WINE
B Y L A N C E S PA R K S
TIME IN A BOTTLE
Many wines get consumed before they peak
C
heck the circa-1965 YouTube video of Mick Jagger
and Stones crooning “Ti-i-i-ime is on my side,
yes it is.” Mick looks like a kid; they all do, the
whole band. Well, time is not on your side, or
mine, or Mick’s or wine’s.
Simple fact: Wines change over time. Some
mature gracefully, some go through awkward stages,
some die young. But except for nouveau (new) wines,
the first pressings of a vintage intended to be quaffed
almost immediately, most wines, even most whites and
nearly all reds, could benefit from lying cool, quiet and dark,
on their sides, still in the bottle, for at least a year, maybe longer,
time enough for their flavors and textures to meld, allowing their
“best” character to emerge.
Rarely do they get that time. Wine-marketing researchers tell us
that 90-plus percentage of a vintage will be consumed within a year
after release; 99 percent will be consumed within five years. Time,
clearly, is not on the wine’s side, or the buyer’s. Who’s to blame?
Consumers? Typical buyer behavior involves purchasing a
bottle, taking it home, pulling the cork, drinking the wine with
the night’s dinner. A tiny percentage of buyers have the patience
and resources to cellar or store their wines for (sometimes) years.
For most consumers, this just ain’t gonna happen. What? Blame
ourselves? Not likely.
Producers? Most wineries, especially in Oregon, are small family
operations, surviving (barely) on thin margins of revenue. They need
all the sales (and none of the inventory) they can get. Few producers
have the resources of, say, Chateau Musar, the famous Lebanon-
based winery owned by the Hochar (pronounced “hoshar”) family
that commonly holds its best big-red wines for up to four years after
bottling, giving their wines enough time to enter their promising
adolescence.
Musar wines can often improve for decades. Their current release
is Chateau Musar 2007 ($49), their signature blend of cabernet
sauvignon, cinsault and carignan, yielding deep, rich flavors of dark
berries, earth and (I swear) whiffs of spicy gun-smoke (grapes
are grown in the Bekaa Valley, site of trade and warfare
— and grapes — for thousands of years). Musar also
markets a line they call Jeune (young) wines intended
to be glugged soon after release; Ch. Musar 2012
(Red) Jeune ($22) is soft, bright, pleasant to drink,
even now.
Retailers? The best wine specialty shops might
warn a customer that some particular wine really
needs time to settle down; for instance, newly bottled
pinot noirs are notorious for going into “bottle shock” and
a “dumb stage” from which they will emerge in (sometimes) just a
few months, so a wine-shop steward might advise a different wine
— or taking more time.
So, blame no one. Life is fast, and good wine is good now — and
sometimes later.
The last few years since 2008 have brought Oregon’s vintners
some superb vintages (and challenges): International praise has
been heaped on the 2008s, ’12s, ’14s and now the ’15s (maybe “the
best ever”). Time, however, has redeemed the 2007s, ’09s (bold,
“hot-year” wines). Many wine-wags have found the ’13 wines very
appealing. For example, Bethel Heights 2013 Pinot Blanc ($24), a
dry white wine with complex flavors, versatile with a wide variety of
foods, has been judged “excellent.” Locally, Territorial Vineyards
scores with 2013 Pinot Gris ($16), gold medal white. Territorial
2014 Riesling ($16), still very young, already dubbed “superb.”
With a few years of maturation, this lovely white might be called
“classic.” Time will tell.
Much more to say, but we’re out of space — and time.
Happy New Year. Resolve to drink some good wines: It’s time. ■
2016 Eugene
Fresh Truffle
Marketplace
Sunday,
January 31st
HILTON EUGENE
11am to 4pm
Artisan foods including
cheeses, meats, ice cream,
chocolates, and the
Oregon Truffle.
cooking demos
wine & beer tastings
artisan food tastings
author lecture series
truffle dog demo
and more !
$ 15 General Admission
$ 20 with Wine Tastings
Purchase tickets via
website or at the door.
Hilton Eugene, 66 E. 6th Ave.
oregontrufflefestival.com
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QUALITY FURNITURE Clean, modern &
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ATTENTION CRAFTERS: SPRING FAIR April 1-3
at Douglas County Fairgrounds. Our 41st
year! Booths available for quality crafts. For
info send SASE to Spring Fair 2016 PO Box
22 Dillard, OR 97432 or innerspacefamily@
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ARTIST LOOKING FOR OLD DOORS in his
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Closed Wed/Th 88530 Greenhill Rd 541-689-
1503 green-hill.org See our Pet of the Week!
