We’re so pleased to announce our 2012 series of classes!!  Scott’s Burgundy (& Champagne) seminars have been a perennial hit, booking up quickly each year.  Classes are held in our new Scott Paul PDX space in NW Portland (2537 NW Upshur St, Portland 97210).

Seminars make a GREAT gift!

Below are the remaining seminars on the schedule for the first half of 2012. Reserve now by emailing or calling Kelly Karr, 503-319-5827.

Oregon-Burgundy comparison, March 16, 7-9 pm, $50

Focus on Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, April 27th, 7-9pm, $65

White Burgundy, May 18th, 7-9pm, $55

Seating is limited.  Reservations required. Reservations can be made with Kelly at 503-319-5827 or kellykarr@scottpaul.com. Prices include the seminar, wines, snack of cheeses and pâté, and printed materials. Participants also receive special discounts on the featured wines.  Classes are taught by proprietor/winemaker Scott Paul Wright, whose passion for Burgundy was his inspiration for making wine in the first place, and for launching his Burgundy import company in 2005.

Seminar Descriptions:

Oregon and Burgundy – the Capitols of Pinot Noir. Oregon and Burgundy – so similar, yet so dramatically different. The two best places in the world to grow Pinot Noir have much in common, but the wines they produce are often as far apart as apples and oranges. In this class we’ll explore what makes Oregon “Oregon” and Burgundy “Burgundy”, discuss the geological, climatic, meteorological, viticultural, enological and historical factors that come in play, and taste some excellent examples from both regions – all in the name of science, of course! An array of French and Oregon cheeses and charcuterie will accompany the wines.

Focus on the Côte de Nuits – The northern half of Burgundy’s famed Côte d’Or is home to the finest Pinot Noir on planet earth. We’ll take an in-depth look at the famous villages of Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St. Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Vougeot, Flagey-Echezeaux and Nuits-St. Georges – discuss the great Grand Crus, the differences in terroir, and taste six great examples over the course of the evening.

White Burgundy – From Chablis to the Côte de Beaune to the Mâconnais, the Chardonnay grape does some delicious and wonderful things in Burgundy. The styles range from crisp & mineral-intense to rich & succulent, and all points in between. In this class we’ll explore all of the major white wine regions and villages, delve into the viticultural and winemaking techniques, and of course taste six yummy examples along the way.

We’re excited to bring the Willamette Valley to the Big Apple again this year, with a mega-tasting scheduled for April 16th at City Winery in Soho. New York, New Jersey & Connecticut – we look forward to seeing you there in force!

Be here in Carlton on Saturday March 24th from Noon-5p for our Burgundy Express Club pick-up day and tasting. (The event is open to all, and the Spring 2012 Club package will be here to pick up for Club members. The Burgundy club is currently full, but we’d be happy to put you on the waiting list for future openings – just email Kelly Karr.)

This Spring, the Burgundy Club package focuses on the hidden values in Burgundy, and we’ll be pouring a selection of wines from the package, including Petit Chablis from Frédéric Gueguen, Fleurie from Domaine des Nugues, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune from Huber-Verdereau, and Mercurey Vieilles Vignes from Domaine Ninot.

The tasting flight is free for Club members, $10 for non-members, refundable with a 3-bottle purchase of the featured wines. Our regular tasting flight of current-release Oregon Pinot and Burgundies will also be available, $10 for the flight, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase.

You’re invited to join us for an intimate winemaker dinner with Burgundy’s rising star Alexandrine Roy, of Gevrey-Chambertin’s Domaine Marc Roy. Only 10 seats are available for this special dinner at Portland’s Little Bird Bistro, the latest hit from James Beard Award-winning chef Gabe Rucker.

We’ll be featuring a full array of Alexandrine’s wines, matched with a four-course dinner from the outstanding Little Bird kitchen, along with some treats from the Scott Paul cellar as well.

Dinner is set for 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 14th. THIS DINNER IS SOLD-OUT! Email Kelly Karr if you’d like to be on the waiting list for this event…

Alexandrine Roy and "Merlot"

We’re excited to welcome winemaker Alexandrine Roy to Portland for a special tasting and intimate winemaker dinner. “Alex” is the 4th generation to helm her family’s tiny 10-acre estate, Domaine Marc Roy in the legendary village of Gevrey-Chambertin. Her wines are drawing raves from all the critics, and have developed a cult following here in Oregon over the last several years.

