Five Syrah Under $15

In tough times, we continue the search for good, inexpensive wines.

This month’s Five Under $15 focuses on Syrah - with an additional wine thrown in for good measure. In a recent article in Wine Press Northwest I wrote that one of the issues with Washington State Syrah is that it is difficult to find quality bottles at value price points. With this in mind, it seemed like a good time to check in on some current releases in the value spectrum.

The first wine comes from Charles Smith Wines. If anyone would seem to be able to create a well-priced Syrah that tastes like it comes from Washington and tastes like Syrah, it would seem to be Smith and his ‘Modernist Project.’ In the winery’s own words, its intent is, “to create wines to be enjoyed now, but with typicity with regards to variety—that is merlot that tastes like merlot—and to the vineyard—wine that tastes like where it was grown.” Add that Smith has made his name in large part by producing limited production bottlings of Syrah for K Vintners and it would seem that if there is not hope in this bottle, there is no hope at all.

Almost mercifully, the 2009 Charles Smith Boom Boom! Syrah is nothing if not hopeful. In keeping with previous vintages, it is an enjoyable, well made wine that is unmistakably Syrah. Stylistically the wine is strongly on the meaty, bacon fat side of the grape – something rarely seen in this price range. Again, Smith continues to bring well-priced, quality Washington wine to the masses.

The next wine comes from Stonecap, a label from Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards & Winery. While not as strong an offering as the Boom Boom!, it is an enjoyable wine that is definitely Syrah. Of note regarding this winery, Kendall Mix, formerly of Corliss Estates, assumed head winemaker responsibilities in April of 2010.

The third wine comes from Willow Crest Winery. Willow Crest is located in the Yakima Valley, with a tasting room in Prosser’s Vintner’s Village and another in Leavenworth. The Minick family has been growing wine grapes since 1982 at its estate vineyard. The winery was founded in 1995.

The final three wines come from two Ste. Michelle Wine Estates holdings - Snoqualmie and Columbia Crest.

On an interesting note, five of these wines are labeled 13.5% alcohol. See a recent post on alcohol percentages for reasons why this is the case. Leave a comment if there are enjoyable $15 and under Washington State Syrahs you have seen in this price range and I will check them out.

Charles Smith Boom Boom! Syrah Washington State 2009 $15
Rating: + (Good) An aromatic wine with floral notes, huge amounts of bacon fat, and cherry. The palate is lithe, full of fruit and bacon flavors, dipping in the middle before coming back and sailing on a finish laden with vanilla notes. 92% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre. Milbrandt, Weyns, and Suhuldonik vineyards. 14.1% alcohol. Recommended

Stonecap Syrah Estate Grown Columbia Valley 2009 $14
Rating: + (Good) A moderately aromatic wine with smoke, berries, and light game. Palate is fruit forward, losing a bit of its concentration and rhythm about two thirds of the way through. Overall an enjoyable effort that is unmistakably syrah. 13.5% alcohol.

Willow Crest Syrah Yakima Valley 2007 $13
Rating: ./+ (Decent/Good) A moderately aromatic wine with berries, a slight smokiness, plum, rhubarb, and vanilla. A well put together, easy drinker with silky fruit flavors and a weighted feel. 13.5% alcohol.

Snoqualmie Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $10
Rating: . (Decent) Very light aromatics of berry, green olives, and chocolate followed by a touch of black pepper. Light bodied and tart. Flattens out a bit in the mid-palate before trailing off. 97% Syrah, 1.7% Mourvedre, 1.3% Grenache. 13.5% alcohol. 17,000 cases produced.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $13
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics of stargazer lilies, berries, and a whiff of burnt rubber. A medium-bodied wine with chewy fruit flavors. 89% Syrah, 6% Grenache, and 5% Viognier. 13.5% alcohol. 10,000 cases produced.

Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz Washington State 2005 $8
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics of blueberries, raisins, and a medicinal note. Palate is grapey and sweet, flattening out toward the finish. 13.5% alcohol. 135,000 cases produced.

Tonight! March Virtual Tasting - 2008 Desert Wind Ruah

The March Virtual Tasting is tonight from 7-8pm Pacific. The wine is the 2008 Desert Wind Ruah Red Wine. This wine retails for $20 and is widely available.

What you need to do to participate is:

1. Buy this month’s wine from a local retailer or from the winery

2. Post your comments/tweets on the wine between 7 and 8pm. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport. I will be using the hashtag #dwruah during the event.

Hope you will join us!

What Makes Washington Wine Country Different

Reminder: The March Virtual Tasting takes place this Wednesday at 7pm Pacific. Read about how to participate here.

The following post was written by Carrie Simon. Simon is the founder of Washington Wine 9, a custom trip planning service for travelers to Washington State wine country.

In 2009 I returned to the Pacific Northwest after nearly 20 years away. Hearing so much about the wine region in Washington State that had emerged during this time, I felt compelled to start planning my maiden voyage. What I discovered is that Washington’s wine country is unlike any other area I had visited - in both good ways and bad.

Understand first that, while I love wine, I am far from an oenophile. While I have been to other notable wine producing regions, including Tuscany, Burgundy, Stellenbosch, Napa, and California’s Central Coast, I did not crisscross the globe in pursuit of wine. I went because I love to travel and these destinations offered the types of experiences I enjoy: wine (of course) along with good food, beautiful scenery, and days of leisure. This is what I looked forward to discovering in Washington.

So I began to plan my trip. I focused on the heart of wine country – the stretch from Yakima Valley southeast to the Walla Walla Valley where more than 99% of the state’s grapes are grown and well over half its wineries are located. I wasn’t going to drive to Walla Walla and miss everything along the way!

To my surprise, I found that planning a simple 3-day getaway to eastern Washington was almost as challenging as planning a trip abroad and took nearly as long! While I found plenty of useful information on visiting the wineries (for example, the Washington Wine Commission’s website and Steve Roberts’ book, WineTrails of Washington), when it came to learning about other things I like to do when I travel, I found very little compelling information. Unfortunately, in this way I found Washington to be much more challenging than the other regions I had visited.

Most of what was (and is) available were comprehensive lists of services provided by the tourism bureaus. But I didn’t want to know all the places to eat, sleep and explore! I yearned for a critical, trustworthy eye(s) to make recommendations: Stay here! Eat there! and, Don’t Miss These Off-the-Beaten-Path Treasures! I found the relatively large region surprisingly hard to navigate as a whole.

