Layne’s Wine Gig Presents
GREAT DISCOVERIES
Domaine Passy Le Clou Petit Chablis, 2023, France
Our first wine of this article “popped up” at a Local 188/Big Tree hospitality pop-up French dinner from the folks opening Cherie on the East End. It was both unexpected and spectacular. The menu listed the wine as a Chablis at a reasonable price. It turned out to be a step lower down on the ladder as a Petit Chablis.
Domaine Passy le Clou is a fifth-generation grower with twenty-one separate plots, all vinified separately. Such is this region of France where holdings are small. It is Chardonnay grown in Portlandian clay, a mixture of ancient seabed fossils. If you enjoy a hint of chalk, mineral texture with no oak, combined with a mouth tingling freshness, then this is your wine. Pate or escargot anyone?
The importer, Mary Taylor, is to be commended for finding this stunning wine that is both available locally and at retail for an astonishing $21.00 dollars per bottle. Serious bang for the buck.
Mountain Blanco Vino De Molino Real Seco, Sierras De Malaga, 2022, Spain, $30.00 Retail
We found this in a local wine shop as a gift bottle for a friend. With a label like this, who can go wrong? Having visited Malaga in the South of Spain, and sampled their culture of flamenco, bull fights, and tapas (those glorious little bites served with your glass of wine) there was no doubt that the wine would be interesting.
Malaga wines are usually typical of what the muscat grape (muscatel in Spanish) does well. It is usually a sweet wine.
There is a tradition that you must dig deep to find the Muscat grape made as a dry wine. This little Malaga gem has done that and more. At 13.5% alcohol it carries some weight, while the fruit of the Muscat grape glides along the glass and into your taste buds. This wine is a masterpiece with Asian food or maybe those thin slices of jamon.
El Anden De La Estacion, Muga, 2022, Rioja, Spain, $18.99 Retail
Rioja wines are never for the faint of heart. Let’s begin with 14.9% alcohol. In the era of the “Featherweight Cabernet” at 9% from hallowed Sonoma, the Spanish are still taking no prisoners.
Oak aging, yes! American oak barrels with a serious char, just like the bourbon people. Tempranillo as the grape of choice is unchanged. The flavors of dark fruits, spices and leather with some bottle age to soften it up a bit. Chorizo and lamb chops for lunch or dinner. Don’t forget to take a nap.
Muga Family wines are as classic old style as Rioja can get.
Layne’s Wine Gig at Blue 650 Congress St.
4th Wednesday @ 6:00 p.m. (April 22nd)
Presenting the Wines of Oregon, a special anniversary edition of our favorite part of the show titled “Mendo Blendo.” This year marks the 50th anniversary (more or less) of my younger self wandering into the new world of Oregon wine as a rookie winery sales rep. Hello Willamette Valley! This month also marks the one-year anniversary of my “Oregon Wine History Archive” interview in April 2025 by Linfield University on Zoom.
On to the wines for the gig. With all hope the distributor has this stuff in stock.
Elk Cove Pinot Blanc, Estate Bottled, Willamette Valley, Oregon
There will be storytelling galore as I was their first distributor some forty odd years ago. We sadly drink far too little of this charming little grape. It usually winds up as Crémant d’ Alsace bubbly wine in Europe. You splash orange juice into it during Sunday brunch without thinking. Oh, shame! Citrus and flowers.
Big Fire Pinot Gris by R. Stewart & Co., Willamette Valley, Oregon
Pinot Gris is the number one planted, produced, and sold white wine in the Willamette Valley. There is a widely circulated myth in Oregon lore as to its origin. Of course, we will squash that one like a bug while doing our very own “Mendo Blendo” with the two whites to create our own perfection. Peaches and nuts.
Erath Winemaker Series Reserve Pinot Noir Rose, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
Rose, dry, yet fruity, is the essence of spring.
Roots Crosshairs Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon
Little, family-owned, sustainable with native yeasts, yadda, yadda. Of the greatest interest here is how the blend will boost up the Erath Rose and possibly help you in your own creation of a startling discovery when we include our Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris blend in the mix.
As with every Layne’s Wine Gig at Blue (BPM), you become the master of your universe, the creator of your own wine.
Private Tastings with Layne
I do private tastings. Name the place, choose the wines, and I will provide the entertainment. Contact me at: lvwitherell@gmail.com.
