In January, with ten anonymous tasters, 1859 Oregon’s Magazine sampled seven different wines at Grochau Cellars, a winery located in the heart of Portland. Get insight into your next wine purchase with comments, descriptions and ratings found on the following pages.
Mystic Barbera 2007, Columbia Gorge
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Very rich and deep looking
Taster # 2: Rich and clear in color
Taster # 3: Dark purple
Taster # 4: Deep
Taster # 5: Beautiful rich color
Taster # 6: Good color
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Deep red
Taster # 9: Deep red; nice legs
Taster # 10: Bold and rich; deep; vibrant
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Very clean
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Tobacco
Taster # 4: Sweet; light; cinamon
Taster # 5: Balanced; pretty floral notes
Taster # 6: Earthy
Taster # 7: Off
Taster # 8: Earth; spice
Taster # 9: Medium red and black fruit; black cherry; red cherry
Taster # 10: Pepper; spicy
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Good balance; nice even flavor
Taster # 2: Bitter
Taster # 3: It tastes sweeter than it smells, then moves to a nicely balanced mix.
Taster # 4: A little acidic; would pair nicely with pork or a beef stew
Taster # 5: Sharp; short to medium finish
Taster # 6: Memorable; cherry
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Spicy; strong tannins; acidic; not sweet
Taster # 9: Rich and acidic; dry
Taster # 10: Very tart; acidic; lots of pepper
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: Nice, mellow finish; smoothe; stays with you
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Quick finish
Taster # 4: Medium; lingers; acidic
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: Lingers nicely; body of the mouth
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Lasting spicy finish
Taster # 9: Medium finish; rich black fruit; tar on finish
Taster # 10: Long aftertaste
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: Like it; above average; would buy
Taster # 2: Just O.K.; probably would not buy
Taster # 3: I like it.
Taster # 4: Good; solid
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: Like it, but needs aging.
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Just O.K.; would eat P.F. Chang’s with it
Taster # 9: Rich fruit up front leading to tar on finish; good wine
Taster # 10: Not my favorite
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 7
Taster # 2: 4
Taster # 3: 6
Taster # 4: 6
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: 7
Taster # 7: 5
Taster # 8: 5
Taster # 9: 7
Taster # 10: 5
Spangler Cabernet Franc 2008, Umpqua Valley
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Light
Taster # 2: Rose color
Taster # 3: Maroon
Taster # 4: Deep; dark
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: N/A
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Deep purplish red
Taster # 9: Deep purple
Taster # 10: Deep and murky in color
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Deep; easy to breathe
Taster # 2: Floral
Taster # 3: Lemony? A little pungent
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: Light; nice; neutral red
Taster # 7: Floral; honey
Taster # 8: Super spicy; blackberries; pepper
Taster # 9: Medium blackcurrant; black fruit
Taster # 10: Earthy; spicy
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Good balance
Taster # 2: Acidic after-taste
Taster # 3: Very tart; a little leathery
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: Peppery
Taster # 6: Slightly harsh
Taster # 7: Blackberry
Taster # 8: Smooth front; spicy finish
Taster # 9: Medium blackcurrant; light currant; leafy; smooth; light tannins; medium acid
Taster # 10: Very tart; acidic; metal
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: No lasting taste
Taster # 2: Burns a bit
Taster # 3: I like the finish.
Taster # 4: Good; long; a little tannic
Taster # 5: Short finish
Taster # 6: Not much finish, in lingers in the middle
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Tannic; lasts on the tongue
Taster # 9: Medium finish; blackcurrant dominates
Taster # 10: Long-after taste
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: Would buy it; young flavor
Taster # 2: Just O.K.
Taster # 3: I think it would be better with food.
Taster # 4: Needs time (about 2-3 years)
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: Still fairly young
Taster # 7: O.K. with Italian food
Taster # 8: O.K.—too acidic for me
Taster # 9: Great wine; balanced; elegant; pleasant; fruit hold it’s own
Taster # 10: No, don’t care for it
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 7
Taster # 2: 5
Taster # 3: 6
Taster # 4: 7
Taster # 5: 5
Taster # 6: 4
Taster # 7: 6
Taster # 8: 6
Taster # 9: 8
Taster # 10: 5
Domaine Trouvere 2007, Umpqua Valley
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Dark
Taster # 2: Rich; clear
Taster # 3: Very dark—even some “black”
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: Dark; rich
Taster # 6: Bing cherry
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Red
Taster # 9: Deep, deep red; purple
Taster # 10: Bold; rich; clear
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: N/A
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Tobacco; leather
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: Peppery; bacon?
Taster # 6: Aroma is neutral
Taster # 7: Clove
Taster # 8: Slight spice
Taster # 9: Medium red; black fruit
Taster # 10: Spicy; pepper
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: N/A
Taster # 2: Acidity stops aftertaste
Taster # 3: Really like it; nicely balanced
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: Dry; peppery on the front-end
Taster # 6: Good balance; more on the sweet side
Taster # 7: Slightly sweet
Taster # 8: Acidic; tannic
Taster # 9: Black cherry; rich, baked black fruite; dry; medium acid; medium soft; chalky tannins
Taster # 10: Tart with a bit of sweet
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: Lasts long
Taster # 2: Not as pleasant
Taster # 3: Nice finish
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: Second best; lots of flavor; big; bold
Taster # 6: Not as bad as other Temparnillos
Taster # 7: Lingering sweet
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium finish; flavors as above
Taster # 10: Small aftertaste, but doesn’t linger.
