Tonight! February Virtual Tasting - Dusted Valley Boomtown Chardonnay 2010

The February Virtual Tasting wine is tonight! The wine is the Dusted Valley Vintners 2010 Boomtown Chardonnay. This wine retails for $15 and is reasonably widely available. The tasting will take place from 7-8pm Pacific.

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 #dustedvalley. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

Boom times for Dusted Valley

In this month’s Five Wines Under $15, we take a look at Dusted Valley Vintners’ Boomtown wines.

“A throwback to the energetic Roaring 20s, Boomtown embodies the essence of celebration and our booming Washington wine industry.” So reads the side of the Boomtown labels.

And make no mistake, Washington is indeed a boomtown. The state is approaching 800 wineries – up nearly threefold over the last decade. Washington produced a record crop of 188,000 tons of wine grapes in 2012. Grape acreage is also expected to nearly double by the end of the decade.

Dusted Valley has very much embodied this growth. Based out of Walla Walla and with a tasting room in Woodinville, the winery currently produces 25,000 cases annually of its Boomtown wines alone. The label includes a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah (I see a ‘Boomtown Blend’ in their future). Most of the wines are sold out of state, providing more Washington wines in the value category for consumers around the country to find.

What's next for Boomtown? Owners Chad Johnson and Corey Braunel plan to double production in the next five years. So much like with the rest of Washington, don't look for the boom times to stop any time soon.

Dusted Valley Boomtown Pinot Gris Washington State 2011 $15
 (Good) A moderately aromatic wine with red apple and pear. The palate is medium bodied, drinks off-dry but with crisp, mouthwatering acidity. 100% Pinot Gris. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Dusted Valley Boomtown Chardonnay Washington State 2010 $15
(Good) An aromatically appealing wine with yellow apple, spice, and floral notes. The palate is medium bodied and drawn out with abundant floral flavors and a slight spritz lifting the flavors. 13.7% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Dusted Valley Boomtown Merlot Washington State 2009 $15
 (Decent/Good) A moderately aromatic wine with crushed peanuts, mint, and red fruit. The palate is light and style with grainy tannins. 84% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French, American, and Hungarian oak (50% new). 14.4% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Dusted Valley Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon Washington State 2010 $15
 (Decent) A moderately aromatic wine with herbal notes – leaning toward the green, ash, and cherry. The palate is distinctly herbal with grainy tannins. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec, and 6% Merlot. Aged in French and American oak (40% new). 13.9% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Dusted Valley Boomtown Syrah Washington State 2010 $15
(Good) Lightly aromatic with mesquite, blueberry, olive, and violets. The palate is medium bodied with citrusy acidity and game flavors accented by chalky tannins. A very pleasant, easy drinking Syrah. 97% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre. Aged in French and American oak (30% new). 14.6% alcohol.  Sample provided by winery.

Fresh Sheet February 26th 2013

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent releases – includes wines from Betz Family Winery, Long Shadows, :Nota Bene Cellars, Buried Cane Wines, Columbia Winery, and Auclair Winery.

Betz Family Winery

The new Bordeaux-blend releases from Betz Family Winery are nothing short of extraordinary, as good as anything the winery has done to date. There is a level of freshness as well as precision and separation of the different varieties in the glass that is nothing short of dazzling.

These wines are truly meant for the long haul and should be cellared. But have no doubt, these wines will be timeless. If I were starting a cellar today and needed to pick just two wines to start with, I would start with the 2010 Pere de Famille and Clos de Betz. They are that good and will last a lifetime.

The 2010 Rhone variety releases also do not disappoint with the coolness of the vintage allowing the distinctiveness of each site to truly shine. Winemaker Bob Betz says of his three Syrahs, “Same cellar, same protocol, same barrels. What you get out of these is the uniqueness of the site and the uniqueness of the vintage.”

As much as all of the 2010 wines are pleasing to the palate, they are also pleasing to the eye with dark, gleaming hues. Written in my notes was ‘Color, color, color!’  “I do love color,” Betz says. “Color to me is an invitation to pleasure.”

All wines sampled at 62 degrees. Read previous posts about Betz Family Winery here.