Still, I did the best I could with the information I had and set out: over the mountains and through the woods, and wound up… in a desert! Really? Many people outside the area don’t know that, while Seattle is steeped in rain, eastern Washington is a desert with more than 300 days of sunshine per year (but don’t think cacti!). When I arrived in eastern Washington, I discovered that Washington wine country shares one quality that all top wine regions do – world class wines. But I also found other things that were unique.

An article in Food & Wine recently observed “not many winemakers would put down their hoses and pipettes” to have lunch with their customers in Napa. Not so in Washington. Because there are so many small wineries in eastern Washington, winemakers themselves are likely to pour your tasting, and even invite you in for lunch. You frequently have the occasion to get to know the personalities and stories behind the wines, and also to increase your knowledge of the craft from the practitioners themselves. This experience leaves you connected to the wines and the region in untold ways. In all my travels to other wine regions, only once did I happen upon a winemaker in a tasting room (in Paso Robles).

Another draw is that there are indeed plentiful opportunities to broaden your travel experience in wine country beyond wine alone. There are numerous outdoor and culinary experiences awaiting, including golfing, fishing, biking, fruit picking, cheese making, bread baking, and chocolate tasting to name just a few. The most desirable activities I discovered only once I was in wine country (and back again); I had given up on sorting through lists and lists on website after website.

Suffice to say, my first trip inspired me. I wanted to know this authentic and rich destination more fully, and I found myself returning to the area over and over and learning as much as I could about it - in part, because I fell in love with the area but also because I was determined that planning a trip to Washington’s wine country should not be so difficult for me or anyone else.

This is why I decided to launch Washington Wine 9 last year (the heart of wine country encompasses 9 of Washington’s 11 AVAs), making it my business to help travelers, from oenophiles to those who simply enjoy food and wine travel, get the most out of their wine country experience. My goal is to provide the type of discerning information I seek when I travel to help people get the most out of their wine country experience.

Sean has asked me to contribute to the Washington Wine Report periodically to share some of what I have found during my travels. In the meantime, I invite you to follow me on my next trip over the mountains beginning April 2 at travelnotes.washingtonwine9.com.

Lake Chelan's WineGirl Wines

Reminder: The March Virtual Tasting takes place this Wednesday at 7pm Pacific. Read about how to participate here.

WineGirl Wines winemaker (say that three times fast!) Angela Jacobs first became interested in wine while working at an Italian restaurant in Bellevue. She tried a 1996 Archery Summit Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir - “When it was affordable, of course,” she notes. She fell in love with the wine and with the grape. “Way before Sideways,” she is quick to add.

Jacobs made her first wine in 2001 (“Before I was 21,” she says gleefully), making a mere two cases of Pinot Noir. Though she was already interested in wine when she was in college, the University of Washington did not offer winemaking courses, so Jacobs instead focused on the sciences. Upon graduating, she subsequently spent time in California, New Zealand, and Oregon learning the trade.

Jacobs crushed her first fruit under the WineGirl Wines label in 2007, naming the winery after a nickname that a friend had given her. After making 100 cases the first year, she doubled production to 200 cases in 2008.

Jacobs subsequently wrote a business plan and secured financing to start a winery. When contemplating where to start the venture, the Chelan area seemed a logical choice. Jacobs’ family has a long history in the area. “I witnessed the downfall of the Washington apple farmers to the Japanese varietals in the 90's - my family included - and the subsequent birth of viticulture about ten years ago,” she says. In the spring of 2010, Jacobs opened a tasting room in Manson by Lake Chelan.

The WineGirl Wines branding is a bit complex, reflective of Jacobs' creative side. The Manson tasting room is called The Blending Room as Jacobs wanted to have something a bit more, how shall we say, gender neutral for her partner Jonathan. The winery has one label called Firá (after a Greek word for fire) and another Kamari, named after a black sand beach on Santorini, Greece. Finally, there is a My Derby Wife label in a callout to her years spent with the Rat City Rollergirls. Jacobs believes that labels are important, saying, “It's OK to choose your bottle of wine because you like the label! I do!”

While Jacobs has currently been sourcing her fruit from Les Collines, Kiona, Meek, Weinbau, Cave B Vineyards and others, she plans to plant a vineyard this spring on the north side of Lake Chelan. The vineyard will be planted to Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, and Chardonnay.

Wine Girl Wines made 350 cases in 2010 with plans to expand to 600 in 2011. Read the winery’s blog here.

Kamari Black Label Reserve Malbec Walla Walla Valley 2008 $32
Rating: +/* (Good/Excellent) Dark in color. Abundant green notes along with plum, tea, and pepper. The palate is full of tart fruit with rush of chocolate and oak flavors coming through on the finish. Les Collines Vineyard. Aged in 20 months in French and American oak. 14.3% alcohol. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Kamari Black Label Reserve Red Wine Walla Walla Valley 2008 $34
Rating: + (Good) An appealing, earthy aroma profile that shows abundant dark berry notes along with chocolate. The palate has a full feel with chalky tannins and tingling acidity toward the finish. Oak plays a big part in this show but, overall, an impressive effort. 62% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec. 14.3% alcohol. Aged 20 months in French and American oak. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Kamari Black Label Reserve Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2008 $30
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics dominated by chocolate and sweet berries. The palate is tart with herbal notes and somewhat gripping tannins. Comes off as a bit astringent at times. Williard Vineyard, Yakima Valley. Aged 20 months in French and American oak. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Tips and Tricks for Taste Washington 2011

Okay folks, Taste Washington weekend is upon us. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the most of this year’s event.

1. Make a plan for Sunday’s Grand Tasting

There are over 200 wineries represented at Taste Washington, so it is only possible to taste wines from a small fraction of them. You can take a walk and wander approach and taste at wineries as you come across them, or you can have a specific plan of attack.

In terms of making a specific plan, look at the list of participating wineries and categorize ones that you definitely want to check out as well as ones that you really hope to go to and ones that are on the bubble. Some wineries pour out early, so make sure to visit the ones you definitely want to visit first. You can also make a point of focusing on a single varietal or type of wine.

2. Get the lay of the land

The conference center is a massive place. Make sure to check out the map of the event in the event guide to help get oriented before you go on Sunday.

3. It’s hip to spit!

The great thing about Taste Washington is that you are able to taste a large amount of Washington wine in a single setting. However, you can taste even more wine if you make a point to spit most of it out during the event. Last year there were spit cups placed everywhere throughout the event hall. To the extent that there are not this time around, grab a cup from the espresso bar. You’ll have a much better time (and a better recollection of the event the next day). Regardless of whether you spit or not, I strongly advise taking a cab to and from the event.

