Pages

Five Wines Under $15 - March 2012







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

As I’ve written elsewhere, Chenin Blanc seems to be slowly slipped away in Washington. Despite a relative abundance of vines twenty years or older, the wine seems to have fallen out of favor somewhat with consumers and each year seems to bring fewer vines in the ground and fewer producers making the wine. A consistently enjoyable representation of the grape comes from Riesling specialist Pacific Rim. The winery’s 2008 vintage Chenin continues that trend with (yet) another well priced, quality wine from this producer.

Columbia Crest
is Washington’s value leader with a lineup of wines that consistently outperforms their price points. The H3 series is named after the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, which both provide the grapes for this wine and is where the winery calls home. True to form, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon offers great bang for the buck.

As we get into spring – sort of - we are starting to see the first of the 2010 red wines hit the shelves, including this one from Charles Smith Wines. The Boom Boom! is Smith’s entry level Syrah in a portfolio that marches all the way up to multiple $140 bottles.

Wines of Substance
is a joint project from winemakers Jamie Brown of Waters Winery and Greg Harrington of Gramercy Cellars. The winery focuses on producing a wide number of varietally labeled wines at modest price points. The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is 100% varietal hailing from Minick Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Of note, the 2010 wines have seen a slight alteration to the label showing just the initials for the grape and a white square.

Pacific Rim Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley 2008 $10

(Good) Pale lemon yellow. A lightly aromatic wine with beeswax, citrus, and melon. The palate is medium-bodied, tart, and just off dry with mouthwatering, lemon-like acidity and a hint of citrus peel on the finish. Recommended

Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling Columbia Valley 2010 $10

(Good) Moderately aromatic with pear syrup, orange peel, botrytis notes, and honeysuckle. The palate is, as promised, medium sweet and full of orange and citrus flavors. 8.5% alcohol, 6.9% Residual Sugar.

Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills 2009 $15

(Good) A moderately aromatic wine with dust, mocha, cherry cola, and dark cherries. The palate is full of chocolate and cherry flavors with chalky tannins and a tart, slightly attenuated finish. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Syrah, and 2% Malbec. Aged 18 months in French oak (40% new). 14.5% alcohol. Recommended

Charles Smith Wines Boom Boom! Syrah Columbia Valley 2010 $15

(Good) An aromatic wine with wild blueberries, bacon, and mesquite. The palate is soft but grainy – almost gritty - chock full of bacon and blueberry flavors, with a grapey, slightly sweet finish. 96% Syrah, 2.5% Grenache, 1.5% Malbec. Olsen Brothers, Outlook, Vinagium, Milbrandt, and Upland vineyards. 13.5% alcohol.

Substance Sauvignon Blanc Washington State 2010 $15

(Good) Leaps up from the glass with gooseberry, lime, kiwi, and herbal notes. The palate has a medium bodied feel with the fruit not quite as concentrated as recent vintages. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Minick Vineyard. Aged in stainless steel (75%) and neutral French oak. 12.9% alcohol.

Rating System
Please note, my rating system was revised at the beginning of 2012 as follows. Read additional details here.
(Exceptional)
(Excellent)
(Good)
(Decent)
(Not recommended/Flawed)

Wine Country Porn from Eastern Washington

More pictures, this time from a geology tour of eastern Washington earlier in the week led by Kevin Pogue of Whitman College. Click on the pictures for larger images. The first picture is of the Yakima Valley from Chandler Butte in the Horse Heaven Hills.



Rocks types, including petrified wood to the left, at StoneTree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope.









Looking down from StoneTree Vineyard toward the Columbia River.









Looking up at Snipes Mountain from the south side.









Stones on the surface of Snipes Mountain.









Stoney soils at Snipes Mountain. This is looking at an exposed cross section.









Old Cabernet Sauvignon vines at Cold Creek Vineyard.









Cross section of soils in Yakima Valley showing layering.









Caliche deposits in vineyard rows at DuBrul Vineyard.









Caliche deposited on the underside of a rock at DuBrul Vineyard.



Wine Country Porn from Oregon

Seattleites, tune in to 1150AM KKNW this Wednesday from 8am-9am when Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery and I will be talking about Washington wine on TableTalk.

Today, just a few pictures from a trip last week to the Willamette Valley. Click on the pictures for larger images.







Looking out over the Willamette Valley.









Soil types at Lange Winery in Dundee.









Willakenzie soils at Willakenzie Estate Winery










Jory soils near Willamette Valley Vineyards.