Betz Family Winery Père de Famille Red Wine Columbia Valley 2010 $68
 (Exceptional) The Petit Verdot really pops on this wine right now with freshly tilled soil and violets along with mineral, chocolate, herbal notes, pencil shavings, and a medley of red and black fruit on this aromatically complex wine. There is incredible delineation between the varieties here. The palate is arresting with fresh, layered fruit flavors with a mouthfeel with volume, weight and intensity. A wow wine. Nothing short of an accomplishment and as fine as I have had from the winery to date. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. 73% Red Mountain (Ciel du Cheval, Kiona, Klipsun), 21% Horse Heaven Hills (Alder Ridge), and 6% Yakima Valley (Red Willow). Aged in French oak (65% new). 14.1% alcohol.

Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz Red Wine Columbia Valley 2010 $55
 (Exceptional) An aromatically arresting wine with cassis, herbs, graphite, mineral, soil, floral notes, and blackberry. The palate has great intensity and weight and a firm grip of tannins leading to a hyperextended finish. A flat out gorgeous wine that has the stuffing to lay down in the cellar for many years to come. 58% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot. 51% Red Mountain (Ciel, Kiona, Klipsun), 19% Horse Heaven Hills (Alder Ridge), and 30% Yakima Valley (Red Willow). Aged in French oak (65% new).

Betz Family Winery Bésoleil Red Wine Columbia Valley 2010 $45
(Excellent/Exceptional) Dark in color. An aromatically compelling wine perfumed with Herbes de Provence, strawberry, sweet plums, and a kiss of vanilla. The palate has fresh, pure, restrained red fruit flavors with depth and intensity and a sensuous mouthfeel. 65% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 11% Cinsault, and 6% Syrah.  Olsen, Ciel du Cheval, Upland and Boushey vineyards. 14.6% alcohol.

Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah Yakima Valley 2010 $55
 (Excellent) Dark and glass staining. A moderately aromatic, brooding wine with light peppery notes, herbs, and plum. The palate is rich but restrained with a palate-coating texture. 100% Syrah. Boushey Vineyard. 14.4% alcohol.

Betz Family Winery La Côte Rousse Syrah Red Mountain 2010 $55
(Excellent/Exceptional) Mineral laden, full of crushed rock, dark fruit, chocolate, lavender, olive, and plum. The mouthfeel is captivating with its dark fruit flavors. Will be even better in five years than it is today. 100% Syrah. Ciel du Cheval and Ranch At The End of the Road vineyards. 14.4% alcohol.

Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah Yakima Valley 2010 $55
 (Exceptional) A brooding wine with complex aromas of crushed flowers, gravel, chocolate, lavender, and olive. The palate is perfumed with char and dark fruit flavors, exquisitely balancing richness and restraint. One for the cellar, this wine should last about as long as you care to hold it. 100% Syrah. Red Willow Vineyard. 14.4% alcohol.


Long Shadows

The latest releases from Long Shadows continue the winery’s tradition of excellence. Perhaps the most captivating of these wines is the 2009 Pirouette. Made by Phillipe Melka and Agustin Hunees, Sr., this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec is concentrated and rich with a shimmering intensity and an extended finish.

Read previous posts about Long Shadows here.

Long Shadows Chester-Kidder Red Wine Columbia Valley 2008 $50
 (Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with toast, dried blackberries, spice, and chocolate. As the wine opens, Syrah’s smoky notes come to the fore along with mineral notes. Coats the palate from end to end with rich bittersweet chocolate and cherry flavors with a lingering finish. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 14.7% alcohol. Candy Mountain, StoneTree, Weinbau, and other vineyards. 14.7% alcohol.

Long Shadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009 $55
 (Good/Excellent) An aromatically appealing wine with high toned aromas of mocha, dried cranberry, cherry, and pencil box. The palate is smooth, supple and drawn out with dark fruit flavors and wound up, slightly dry tannins. Drops off a bit on the second half. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.2% alcohol.

Long Shadows Pirouette Columbia Valley 2009 $50
 (Exceptional) An aromatically intriguing wine with dark cherries, licorice, herbs, and nut oil. The palate is supremely concentrated, coiled, layered, and rich with tremoring intensity. A hyperextended finish only adds to the enjoyment of this delicious, sculpted blend. Still tightly wound, give two plus years or an extended decant before opening but your patience will be rewarded. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec. 14.9% alcohol.