4. Eat early, eat often

There’s lots of great food at the event so make sure to take advantage of it. In particular, check out the ‘white out’ bar with white wines and seafood, including more oysters than anyone could possibly eat (although many try). If you are a vegetarian, expect it to be somewhat difficult to find food at the event. See the event guide for the location of the cheese bar.

5. Check out the Taste the Vineyards section

There is a section devoted to vineyards where you can check out wines made from a single source. Vineyards represented this year include Klipsun, Evergreen, and Sagemoor. This area tends to be pretty quiet so you can taste a number of wines reasonably quickly and talk to people about the vineyards.

6. Have fun!

This is a great event, so make sure to have a good time. Things can get quite crowded at times. If the lines at a particular table get long, try moving on to another spot and coming back. There’s more than enough wine out there.

Below are a just few wines being poured at the event that I have either had before and recommend checking out or am excited to try. Feel free to comment with your own list (or, of course, keep it very, very secret).

Hope to see you there!

Amavi Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2008 Syrah
Andrew Will 2008 Sorella
Barrister Winery 2008 Cabernet Franc
Bergevin Lane 2008 Princess Syrah
Betz Family Winery 2009 La Cote Patriarch
Barnard Griffin 2010 Rose of Sangiovese
Bunchgrass 2008 Founders Blend
Chinook 2008 Cabernet Franc
Col Solare 2007 Red Wine
DeLille Cellars 2009 Chaleur Estate White Wine
Fidelitas 2008 Malbec and 2008 Merlot
Gorman Winery 2008 The Bully
Gramercy Cellars 2008 John Lewis Syrah
Hamilton Cellars 2007 Malbec
Hogue Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
L’Ecole No 41 – Stop by to check out the wines and their new label
Maison Bleue 2009 La Montagnette Grenache and 2009 Graviere
Milbrandt 2009 Traditions Riesling
Mercer Estates 2008 Petit Verdot
Nefarious Cellars 2010 Estate Viognier
Reininger 2007 Carmenère
Saviah Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Petit Verdot
Soos Creek 2008 Artist Series #8
Syncline 2009 Grenache and 2010 Rose
Tranche Cellars 2010 Rose (first released estate wine for the winery)
Waters 2009 Interlude
Woodward Canyon 2009 Chardonnay Washington State

Washington Wine Round-up March 15th to 21st

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from March 15^th to 21^st. See previous round-ups here.

From around the country…

The Fall River Herald News writes about the Washington Hills Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes about interesting wines from the Puget Sound.


From the blogosphere…

Gary V at Daily Grape looks at Washington Cabernet Franc.

The Oregon Wine Blog asks what the connection is between wine and Social Media.

Pop & Pour writes about Sleight of Hand’s 2009 The Spellbinder.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about a new tasting room for William Church Winery. Shona also write about Lachini Vineyards opening a tasting room in Woodinville, Carol Parsons of Red Sky, and upcoming Woodinville events.

The Durango Herald writes about wine tasting at Farmer’s markets in Washington.

Thirsty Girl takes a road trip to Walla Walla.

Ken's Wine Guide looks at the 2008 Owen Roe Rosa Mystica.

Travel Channel writes about Pacific Northwest wine experiences.

Strange Bedfellows writes about a new liquor initiative.

Personal Finance gives some estimations on the cost of drinking liquor.

Gig Harbor Patch writes about Water for Wine making a comeback.

Sips & The City writes about this weekend’s Taste Washington.

Wine Peeps writes about the 2010 Pacific Rim Riesling. They also do a challenging food and wine pairing and write about Cana’s Feast.

Pairing Up checks out the Michael Florentino Primitivo.

Write for Wine writes about the Taste Washington seminars. Margot also writes that it’s been a good year for William Church Winery.

Palate Press writes about the 2004 Fidelitas Optu.

Lucha Vino does a battle of Super Tuscans.

WINO Magazine gives a verdict on screwcaps. They also write about Taste Washington.


From the locals…

The News-Tribune writes about L'Ecole No 41's new label.

Washington Tasting Room Magazine writes about the postponement of Taste Washington Japan.

KUOW writes about L'Ecole No 41's new label.

Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt writes answers some wine questions.

The Olympian writes about a $300m proposal for the right to run the state liquor stores. They also write about changes to the liquor laws and a new privatization initiative.

The Puget Sound Business Journal writes about the US becoming the largest wine consumer in the world.

The Idaho-Statesman writes about Maryhill Winery.

The Kitsap Sun writes about Taste Washington.

Travel Blackboard writes about a group working to save Washington tourism.

Coastal Explorer Magazine writes about the best of Cannon Beach with The Wayfarer getting Best Wine List.

The Woodinville Weekly writes about Zerba Cellars.


Leftovers (posts missed from previous weeks)…

KIMA writes about record wine sales for Yakima.


That's all folks!

Fresh Sheet March 23rd 2011

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent Washington wine releases – includes wines from Betz Family Winery, Quilceda Creek Vintners, :Nota Bene Cellars, Cave B Winery, Maryhill Winery, and Ott & Murphy Wines.

Betz Family Winery

Any new set of releases from Betz Family Winery is worthy of anticipation. The spring releases are for the winery’s Bordeaux-style blends, the fall for its Rhone-style wines.

The 2008 Clos de Betz, the winery’s Merlot-dominant blend, has a slightly larger percentage of Merlot than in recent vintages, a sign of the continuing development of the rows the winery sources from at Alder Ridge in the Horse Heaven Hills. Winemaker Bob Betz says, “We’ve farmed the same rows there since 1999 and have seen a serious evolution of density and character of the vines. I saw this too in the early days of Ste. Michelle’s Canoe Ridge Vineyard and the original Columbia Crest vineyards along the Columbia: ten to twelve years after planting the vines began producing sensational fruit.” This bodes well for Washington’s many young vineyards.

The Cabernet Sauvignon-based Pere de Famille, on the other hand, features a bit more Petit Verdot and a bit less Merlot than its 2007 counterpart. Betz describes Petit Verdot as a “future star in Washington.”

In keeping with recent vintages, the 2008 Clos de Betz is more immediately exuberant than its Cabernet Sauvignon-based counterpart. While still somewhat closed up, this Clos may be my favorite from the winery since the 2003 vintage.