Willamette Valley soil.









Spring in the vineyard













Not so Spring in the vineyard

























Moss on the vines



Taste Washington! 2012 Tips and Tricks

Seattlites, tune in to 1150AM KKNW this Wednesday from 8am-9am when Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery and I will be talking about Washington wine on TableTalk.

Taste Washington! is coming up this weekend. Here are some ways to make the most of this year's event.

1. Check out the seminars

There are a series of education seminars Saturday and Sunday morning exploring topics like food and wine pairing; Washington's top vineyard sites; and where Washington fits in the world of wine. Read the full list of seminars here.

2. One day or two?

The Grand Tasting is taking place over two days this year. You can attend one day ($75/$125 VIP) or two ($99/$150 VIP). The lineup will be the same both days, but this means that you can potentially sample from a larger number of wineries or not feel as rushed if you decide to attend both days.

3. Make a plan for the 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 even if you do go both days. 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 a) definitely want to check out, b) ones that you really hope to go to and c) 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. I always like to try to visit wineries I am unfamiliar with as well.

4. Get the lay of the land

The conference center is a massive place and the layout can be a bit confusing at times when you are looking for a particular winery. Make sure to check out the map of the event in the event guide to help get oriented before you go (Note: opens .pdf).

5. 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. In previous years there have been spit cups and buckets placed everywhere throughout the event hall. If there are not this time around, grab a cup from the espresso bar and use it to spit into and then pour into the dump buckets. 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.

6. 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 oyster and chowder bar which has a seemingly endless supply of oysters. If you are a vegetarian, it can sometimes be somewhat difficult to find food at times, so keep that in mind.

7. 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 Boushey, Cold Creek, and Northridge. See the complete list in the program guide. This area tends to be pretty quiet so you can taste a number of wines reasonably quickly and talk to people about their vineyards.

8. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for special 'under the table wines'

Some wineries bring special treats for their Social Media fans. Keep an eye out on Facebook and Twitter before and during the event for special 'under the table' wines.

9. 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!

Adams Bench 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon "the V" Columbia Valley
aMaurice 2009 Chardonnay Columbia Gorge
Amavi Cellars 2009 Syrah Walla Walla Valley
Andrew Will 2009 Sorella Red Blend Horse Heaven Hills
Barnard Griffin 2011 Rose of Sangiovese Columbia Valley
Betz Family Winery 2009 Clos de Betz Bordeaux Blend Columbia Valley
Cadaretta 2011 SBS White Bordeaux Blend Columbia Valley
Col Solare 2002 Red Blend Columbia Valley
Cote Bonneville 2011 Riesling Yakima Valley
DeLille 2009 Chaleur Estate Red Bordeaux Blend Red Mountain
Doubleback 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
EFESTE 2009 Ceidleigh Syrah Red Mountain
Elsom 2008 Malbec Columbia Valley
Fidelitas 2008 Boushey Vineyard Red Wine Yakima Valley
FIGGINS 2008 Estate Red Bordeaux Blend Walla Walla Valley
Forgeron 2009 Blacksmith Syrah Columbia Valley
Gramercy Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Long Shadows 2007 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley
Maison Bleue 2010 Petite Joie Marsanne Yakima Valley
Mark Ryan 2009 Long Haul Red Bordeaux Blend Red Mountain
Mercer Estates 2008 Petit Verdot Horse Heaven Hills
Northstar 2008 Merlot Walla Walla Valley
Pepper Bridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Saviah Cellars 2008 Petit Verdot Walla Walla Valley
Sparkman Cellars 2009 Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain
Spring Valley Vineyard 2008 Uriah Red Blend Walla Walla Valley
Syncline 2011 Rose (Rhône Blend) Columbia Valley
Tranche Cellars 2009 Slice of Pape Blanc White Rhône Blend Columbia Valley

Washington Wine Round-up March 15th to 21st 2012

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from March 15th to 21st 2012. Read previous round-ups here.

Three big stories this week – a judge upholding Initiative 1183, the trade pact with South Korea going into effect, and the revealing of the White House wines. See stories below.

From around the world…


Decanter writes about White House wines.


From around the country…


CBS News does a video post about the White House State Dinner with mention of Leonetti Cellar.

Bloomberg writes about the not-so-secret White House wines.

The Washington Post writes about White House wines.

Fox News writes about White House wines.

St Louis Today says look to Washington State for Cabernet.

The News Press says take a second look at Merlot.


From the blogosphere…


Jameson Fink writes about a wine blending odyssey with Wine Folly.

