That Winey Fresh Taste

I have an irrational fear of young wine.  So far this year, I've purchased a grand total of two bottles from the 2004 vintage.  I even mildly avoid wines from 2003.  What is wrong with me?

I am a subconscious wine snob. 

Somehow when I see a bottle of young wine, I don't take it seriously.  I treat it like some kind of gimmicky nouveau/novello.  But guess what?  Most wine is consumed shortly after it's purchased.  It's not intended to be aged for decades.  The Stormhoekers say it best:

"Contrary to popular belief, most wines do not improve with age. Sure, the great wines of Bordeaux and the Burgundies often do, as do certain others, but these are not the wines that most of us are buying most of the time."

Amen to that.

My recent experience with a young (2004), Kiwi Riesling was grand.  And, surprise surprise, my weekend dalliance with Elk Cove's 2004 Pinot Blanc (see below) was altogether grand.

Starting today, I plan on embracing and enjoying more one- and two-year old wine.

The Skinny
Elk Cove Pinot Blanc, 2004 ($16)

• From Oregon's Willamette Valley
• White gold in color with a bright, fresh appearance
• Scents of ripe pear, blossom, and honey - along with a hint of citrus
• Medium-bodied in the mouth with a tangy attack, followed by a honeyed finish.  The flavor is a refreshing blend of apricot and tangerine.  A well-balanced, well-made wine

***.5 (3.5 stars out of 5)

Young wine isn't always just simple, easy-to-drink glass-filling liquid.  Elk Cove's P.Blanc is a fine example of a fresh wine with engaging complexity (as opposed to the last Pinot Blank I tried).  Haute cuisine connoisseur that I am, I drank it with a chicken, garlic, and sun-dried tomato pizza.  And it was pretty damn good.