Of note, berry weight was down a bit from 2007, so the winery made about 15% less wine. If you are interested in these wines, make haste as they will not last on the shelves long.

Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz Columbia Valley 2008 $48
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Stains the glass. Aromatics draw you in with smoke, char, blackberries, licorice, spice, and pencil lead. The palate is tight and brawny with a firm grip of tannins, focused fruit, and silky oak flavors. A rich, exquisite offering that strikes a careful balance between fruit and barrel, power and grace. Give 2-3 years. 63% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. Red Mountain (45%), Horse Heaven Hills (28%), and Yakima Valley (27%). Aged 16 months in French oak (65% new). 14.6% alcohol. About 850 cases produced.

Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Columbia Valley 2008 $60
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Seductive aromatics of graphite, blackberries, char, spice, and high-toned fruit. Considerably more brooding and aromatically closed up than the Clos at present. On the palate, dark and chewy with exceptionally well integrated, fine grained tannins. As with the Clos, a beautiful demonstration of grace and power, with this wine in particular showing an incredible amount of grace. A lay-me-downer. Give three plus years. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot. Red Mountain (70%), Horse Heaven Hills (23%), and Yakima Valley (7%). 14.6% alcohol. About 900 cases produced.


Quilceda Creek Vintners

Quilceda Creek Vintners is Washington’s standard-bearer with more than thirty vintages under its belt and a long string of well-deserved accolades. In a sign of how well regarded the winery is, its 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was recently served at a White House State Dinner for the Chinese president.

Among the many impressive aspects of Quilceda Creek is its consistent house style. The wines have a unique, often immediately recognizable profile. The 2008 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon continues the winery’s long tradition of excellence. While the 2008 Red Wine, to be released in the fall, is not the blockbuster that its 2007 counterpart was, it is still about as good a $35 wine as one will find out there.

Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008 $125
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Dark in color. Rich aromas of blackberries, mocha, licorice, earth, and spice. An opulent, expansive wine that opens up and spreads out across the palate. Beautifully structured with the tannins to go the distance. Capped off by an extended finish. 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot. Champoux, Klipsun, and Taptiel vineyards. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. 15.2% alcohol. Sampled at 68 degrees.

Quilceda Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley 2008 $35
Rating: */** (Excellent/Exceptional) Abundant aromas of oak spice, blackberry, chocolate, cherries, and licorice on an appealing, classically Quilceda Creek aroma profile. The palate is rich and silky with the tannins slightly less assertive than in recent vintages. Dips slightly in the middle but picks back up and sails on to an extended finish. 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. 15.2% alcohol. Sampled at 68 degrees.


:Nota Bene Cellars

Tim Narby of :Nota Bene Cellars is one of a number of commercial winemakers with roots leading back to the Boeing Employee’s Wine and Beermaking Club. Tim and his wife Carol Bryant started out as home winemakers, making their first wine from grapes with a 1986 Zinfandel. The couple decided to start a commercial winery in 2001. After having labeled their home wines NB after the first initials of their last names, they decided on the name :Nota Bene for the winery.

:Nota Bene is located in South Seattle and is one of a number of wineries in the South Seattle Artisan Wineries group. Narby sources fruit from a variety of top Washington vineyards, including Ciel du Cheval, Conner Lee, and StoneTree vineyards. The winery features a diverse array of blended wines with the Bordeaux-style blends the strength of the lineup.

:Nota Bene Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine Red Mountain 2007 $35
Rating: +/* (Good/Excellent) Abundant wood spice notes along with red currant and licorice. Broad and expansive on the palate with focused red and black fruit flavors and chalky tannins. Alcohol shows through at times. 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. 15.3% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

:Nota Bene Abbinare Columbia Valley 2006 $28
Rating: +/* (Good/Excellent) Toasty, pickly spices on the nose along with red fruit. Palate is well put together with abundant red fruit flavors and herbal notes. 61% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec. Arianses, Conner Lee, Ciel du Cheval, Stone Tree, Kestrel View, and Verhey vineyards. 14.75% alcohol. 14.75% alcohol. 225 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

:Nota Bene Abbinare Columbia Valley 2007 $25
Rating: * (Excellent) Aromas of spice, red currant, licorice, and a touch of cola. Palate has focused, rich red and black fruit flavors and chalky tannins. 56% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 11% Malbec. Arianses, Ciel du Cheval, StoneTree, Chandler Reach, and Verhey vineyards. Aged 21 months in French, American, and Hungarian oak. 15.1% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

:Nota Bene Cellars Merlot Conner Lee Vineyard Columbia Valley 2007 $32
Rating: + (Good) Abundant coconut aromas along with chocolate, dark fruit and spice. A plush feel on a palate concentrated with dark fruit flavors and soft tannins. Alcohol shows through at times. 100% Merlot. Aged 21 months in French (50%) and American oak. 15.7% alcohol. 15.9% alcohol. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

:Nota Bene Cellars Red Wine Conner Lee Vineyard Columbia Valley 2007 $32
Rating: + (Good) Aromas of toast along with herbal notes, pickling spice, pepper, vanilla, and dark fruit. On the palate, a flavorful wine with plush fruit, soft tannins, and a lingering finish. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged 21 months in French (67%) and American oak. 75 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

:Nota Bene Cellars Miscela Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $25
Rating: * (Excellent) An aromatic wine with spice, currant, whiffs of licorice, and dark fruit. Well stitched together on a luscious, broad palate that shows tart fruit flavors, grainy tannins, and a long finish. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon (Champoux, Kiona), 15% Merlot (Conner Lee, Ciel du Cheval), 15% Cabernet Franc (Chandler Reach), and 14% Malbec (Verhey). 15.4% alcohol. 175 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Nota Bene Cellars Una Notte Red Wine Columbia Valley 2007 $32
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics of toast, spice, and chocolate covered raspberries. Palate is weighted and full of raspberry flavors with a slightly sour finish. 65% Grenache (Stone Tree), 32% Syrah (Stillwater, Stone Tree), and 3% Mourvedre (Kiona Heart of the Hill). Aged in stainless steel, French, and American oak. 14.8% alcohol. 60 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Nota Bene Cellars Mourvedre Kiona Heart of the Hill Vineyard Red Mountain 2007 $30
Rating: . (Decent) Abundant oak aromatics along with spice, dark fruit, and leafy notes. Palate is broad and expansive with grippy tannins. Has a slight bite on the finish. Alcohol shows through at times. 100% Mourvedre. Aged 21 months in once used American oak. 15.8% alcohol. 25 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Nota Bene Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $30
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics of blueberries, sweet spices notes, and licorice. Palate is tart and up front with a slightly sour finish. 84% Syrah (Stillwater Creek, Stone Tree vineyards), 8% Mourvedre (Kiona Heart of the Hill), and 8 % Grenache (Stone Tree). Aged 21 months in French and American oak (18% new). 15.0% alcohol. 270 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Nota Bene Cellars Syrah Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain 2007 $35
Rating: + (Good) Aromatics of blackberry syrup, blueberries, toast, and peppery spice. Palate is big, thick, and tart with a tannic lick. Alcohol occasionally shows through. 94% Syrah, 6% Viognier. Aged 21 months in French and American oak (50% new). 15.7% alcohol. 100 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.