Long Shadows Sequel Columbia Valley 2009 $50
 (Exceptional) A glass staining offering of Syrah with blackberry, mocha, iron, and spice along with intermittent smoke. The palate is rich and layered with concentrated, dark fruit and chocolate flavors and fine-grained tannins that lead to a 30+ second finish. The alcohol shows occasionally here but this wine delivers. 99% Syrah and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Boushey (45%) and Bacchus (22%) along with Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills. 14.8% alcohol.


:Nota Bene Cellars

South Park’s :Nota Bene Cellars is the work of Tim Narby and his wife Carol Bryant, with the initials of their last name’s giving rise to the winery’s name. At :Nota Bene,  Narby makes a diverse lineup of Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines, with a particular emphasis on Stillwater Creek and Ciel du Cheval vineyards.

Read previous posts about the winery here.



:Nota Bene Abbinare Red Blend Columbia Valley 2009 $25
 (Excellent) An aromatic wine with black and blue fruit, somewhat prominent herbal notes, spice, licorice, and cherry. The palate is medium bodied and dry with soft tannins and sweet, light fruit flavors. 61% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Malbec. Arianses, Conner Lee, Stone Tree, and Verhey vineyards. Aged 22 months in French oak. 14.75% alcohol. 213 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Miscela Red Blend Columbia Valley 2009 $25
(Good) An aromatic wine with rich, liquorous stewed blackberries, mint, graphite, dill, and spice. The palate is medium bodied with sweet fruit flavors and chalky tannins. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (Dineen, Champoux, Conner Lee), 12% Merlot (Conner Lee), 12% Cabernet Franc (stet), and 3% Malbec. Aged 22 months in French and American oak with 33% new French oak staves. 15.13% alcohol. 150 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Conner Lee Vineyard Red Blend Columbia Valley 2009 $35
 (Good/Excellent) A moderately aromatic wine with fresh dark cherries, raspberries, dill, cranberries, licorice, cedar, and mint. The palate is rich and full bodied with bold fruit flavors and well integrated tannins. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot. Aged 22 months in French (20% new) and American oak. 15.4% alcohol. 75 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Blend Red Mountain 2009 $35
 (Good/Excellent) Locked up aromatically at present with kirsch, barrel spices, pencil lead, and floral notes. The palate is tightly coiled with dark fruit and firm, dry tannins. Give some time in the cellar or decant. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Merlot. Aged 22 months in French oak (57% new). 15.04% alcohol. 182 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Cabernet Sauvignon Conner Lee Vineyard Columbia Valley 2009 $35
 (Decent/Good) An aromatic, oak-driven wine with notes of char, spice, cherry, and prominent herbal notes. The palate is soft and medium bodied with plush tannins and ripe, sweet fruit flavors. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 22 months in French oak (100% new). 14.7% alcohol. 67 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2009 $20
 (Good) Lightly aromatic with cherry, jalapeno, and herbal tones. The palate is full of ripe cherry flavors with juicy, plump tannins. Drops off in the second half. 81% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. Chandler Reach, Dineen, Conner Lee, and Verhey vineyards. 14.74% alcohol. 88 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Malbec Verhey Vineyard Yakima Valley 2009 $25
(Good) A moderately aromatic wine with exotic spices, cinnamon, cherry, and ripe dark plum. The palate is ripe with sweet cherry flavors and soft tannins. 100% Malbec. Aged 22 months in French oak. 15.12% alcohol. 32 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Syrah Columbia Valley 2009 $25
 (Good) Almost completely closed up initially with brooding cherry aromas and spice which open to reveal jammy notes of raspberries and other red fruit. The palate is rich, full, and ripe with sweet cherry flavors and a mouthful of silky tannins. Finishes with a fair amount of heat. 87% Syrah (Stillwater Creek, Les Vignes de Marcoux, StoneTree), 10% Mourvèdre (Stillwater Creek), and 3% Merlot (Ciel du Cheval). Aged 22 months in French and American oak (25% new). 16.22% alcohol. 125 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Syrah Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain 2009 $35
 (Good) A dark, glass staining wine with a purple rim. Sweet barrel spices are at the fore along with blueberries, blackberries, and mineral notes. The palate is voluminous and rich with sweet, ripe fruit flavors on this take-no-prisoners style Syrah. 100% Syrah. Aged 22 months in French (50% new) and Hungarian oak. 15.55% alcohol. 50 cases produced.

