Walla Walla Vintners (WW HBT 2008)

What follows is an excerpt for the 2008 Walla Walla Holiday Barrel Tasting Report. Read the full report here.





Walla Walla Vintners makes excellent wine with a consistent style dominated by rich chocolate and cherry. The 2006 releases all seemed to have a light herbal component that added a layer of complexity. Surprisingly, as this wine has been a consistent favorite from the winery, the 2007 Cabernet Franc barrel sample was a disappointment. Perhaps some additional time in the barrel will bring it around. Wine temperature not recorded. PPS.

Wines:
Score	Name	Notes	$
.	Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2007	Nose still very young and a bit off-putting, reminiscent of Mentos. On the taste, mainly cranberry but overall too young to get much of an idea of it.	BS
+	Sangiovese Columbia Valley 2006	Lots of cranberry and rose hips. Tart and crisp on the taste. 83% Sangiovese; 12% Syrah; 5% Malbec.	$24
*	Washington State Cuvee 2006	Classic Walla Walla Vintners cherry aromas and flavors. A big nose with an almost gritty aspect to it along with wheat and chocolate. A pleasing tartness and an even body. 38% Merlot; 24% Cab Franc; 13% Cabernet; 8% Petit Verdot; 7% Carmenere; 5% Malbec; 5% Syrah. Cordon Grove, Dwelley, Frazier Bluff, Killian, Sagemoor, Spring Creek, and Weinbau vineyards.	$28
*	Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 2006	Classic Walla Walla Vintners nose with chocolate covered cherries laced with rose hips along with a beautiful, light herbal quality. Very smooth body, although a bit lighter than in previous years. 76% Cabernet; 10% Cab Franc; 6% Merlot; 3% Malbec; 3% Petit Verdot; 2% Carmenere. Dwelley, Frazier Bluff, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Tokar, and Windrow vineyards.	$35
*	Cabernet Sauvignon Sagemoor Vineyard Columbia Valley 2006	Rich chocolate along with touches of cassis, pencil shavings, and Herbes de Provence. Tart with a full mid-palate and a long finish. 79% Cabernet; 21% Cab Franc, Malbec, and Merlot.	$40
**	Bello Rosso 2006	A big nose with a good deal of complexity marked by wheat, chocolate, cherry, and rose hips. Fairly light on the palate but opens up and sails on the finish. 50% Sangiovese; 50% Cabernet.	$36