Cave B Winery

Cave B Winery is located in George, Washington, a short distance from the Gorge Amphitheatre. Winemaker Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Arredondo, a graduate of the Walla Walla Community College Enology and Viticulture program, became head winemaker in 2007. Arredondo had previously worked as cellar master at Cougar Crest Winery in Walla Walla. Originally a personal chef, Arredondo has looked to make the Cave B wines more food friendly, notably by using less new oak.

Cave B has 140 acres of estate vineyards and 40 acres of apple orchards. These sites are managed by viticulturist Jeff Cleveringa. A destination winery, Cave B also has an on-site inn, restaurant, and spa. Also of note, Cave B is one of seven wineries located at Seattle’s Urban Enoteca.

The 2008 releases include the winery’s first varietal bottlings of Cabernet Franc and Malbec.

Cave B Winery ‘Sagecliff 100’ Unoaked Chardonnay Washington State 2009 $18.50
Rating: . (Decent) Light in color. A moderately aromatic wine with spice, apple, floral notes, and tropical fruit. Palate is clean with a weighted feel that paints around the edges. An enjoyable, easy drinker. 97% Chardonnay, 3% Viognier. 13.5% alcohol. 393 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Viognier Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2009 $20
Rating: . (Decent) Pale lemon yellow. Aromatics of floral notes, lemon drop, and mandarin orange peel. Palate is clean with abundant melon flavors. 13.5% alcohol. 293 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Riesling Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2009 $18
Rating: + (Good) Pale lemon yellow. Aromatics of lemon zest, orange blossom, and light honey. The palate is pleasing and full with just a touch of sugar with a slightly minty finish. 13.1% alcohol. 1.1% Residual Sugar. 253 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Gewürztraminer Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2009 $22
Rating: . (Decent) Aromas of white flowers and orange rind. Palate has a full feel but needs a bit more acidity to bring it together. 12% alcohol. 1.2% Residual Sugar. 120 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Cabernet Franc Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2008 $28
Rating: . (Decent) Aromatics initially dominated by oak notes along with black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, and sweet spices. Palate is tart and dry with oak flavors occasionally coming to the fore. 84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 18 months in 20% new American oak and neutral French oak. 14.7% alcohol. 290 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Malbec Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2008 $32
Rating: . (Decent) Dark in color. A moderately aromatic wine with pepper, plum, spice, and light green notes. Tart on the palate with lemony acidity. 84% Malbec, 8% Syrah, and 8% Merlot. Aged 18 months in American oak (30% new). 14.1% alcohol. 145 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Syrah Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2008 $25
Rating: . (Decent) Quiet aromatics of herbal notes, light black cherry, and oak spice. Palate is tart with dark fruit flavors. 80% Syrah, 4% Viognier (co-ferment), and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 18 months in second and third fill American and French oak. 14.8% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Cave B Winery Tempranillo Cave B Vineyards Columbia Valley 2008 $28
Rating: . (Decent) Quiet aromatics of spice, leather, and tobacco leaf. Palate is tart, almost sour at times, with abundant fruit flavors. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in second and third fill French and American oak. 14.3% alcohol. 290 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.


Maryhill Winery

Maryhill Winery is a destination winery located in the Columbia River Gorge at the Washington-Oregon border. The winery makes a broad lineup of 27 wines to support its outdoor concert series. This 4,000-seat amphitheater is adjacent to the winery, overlooking the river. One of the winery’s most popular offerings is its Reserve Zinfandel. Sporting 1.5% Residual Sugar, this wine is perhaps best considered a dessert-style wine as it displays a lot of sweetness. Maryhill produces 80,000 cases annually.

Maryhill Sangiovese Columbia Valley 2007 $18
Rating: . (Decent) Light in color. Abundant notes of char, marshmallow, and spice on an aroma profile dominated by barrel notes. Palate is tart with cranberry flavors and has a somewhat weighted feel. Aged 18 months in French and American oak. Gunkel, Tudor Hills, Milbrandt, and Alder Ridge vineyards. 13.2% alcohol. 1,410 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Maryhill Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2007 $32
Rating: + (Good) Abundant herbal notes along with cherry, bittersweet chocolate, green coffee beans, and sweet spices. The palate is tart and light bodied with an acidic kick and dry tannins. 100% Cabernet Franc. 56% Alder Ridge, 44% Gunkel vineyards. Aged 20 months in French oak (50% new). 14.8% alcohol. 236 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Maryhill Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel Columbia Valley 2007 $30
Rating: . (Decent) Aromas of cherry cordial, red vines, sweet spices, toasted marshmallow, and candied cranberries. Palate is sweet and syrupy with lots of brown sugar and candied cranberry flavors. Almost reminiscent of a Port-style wine. 100% Zinfandel (67% Milbrandt, 37% Alder Ridge). Aged 20 months in French oak (70% new). 16.4% alcohol. 1.5% residual sugar. 1,018 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.


Onesies

Ott & Murphy Double Bluff Red Wine Columbia Valley 2008 $19
Rating: +/* (Good/Excellent) Abundant raspberries, blueberries, spice, and light game notes on an appealing wine. Palate is well put together with rich, syrupy blueberry flavors and a slightly sweet finish. 46% Grenache, 44% Syrah, 7% Viognier, and 3% Cinsault. Spice Cabinet, Vineheart, Sugarloaf, and Coyote Canyon vineyards. Aged 18 months in French oak (20% new). 15.4% alcohol. 140 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

JB Neufeld - "that uniqueness of place"

Winemaker Justin Neufeld of JB Neufeld Winery was taking a mycology class (the study of fungi) his junior year at the University of Washington when the class went on a field trip to Columbia Winery. “I was at that point in my life where I needed to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of it,” Neufeld says (Ah seems like yesterday. Wait! It was yesterday!). Pondering the question further at Seattle’s Green Lake, Neufeld started thinking about the people who make wine. “Why not me?” he asked. For Neufeld, winemaking seemed like a perfect blend between art and science.