:Nota Bene Mourvèdre Stillwater Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley 2009 $30
 (Decent/Good) An aromatic wine with fresh cranberries, raw meat, pickling spices, and vanilla. The palate is liquorous and full, finishing with oak notes and peppery spice. 100% Mourvèdre. Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Aged 22 months in seasoned French and American oak. 15.14 % alcohol. 25 cases produced.


Columbia Winery

Columbia Winery - which celebrated its 50^th anniversary last year – is a winery in transition after its purchase by E. & J. Gallo last year. Gallo installed a new winemaking team headed up by Sean Hails. Born in Ontario, Canada, Hails earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Guelph. He subsequently made wine in the Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula before joining Gallo in 2005. Prior to taking the position at Columbia, Hails was responsible for overseeing winemaking in the Central Coast. 2012 was his first vintage at Columbia with the first white wines expected later this year.

Columbia Winery Small Lot Series Viognier Columbia Valley 2011 $26
(Good) Lightly aromatic with white grapefruit, light floral notes, nectarine, and lime. The palate is medium bodied and fresh with citrus flavors. A pleasing, easy drinking wine. Sample provided by winery.

Columbia Winery Small Lot Series Milestone Red Wine Columbia Valley 2008 $32
 (Decent) Lightly aromatic with cherry and light green notes. The palate is medium bodied with rustic tannins and abundant herbal flavors. Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. Aged 16 months in French and American oak. 13.5% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Columbia Winery Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Franc Yakima Valley 2009 $NA
(Good) Lightly aromatic with floral notes, herbal notes, and green pepper. The palate is medium bodied with cherry flavors and firm, chalky tannins. 14.6% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Columbia Winery 50 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009 $50
(Good) Lightly aromatic with crushed herbs and cherries. The palate is restrained in style with cherry flavors and fine grained, somewhat dry tannins. 95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 4.5% Syrah. Aged 25 months in French and American oak (25% new). 14.3% alcohol. 522 cases produced. Sample provided by winery.


Buried Cane

Buried Cane is part of Middleton Family Wines, which also includes Cadaretta and Clayhouse (California). The winery focuses largely on wines in the value tier with production levels that make them suitable for restaurant glass pours.

Read previous posts on Buried Cane here.


Buried Cane Whiteline No-Oak Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2010 $15
(Good) Pale lemon yellow. An aromatically appealing wine with straw, spice, guava, and pear. The palate is medium bodied, tart, fresh and clean with pear and melon flavors. 100% Chardonnay. Dionysus, Oasis Farms, and Desert Hill vineyards. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation. 13.3% alcohol. 1,953 cases produced.  Sample provided by winery.

Buried Cane Roughout Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009 $15
 (Decent) A moderately aromatic wine with dusty cherry, mint, licorice and somewhat prominent herbal notes with nut notes lingering in the background. The palate is medium bodied with sweet cherry flavors and grainy, slightly dry tannins. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Alice, Spring Creek, Dead Canyon, Preston, and Gamache vineyards. Aged in French and American oak (40% new). 14.1% alcohol. 2,756 cases produced. Sample provided by tannins.


Auclair Winery

Auclair Winery is located in Woodinville’s Warehouse District. The winery focuses largely on creating wines from Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain. The latest releases are a strong set of wines, most notably perhaps the winery’s Sauvignon Blanc.

Winemaker Charlie Auclair writes, “I went to the vineyard to pick up my Sauvignon Blanc and while there I walked over to check on the Semillon. I discovered it was ripe and tasted great so we picked that as well. On the way back I decided to try co-fermentation for better integration of flavors and I think it turned out very well.”

It did. While this wine was remarkably slow to open up, once it did it was absolutely thrilling with a medley of herb and citrus aromas and flavors and a creamy, rich palate. It is among the more compelling Washington whites I’ve come across of late. Taken with other Sauvignon Blancs and blends sourced from Klipsun Vineyard and others on Red Mountain, it’s clear that Sauvignon Blanc has a home on this tiny AVA.

