Tyrus Evan Wines

As part of my job in the wine industry, I have to keep up on all the wines in the press, what's getting great scores, and who's buying what. I often read about wines, try and get my hands on them, and if they are really good, offer them to my customers. However, every once in a while I find a treasure that is, well, less known, and then it gets great press. It's always fun to find wines, enjoy them, and then read that others have enjoyed them as much as me!

Such is the case with Tyrus Evan wine. A second label to Ken Wright (named after his two sons), the Tyrus Evan label focuses on more "big" wines, like Syrah and bordeaux blends ( a walla walla blend, a cab franc, etc.) Recently, Tyrus Evan was featured in the Wine Press NW newsletter. The 2004 Del Rio Syrah recieved an "outstanding" rating.

If you are interested in trying Tyrus Evan Wine, you can email me (emily@corkcellars.com) and reserve your bottle today. We currently have in stock -

2004 Tyrus Evan Cab Franc (my favorite)
2004 Tyrus Evan Syrah
2004 Tyrus Evan Malbec
2003 Tyrus Evan Walla Walla Claret

All are outstanding wines - full and complex. This wine is made in small lot production, so once it's gone, it's gone!

Wine by the River with Oregon Vineyard Selection

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29th and 30th, we showcased our wine cellar racking and services at Bend's Wine by the River. Wine by the River is a non-profit event benefitting the Hospice of Bend-LaPine, and features over 50 wineries from Oregon, Washington and California, food vendors, and artists. This was a fantastic venue for us to catch up with previous wine cellar clients, visit with wineries & friends, and showcase wine cellar information to potential clients.

It was a beautiful two days in Bend, Oregon. The weather was clear, and it was nice and warm, a perfect time to sip on crisp whites in the afternoon, and full-bodied reds in the cool evening. While Mark and I worked and spoke with clients most of the day, we did get a chance to try some familiar wines, as well as try some new wines from the region.

Of course, one of our favorite winery's in Oregon, was at hand in the winner's venue - Domaine Meriweather - who won "best white" with the Captain Clark Sparkling Brut. The Captain Clark sparkling is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, made in the traditional champagne method. This wine sees over seven years in the bottle, and is aged to a smooth, crisp brut with tiny bubbles, loads of flavor and a smooth finish. Domaine Meriweather was the first place we sent our friends and previous wine cellars clients, Larry and Irma Robinson (cellar shown at right). Although the Robinson wine cellar was completed last year, we still keep in touch. Larry and Irma are very gracious, and often let us show off their wine cellar to potential clients. They are also great customers of the wine shop, and take advantage of our great discounts and delivery service.

Other great booths at Wine by the River this year were Spindrift Cellars, Harris Bridge Vineyards, and keeping us awake and with good treats - DiLusso's Coffee and Bi-Bop Biscotti were on hand. It got very busy Saturday afternoon and into the evening.

A long day of talking with folks about how to store wine, why they would love to have a wine cellar, and everything that goes along with a wine cellar project is tons of fun, but can get overwhelming at times. But, no one can really complain when you're talking about wine and working with great people who make you laugh and have a great time working... like Mark. Cheerful through the whole weekend, as shown left (below) - Mark posing like he's opening a bottle of Harris Bridge Pinot Noir Desert wine... problem is, it's empty!

If you missed us this year at Wine by the River, don't fret! We showcase Oregon Vineyard Selection's custom and modular racking, climate control, and cellar accessory options at Cork Cellars Wine Shop in Sisters. We also offer free consultations to anyone interested in getting started with a wine cellar project. Please visit or call us for more information.

Visit to Domaine de la Terre Rouge

Domaine de la Terre Rouge is located in the Sierra Foothills, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley - just outside of Plymouth, CA. The wine region there has a lot to offer, and if you have the opportunity, I highly suggest a trip down there - I know the Willamette Valley is only about a 3-hour trip, but how many times can you go to the same place? :) It takes about 10 hours from Bend and don't leave without a visit to Domaine de le Terre Rouge. I did end up going to a couple other wineries in the area, but can say that the best wines for my palate came from Terre Rouge (meaning "red earth").

Domaine de la Terre Rouge makes two labels - Domaine de la Terre Rouge and Easton both by winemaker/owner Bill Easton. The Terre Rouge label is used for Rhône-style wines, while the Easton label is used for non-Rhône wines. For me, both of the labels suit my palate, but I do prefer the Terre Rouge label if I were forced to choose. I sit and drink a wine from either label, and wonder if it's possible for Bill to make a wine I don't like! Apparently, so far, it has not been possible.

The grapes (shown right) are this year's Syrah - already fermented and waiting for the barrel. Bill bottle-ages his wines, sometimes for a good chunk of time - for example, this year's Noir (his flagship wine) is a 1999. I also purchased a delicious Zin from the tasting room that is a 1999. You can also get other years of the Noir from the tasting room depending on your tastes and budget.

Bill suggested Amador Foothills and Shenandoah Valley/Sobon to me in my search for another tasty Zin - but of course, mentioned that his were still the best. I'd have to agree - and if you'd like to try one of them, come on into Cork Cellars.