Paul Gregutt writes about Treveri Cellars. He also writes about a vertical of Dumas Station.

Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about Rotie Cellars.

Wild 4 Washington Wine writes about Vin du Lac’s 2007 Barrel Select Merlot.

NW Wine Anthem gives a Friday find.

Table Talk gives a winemaker profile of Chris Sparkman of Sparkman Cellars.

Stark Inside writes about White House wines.

Wine Folly writes about wine faults.

Lucha Vino compares a Washington Nebbilo to a Piemonte. He also writes about Tsillan Cellars.

Mercer Island Patch writes about local wine retailers.

Sips & The City writes about Taste Washington.

Wild 4 Washington Wine writes about the Planing Mill Red.

Alcoholic Beverages Law Blog gives an update on I-1183 challenges.

Nectar Tasting Room and Wine Blog writes about the Downtown Spokane Walking Wine Tour Pass.

Shoreline Patch writes about a judge upholding I-1183.

NW Cork and Fork writes about singles night with Gamache Vintners.

NW Daily Marker writes about a judge upholding I-1183.

Write for Wine writes about Walla Walla wine.

Renton Patch writes about stores lining up for liquor licenses.

Woodinville Patch writes about the auctioning of state liquor store rights.

Samammish Patch says big name retailers line up for liquor rights.


From the locals…


The Seattle Times writes about a judge upholding I-1183.

The News Tribune says that the new South Korean trade pact may be a boon for wineries.

Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt writes about Gino Cuneo.

KAPPTV writes about the trade pact with South Korea.

The Puget Sound Business Journal says that Safeway has applied for the most liquor licenses post-1183. They also write about the flood of liquor store applications.

The Portland Orchard Independent says that small liquor retailers fret about the future.

The Spokane Journal of Business says that 76 Spokane area business have applied for spirits licenses.

The Yakima Herald Republic writes about the South Korea trade pact. They also say let the state proceed with privatizing liquor sales.

KNDO writes about the South Korea trade pact.

The Longview Daily News writes about a Castle Rock police chief facing a state panel over Initiative 1183 ads.

Q13 says that cost of liqour may be going up with privatization.

MSNBC writes about Barnard Griffin’s expansion.

Northwest Cable News says thay the number of liquor stores could quadruple by summer.

The Issaquah Press writes about a judge upholding I-1183.

The Portland Business Journal writes about I-1183 being upheld.


That's all folks!

Improved mobile access

Mobile readers, please note that you should see improved usability of the site. If you do not automatically, try typing in: www.wawinereport.com/?m=1

You can also click on the 'Mobile' link on the top banner.

Let me know if you have issues.

Tonight! March Virtual Tasting - 2009 L'Ecole No 41 Red Wine

The March Virtual Tasting is tonight from 7-8pm Pacific! The wine is the 2009 L'Ecole No 41 Red Wine. This wine retails for $18 and is fairly 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. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8pm Pacific using the hashtag #lecole41. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

Tasting Note Database updated

The Tasting Note Database has been updated to the present date. See the database here. Read an explanation of database fields here.

Leonetti Cellar 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Served at State Dinner

Note: This month's Virtual Tasting is the L'Ecole No 41 Red Wine and takes place Tuesday at 7pm Pacific. Read about how to participate here.

The 2008 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla Valley was served last week at the White House State Dinner with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Figgins Family Wine Estates
President and Winemaking Director Chris Figgins wrote in an e-mail to the winery’s customers, “My family and I are truly honored to be recognized for our quality efforts over 34 years with this rare and coveted occasion. My parents never dreamed their passion to make great wines would earn such a spot of honor.”

The wine was served along with the main course of Bison Wellington with a red wine reduction, French beans, and cipollini onions. In addition to the Leonetti wine, a 2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille and a 2007 Iron Horse Vineyards Russian Cuvée, both hailing from California, were served.

A number of Washington wines have been served at State Dinners in the past. In fact, last year two Washington wines were served at the State Dinner with the Chinese Premier Hu Jintao (see a post on this dinner here). Since then the White House has not made the wine list public due to sensitivities about cost in the current economic climate (read a recent article by Bloomberg about this here).

However, Erik LeVine of Cellar Tracker, who attended last week's dinner as his wife’s guest, subsequently wrote about the wines on his blog (read the post here). Numerous news outlets then picked up on the story, proving once again that it's hard to keep something secret when several hundred people know about it.