In the vineyard with Alexandrine Roy

Here’s the word from Burghound’s Allen Meadows – “For those readers who are not familiar with the Roy wines, the style is a mix of old style classicism coupled with moderate new oak treatment that doesn’t upset the balance or transparency. The wines are absolutely worth trying should you see them and at the prices that I have seen on offer, they represent fine value as well.”

Join us at Scott Paul PDX – and meet the charming Alexandrine for a special Happy Hour Wednesday from 5-7pm for a tasting of the gorgeous 2009s – the lush and yummy Marsannay Blanc “Les Champs Perdrix”, the Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, the single vineyard Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur (90Pts-BH), and the stunning Gevrey-Chambertin “Cuvée Alexandrine”, a micro-production bottling Alex makes only from the tiny millerandage grapes picked individually by hand (“a terrific effort! 92Pts-BH.)

Tasting fee for this special flight is $5, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase of the Roy wines.

Join us Saturday March 10th from 12n-5p in Carlton for a great Champagne tasting, and to pick up your Spring 2012 Champagne Club package. (The event is open to all – if you’re not a Champagne Club member yet, sign-up by emailing Kelly Karr and we’ll get you on for the next shipment coming this fall.)

The Spring club package is a study in Blanc de Blancs Champagnes – made only from the Chardonnay grape. At the tasting we’ll be pouring four great examples from top small producers, including Marc Chauvet, Marcel Moineaux, Hervé Dubois and Demière-Ansiot. The Champagne flight is FREE for Club members, $20 for non-members, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase of the featured wines. We’ll also have our regular tasting flight of our current release Oregon Pinot and Burgundies available- $10 for the flight, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase.

One of the most common questions we get is – “what happens to Burgundy as it ages?” Here is your chance to find out, or at least get a glimpse of several fine Burgundies from the 2006 vintage, now with five years of age on them.

Join us in Carlton on Saturday, March 3rd from 12n-5p for a tasting of six 2006 Burgs. Upon release the 2006s were thought to be good to very-good, with the potential to age well over the medium term, i.e. 10-15 years for most wines. At age five, these wines should be starting to show signs of developing some secondary flavors and aromas, as they start to lose their youthful fruit and baby fat.

In the cellar with Thierry Violot-Guillemard

Here are the 2006s we’ll have open for tasting and available for sale:

Domaine Buisson-Charles: Meursault Tessons

Domaine Taupenot-Merme:  Nuits-St. Georges Pruliers 1er, & Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

Domaine Violot-Guillemard: Pommard Pezerolles 1er

Domaine Huber-Verdereau: Pommard Bertins 1er

Tasting fee for this special flight is $20, refundable with a 3-bottle purchase of the featured wines.

Join us in NW Portland at Scott Paul PDX for our ongoing series of First Friday happy-hour tastings on Friday March 2nd from 5-7pm.

We’ll be pouring 2008 Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Varambon from Chateau des Rontets, 2010 Fleurie from Domaine des Nugues, and our ’08 La Paulée Pinot – tasting fee is $5, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase. For an additional $5, a SPLURGE pour of the amazing 2009 Volnay Fremiets 1er Cru from superstar producer Comte Armand. Kick off your weekend with us, with good cheer and great wines in NW Portland!

Join us at Portland’s only Champagne-only wine bar, Ambonnay, for a special flight of three Champagnes from micro-producer Bruno Gobillard.

Importer/Champagne Junkie Scott Paul Wright will be on hand to talk about the Gobillard bubblies – which are made in miniscule quantities and have an avid cult following.

The flight will include the lush and creamy NV Brut, the bright and citrusy NV Brut Vieilles Vignes, and the simply stunning NV Brut Rosé. This flight will be available from 6-9pm and is a don’t-miss for any and all Champagne-lovers. Cheers!

Join us in NW Portland at Scott Paul PDX for a Happy-Hour Champagne tasting on Friday Feb. 17th from 4-6pm, prior to our Champagne seminar later that night.   We’ll be pouring a couple of great bubblies from our portfolio of Grower Champagnes – micro-production bottlings that are guaranteed to seduce you, your valentine, or all of the above! Tasting fee is $5, refundable with any 3-bottle purchase.  On the flight will be the Blanc de Blanc from José Dhondt and the cult-fave Brut Rosé from Camille Savès, and our ’08 La Pauléee Pinot. The “Splurge” pour this time is the amazing 2009 Volnay Vendanges Sélectionées from superstar Michel Lafarge – $5, non-refundable.

(And if you’ve always wanted to take one of Scott’s classes, now is the chance! Due to a cancellation, 4 seats remain for the Champagne seminar. Email kellykarr@scottpaul.com to grab these seats!)