Wine Reviews By ryansnyder
ryansnyder
commented on
Abel Clement Grenache Rouge Vin de Pays du Vaucluse 2009
An excellent cooking wine.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Caprili Brunello di Montalcino 2004
This Brunello di Montalcino was delicious. It had pronounced black fruits, both fresh black raspberry and stewed black cherry, with notes of a dusty dirt road that made it lovely. Plush mouthfeel; great length on the finish. Made for an excellent pairing with pork sugo atop polenta.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Torreoria Cava Brut NV
This is a steal at $7. Minerally and a touch salty, with nice citrus notes and a captivating effervescence. Pair with shellfish appetizer dishes.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Carabella Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Inchinnan 2005
This Pinot Noir showed notes of stewed black cherry, fig and French oak. Enjoyed this wine, but it did not compare to the straight Pinot Noir.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Carabella Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains 2006
I thought this was a pretty outstanding Pinot Noir. Even though it had 14.7% ABV, it showed more baked and dried fruits than I expected, showing fig, prune and a port-like caramel. Yet it was still floral, with a plush body and everyone who tasted it very happy.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Carabella Pinot Gris Chehalem Mountains 10th Anniversary 2007
Hailing from the Chehalem Mountains within the Willamette Valley AVA, this Pinot Gris was a nice find. It featured notes of baked pear and pineapple upside down cake without the uncanny sweetness. Will pair nicely with a winter squash risotto.
ryansnyder
reviewed
St. Innocent Eola-Amity Hills Temperance Hill Vineyard 2007
The nose on this Willamette Valley Pinot is adorable. It smells exactly like a Pinot, laced with roses and earth, with hints of ripe black fruits barely standing out. On the palate, it shows black cherry and pomegranate, with hints of roses, fresh soil and dried porcinis. The finish is lengthy, but a bit hot. Overall, a solid showing.
ryansnyder
reviewed
J. K. Carriere Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
This was a good Pinot Noir. At 13% ABV, it was much more extracted than I had anticipating, showing baked cherry and stewed blackberries on a plush body. Will pair nicely with a roasted pork tenderloin.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Amancaya Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2008
Amancaya is a wine produced by a joint effort of Domaines Barons de Rothschild and Nicolas Catena. But you wouldn't know it when you taste it. It's a wine that's dominated by oak and tannins, with hints of blackberry, black cherry and autumn spices peaking through. Don't drink it alone - make sure you pair it with a T-bone steak or brined pork chops. $18 is about twice as much as I would have liked to have paid for this wine.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Alloro Vineyard Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Estate 2008
This Willamette Valley Pinot is approachable at a very young age. On the nose it has that Burgundian funk of freshly turned soil and musty basement. On the palate, it's lively up front and mellow on the finish - zingy red raspberry melds into stewed black raspberry and pomegranate with hints of roses and granite. I'm quite pleased with this purchase and will definitely go back to the store to grab another bottle. Or three.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
Fruit forward, yet elegant, showing notes of black cherry, pomegranate and hints of cassis. Slightly floral. Great structure, with the elegance again showing in the silky mouthfeel. Enough tannins to allow this to age gracefully for the next 3-4 years. Would love to pair this with duck breast.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Cru Close des Mouches 2006
Fresh, lively and very approachable. Showed black cherry and pomegranate atop a satiny body, with light showings of terroir that need a touch of time in the bottle to be able to fully show themselves. I'd lay it down for a couple more years. This made for a wine that paired greatly will morels, and really allowed them to stand out, as if they needed any help.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Weingut Meinhard Forstreiter Schieffer Gruner Veltliner Kremstal 2007
A floral, racy, minerally, lightly effervescent Gruner that was an outstanding showing. Was awesome as an apertif! I will happily purchase this wine again.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Cascina Castle't Barbera d'Asti 2008
When I ordered this Barbera from the menu at aPizza Scholls in Portland, Oregon, it was exactly what I was looking for in a Barbera. Black cherry and fresh currant, with a nice amount of oak and tannin to help it stand up to the 'za. Oh, and it was a margherita pizza with capicola. Perfect pairing.
Ready to drink now, but will improve with a couple years in the bottle.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Domaine Lafond Tavel 2008
This wine looks absolutely stunning, and will cause people to stop, point at the glass and state to the server, "I'll have one of those." It resembles cranberry juice, which shows on the palate, with a subtle French oak. Easy to drink, and makes for a good pairing with Salade Nicoise.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Bodega Goulart Torrontés Mendoza 2009
A decent showing of Torrontes. Lively, zesty fruit profile almost more reminiscent of a Loire Sauvignon Blanc than a Torrentes, and missing the distinct floral aroma. But refreshing, and a good pairing for grilled shrimp.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Westrey Wine Company Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2008
This Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley is a good example of Chardonnay. It showed tangerine, Turkish fig and peach, with a delicate showing of French oak and chevre. It's balanced, medium-bodied and works well with food; pair with roasted game hen.
ryansnyder
reviewed
J. Scott Cellars Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley 2007
Strangely enough, this started out tasting like a Burgundian Chardonnay from the Macon region. And that's not a bad thing. Full bodied for a white Pinot, laden but not overpowered with French oak, and showed Meyer lemon, pear and baked apple. As it opened up, it lightened up and was much more crisp than the first tasting. I paired this with grilled chicken-apple sausages, roasted butter potatoes and garlic spears, which worked well, but I think this would pair really nicely with some fried oysters.
ryansnyder
reviewed
Illahe Willamette Valley Estate Gruner Veltliner 2009
I really like this Gruner. Quite floral! It showed Pink Lady apple, yellow peach and lime, with tangerine blossoms and hints of vanilla and effervescence. It doesn't show the minerality of a great Austrian Gruner, but rather has a lightly creamy body that actually works well and makes the wine quite approachable. Pair with grillables like skewered veggies and shrimp.
This was a light, but enjoyable Pinot Noir. Lighter in body and more delicate in composure than most Oregon Pinots, bright fruits up front with light chemical notes on the back of the palate. 13.5% ABV. February 26, 2011