Having a wine served at a White House State Dinner is not only an honor, it can also help drive brand recognition and sales. Quilceda Creek General Manager John Ware noted in the Bloomberg article that the winery's profile in Asia received a boost after the Jintao dinner last year.

Washington Wine Round-up March 8th to 14th 2012

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from March 8th to 14th 2012. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country…


CBS News writes about Washington auctioning off state liquor store rights.

Tucson Citizen writes about Otis Kenyon.

Bloomberg writes about scaled back transparency on the White House wine list.

Wine Business.com writes about Bergevin Lane naming a new winemaker.

North Bay Business Journal writes about a design company focusing on wineries with brief mention of Fidelitas.

The Miami Herald writes about the Walla Walla music scene.

Fox News writes about celebrity wines.

The Kansas City Star writes about the South Korean trade pact starting.


From the blogosphere…


Jameson Fink writes about Domaine Pouillon.

Mercer Island Patch writes about Woodinville wineries.

Nectar Tasting Room and Wine Blog gives a buy direct challenge for Washington wine month.

Northwest Wine Anthem gives a beginner’s guide to celebrating Washington wine month. They also write about Rusty Grape.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about Challenger Ridge leaving Woodinville. Shona also writes about upcoming events.

Paul Gregutt says to drink that bottle night every night. He also writes about the passage of SB5259.

WineEYak writes about the new Naches Heights AVA.

Write for Wine gives Washington Wine Month favs.

The Drinks Business writes about chocolate wine.

Table Talk gives a Passport to Woodinville survival guide.

Wine Foot writes about DaMa.

Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about Couvillion.

Wild 4 Washington Wine says pour Washington. William also writes about the Barnard Griffin tasting room remodel, and Forgeron Cellars 2010 Chardonnay.

Cooking Chat writes about Whidbey Island Winery.

Wine Peeps writes about new releases from Fielding Hills.

Witchita Falls Crave writes about Washington wine.


From the locals…


The Puget Sound Business Journal gives strategies for Taste Washington.

The Seattle Times writes about the auctioning of state liquor store rights.

The Olympian writes about the auctioning of state liquor store rights.

Coast Weekend writes about Savor Northwest.

Oregon Live writes about Taste Washington.

The Stranger writes about the clash of the middlemen post-1183.

KNDO writes about the expansion of Barnard Griffin. They also write about a Zillah winery taking part in March Madness.

Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt writes about Argentina’s Malbecs.

Northwest Palate talks with Allen Shoup on the maturation of the Washington wine industry.

The Bellingham Herald writes about people in the Tri-Cities getting into the booze business. They also write about Taste Washington.

Spokane Wine Magazine writes about Cougar Crest.

The Coast River Business Journal announces winners of the Savor Northwest awards.

Seattle Magazine writes about a Washington Wine Month giveaway.

Wenatchee World writes about Jones of Washington. They also write that the winery has been named Washington Winery of the Year by Wine Press NW and about neighbor disputes at Karma Vineyard.

Herald.net writes about Sangiovese.


That's all folks!

The Drive to Create - Cloudlift Cellars

“All my life I have been driven to create,” winemaker Tom Stangeland of Cloudlift Cellars says.

Stangeland started out his career as a chef in the early eighties. At the time, he thought it didn’t seem like a good career path, noting the distinct lack of today's ‘celebrity chefs.'

“It was a path to burn-out and alcoholism," Stangeland says. "At least that’s how it appeared when I met the older chefs around me.”

Instead, he became a fine furniture designer and maker. “There was a lot less stress involved and wood does not go bad nearly as fast as a piece of fish,” Stangeland quips.

Stangeland says of his interest in wine, “I spent a trimester in Avignon learning the glories of Grenache and the less forgiving Mistral. It began there.”

Years later he enrolled in the South Seattle Community College’s wine production program. He subsequently completed the program in 2007 and made his first wines in 2008. The 2009 wines reviewed below are his first commercial release.

The story of Stangeland's path to starting a commercial winery is one many winemakers will be familiar with.

“I started on my own making three barrels - the legal household maximum - but quickly realized that was not enough. It wasn’t about quantity; it was about varietal selection, vineyard selection and barrel profiles,” Stangeland says. “The only way to explore all the options was to go beyond the minimum. And of course once you make all that wine you have to do something with it!”

Cloudlift Cellars is located in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. The winery is named after a design element that appears in most of Stangeland’s woodwork. All of the wines sampled below are notable for their restrained use of oak and lower alcohol levels. To wit, none of the wines saw more than one-third new oak and none of them come in at 14% alcohol. The wines are all lightly aromatic with tart fruit flavors.