Read previous posts about Auclair here.

Auclair Winery Sauvignon Blanc Red Mountain 2011 $17
 (Excellent/Exceptional) Takes a while to get going, but once it does this wine is a powerhouse full of aromas of lime zest and herbs. The palate is broad and creamy with drawn out citrus flavors. An absolutely beautiful example of Red Mountain fruit. 75% Sauvignon Blanc co-fermented with 25% Semillon. Artz Vineyard. 13.0% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Auclair Winery 96 Cedars Columbia Valley 2009 $25
 (Good) An aromatic wine with cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry, sweet spices, and gamey notes. The palate has moderate fruit flavors and very firm, chalky tannins. Needs some food to off-set the tannic grip. 53% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. 100% Red Mountain. 14.3% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Auclair Left Blend Red Wine Artz Vineyard Red Mountain 2010 $45
(Good/Excellent) An aromatically appealing wine with toasty oak spices, cranberries, raspberries, golden raisins, spice, and herbal notes. The first sip comes off as considerably tart. After adjusting, the palate is full with plush cherry and cranberry flavors, mint, medium-plus tannins, and a spice filled finish. The tannins are just slightly dry on this otherwise very enjoyable wine. Give it some extended time open and pair it with food to see it at its best. Might be too tart for some. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 14.3% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Auclair Winery Right Blend Red Wine Artz Vineyard Red Mountain 2010 $45
(Excellent) Medium ruby. Moderately aromatic with raspberries, cranberries, and oak spice. The palate has tart fruit flavors, fresh acid and quite firm tannins. A sophisticated, structure-driven wine. Give one to two years or decant. 77% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.3% alcohol. Sample provided by winery.

Washington Wine Round-up February 15th to 21st 2013

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

From around the country…

No love this week.

From the blogosphere…

Jameson Fink writes about Whidbey Island Winery.

Great Northwest Wine writes about Josh Maloney’s new wine project. They also write about Myles Anderson stepping down as enology director from the Walla Walla Valley Community College, Lake Chelan Winery being certified Salmon Safe, and David Oldham of Andrew Will being hired as Precept Wines’ education director. They review the Martinez & Martinez Mae Rose and Coyote Canyon Roussanne. 

Wild 4 Washington Wine writes about Alexandria Nicole. William also writes about Two Mountain.

Zinfandel Chronicles writes about the Rasa Vineyards 2008 Vox Populi. Tom also writes about wineries that help fund breast cancer research.

Northwest Wine Anthem writes about the Trust Cellars TATT.

Wine Peeps writes about Long Shadows.

Woodinville Wine Update writes that Passport to Woodinville tickets are now on sale. Shona also writes about Willows Lodge hosting the third annual golden grapes awards.


From the locals…

The Tri-City Herald writes about Ste. Michelle asking for reconsideration of a Red Mountain design.

Oregon Live! writes about Oregon and Washington cross-promotion.

Free Times says Washington wines are worth a look.

The Bellingham Herald writes about bargain whites.

The News Tribune writes about Coyote Canyon.


That's all folks!

When Wine Writers Are Wrong

As wine reviewers, there is an understanding (hopefully) that we are reviewing each wine at a particular moment in time. It is a snapshot. There is an expectation, though, that we can project that snapshot forward or that the qualitative evaluation is relatively stable. And often that expectation is correct. But sometimes it is wrong. Dreadfully wrong. This is one wine’s story.

I tasted the 2010 Eight Bells Clonal Selection Syrah - a blend of eight different varietal clones from Red Willow - in early September of last year. I enjoyed the wine and gave it a three and a half star rating (Good/Excellent). I have noted previously that many of the 2010 vintage reds from Washington require some time to fully come out of their shells. And of course, due to the nature of the wine business, sometimes wines are released and/or tasted earlier than they would ideally be.

Suffice to say that when I retasted this wine earlier this year, my first thought was, “That’s not the same wine.” But of course it was. The wine had considerably evolved over the subsequent five months. In fact, when I asked the proprietors of the winery if I could take the rest of the bottle home to see how it opened up, one of them noted that the wine improved considerably after a few hours of being open.

