A treat from Jack Rabbit Hill

It's Friday and I hurt my back. It simply hurts to stand up, so I've been hiding in my office doing bookwork all day. Now, it's 4:30 and I convinced myself that a glass of wine would relax my muscles. Owning a winery means that there are always a few bottles of great local wine open in the tasting room at any given time, even in the slow season. In the name of productivity, I'd thought I'd drink and blog at the same time.
I've been wanting to write about Jack Rabbit Hill's 2008 Pinot M&N for some time. Jack Rabbit Hill Winery is owned and operated by Lance and Anna Hanson. Their winery is located on Redlands Mesa west of Hotchkiss, CO in a beautiful, if somewhat difficult to locate spot. They have recently converted most of their 20 acres of vineyards and wine production from organic to Demeter-certified Biodynamic. As Anna explained to me, Biodynamic is "super" organic in terms of growing and in wine making means not adding any additional yeasts or other vintners "helpers" during the fermentation process.
I fell hard for this wine the first time I tasted it. It is composed of 52% Pinot Noir & 48% Pinot Meunier. (Pinot Meunier is the varietal most champagne is made from.) The color is very light, almost like a Rose, but the flavor is all red. The nose and the initial tastes are raspberry, sour cherry and red currant. No oak, low in tannins and acidity, I like to think that the wild yeast harnessed by Anna has done extraordinary things with these grapes. The finish is deceptively mild but lingers with fruit on the palate. It pairs beautifully with milder cheeses, pork dishes, chicken and risotto.
I give this lovely, graceful local wine 4 out of 5 stars.

A Disappointment from Durango

Last week, my mom and I drove to Durango, CO where my son, Charlie is a sociology major at Fort Lewis College. We attended a play that the Fort Lewis Sociology Club presented called " Marx in Soho", a one man play written by Howard Zinn. Very enjoyable, it was a great performance and an extraordinary play.
Despite having a population of only 25000, Durango has a lot of eclectic dining and shopping choices and gave us an opportunity to have a "big city" experience here on the Western slope. It's chock full of coffee bars, wine shops, funky stores and great restaurants and of course, set in a gorgeous valley.
During our 24 hours in town, we had to hit all my favorite stops, including The Wine Merchant, located alongside Nature's Oasis (one of the best independent natural food stores anywhere). At the Wine Merchant I purchased a bottle of Guy Drew Vineyards 2007 Petit Verdot, which I remembered as being excellent at a tasting last year. To my horror, it had gone up to over $30.00 a bottle, one of the most expensive Colorado wines I have ever purchased! Feeling guilty, I picked up a 3 liter box of "Pinot Evil" a non-vintage Pinot Noir from Hungary for about $16.00.
When we got home, we opened the 'Pinot Evil", all I can say is: cute name, bad wine. Thin, sour with little nose to recommend it and a bitter finish, I have since spent my time looking at the box, trying to figure out what to do 3 liters of sour wine. Maybe mulled wine or I'll throw it in the vinegar jar....
In conclusion, don't waste your time, money or taste buds on "Pinot Evil". Although, it's better than Carlo Rossi or that ilk. I'd give it 1 1/2 stars out of five.