After completing his degree in molecular biology, he started out as a laboratory technician/enologist at Silver Lake Winery. As the UW did not offer winemaking classes, Neufeld had to learn on the job. “Suits me better than academia,” he says. Neufeld subsequently became winemaker for Glen Fiona Winery in Walla Walla for the 2006 season before moving to Gilbert Cellars in 2007. Neufeld continues to serve as winemaker at Gilbert and also took over the winery’s vineyard management in 2009.

Neufeld credits his wife, Brooke, with giving him the inspiration to start his own winery. “I didn't know how I was going to pay for it, but my wife convinced me that we would find a way and to just go for it!” he says. The couple has been paying for the project using personal savings.

In thinking about names for the winery, Neufeld says that he wanted to use his last name, as an homage to his grandfather – “Even if no one can pronounce Neufeld!” He added the initials of his and his wife’s first names. Doing so only seemed fitting as the couple had given the first wine he had made, which they had bottled together, as gifts to guests at their wedding.

The 2008 JB Neufeld wines, the first releases from this winery, are both vineyard designated wines and 100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. Neufeld says that one of his favorite aspects of winemaking is seeing how the same variety, made by the same person but from different vineyards can make such different wines.

“I really don’t like to use the word terroir, but I haven't come up with a better term yet....I'm working on that,” he says. Neufeld notes that in blending a wine, something is lost of the sense of place. Of his new winery he says, “The focus of this project is maintaining that uniqueness of place.”

For the winery’s start, Neufeld has selected two exceptional and distinctive sites: DuBrul Vineyard in the Yakima Valley and Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain. Though trying to keep the focus on the vineyards, Neufeld says, “I do use new oak, which might seem contradictory to my focus, but I'm very selective with my coopers and use barrels that are made to contribute sweetness on the palate, while minimizing the impact on aromatics.”

The two 2008 JB Neufeld are intriguing contrasts – two wines that almost demand to be sampled side by side. The DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet has a unique profile with a poblano pepper note on the nose and palate that becomes more prominent over time. It is an elegant expression of the grape. The Artz Vineyard wine is a rich, dense, offering with well-integrated tannins. Both wines are at very reasonable price points for these well-regarded vineyards. For those interested in teasing out the expression of Cabernet Sauvignon at two distinct Washington vineyard sites, look no further.

JB Neufeld makes 350 cases annually.

JB Neufeld Cabernet Sauvignon DuBrul Vineyard Yakima Valley 2008 $32
Rating: +/* (Good/Excellent) A unique aroma profile with a poblano pepper top note, cherry, orange rind, and mineral notes on a moderately aromatic wine. A flavorful, elegant palate that sustains beautifully from start to finish with a persistent intensity. Dry tannins with a slightly sweet finish. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 17 months in French oak (66% new). 14.9% alcohol. 85 cases produced.

JB Neufeld Cabernet Sauvignon Artz Vineyard Red Mountain 2008 $32
Rating: * (Excellent) An aromatic wine with milk chocolate, herbal notes, blackberry, licorice, spice, and mineral notes. The palate is dense and rich with well-integrated, chalky tannins. A persistent finish. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 18 months in French oak (80% new). 15.0% alcohol. 270 cases produced.

A new look for the next generation: L’Ecole’s label gets a makeover

In Washington State, few labels have been as iconic as L’Ecole No 41’s watercolor depiction of its schoolhouse building. Starting today, that image is part of the winery’s history as the label receives a significant makeover.

L’Ecole’s rebranding effort began almost two years ago in the summer of 2009. For second-generation owners Marty and Megan Clubb, the original intent was to differentiate between the winery’s Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley wines. However, it quickly became clear to the Clubbs that they needed to do much more.

L’Ecole’s watercolor label design dates back to the winery’s beginnings in 1983 when it held a design contest among family members. The winner was a painting by 8-year old Ryan Campbell. Campbell’s picture subsequently became synonymous with the winery’s brand.

L’Ecole updated the label in 1997, when a green chalkboard with the wine name was added below the watercolor painting. The winery has subsequently used the chalkboard theme extensively in its branding.

While L’Ecole’s current label image has been beloved in the Pacific Northwest where the winery has a strong following, it has not carried the same impression outside of the area. Clubb says, “When you get away from the Northwest and the brand is not that well known, what we heard is that the old packaging doesn’t convey the quality that’s in the bottle.”

For many Washington wineries, this might not present a significant concern. However, L’Ecole’s wines are distributed in all 50 states and in 20 countries around the world (annual production is 35,000 cases). As the winery continues to build a larger presence for itself - and for Washington - it became increasingly important to make that first impression the best one possible.

Conceptually, the groundwork for the new label was laid in the early part of the last decade. When the winery was looking for a way to differentiate its flagship Apogee and Perigee wines, it replaced the watercolor picture with a vintage photograph of the schoolhouse. Consumers responded positively to the change. Clubb says, “What the Apogee and Perigee label proved to me is that a different version of the schoolhouse still spoke to where we were.”

For the label, Clubb worked with Portland-based designer Anton Kimball. Kimball had previously worked with major brands, including Guinness and Nordstrom. While he hadn’t worked with many wineries in the past Clubb says of Kimball, “He immediately connected with all of the issues we were talking about.” Kimball’s starting point for the new design was the image of the winery’s old schoolhouse - the icon of the brand. Clubb also worked with the Seattle firm Palazzo Creative on numerous aspects that would need to accompany the change.

When one looks at L’Ecole’s new package design, the changes are sweeping. The new package is classy and elegant with a look that borders on timeless. It starts with an embossed depiction of the schoolhouse on top of the capsule. On the neck is a gold-colored L’Ecole with No. 41 written in smaller print immediately beneath, a nod to the fact that many simply refer to the winery as L’Ecole.

At the top of the label is the word L’Ecole with No. 41, again in smaller, gold font immediately beneath. At the center of the label is Kimball’s drawing of the schoolhouse. Kimball drew the picture based on the historic photograph that hangs on the wall at the winery, and the image has a sepia tone quality. Beneath the picture is the viticultural area designation – Columbia Valley or Walla Walla Valley. This designation is reinforced by the label color, black for Columbia Valley and white for Walla Walla Valley. This is followed by the wine name and vintage.

