September 2017 Domestic Wine: 2014 Christopher Michael, Pinot Noir Oregon
Fine Wine Source Wine
September 2017
Christopher Michael:
Brothers Eric Christopher and Ryan Michael Harms have long had the spark of entrepreneurial spirit, from lemonade stands to wood-working shop sales. The winemaking business is a somewhat unlikely landing point for the brothers who were born and raised in the Midwest; however, as fate would have it, both brothers landed on the West Coast in the wine business–Ryan in Oregon and Eric in California. After many brainstorming sessions about how the pair might work together, the idea of an expression of their collective experiences was born under the Christopher Michael label. Each brother brings a unique skill set to the table, Ryan is a winemaker by trade and Eric a financial analyst in the wine business. The winery started out in 2009 by selling a small lot of Syrah by hand in Oregon. The idea was simple, craft delicious wines everyone could enjoy regardless of varietal or origin. Not afraid of vineyards in the far reaches of any growing region, the Harms brothers focus their efforts on finding expressive fruit that produces vibrant and fresh wines. Without worrying about geographic boundaries, Ryan and Eric look to work with growers that farm sustainably and seek out the best expressions of their grapes. Be it Oregon Pinot Noir or Washington Cabernet, what matters to the brothers behind Christopher Michael Wines is finding fruit that will make a delicious wine, regardless of varietal or origin.
About:
We last featured Christopher Michael Pinot Noir in April of 2016, and this current release is even better! The 2016 growing season continued to push the envelope for defining the new “normal” in Oregon as one of the earliest on record. An unusually warm spring gave way to moderate summer conditions, which provided even growing conditions. Though it was an intense growing season due to the early start, the fruit produced throughout the state resulted in wonderful complexity and balanced characteristic acidity.
Varietals:
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol:
13.5%
Tasting Notes:
From Eric Harms-“This wine comes from some of our favorite vineyards across Oregon. 2016 was ideal with a long cool growing season that produced grapes with power & finesse. This wine displays aromas of pomegranate, marionberry, and cigar box.”
Food Pairings:
Think Farmer’s Market fresh: Cranberry glazed pork, grilled salmon with honey mustard and brown sugar glaze, coq au vin, Risotto with stewed tomatoes and Taleggio cheese.
Jim Lutfy’s Thoughts:
Concentrated fruit flavor with dried cherries and cranberry intertwined with rhubarb; great with all proteins, but especially great with oily fishes and fowl.