemon, papaya and pear aromas that intermingle nicely with subtle stony character and undertones of spiced cereal. Flavorful without being overblown, owning a silky smooth mouthfeel and great balance, this wine is a consistent winner that pairs beautifully with most Northwest seafood like salmon and halibut, or makes the perfect match with roasted poultry.
2015 CAMERON
ROUGE DE GRIS
$34.99 BTL. - LIMITED
ROUGE DE GRIS
$34.99 BTL. - LIMITED
Red wine made from Pinot Gris? Indeed. This wine is so unique that my words aren’t enough, so we’ll just use what John says about this scintillating wine. Better yet, you need to just come in and taste for yourself.
‘This wine is dedicated to the late Stanko Radikon and his son, Saša of Radikon Oslavia, who made us realize the potential locked up in the Pinot gris grape. Its nose is respendent with juicy strawberries, bing cherries, violets and a touch of straw. The crisp palate with flavors of umami and ripe and supple fruit tannins make this a truly quaffable red wine. The label honors the Italian plums that were planted on the site by early Oregon settlers prior to its current status as a Pinot gris vineyard at Abbey Ridge. We wish that David Lett were here to see what is possible with Pinot gris!’
‘This wine is dedicated to the late Stanko Radikon and his son, Saša of Radikon Oslavia, who made us realize the potential locked up in the Pinot gris grape. Its nose is respendent with juicy strawberries, bing cherries, violets and a touch of straw. The crisp palate with flavors of umami and ripe and supple fruit tannins make this a truly quaffable red wine. The label honors the Italian plums that were planted on the site by early Oregon settlers prior to its current status as a Pinot gris vineyard at Abbey Ridge. We wish that David Lett were here to see what is possible with Pinot gris!’