The new Apogee and Perigee labels have a slightly different look. The schoolhouse picture is considerably larger and is raised to the top of the label. The label paper is grainy and textured. The schoolhouse itself is raised, making it seem three-dimensional - almost as if one is being invited into the building and into the winery’s history.

The new labels will be on all of the 2008 red wines as well as some of the 2009 white wines and all of the 2010s. The first release with the new label, the winery’s Chenin Blanc (which will now simply be labeled Chenin Blanc; the Schoolhouse Red will now be labeled Red Wine), will be released in May.

In a nod to the significance of this change for the winery and its loyal customers, L’Ecole has scheduled various wine club member events this week to unveil the label. For those wanting an early look, the new design will also be previewed at this week’s Taste Washington.

No brand change is ever easy, especially when it has been as long-lived and as loved as L’Ecole’s. “The chalkboard label will always be an important part of our history,” Clubb says. “The truly exciting part about this is that my family and my staff are really pumped about the change.”

While L’Ecole’s label change had much to do with establishing a stronger national and international presence, it was also done to look toward family and toward the future. L’Ecole will be celebrating its thirtieth birthday in a year and a half, and the winery is slowly moving towards its third generation, with the Clubb's son completing college in 2009 and their daughter finishing WSU's wine management program in 2012. As much as anything, this is a label for the next generation.

Fresh Sheet March 18th 2011

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent Washington wine releases – includes wines from Grand Rêve Vintners, Maison Bleue, Waters Winery, Rulo Winery, and Kaella Winery.

Grand Rêve Vintners

In a short time Grand Rêve Vintners has made a very large impression on the Washington wine scene. The winery, founded by Paul McBride and Ryan Johnson, pairs some of Washington’s best winemakers with fruit from one of the state’s best vineyards – Red Mountain’s Ciel du Cheval (read a Focus Report on the winery here). A hillside vineyard above Ciel also bore its first fruit in 2010. More plantings are in the works.

Grand Rêve recently released three new wines – the 2007 Collaboration Series I made by winemaker Ben Smith of Cadence Winery; 2008 Collaboration Series II made by Ross Mickel of Ross Andrew Winery; and 2007 Collaboration Series IV made by Carolyn Lakewold of Donedei. All are stunning, hedonistic wines, perhaps the most impressive from each winemaker yet.

The Grand Rêve wines are sold via a mailing list with a limited amount held back for select retailers. These are wines worth seeking out – and cellaring. This is also a Washington winery whose mailing list is worth getting on as Grand Rêve is going nowhere but up.

Grand Rêve Vintners Collaboration Series I Red Wine Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain 2007 $55
Rating: ** (Exceptional) Arresting aromatics of floral notes, earth, chocolate, penetrating licorice notes, herbal notes, and a jumble of red and black fruit on a wine to linger over. The palate is dense, dark, and seamless with a firm texture of polished tannins. A hedonist’s delight. Give three plus years or decant extensively. 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot. Aged 23 months in French oak (70% new). 14.8% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Ben Smith winemaker.

Grand Rêve Vintners Collaboration Series II Red Wine Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain 2008 $50
Rating: ** (Exceptional) A purple tinge at the rim. Leaps from the glass with game, earth, raspberries, red currant, and orange peel, along with floral and mineral notes. Aromatics so compelling its hard to take the first sip. A huge amount of inner mouth perfume. The wine is velvety with a firm grip of tannins and a long, lingering finish. Give 2 to 3 years or decant extensively. 48% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier, 1% Roussanne. 14.8% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Ross Mickel winemaker.

Grand Rêve Vintners Collaboration Series IV Red Wine Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain 2007 $50
Rating: ** (Exceptional) A classic Carolyn Lakewold aroma profile of cherry cola, pencil lead, a giant dollop of licorice, and a cornucopia of red and black fruit. Dense and rich with a textured feel, abundant prune flavors, and an incredibly persistent finish. 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. Aged in French (50%) and American oak. 13.7% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Carolyn Lakewold winemaker.

Maison Bleue Winery

Maison Bleue winemaker Jon Martinez started out making waves in Washington with a compelling lineup of white wines (read reviews of the 2009 releases here). However, as the winery’s new releases indicate, Martinez is equally skilled with the reds.

The 2009 Jaja Red Wine is a new addition to Maison’s lineup - a companion wine to the Jaja White. As I mentioned on Facebook, this wine is a steal at $20. The Gravière, from Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, is also a new offering. This wine is fifty percent Syrah with the rest equal parts Grenache and Mourvedre. The 2009 La Montagnette Grenache is also from Upland (the previous vintage was from Alder Ridge). These two wines show that this tiny viticultural area is one to keep an eye on as an increasing number of winemakers focus on its fruit.

All of the 2009 Maison wines are youthful and exuberant with incredibly pure, rich fruit flavors. Impressively, La Montagnette and Gravière tasted as good or better after being open for five days, a sign that patience with these wines will be handsomely rewarded.

Maison Bleue Jaja Red Wine Yakima Valley 2009 $20
Rating: * (Excellent) Bright aromatics of plum, raspberries, mineral, and a bit of earthy funk. The palate is richly flavorful - fresh, tart, and delicious with abundant raspberry and pomegranate flavors and a tart, acidic finish. 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah. 14.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Maison Bleue La Montagnette Grenache Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain 2009 $35
Rating: */** (Excellent/Exceptional) Brilliantly colored. Aromas of plum, blueberries, and raspberries along with herbal and mineral notes on a lightly aromatic wine that opens up with each swirl of the glass. Tart and richly flavorful with a persistent intensity on the mid-palate and a steely, acidic spine. Capped off by a lingering, fruit filled finish. This wine is still in its youth and will only get better with additional time in the bottle. 95% Grenache, 5% Syrah. 14.8% alcohol. 104 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Maison Bleue Gravière Red Wine Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain 2009 $40
Rating: */** (Excellent/Exceptional) A moderately aromatic wine with high toned herbal notes, white pepper, wild blueberries, raspberries, chocolate, and plum on a subtle but complex aroma profile. Palate is rich and flavorful with tart, puckering, textured fruit along with licorice and spices. The fruit is incredibly clean and pure. Give time to fully blossom. 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 25% Mourvedre. 14.6% alcohol. 195 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Waters Winery

Waters Winery has made its mark over the years in part by offering a series of vineyard-designated Syrahs from three Walla Walla vineyards - Forgotten Hills, Pepper Bridge, and Loess. In a recent post on the winery, I noted that making single vineyard Syrah puts one at the mercy of the whims of each vintage. This has never been more apparent than in the last several years for Waters.

