The Riggs Fulmer Newsletter
No. 1
February 26, 2009
No. 1
February 26, 2009
Friends, neighbors, bearers of the albariño albatross, Riggs Fulmer here, delighted and energized to resume my periodical missives. You will have heard or read of such from the hoary days of John’s Market past, and though I no longer work for that fine establishment, it having been left in the capable, elegant hands of Mike Bascom, esq., I still frequent the purple hours of our local wine and beer scene, and, to that end, have decided to resume my once and future newsletter.
As we progress and move forward together, this nascent little paradigm will doubtless shift and flex like a sidewalk over a burgeoning oak root- or swell and grow like the root itself, who knows? But here’s how it looks right now, my pledge to you, the thirsty confrerie (and consoeurie, bien sur) of the Greater Northwestern Oregon Rainforest: that I will roam the tasting rooms, haunt the events, pester the stewards and brewers, and in general be your own personal fly on the wall of Portland’s glorious universe of wine and beer.
Look to this newsletter as a portal to my new website (coming soon!), where you will eventually find a listing of all the local public tastings, updated weekly, as well as a real-time blog discussing in more detail the subjects we’ll touch on here, including detailed tasting notes of every wine I try during the week. My favorites will be listed here in the Newsletter, along with tips on where to find them and how much they cost.
I’ll also be periodically focusing on things culinary- there will be a Cuisine of the Month, with recipes and related wine and beer pairings, and I’ll highlight a great restaurant whenever I discover one. Basically, the RFN will soon become the number one unified source of organoleptic info- an easy way for you to stay abreast on the latest developments, and a point of departure from which to explore them. Look for it in your inbox every Thursday.
That the Newsletter be reborn in February, coincidentally the month of my own natal anniversary, is fitting, for this is the season of Imbolc, or Candlemas as the early syncretist Christians named it; the festival of Brigid, the Celtic goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Raise a glass in toast to her, brothers and sisters:
Oh sweet Brigid, dweller of high windy ridges, sweeten the milk of the ewe and cry hail to the greening sward, the rampant crocus; oh Brigid, named Saint and protector of lofty ideals, dropper of knowledge and the comfortably highfalutin, sing through me to the parched ears of Portland, let me open their hearts to the song of the coquette Riesling, the toney Pinot, the beleaguered Chardonnay. Let me make an informative ass of myself in wonted fashion, for your sake, and ours. Bless this day that we may get our drink on in silly, sacred earnestness, in joy, and, most importantly, while knowing what the hell we’re drinking!
I’m looking so forward to working with you all again, imparting what knowledge I can, flattering the beautiful people in the scene (did I mention Mike Bascom’s hands?), and in general carrying on my weekly work by adding a little color to the world of Portland wine criticism. After all, it’s only wine, friends, and don’t you ever believe that!
The website is under construction and the information is being gathered; if our ducks aren’t exactly in a row you should see our beavers! Wait, that didn’t sound right… In any case, think of this as a shot across your thirsty bow, a flare in the late winter sky pointing you to the esoteric, the amusing, and the effin’ yummy.
Speaking thereof, I’ll give you a first tasting note, as I was lucky enough to find- and break into- a secret stash of Cameron Pinot Noir on Mardi Gras. You likely won’t be able to find this wine, unless you have some already (a tip: one can sometimes find older vintages at Fred Meyer Burlingame… no guarantees, but it was there I recently snagged a bottle of 2000 Cameron Abbey Ridge Chardonnay), so think of this as a prequel to what’s to come:
2004 Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir
A gorgeous wine from what many feel to be the best Pinot vineyard in the state, I was beside myself to find this bottle. The nose was a riot of spice and perfume, dominated by sexy flesh, wild cherries, and an intense swirl of decadent blackberry, lime zest, and creamy meringue. On the palate, it was almost unbelievably lush and generous, one long sanguine plunge of summer-ripe Oregon berries and bramble, structured with a taut core of lime zest acidity and a creamy soft finishing note. Remarkably bereft of trademark Cameron funk, this Pinot was ultra-clean, positively gushing with unabashed new world fruit, but hung on a gorgeous European frame of tannins and acid. A typically brilliant effort by the master, my hero, John Paul.
And, if you’re interested in his political career, please see my article in the April 2008 issue of the Oregon Wine Press, devoted to the man himself: http://www.oregonwinepress.
Enough for now, friends, but much more to come! Great to be back with you! We’re fitna party like it’s 2009, baby!
And, oh yeah, I’ll understand if you don’t wish to receive this newsletter, and though my evening glass will be stained by my lonely tears at your flight, I’ll still remove you from the list toot sweet and wish you good luck and godspeed.
Onward and upward!
Yrs,
Riggs
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