skybar™10 Day Preservation Log

I just popped the cork on a bottle of Pfeiffer Vineyards 2008 Blue Dot Reserve Pinot Noir. It’s inside my new innovative and elegant wine chiller, the skybar™ ONE Wine System, chilling to the optimal temperature that a Pinot Noir should be served: 55 degrees. Once the LED display shows that my Pinot Noir is ready to be served, I’ll press the button that unlocks the preservation system, and then press the pour button to dispense the desired amount of wine into my Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass. From there, I’ll start Day 1 of my 10 day preservation test.

If you have not yet read my article about my first day with my new coveted kitchen appliance, click here. Otherwise, join me everyday for the next 10 days to see how my bottle of beloved Pfeiffer Pinot Noir changes (or if it changes at all) as I try a small amount each day from today, Saturday, December 1 to Monday, December 10.

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Day 1: Beautiful garnet red color with a whiteish pink halo. At first whiff of the lovely aromas beaming from the bowl of the Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass, I’m immediately reminded of why Oregon is well-known for world-class Pinot Noirs. This wine displays all the characters that I love about Willamette Valley Pinots – blackberries, blueberries, earth, oak and pie spice flow seamlessly on to the palate, coating the mouth with a vibrant, yet silky velvety feel. Elegance redefined. It’s tough for me to not refill my glass, I want more. 

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Day 2: The hue is exactly the same as yesterday, but the halo is a bit darker. Fruity aromas have intensified, and if this were a blind tasting, I would know with a single whiff that this is a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. All the characteristics I love are prominently displayed in smell and taste. This is notably cooler than when I tasted the room temperature wine yesterday, and at 55 degrees, it seems the flavors are richer and brighter…it’s beaming with beautiful cherries and berries! Wow! I love day 2!! I had to refill a little bit …just a little more…

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Day 3: I have nothing super exciting to report today, except for one simple thing: the wine is exactly the same as it was yesterday. Color, aromas, flavors…it’s all good. I especially love the 55 degree serving temperature. This is probably one of a handful of times that the red wine I was drinking was served cooler than room temperature. Being ever-so-slightly chilled definitely opens up the aromas and flavors – kind of intensifying them all around. I really enjoy it. Thus, I am very happy with my new wine related kitchen appliance. I’m now thinking about the skybar™ THREE wine system. I could have three bottles open at once. A white, red and a dessert – would that be a crowd pleaser or what?

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Day 4: Well, I am happy to report that the wine is still darn good! The only difference I noticed today was that the color lost a little bit of it’s brighter pinkish hues – it’s not as vibrant, I guess. To be fair, though, I didn’t put as much in the glass this time – I’m starting to worry it will be emptied before the 10 days is up! As far as the taste goes, however, it’s exactly like day 3 and day 2, and I am still absolutely loving this perfectly chilled Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. So, off to bed I go – I need to get a good night sleep, because tomorrow, I have a full day of wine tasting to do in the Granary District of downtown McMinnville and at Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Inn, where I’ll be joining some fellow Oregon wine writers and staying the night in the beautiful Inn! Yes, I am one happy wine gal. And, just in case you’re wondering, I’m leaving my beloved skybar™ and bottle of Pinot with my husband to taste and take notes on for days 5 and 6. No worries – he has an excellent palate, and he’s been tasting each day with me. I will log his notes upon my return, cheers! 

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Days 5,6,7,8 and 9: Well, this very busy month of December took me away from updating the progress for a few days, for a good reason, however. Not only have I spent the last three days shopping for Christmas presents for my two boys, ages 7 and 9, but during days five and six of the Preservation Log, I was visiting, tasting, and learning about the McMinnville and Yamhill-Carlton AVA’s (sub AVA’s of the Willamette Valley). I was lucky enough to be hosted by an outstanding wine consultant who represents wineries from both of the two AVA’s, Carl Giavanti of Giavanti Consulting. Carl set up private tastings with many of the areas outstanding winemakers and winery owners, where I sampled some stellar wines while getting to know the incredible people behind those wines. One day I broke bread with Remy Drabkin of Remy Wines while sipping a solidly luscious Lagrein, and the next was spent with Ken Wright, of Ken Wright Cellars, while standing among his vineyards where four of the five surrounding AVA’s could be viewd from one spectacular viewpoint – later, Ken shared some of his 2004 Pinot Noir, straight out of a magnum bottle. For lodging, I stayed at the incredibly gorgeous Youngberg Hill Vineyards & Inn, in a room with a view that took my breath away. A lot of superior wine and special adventures took place in those two days, and I’ll be writing all about my trip here on WineJulia.com. For now, let me tell you about the Pfeiffer 2008 Blue Dot Reserve Pinot Noir that’s been open for a total of NINE days! I have great news. This skybar™ ONE Wine System is the coolest addition to my wine gadgets collection, and kitchen…ever. The wine still tastes excellent. The fruit flavors are still well pronounced, tannins are smooth, and the mouthfeel is luxurious and velvety. It does taste slightly different from the first few days, but not in a bad way, at all. It’s vibrancy remains in tact, and so do all the flavors. I am truly beyond impressed. When I had my wine bar, I tried all sorts of preservation methods – none ever working to the extent of this one. I would have saved loads of money and wine had I been lucky enough to have one of these back then! Tomorrow is the last day of the Preservation Log, and I’ll finally get to finish the rest of the delicious Pinot!!

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Day 10: Ahhhhhh. I’m finally able to enjoy what is left of the 2008 Pfeiffer Blue Dot Reserve Pinot Noir. No more small pours, no more tiny sips. I filled my glass with the remainder of the wine, and I’m happy to report that it’s still very good. I’m enjoying every last drop – perfectly chilled and delicious. The skybar™ ONE Wine System is absolutely the best preservation system this wine gal has ever had. Now I just need to figure out how to get my hands on the skybar™ THREE Wine System!! Cheers everyone, and thanks for keeping up with my preservation log. Time for me to enjoy the rest of this Pinot Noir!

Get one of these swanky wine systems for yourself by visiting skybarhome.com