Frost significantly affected Forgotten Hills Vineyard in 2008, 2009, and 2011 – not allowing winemaker Jamie Brown to make vineyard-designated wines (the juice was instead moved into the Wines of Substance Syrah). The jury is still out on whether a 2010 Forgotten Hills Syrah will make the grade. Things at Pepper Bridge Vineyard have been similarly challenging.

This makes the winery’s current releases from the 2008 vintage all the more special. The 2008 Loess Syrah, from Leonetti Cellar’s vineyard, and its Pepper Bridge counterpart are a study in contrast. The Loess is considerably more earthy with thirty percent dry stems added back, contributing to the wine’s tannins and mouthfeel. Ten percent Viognier was also added. The Pepper Bridge wine is considerably more fruit-driven, while still demonstrating earth notes. Both exhibit Waters’ house style of high acid, low oak wines.

Waters Winery Loess Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 $45
Rating: * (Excellent) An appealing, brambly nose with abundant floral notes, orange peel, black olive, sea air, and savory aromas. Over time meat and mineral notes come to the fore. The palate is perfumed and full of fruit – more so than some of the recent vintages – along with earth flavors crisply etched by acidity. Give some additional bottle age and consume with food bring out its best. Syrah with 10% co-fermented Viognier. Aged 16 months in neutral French oak. 14.1% alcohol. 190 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Waters Winery Pepper Bridge Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 $45
Rating: * (Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with an under layer of dark fruit along with earth, olive, iron, and floral notes. The palate is lush with fruit with a textured mouthfeel accented by bright acidity. Capped off by a lingering finish. 100% Syrah. Aged in French oak (12% new). 14.1% alcohol. 210 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Onesies

Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley 2007 $20

Walking the aisles at Trader Joe’s recently I came upon a pleasant surprise – a bottle of Rulo Winery’s 2007 Columbia Valley Syrah. Wine Enthusiast writer Paul Gregutt awarded this wine 96 points in the magazine’s August 1^st issue – quite an accomplishment for a $20 wine. “Could it possibly be that good?” a reader inquired when I noted on Facebook that I had picked up the bottle.

Yes. The 2007 Rulo Syrah is that perfect nexus of an outrageously good wine at an even more outrageous price. Better yet, it will only improve with additional time in the bottle. This wine is a shot across the bow of the state’s many $30+ offerings.

Rating: ** (Exceptional) A moderately aromatic wine with pure aromas of blackberry, raspberries, Dimetapp, dark chocolate, mineral notes, and herbs. The palate is incredibly, incredibly dense with rich fruit flavors, almost to the point of being impenetrable. Coats the palate while still remaining light on its feet. Only gets better with more time to breath. Give 1-2 years or decant extensively. 14.5% alcohol.

Kaella Winery Rosé of Sangiovese Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain 2010 $17

Nothing says spring like the rosés hitting the shelves. Here Woodinville’s Kaella Winery harkens in the warm weather with a 100% Sangiovese from Ciel du Cheval. This wine was recently featured by Gary Vaynerchuck at Wine Library TV on its 999^th show.

Rating: + (Good) A very pretty light cherry red color. Spice, strawberry, sour cherry, and bubble gum aromas rise up from the glass. The palate is off-dry and has a full feel with crisp acidity and a spice note on the finish. 13.2% alcohol. 1.65% Residual Sugar. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Washington Wine Round-up March 8th to 14th

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from March 8th to 14th. Read previous round-ups here.


From around the country…

The San Francisco Chronicle writes about Washington considering wine tastings at farmer’s markets.

Aspen Daily News writes about Charles Smith.

Gary V at Wine Library TV talks with Dave Butner from Woodinville’s Kaella Winery.

Wine Business.com writes about a new SVP-National Sales Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

Business Week writes about Washington considering wine tastings at Farmers Markets.


From the blogosphere…

Paul Gregutt gives an update on Walla Walla wineries caught selling liquor to minors. He also writes about Soos Creek.

Wine Foot writes about the Minnesota Food and Wine Experience.

Palate Press writes about the 2004 Fidelitas Optu.

Northwest Cork & Fork travels to Walla Walla.

Vinesse Today writes about the purchase of Canoe Ridge and Sageland by Precept.

Jacksonville Wine Guide writes about the Hedges 2008 CMS Red.

Pop & Pour writes about the 2004 Leonetti Cellar Merlot.

Vinotology gives the March 11^th The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Lucha Vino compares Washington Pinot to Burgundy.

Wine Saints writes about Efeste’s Ceidleigh.

Sips & The City writes about the Seattle Food and Wine Experience.

Nectar Tasting Room & Wine Blog writes about Spokane wine events in March.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about mimosas at Apex at Alder Ridge. Shona also writes about upcoming events and talks with Hillary Sjolund of Sonoris Winery.

Wine Peeps writes about Ciel du Cheval. They also review WineTrails of Walla Walla.

WINO Magazine writes about El Gaucho’s Legendary Swirl.

Wine and Beer of Washington State asks what wine and tattoos have in common.


From the locals…

Renton Patch writes about Cedar River Cellars.

The Bellingham Herald writes about Woodinville wineries.

The Olympian writes about Bookwalter.

KEPRTV writes that three Walla Walla wineries won’t be fined for alcohol violations.

KIRO Radio writes about Taste Washington. They also ask whether Washington wine is on the edge of greatness.

Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt writes about red blends from Washington.

The Tri-City Herald writes about Zerba Cellars.

The Walla Walla Union Bulletin writes about charges being dropped against three Walla Walla wineries (Note: Requires subscription).

OregonLive.com writes about the 2008 Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon.

My Vine Spot writes about the Wines of Substance 2009 Cabernet Franc.

The Oregon Wine Blog writes that March is Washington wine month.

The Enterprise writes about Grace Cellars.


Leftovers (posts missed from previous weeks)…

Wines & Vines writes about a couple’s trouble getting a case of wine they purchased at a barrel tasting.

Wine Press NW writes that Bob Betz is willing to wager on Washington Syrah.

Pairing Up writes about Beresan’s The Buzz.


That's all folks!