| On-Sale Wine of the Week: |
"The Acústic Blanc is produced with a mixture of white grapes, 60% Garnacha Blanca, 20% Macabeo, 10% Garnacha Gris and 5% Pansal (Xarello) from different zones and soils in Montsant. It is pressed in a vertical press then fermented 70/30 in stainless steel and barriques and matured in contact with the lees with bâttonage for seven months. It's mainly fruit-driven nose is clean and shows white flowers, yellow fruit and some pollen but has good spicy and creamy echoes from the élevage too. The palate shows good balance and a sapid, salty sensation with focused flavours and good length."
ONLY $18
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NEW ON THE MENU: BOQUERONES
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Anchovies - whether white boquerones, salted or smoked - are a classic Spanish tapa. Boquerones are our most popular; tender white anchovies lightly pickled in vinegar and olive oil. Our marinated anchovies are silky and tender, carefully hand cleaned in Spain; worlds better than the over salted anchovies you may know.
Try A Plate Today!
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Hi Everybody,
Now that we are getting back into red wines, we thought we might help start the season with an introduction to some wine terminology.
Of course I'm painting with a broad stroke, but if you are a novice, or know someone who wants to get into wines, this Fridays tasting is an important starting point. For those of you in the know, the flight will be blind, so you can test your palette. See if you can get it right.
LESSON ONE: Bordeaux v. Rhone
As the temp outside drops,
it is ok to drink red wine. Go for it.
Two french options come immediately to mind. Understanding the great blends of Bordeaux and Cotes du Rhone will help you enjoy them.
BORDEAUX: Left or Right?
Personality: Bordeaux is like "old money," a wine region founded by the Romans with a focal point port city and old school access to trading, wine distribution, and growth (the Brits still call Bordeaux "claret" because they fell in love with it, and have been sucking it down, for centuries).
The blends for wines from the Left Bank are generally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, while blends from the Right Bank-the east side, which includes St. Emilion and Pomerol-are more focused on Merlot.
The key: Merlot (at least in Bordeaux) are tighter and tend to keep. Cab driven Blends are rounder, slighly fruitier and well, as your merchant, easier to sell.
RHONE: Northern or Southern?
When you think Northern Rhône, think Syrah. The grape finds its most peppery, meaty expression on the steep hillsides that line the river. A good way to get into these wines is to try St. Joseph or Crozes-Hermitage, but even these can be a bit pricey.
The sunny Southern Rhone is all about the blend, with Grenache leading the charge. They're usually "GSM," shorthand for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Other grapes, such as Cinsault and Counoise, also make an appearance.
Personality: My hands are dirty. Earth Driven.
OLD WORLD V. NEW WORLD
"Old World" refers to the traditional winegrowing regions of Europe, while "New World" refers to everything else.
These distinctions can also refer to differences in style. The climates of New World wine regions are often warmer, which tends to result in riper, more alcoholic, full-bodied and fruit-centered wines. These wines are often made in a more highly extracted and oak-influenced style. Old World wines tend to be lighter-bodied, exhibiting more herb, earth, mineral and floral components. While these are gross generalizations, that's how these terms are commonly used.
These days, the terms "Old World" and "New World" can take on even broader connotations and spark debates among wine lovers, usually about tradition vs. modernization. "Old World" implies tradition, history, and an "if it's not broke, don't fix it" mentality, while the term "New World" invokes technology, science, corporations and marketing.
Best Regards,
AndyDiaz
and the Blackbird Wine-Atomic Cheese Team
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ATOMIC CHEESE Headline
NEW!
The Blue Sauternes Special! $12
Wedges of the funky and flavorful cheddary blue Stilton paired with a pour of Castelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes 2010 (amazing honeysuckle-like dessert wine from Bordeaux). It is the ultimate sweet/savory aperitif treat!
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Did you know about our
wine+cheese club?
Personalized, pay-as-you-go, wine and cheese pairing package = many happy blackbirds!
Click here to learn more or call and ask for Andy at 503-282-1887
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About Blackbird Wineshop 
Andy Diaz started this little bottle shop in 2007 in the small space behind Green Dog and Umpqua Bank. Two years later, he moved the shop around the corner to its current location on Fremont where he expanded the wine selection and added the "Atomic Cheese" section. The shop has come a long way since then. A few newer additions is the ever-growing Rose selection, the incorporation of beer on tap, and a lighter-fare food menu that is regularly updated to include seasonal specials.
In 2015, we had the honor of being named, "#1 Wineshop in Portland" by the Willamette Week readers. Here's to many more years of flying with us!
Blackbird Wineshop
4323 NE Fremont
Portland,
OR
97213
503-282-1887
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