Cloudlift Cellars produces 400 cases annually with the goal of growing to 1,000 cases in the coming years.

Cloudlift Cellars Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2010 $17

(Decent) Pale lemon yellow. A moderately aromatic wine full of smoky toast, spice, and grass. The palate is tart with juicy, full fruit flavors and grapefruit-like acidity. Bacchus Vineyard. 13.8% alcohol. 60 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cloudlift Cellars Updraft White Wine Columbia Valley 2010 $17

(Decent/Good) An aromatically intriguing wine that shows vanilla, herbal notes, straw, wood spice, lemon, and light buttery notes. The palate has tart, grapefruit-like acidity and a fleshy, full feel with abundant dried fruit flavors. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Bacchus and Dionysus vineyards. Barrel fermented and aged 7 months. 13.9% alcohol. 80 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cloudlift Cellars Panorama Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $25

(Good) Very lightly aromatic with red fruit, herbal notes, red vines, and spice. The palate is soft and understated, full of herbal notes, red fruit, sweet spices, and soft tannins. A tart, wood spice filled finish. 56% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc. Arianses, Snipes, Horse Heaven vineyards. 13.6% alcohol. 77 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Cloudlift Cellars Halcyon Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $24

(Good) Very, very lightly aromatic with herbal notes, cherries, and spice. The palate is soft and tart with textured fruit flavors. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Cloudlift Cellars Ascent Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $23

(Good) Lightly aromatic but with appealing floral and red cherry notes. The palate is light bodied with soft fruit flavors and a tart finish. An enjoyable, easy drinking wine. 72% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.7% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Cloudlift Cellars Cloud 2 Red Table Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $24

(Good) Lightly aromatic with herbal notes, black currant, and rose hips. The palate is light bodied, soft, and tart with abundant tart cherry flavors. 13.7% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Fresh Sheet March 13th 2012






Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent releases – includes wines from JM Cellars, Woodinville Wine Cellars, Ott & Murphy, Pomum Cellars, and Balboa Winery.

JM Cellars


The 2009 vintage marks a significant evolution for Woodinville’s JM Cellars. The winery is releasing its first wine from its estate site, Margaret’s Vineyard.

Located in the southern section of Walla Walla Valley, Margaret’s Vineyard is named after winemaker John Bigelow’s wife Peggy. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (clones 8, 6, and 32), Merlot (clones 14 and 3), Cabernet Franc (clones 1 and 8), Malbec (clone 4), Petit Verdot (clone 2), and Carmenère (VCR 702).

The initial offering from Margaret’s Vineyard is from third leaf fruit. Bigelow, who has been involved in several other vineyard projects since their inception, says that it is possible to make good wine from young vines, just more difficult.

“One of the things I learned was that third leaf inaugural vintages could be very good if you manage the new vines very closely.” For Margaret’s Vineyard, this involved cropping the vines down markedly in the third year. Whereas in 2010 and 2011 Bigelow averaged a little over two tons per acre, in 2009 he harvested a mere 0.7 tons per acre.

“Every berry that was picked is in this wine,” Bigelow says of his 2009 Margaret’s Vineyard Red Wine. The results from this inaugural vintage are impressive, featuring soft, textured, concentrated fruit flavors.

In other news, the winery has changed the name of its Tre Faniciulli – Italian for “three treasured lads” – to simply Tre. The wine was named after the Bigelows’ three sons. “They’re not lads anymore. They are still mostly treasured,” Bigelow says with a chuckle.

Read a previous post on JM Cellars here.

JM Cellars Longevity Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $42

(Excellent/Exceptional) Abundant black fruit aromas along with bittersweet chocolate and earth. The palate is silky and textured with a firm backbone of tannins and a lingering, spice filled finish. 44% Cabernet Sauvignon (Stillwater Creek, Katherine Leone, Alder Ridge), 20% Merlot (Stillwater Creek), 14% Malbec (Stillwater Creek), 12% Cabernet Franc (Ciel du Cheval), 7% Petit Verdot (Stillwater Creek), and 3% Carmenère (Seven Hills). Aged 21 months in French oak (80% new). 14.3% alcohol. 643 cases produced.

JM Cellars Margaret’s Vineyard Estate Red Wine Walla Walla Valley 2009 $42

(Excellent) A perfumed wine with abundant peppery spice, herbal notes, and light milk chocolate. The palate is soft and textured with concentrated fruit flavors and a tart finish. A very impressive first release from this vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère. Aged 21 months in French oak (75% new). 14.3% alcohol. 750 cases produced.