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: Would buy
Taster # 2: O.K.
Taster # 3: Yes, I would buy it.
Taster # 4: Good; solid
Taster # 5: A bit too dry for my taste
Taster # 6: Could use more aging, but overall, nice.
Taster # 7: Very approachable
Taster # 8: Not my favorite
Taster # 9: Great wine; nicely balanced; mouth-watering; great to drink solo or with food
Taster # 10: I like it; would buy it and pair it with meals
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 8
Taster # 2: 5
Taster # 3: 7
Taster # 4: N/A
Taster # 5: 6
Taster # 6: 6
Taster # 7: 7
Taster # 8: 5
Taster # 9: 8
Taster # 10: 9
Cameron Nebbiolo 2007, Dundee Hills
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Deep
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Nice deep red
Taster # 4: Brown edges
Taster # 5: Nice color
Taster # 6: Pale red
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Dark red with legs
Taster # 9: Deep red; scarlet
Taster # 10: Bold but light; clear
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Sweet
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: So strong—can’t name it—earthy?
Taster # 4: Light; closed
Taster # 5: Slightly burnt toast?
Taster # 6: Very little depth
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Pepper; raspberries
Taster # 9: Red cherry; smokey
Taster # 10: Pepper; musky
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Acidic
Taster # 2: Too peppery
Taster # 3: Tart; this needs food
Taster # 4: Tart; acidic
Taster # 5: Tart
Taster # 6: Acidic
Taster # 7: Bites back; a bit acidic
Taster # 8: Not sweet; slightly tannic
Taster # 9: Very acidic; fruity; red cherry; smooth; light to medium tannins; unbalanced
Taster # 10: Very tart; very acidic
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: Long; lingering; lasting
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: I like the finish.
Taster # 4: Short
Taster # 5: Short finish
Taster # 6: Fair
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Light finish; too light
Taster # 9: Short finish
Taster # 10: Tangy aftertaste; lingers
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: Too acidic for my taste; O.K. overall; pair with beef
Taster # 2: Probably would not buy
Taster # 3: Not sure—if I had this with food, it would be different.
Taster # 4: Not for me; cold year for Nebbiolo
Taster # 5: Tastes young for ’07–’07 wasn’t a great year for grapes in Dundee though.
Taster # 6: Too young
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: O.K.—kind of an afternoon-play-date-with-the-ladies kind of wine
Taster # 9: Fruit is unbalanced by acid; maybe aging will improve
Taster # 10: Don’t care for it; would not buy it or eat it with it either
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 5
Taster # 2: 4
Taster # 3: 5
Taster # 4: 4
Taster # 5: 4
Taster # 6: 4
Taster # 7: 6
Taster # 8: 5
Taster # 9: 4
Taster # 10: 5
Grochau Cellars Matador 2009, Rogue Valley
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Deep; rich
Taster # 2: Nice appearance
Taster # 3: Dark; a little purple
Taster # 4: Slightly cloudy? Or is it because this is my last wine to taste?
Taster # 5: Nice dark color
Taster # 6: N/A
Taster # 7: Deep, purple red
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Deep purple
Taster # 10: Bold; rich; deep red color
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Aromatic; deep
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: A fruit—don’t know which one
Taster # 4: Great nose; balanced
Taster # 5: Strawberry
Taster # 6: Flowery
Taster # 7: Floral
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium raspberry; black cherry; blackberry; black fruit
Taster # 10: Spicy; peppery
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Tart
Taster # 2: Easy on the palet
Taster # 3: Seems perfectly balanced; starts fruity; ends a little tart
Taster # 4: Dry; full flavor
Taster # 5: Slightly acidic; cherry
Taster # 6: Yum; spicy
Taster # 7: Smooth front; perfect finish; sweet cherries
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Dry; medium acid; medium soft, chalky tannins
Taster # 10: Tart; a bit acidic; lots of tannins
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: Long-lasting
Taster # 2: Nice lingering effect
Taster # 3: I like it.
Taster # 4: Medium
Taster # 5: Lingers on the tongue
Taster # 6: N/A
Taster # 7: Lingers lightly
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium black fruit
Taster # 10: Leaves a lingering taste; almost heavy on the tongue
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: Mature
Taster # 2: Very nice—would be happy to have with light food
Taster # 3: I would buy it.