Indeed. Tasting the wine again eight hours later, it had fully blossomed. It was among the more exciting wines I’ve tried so far this year. Part of that excitement was the price. This is a forty-plus dollar quality Syrah hiding in a $32 bottle – and that just doesn't happen all that often. Part of the excitement though was the sheer thrill of the wine. It’s a wine that you sip and say, “Wow that’s really good!” each time - and that doesn't happen all that often either!

While some winemakers had a great deal of anxiety about the cool 2010 growing season, Frank Michiels at Eight Bells said of the vintage, “It played to our style.” This is simultaneously true and an understatement. Eight Bells made some gorgeous wines from the 2010 vintage. Better yet, the wines are extremely well priced, so it’s affordable to find out for yourself.

I don’t believe in ‘re-reviewing’ wines, so you won't find new notes on the 2010 Eight Bells Clonal Selection Syrah below. But I also don’t believe it letting grave errors stand. What I will say is that my original assessment of this wine was way off the mark. And I have never been so pleasantly surprised at being so very wrong.

Eight Bells Winery Ravenna White Table Wine Oregon 2011 $16
(Excellent) An aromatically fresh wine with sliced apple, nectarine, and mineral notes. The palate is crisp and tart with green apple flavors. 95% Pinot Gris, 5% Viognier. Methven Family Vineyard. 13.1% alcohol. 270 cases produced.

Eight Bells Winery Roosevelt Red Red Wine Yakima Valley 2010 $18
(Excellent) What’s this? A 100% varietal merlot from Hedges and Red Willow vineyards from 1990 plantings coming in under $20? Yes! It’s moderately aromatic with herbal and mineral notes, high toned red fruit, and light floral accents. The palate is tart and fresh with a compact ball of tannins and a chocolaty finish. Will only improve with some additional time in the bottle. 100% Merlot. Red Willow (50%) and Hedges vineyards. 14.2% alcohol. 250 cases produced.

Eight Bells Winery Shellback Red Wine Yakima Valley 2010 $25
(Excellent) An immediately appealing wine with blueberry, black pepper, mineral, and cherry. The palate has fresh, vibrant cherry flavors with firm tannins. Still needs some time to fully flesh out. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon (Ambassador Vineyard, Red Mountain), 16% Syrah (Red Willow), 6% Merlot (Red Willow, Ambassador). Aged in French oak (40% new). 14.6% alcohol. 230 cases produced.

Eight Bells Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Red Mountain 2010 $35
 (Excellent/Exceptional) A selection of the winery’s best barrels and all from a single vineyard, this wine sees considerably more new French oak than most of the winery’s lineup – 80%. It shows it with toasty char, spice, and mocha along with dark cherries and raspberries. The palate is rich with chocolate and cherry flavors and well balanced tannins and a long, long finish. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc. Ambassador Vineyard. 14.8% alcohol. 173 cases produced.

Picture from thegeekmates.com. 

Contact your Senator in support of Senate Bill 5731

As many of you know, Initiative 1183, which privatized spirits sales in Washington among a number of other changes, prohibited stores under 10,000 square feet from selling spirits. This was ostensibly done to keep spirits out of convenience stores and gas stations. But it also kept them out of small retail wine and beer stores.

There is currently a bill, Washington Senate Bill 5731, for "Allowing beer and/or wine specialty shop licensees to sell craft distillery products." Craft distilleries are defined by those producing less than 60,000 gallons per year. This bill is currently scheduled to come before the Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor this Friday.

It is vital that small specialty wine and beer shops to be allowed to successfully compete in today’s post-1183 marketplace. That means allowing them to sell spirits in addition to their current offerings. I urge you to send an email to the senator from your district in support of this bill. To find the name of your senator, go to here. To find their email addresses, go to here and click on the "E-Mail addresses" link on the right.

This email can be as simple as follows:

"Dear Senator:  I am writing to urge you to support SB 5731. I believe this change is necessary to allow small wine and beer retailers to compete as well as to provide consumers with a wider selection of spirit offerings from small producers. Sincerely, name and address"

Again, time is of the essence here so if you wish to write a message, send it in today!