JM Cellars Tre Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $45

(Excellent) Locked up tightly at present, this wine is lightly aromatic with blackberry and mineral notes. The palate is soft and silky with grainy tannins and a spicy top note. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon (Klipsun Old Vine, Stillwater Creek), 27% Merlot (Ciel du Cheval, Kiona Old Vine), and 18% Syrah (Klipsun, Stillwater Creek). 14.4% alcohol. 368 cases produced.

JM Cellars Syrah Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley 2009 $45

(Excellent) A glass staining wine with light smoke, bacon fat, blueberries, and mineral notes on an appealing but restrained aroma profile. On the palate, a voluptuous, perfumed, meaty wine full of floral notes, bacon fat, and blue fruit. Lingers on the finish. 100% Syrah. Aged 16 months in Russian and French oak (50% new). 14.5% alcohol. 175 cases produced.

JM Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2009 $32

(Excellent) Dark and glass staining. Leaps up from the glass with ripe blueberries, floral notes, light smoke, and a mineral streak. The palate is rich and perfumed, full of fruit flavors and soft tannins. Lingers on the finish. A thoroughly delicious Washington Syrah. 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier. Stillwater Creek, Klipsun, and Lewis vineyards. Aged 18 months in Russian (80%) and French oak. 14.5% alcohol. 225 cases produced.

JM Cellars Founder’s Reserve Red Wine Red Mountain 2009 $75

(Excellent/Exceptional) This wine is locked up extremely tightly at present. As it opens it reveals spice, cassis, floral notes, and dark fruit. On the palate, a big, intense, tannic wine that is ripe and rich and hangs on the finish. Give at least two years or decant extensively. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon (Klipsun), 13% Merlot (Klipsun), and 12% Cabernet Franc (Ciel du Cheval). Aged 22 months in French oak (85% new). 14.4% alcohol. 85 cases produced.


Woodinville Wine Cellars


Winemaker Sean Boyd of Woodinville Wine Cellars was positively brimming with excitement about his new releases when we met earlier this year. Tasting the wines, it became clear why.

Boyd’s current releases include perhaps the best Sauvignon Blanc the winery has made. Whereas in most years this wine has been aged in French oak, for the 2010 vintage, Boyd used only stainless steel due to what he felt were “perfect flavors.” Indeed this is a delicious, racy, mouthwatering wine. The new wines also include one of the best vintages of the Little Bear Creek Red Wine, the winery’s entry level offering, which is a superb $20 bottle. The rest of the lineup continues to impress, including a Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre blend that is 50% Mourvedre.

As usual, Boyd works with top sites, including Stillwater Creek, Conner Lee, Dineen, and Meek. Of note, though the bottles are not labeled as vineyard designates, the 2009 Syrah and 2009 GSM Red Wine are 100% Stillwater Creek.

Read a previous post on Woodinville Wine Cellars here.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley 2010 $18

(Excellent) Pale lemon green. Beautifully pure aromatics of white grapefruit, gooseberry, and a whiff of tropical fruit. A seamless spine of bright acid runs from beginning to end of this very pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. A mouthwatering wine that is like biting into a tart white grapefruit.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Little Bear Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $20

(Excellent) Dark in color. An aromatic wine with toasty spices, brambly fruit, dark roasted coffee beans, herbal notes, and peppery spice. A fruit filled wine made in a dry, restrained style. Lingers on the finish. An extremely high QPR offering. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. Dineen, Conner Lee, Stillwater Creek, and Meek vineyards. Aged 21 months in French oak (50% new). 14.5% alcohol. 600 cases produced.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2009 $30

(Excellent) A dark, glass staining wine. Aromatically expressive with dark cherries, black fruit, and dry chocolate. The palate is full of fruit flavors and silky tannins with a tart finish. 100% Syrah. Stillwater Creek. Aged 21 months in French oak (40% new). 14.8% alcohol. 164 cases produced.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Indomitable Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $45

(Excellent) An aromatically appealing, complex wine with cedar, chocolate, dark fruit, very light herbal notes, and spice. The palate is soft but structured with smooth, silky fruit flavors. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc. Conner Lee (50%) and Stillwater Creek vineyards. Aged in French oak (100% new). 14.2% alcohol. 220 cases produced.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2009 $40

(Excellent/Exceptional) Closed up initially, this wine opens to reveal cherry and exotic spices. The palate has a beautiful mouthfeel with textured fruit flavors and ripe tannins. A lip smacking wine that lingers on the finish. 100% Cabernet Franc. Stillwater Creek, Conner Lee, and Dineen.