Taster # 4: Would serve with food; a little dry for casual drinking
Taster # 5: Good wine; would pair nicely with beef or a heavy meet stew
Taster # 6: Would like with cheese
Taster # 7: Favorite one; could serve with anything; drink in afternoon or evening with candles
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Great drinking and food wine; rich fruit; balanced
Taster # 10: O.K.—seems young; wouldn’t buy it, but would eat it with food if served
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 7
Taster # 2: 8
Taster # 3: 7
Taster # 4: 7
Taster # 5: 5
Taster # 6: 8
Taster # 7: 8
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: 9
Taster # 10: 7
J Scott Petite Sirah 2009, Rogue Valley
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Rich; deep
Taster # 2: Rich color
Taster # 3: Love the purple/deep red color
Taster # 4: Deep in color
Taster # 5: Dark
Taster # 6: Deep red
Taster # 7: Dark, deep, burgandy red
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Ultra, deep purple
Taster # 10: Bold, deep red
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Lasting; mellow
Taster # 2: Very pleasant
Taster # 3: Nectarine
Taster # 4: Tobacco; some fruitiness
Taster # 5: Deep cherry
Taster # 6: N/A
Taster # 7: Sweet, white pepper
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium, black fruit; pepper
Taster # 10: Earthy; peppery
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Tart
Taster # 2: A little acidic
Taster # 3: Seems nicely balanced
Taster # 4: Flavor, but short finish
Taster # 5: Surprisingly, an acidic background
Taster # 6: Dry
Taster # 7: Smokey; sweet spice; sweet cherries
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium, rich, black fruit and pepper; dry; soft, chalky tannins; medium acid
Taster # 10: Acidic; tannic; tart
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: Long-lasting
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Very nice, long finish
Taster # 4: Short length
Taster # 5: Lingers in the back of the back of the throat
Taster # 6: Cherry on finish
Taster # 7: Nice consistent finish; long-lasting
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Medium finish; intense black fruit
Taster # 10: Lingers; aftertaste
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: I would buy and eat with beef
Taster # 2: Would buy and enjoy
Taster # 3: Really liked and would buy
Taster # 4: Might need to age a bit; tastes young
Taster # 5: Would go well with heavy cheeses and chocolate; I would buy it.
Taster # 6: Might like with lamb
Taster # 7: I would serve this wine. I really love it; feels young, but could mature nicely; would take it ringside and cork it with ribeye and lobster
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: Beautiful wine; rich; soft; elegant, dark fruit; mouthwatering
Taster # 10: Not my favorite; it’s O.K.; I would drink it, but wouldn’t buy it.
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 8
Taster # 2: 7
Taster # 3: 7
Taster # 4: 4
Taster # 5: 7
Taster # 6: 7
Taster # 7: 7
Taster # 8: N/A
Taster # 9: 9
Taster # 10: 5
Willakenzie Estate Gamay Noir 2009, Willamette Valley
Color | Appearance (hue, depth and clarity) >>
Taster # 1: Deep
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Very dark purple
Taster # 4: Ruby red; deep
Taster # 5: N/A
Taster # 6: Bright
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Medium; red; good legs
Taster # 9: Deep red and purple
Taster # 10: Light red; beautiful color
Nose | Aroma >>
Taster # 1: Acidic, tart smell
Taster # 2: Too strong
Taster # 3: N/A
Taster # 4: Deep cherry
Taster # 5: Balanced
Taster # 6: Light fruit
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Musky smell
Taster # 9: Pretty floral; red fruit; leafy
Taster # 10: Earthy
Taste | Flavors (Balance between sweetness, acidity and tannins) >>
Taster # 1: Tart, heavy flavor
Taster # 2: N/A
Taster # 3: Light, but taste is O.K.
Taster # 4: Balanced; spicy; white pepper
Taster # 5: Slight tartness, yet rich; berry
Taster # 6: Nice front of the mouth
Taster # 7: Berry with touch of celery
Taster # 8: Strong spice and herbs; earthy
Taster # 9: Rich red and black fruit; dry; medium acid; low tannins
Taster # 10: Smooth; semi-sweet
Finish | Length (finish and lingering effect) >>
Taster # 1: N/A
Taster # 2: Bitter
Taster # 3: N/A
Taster # 4: Long finish; well made
Taster # 5: Beautiful! Fantastic length!
Taster # 6: Finishes long; very fresh, but not immature
Taster # 7: N/A
Taster # 8: Short finish, but lasting tannic taste
Taster # 9: Medium to long finish; beautiful floral and red/black fruit
Taster # 10: Smooth; does not linger
Conclusions | Impressions >>
Taster # 1: O.K.; mature; buy blue cheese
Taster # 2: Probably wouldn’t buy
Taster # 3: I would buy it, but it’s not my favorite.
Taster # 4: Drink this young
Taster # 5: Really enjoy this one!
Taster # 6: Would buy it
Taster # 7: Would buy; very drinkable
Taster # 8: Tastes young; wouldn’t be on my shopping list
Taster # 9: Smooth; rich; balanced; elegant; This is an excellent wine for drinking or with food.
Taster # 10: Like it; great; I would buy this.
Rating | Score (overall quality with a score between 1-10)
Taster # 1: 6
Taster # 2: 4
Taster # 3: 6
Taster # 4: 7
Taster # 5: 8-9
Taster # 6: 7
Taster # 7: 7
Taster # 8: 4
Taster # 9: 8
Taster # 10: 8
