Vibrant Wasp

Hi Wine Friends!

Looking outside today and considering the weather during the past few months, it's hard to believe that this is really summer. Since when does a few days of gorgeous plus a few days of November every week equal August? Is this really the place we considered installing air conditioning every third week in the eighth month of the year? Is this really the place where every summer I've had to call George, my "critter inhibitor" to come out and remove the wasps' nests that seem to magically appear in my eves overnight? I never thought I'd miss the wasps, and yet, a few weeks ago I found myself traveling down to Oregon to meet a very important one in the hopes that it would really feel like summer. That wasp introduction was life altering. It stung me and I'll never be the same. The wasp that got me, knocked me Sideways into the land of Pinot Noir. It's the logo on every bottle of J.K. Carriere's wines, and although it almost killed winemaker Jim Prosser twice, it actually revived my passion to explore every varietal in the Pacific Northwest. This previously Pinot-phobic, big, red blend freak is now hooked on the nuances of Pinot Noir, both white and red, and I have Jim Prosser and my friend Tony to thank for it.

If you want to check out world class pinot noir, you don't have to get on an airplane and fly to the Cote d'Or. Just 224 miles south of us the Willamette Valley AVA at the same 45th latitude north as the Burgundy region in France, will do the trick . Here's Oregon Pinot Noir history is less than a minute:

In 1969 David Lett, known as Papa Pinot because of his resemblance to Ernest "Papa" Hemingway and his role in turning Pinot Noir into the 1 billion dollar industry it is today, spent his honeymoon in 1969 planting grape cuttings. Nine years after producing its first planting, he took his Eyrie Vineyards 1975 South Block Pinot Noir to an international blind tasting in Paris and won third in the competition. The following year his wine won second place. That year he got the attention of famous burgundian winemaker Robert Droughin who decided to open a winery in Oregon. Over thirty years later there are now six sub Ava's of the Willamette Valley AVA, the largest AVA in the state. The sub AVAs are: the Chehalum Mountains, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee Hills, McMinnville, Eola-Amity Hills.

Back to the wasp. My friend Tony promised to take me to a winery that would change my view of Pinot Noir and he delivered. Now I'm sharing the wealth. Take I5 south toward Portland. Go past Portland and take the 217 toward Tigard. Go off on Hwy 99 toward Newberg. Go through Sherwood and then you'll see Haugen Road on your left. Turn left and go up to Parrot Mt. Road. (If you miss Haugen the next left is Old Parrot Mt. Road and you can take that as well and turn right on the New Parrot Mt. Road) Climb up that winding road and you'll eventually see a sign on your right just before Corral Creek Road for J.K. Carriere. Make a right on the gravel driveway and you'll see a huge 20th century red barn with a giant metal wasp hanging on the gable. You've just arrived at Pinot Noir Heaven.

J.K. Carrier Winery

Why would a guy who has twice almost died from a wasp bite pay homage to the villain on every wine label and all over his winery? "Know thine enemy" are his words. Jim makes a conscious choice to do what he does every day and what he's been doing at his own winery since 1999 is making incredible wines. He also makes a conscious choice to remember his role models. J.K. Carriere is a combination of Jim's grandfathers' names and represents a covenant he holds with their integrity. Don't you love this guy?

In 2009 he opened his new winery on 40 acres on Parrot Mountain where he's planted 27 acres, 9 each year for the last two years and one he's just planted. Currently he makes his smooth as silk Pinot Noir wines from

View from Parrot Mt.

grapes he selects from vineyards like Anderson, Shea, and Gemini. Every year he makes a Chardonnay that was sold out when I was there (dang) and a white Pinot Noir called Glass that ranks among my new list of favorite summer wines. The color is coral, not sparkling but a touch of spritz, this citrusy celebrant makes you feel sunshine even if it's grey outside. "But what about the Pinot Noir?" you ask, knowing its history or lack there of in my repertoire. That was the clincher.

Sold out 2008

Antoinette.

Yes there was earth, full deep earth in fact, but the barnyard is subtle, not in your face, which is the primary road block for my taste buds. The 2008 vintage has lots of cherry and chocolate, with a very smooth delivery and a lingering finish. I refuse to chew on a pencil to see if can taste that.

Antique Label Machine at J.K. Carriere

I double checked my tasting room reality last week when my son was in town from Boston and my in-laws were visiting from California. Both the Glass and the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir were huge hits with everyone, including my Pinot Noir loving husband. The Provocateur? A little less depth and more raspberry and plum than cherry and more rhubarb than chocolate. The price is amazing for that caliber of Pinot Noir. But the one I was really sad to miss was his 2008 Antoinette, named after his maternal grandmother. Wild yeast fermentation--I'll be there for fall release this year!

Wild Man Winemaker

Jim Prosser

Finally, for my reader Clifton who loves the serendipity or small world coincidences in my newsletter, here it is. While visiting the Niagara-on the Lake area of Canada a week after my visit to J.K. Carriere, a wine tasting employee at Stratus mentioned Canadian wine writer Natalie McClean. I checked her newsletter out. She is a crack up, really knowledgeable about wine, and guess whose wine she was reviewing and raving about? You got it, Jim Prosser at J.K. Carriere. Did you just get stung by the wasp? If so, find some fantastic wine buys below and give me a buzz...

Cheers!

Becky

J.K. Carriere 2010 Glass White Pinot Noir	J.K. Carriere 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir	J.K. Carriere 2009 Provocateur Pinot Noir

$21.60/btl $20.40/mixed case	$42/btl $36/ mixed case	$22.50/btl $21.25/mixed case

Ordering Wine

If you'd like to purchase any of these wines or any we've offered in the past, just reply to this email with your order. If it's your first time ordering I will contact you for your payment information. Vibrant Vines uses Paypal and all information is protected and not stored on site. You can also go to our web site www.vibrantvinewine.com and check out the BUY NOW page, however, it takes several days for these wines to be posted. We also love to do custom orders for any of your favorites and deliver free anywhere on the Eastside or in Seattle.

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Thank you for purchasing wine from Vibrant Vine Wine. We donate one dollar for every bottle of wine purchased from us to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle through an unrestricted donation for breast cancer research and prevention programs. We appreciate your support of this important effort to help those battling this disease. Cheers to them, and cheers to you!