Woodinville Wine Cellars GSM Red Wine Columbia Valley 2009 $40

(Excellent) A dark, glass staining wine. Aromatic with dark fruit, spice, white pepper, and freshly hewn wood. The palate is simultaneously rich and voluptuous while also showing restraint. 50% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, and 25% Grenache. Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Aged 20 months in French oak (50% new). 14.9% alcohol. 100 cases produced.

Woodinville Wine Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009 $NA

(Excellent/Exceptional) A moderately aromatic wine that is locked up pretty tightly at present with cedar, cherry, dark chocolate, and high toned herbal notes. The palate is refined with smooth, supple tannins and dark, lush fruit flavors.


Ott & Murphy


Whidbey Island’s Ott & Murphy is all about artistry and experimentation. At the winery, Eric Murphy, David Ott, and Diane Kaufman focus exclusively on small lot wines. To wit, all of the wines below have a production of a miniscule 150 cases or less.

How many wineries feature not one but two viogniers, including a single vineyard offering from Elephant Mountain? Meanwhile the winery’s Double Bluff Red Wine features Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache in almost equal measures – something rarely seen in the state. Even the varietally labeled wines often contain percentages of other grapes as winemaker Eric Murphy clearly enjoys the art of blending.

For vineyards, Ott & Murphy uses a variety of sources, including Coyote Canyon, Sugarloaf, Elephant Mountain, Spice Cabinet, and Boushey. The use of new oak is generally restrained. Additionally the white wines sampled here did not undergo malolactic fermentation.

Read a previous post on Ott & Murphy here.

Ott & Murphy Viognier Columbia Valley 2010 $20

(Good/Excellent) Pale lemon yellow. A moderately aromatic wine full of peach, creamsicle, and floral notes. The palate is crisp, tart and clean with a creamy feel without getting overweighted, carried along by lime-like acidity. 77% Viognier, 20% Roussanne, and 3% Marsanne. Sugarloaf, Elephant Mountain, Coyote Canyon, and Boushey vineyards. Fermented and aged in neutral French oak. 13.3% alcohol. 125 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Ott & Murphy Viognier Elephant Mountain Vineyard Rattlesnake Hills 2010 $31

(Good) Pale lemon yellow. More lightly aromatic than the Columbia Valley offering, this wine shows nectarine and light floral notes. The palate is full but with restrained fruit flavors. 100% Viognier. Fermented and aged in neutral French oak sue lie for 12 months. 13.1% alcohol. 1.1g/L RS. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Ott & Murphy L’Entente Blanc Marsanne Yakima Valley 2010 $27

(Good) Medium yellow. An aromatically restrained wine with peach, spice, floral, and almond notes. The palate is weighty and textured with a spice and flower filled finish. 79% Marsanne (Boushey, Elephant Mountain), 11% Viognier (Elephant Mountain), and 10% Roussanne (Coyote Canyon). Aged in neutral oak on less for 12 months with weekly battonage. 13.3% alcohol. 85 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Ott & Murphy Double Bluff Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills 2009 $19

(Good/Excellent) An aromatic and appealing wine with red fruit, game, spice, and mineral notes. The palate is fresh and ripe, full of lively brambly, red fruit flavors that linger on the finish. 35% Syrah (Coyote Canyon, Sugarloaf), 32% Cinsault (Coyote Canyon), 30% Grenache (Spice Cabinet), and 3% Roussanne (Coyote Canyon). Aged 18 months in French oak (20% new). 14.4% alcohol. 150 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Ott & Murphy L’Entente Red Wine Columbia Valley 2008 $31

(Good/Excellent) Dark in color. Fascinating aromas of stewed rhubarb, red fruit, mineral, white pepper. The palate has a ripe, full, textured feel. Finishes a bit tart on this otherwise very enjoyable wine. 78% Syrah (Elephant Mountain), 17% Mourvedre (Elephant Mountain), 3% Mourvedre (Elephant Mountain) and 2% Roussanne (Coyote Canyon). Aged 22 months in French oak (25% new). 14.3% alcohol. 100 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.

Ott & Murphy Grenache Columbia Valley 2009 $27

(Good) Lightly aromatic with red fruit and spice. The palate is soft and fruit filled with a spicy finish. 79% Grenache, 13% Cinsault, 8% Syrah. Spice Cabinet, Sugarloaf, and Coyote Canyon vineyards. 14.3% alcohol. 100 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.