SHELTER ANIMAL RESOURCE ALLIANCE
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WIGGLY TAILS DOG RESCUE is a foster based
rescue that focuses on helping abandoned
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Connexus Confl ict
Management
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S.A.R.A.’s Treasures Gift & Thrift Shop.
Volunteer, Donate, Shop, ADOPT!
871 River Road, Open Daily 10am-6pm.
541-607-8892 sarastreasures.org
LOOK FOR THIS WEEK’S RESCUED CAT .
Roland S. Monteymayor needs 9 Temporary
Sheep Shearers to perform a variety of
duties: shear sheep in conditions associat-
ed with state(s) climate such as winds,
dust, cold and snow. Must be able to shear
loose (without tying feet if this is required
by the wool grower). Applicants must have
six (6) months experience shearing using
power-driven clippers and must be able to
shear 90 ewes/lambs a day after an initial 5
day break in period. Places animals in
shearing station and then clips wool close
to the hide so that wool is removed in one
piece. Care must be exercised to avoid
nicking, pinking or cutting skin to avoid
double cuts. May help move sheep in and
out of shearing area. Oils hand pieces and
sharpens combs and cutter. May tie fleece.
6 mos. Experience - Must be able to shear
90 head of sheep a day after initial break-in
period of five days. Work in CA, CO and WY.
From 2/13/16-5/30/2016 for 11.89 per hour
CA, 11.27 per hour CO, 11.75 per hour WY or
the higher per piece of 2.00 head Ewe, 1.90
head – R.Lamb, 1.50 head – F.Lamb, 4.00-
head Ram. Guaranteed offer of employment
for a min. of 3/4 of the workdays of the total
work contract period. Employer will: provide
necessary tools supplies & equipment at
no cost to worker; provide housing for work-
ers who cannot return to their permanent
residence at the end of the workday and
reimburse the worker for transportation
costs & subsistence to work site when
worker completes 50% of the work period.
Report to or send resume to the California
State Workforce Agency at 661-635-2600 or
at the nearest office of the SWA in the State
in which the advertisement appeared using
job listing #CA14623600
$DANCERS$ Tired of your current club!
SWEET ILLUSIONS has day & night shifts
available. No experience, can train.
Excellent tips! 541-852-8625 or 541-517-
7196 THE HOTTEST CLUB IN LANE COUNTY!
BRILLIANT @ SOCIAL MEDIA? Dedicated to
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engagement? You might be our kind of per-
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Social Media Outreach and Project
Assistant. Visit www.BeyondToxics.org for
details and application instructions or call
541-465-8860.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NEEDED
This is a terrific opportunity to join a compa-
ny that offers stability and room for growth!
The selected candidate will support the day
to day operations of the senior leadership
team by providing seamless administrative
support. This individual will be responsible
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RESPONSIBILITIES • Data entry, preparing
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Maintaining database information and doc-
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SEEKING A HAIR STYLIST AND AN ESTHETICIAN .
Esthetician has private room w/ waiting
area. Nuance Salon & Spa 1110 18th #1,
Spfd. 541-746-6449
DIRECT
SUPPORT
PROFESSIONAL
Independent Environments Inc. is non-prof-
it company that supports people with devel-
opmental disabilities. IEI is hiring full and
part time staff to join our team of reliable,
fun-loving, hard working Direct Support
Professionals. All shifts, all hours available.
Must have ODL and pass a criminal back-
ground check. 541-338-0130. 696 Country
Club Road, Eugene 97401
SEEKING MULTICULTURAL/INTERNATIONAL
dance teachers with own music. $ compen-
sation, (541) 232-1038
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
WONDERFUL
CAREGIVER
AVAILABLE:
Certified, experienced, and insured.
Intuitive, holistic, compassionate support.
Healthy, delicious meals. Contact krista.
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Career Training
ADDICTIONS COUNSELOR TRAINING
PROGRAM Serenity Lane, 52-week no cost
Addiction Counselor Training Program. For
more information visit www.serenitylane.
org, click on Employment Opportunities,
then on Serenity Lane’s Counselor Training
Program Opportunities. Or call 541-284-
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GARDEN OF INK TATTOO SCHOOL
One spot available for March.
www.gardenofinktattoo.com
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING sincere seekers
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eugeneweekly.com • January 21, 2016
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