Pomum Cellars


Located in Woodinville’s warehouse district, Pomum Cellars is the work of winemaker Javier Alfonso and his wife Shylah. The winery is named after a Latin term for fruit.

The new releases from Pomum include the winery’s flagship wine, the Shya Red Wine, and the Tinto Tempranillo. The Shya is a Bordeaux-style blend hailing from the Yakima Valley. The Tempranillo meanwhile comes from various sites in the Columbia Valley.

Of note, for the 2009 Tinto, Alfonso incorporated new Tempranillo and Graciano blocks that were planted specifically for the winery at Upland Vineyard. These include the first Ribera del Duero Tinta del Pais clones imported from Spain.

Alfonso is currently the only Spanish winemaker working in Washington State. To further explore Spanish varieties in Washington, Alfonso has founded Idilico. Releases from this winery have thus far included Albarino, Garnacha, and Tempranillo (read reviews here).

Read a previous post on Pomum here.

Pomum Cellars Shya Red Wine Yakima Valley 2008 $38

(Good) Dark ruby. Very distinctive aromas of herbal notes, floral notes, black tea, and tart cherries. At times teeters toward the green veggies realm, which some may find a pretty accent but others may not. Palate is tart with a ball of cherry flavors concentrated in the middle and grainy tannins. 62.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.8% Cabernet Franc, 11.1% Merlot, 7.5% Malbec, and 3.7% Petit Verdot. Upland, Elerding, Sheridan, DuBrul, Dineen, and Konnowac vineyards. Aged 17 months in French (89%) and Hungarian oak. 14.7% alcohol. 639 cases produced.

Pomum Cellars Tinto Tempranillo Columbia Valley 2009 $25

(Good) A distinctive floral note along with orange rind, leather, spice, and red fruit. The palate is perfumed with floral notes, chewy red fruit, and grippy tannins. The floral notes – almost reminiscent of Viognier – get a bit distracting at times. 76.2% Tempranillo, 19.4% Garnacha, 2.7% Graciano, and 1.7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Elerding Six Prong, Upland, and Elerding Desert vineyards. Aged in 225L French (97%) and American barrels. 14.3% alcohol. 245 cases produced.


Balboa Winery

Balboa Winery is located in Walla Walla. Tom Glase serves as winemaker and Tom Waliser as vineyard manager.

For its wines, Balboa draws from both its estate vineyard, LeFore, located in the Rocks region on the Walla Walla Valley, and numerous other sites which Tom Waliser managers. These include Pepper Bridge, Candy Mountain, Stone Valley and others.

Balboa’s wines are always notable for their freshness and purity of fruit. The wines sampled below include a single vineyard Rocks region syrah at a seldom seen $24 price point. Notably, this wine only picked up steam after twenty-four hours of being open. The Pandemonium Syrah meanwhile comes exclusively from Block 19 of Pepper Bridge vineyard. For those looking to explore Walla Walla Valley terroir, these wines offer an excellent entry point.

Balboa Winery Estate Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2009 $24

(Good/Excellent) This wine is a single vineyard, Rocks region Syrah at a seldom seen price point. It is lightly aromatic with mineral, a touch of funk, floral notes, and savory notes. The palate is soft and lithe with red fruit flavors that coat the palate. This wine continued to pick up steam after twenty-four hours of being open. Give extended time in the decanter to see it at its best. LeFore Vineyard. 14.5% alcohol.

Balboa Winery Sayulita Red Wine Walla Walla Valley 2007 $40

(Excellent) Starts out a little reduced before opening up to reveal bright, fresh red cherries and cranberries. The palate has lush, fresh fruit flavors and chalky tannins. There is a real freshness to this wine that is completely captivating. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Syrah. Pepper Bridge Vineyard. 14.1% alcohol. 200 cases produced.

Balboa Winery Pandemonium Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 $40

(Excellent) Lightly aromatic with sea breeze, savory notes, light floral notes, and bacon fat. The palate is perfumed with restrained red fruit flavors and savory notes. A beautiful, unique wine with a compelling freshness. 100% Syrah. Pepper Bridge Block 19. 14.6% alcohol.


Rating System
Please note, my rating system was revised at the beginning of 2012 as follows. Read additional details here.
(Exceptional)
(Excellent)
(Good)
(Decent)
(Not recommended/Flawed)