1994 Chateau Latour, Pauillac $400

This is the third time I have tasted this vintage. The first was at an auction tasting where I was outbid by $100 for the case and the other was when I cracked it open for a few people in the industry. This time it was ready for the rock and maybe even the roll.

Wine was still dark as night and very wealthy in the nose. I've always picked up the dark tree fruit and the hint of citrus but now I was getting a light fennel in the mix. On the palate this bitch was HUGE. Full bodied and rich with big tannins that tasted like having black pepper on the tip on the tongue. Tannins turned to silk as my mouth felt like I was having a silk milk shake. Finish was as long as a porn stars moan.

I've only got six bottles left so I think I'll wait a year till I crack another one. If I can wait that long.

2005 Beau Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon "Juliet" Napa Valley $50

As most people who know me, I am not a huge fan of California wines. It could be that I've tasted to many wines that were over oaked and lacking fruit. The 2005 Beau Vigne is completely different.

Barn door red in color. On the nose the wines has lots of soft black cherry and light coffee. The palate carries some light chocolate, vanilla with very silky tannins. Wine is medium to full bodied with a nice long 30 second finish. I really need to pick up a few more bottles of this.

Tasted 09/2008

2007 Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $85.00

I want to be up front and honest. I have never been a real fan of Leonetti. The wines seem to be over oaked, over extracted and just to damn spendy for what they are. That being said...

***Please notes that I tried this wine about 12 hours after it was opened.

Rich red in color with a helping of oak, dried herbs and black tree fruit on the nose. On the palate more oak and herbs with some good sweet red fruit. The finish was actually smooth since the tannins were pretty calm and there are lots of fruit that follow. I think this might be on of the very few Leonetti wines I like.

2006 Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz Red Wine, Columbia Valley $50.00

I took this directly from the Betz Family Winery page. This is one hell of a blend.

47% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec

41% Horse Heaven Hills, 31% Yakima Valley, 28% Red Mountain

Another wine that blend that is out of this world. Burgundy in color with rich notes of Casis, mocha and a hint of espresso. Soft and rich on the palate with light cherry on the finish.

If you are looking for a wine that will knock your socks out for a great price. Plus for the so-called low-end Betz wine, look at all the different grapes and vineyards used for this blend.

2006 Betz Family Winery Syrah, La Côte Rousse. Red Mountain $75.00

First let say that this Syrah is almost black with a rich red rim. On the nose, rich spices, dried herbs and a hint of mocha/latte. On the palate this wine makes you stand up. Let me say that as a 2006, it should sit for another few years! On the palate black pepper comes to mind with very light hints of dark chocolate. The wine is perfectly balanced with the tannins being huge but still within the white line. I do know Bob Betz, MW to say that I have taken some wine lessons from him while I was working at Chateau Ste. Michelle and that he is someone I look up too in the wine world. He is a man of his word and makes wines that are made to drink and age. Damn good shit!

2005 Shafer One Point Five, Stags Leap District, Napa $70

All I can say is that this bitch is big and it felt like it was so full in the mouth it was going to dribble out. Loads of dry red fruit with a slight spice on the nose. On the palate there are some nice wood spices and currants. Tannins are full and pretty well balanced. Nice but really not my kind of wine.

2006 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah, Walla Walla $50

With a blend of 54% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec, this wine is a beauty. Pretty dark in color with just a hint of purple in the center. Good amount of black vine fruit and stone fruit. Palate wise this wine has some pretty big tannins and the heat to back it up. I believe Speculator gave this around a 93 and I would guess Parker would hit it with a 94. Pretty nice wine if you like right-bank Bordeaux styles. I just wish we could go back to the days of 12% alcohol.

4 Wines From Chateau Ste. Michelle

I headed down to the winery today to just taste a few wines and sharpen my palate. First of all, the price of the pay tasting bar is now $10 rather than $5. Fine, I'll bite. Service was a bit poor and seemed like they were just not into what they were doing. Sad since when I worked there I always wanted to come into work. Had a group of people that came in from the Vintage Reserve Room (This is the high-end tasting room) and take up a bunch of room. They kept trying to get more people at the bar which was pushing me out. Funny since they could not pronounce the names of the grapes. Oh well.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay $18.00

Light yellow in color with hints of butter and tropical fruit. Has a slight spice on the plate yet finishes pretty smooth. It seems more like a Chardonnay that is wanting to be more than it can. I like it but nothing I would go out of my way to get.

2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Mourvèdre, Columbia Valley $26.00

With a blend of 90% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah, this beast is brick red with hints of cola on the rim. On the nose, wet fur and dander. On the palate...rich earth tones with hints of light smoke. The tannins are pretty soft and last for a few minutes. Food wine!

2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley $30

Black Cherry in color with hints brick red on the rim. Pretty full-bodied and rich on the nose with notes of cola and light tar. Tannins were round but full at the end. Nice wine but needs to be drank with food, maybe some pork.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabinet Riesling, Columbia Valley $17

At first I was kind of pissed that CSM would do a word-play on a German style of wine, but after tasting it I thought it was OK. Riesling was clear as a bell with a strong note of dried honey and light yellow pear. The palate was great but was nothing like a German Kabinet. Has a real zestyness to it. Lightly crisp on the palate with nice notes of light jasmine and fresh green apples. Finish was soft and beautiful. Nice wine.

2001 Eroica Single Berry Select by Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley, $200 for 375ml

If you ever have the chance to try any of the Single Berry Select Rieslings...DO IT! Only 145 cases of this vintage was produced, I have 2 more bottles of this liquid love.

With a color of light amber, almost looking like the 1988 Chateau d'Yquem. With a nose of light pineapple and honey still in the wax, this beauty coats your mouth like motor oil. Notes of wet stone fruit with hints of light clove...this thing was amazing.

While there were only four of us there when there was going to be about 12. They missed out like no mans business. Oh well, I know that Kathy, David and Asha loved it. That's all I cared about.

One down, two to go.

2004 Chateau Branas Grand Poujeaux, Moulis $24.99

Deep red in color with some great mocha and coffee notes. Medium to full bodied with notes of tar and cedar. Tannins are pretty balanced yet have a nice little sweet bit at the end. I like it.

2006 Stevenson Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley

Almost burgundy in color with a hint of mud. Soft on the finish with nice easy tannins. The wine was good but I think it may have lost some of its love over night.

2006 Stevenson Cellars Cabernet Sauvigon, Columbia Valley

Almost brick-red in color. Rich spices with soft red fruit and spices. Tannins are pretty big but are very well balanced. Finish of smoke and pencil lead were interesting. Not sure if there was any Cabernet Franc in the wine, but it sure had the note.

Steveson Cellars Red Wine, Columbia Valley $17.00

Before I started really getting into the wines of the day I was treated with a few wines from Stevenson Cellars wines that were poured the night before. The red blend is a non-vintage red wine that has a deep red color with strong cherry and wet cedar notes. Had lost a little bit of its power but had some solid spices and rich toasted oak on the finish. Very nice soft red wine.

2008 Wolf Pinot Noir Rose, Pfalz

Almost slightly light pink. Light sea salt on the nose. Soft on the palate with nice notes of fig and fennel. This is a great Rose for people who are afraid to taste rose wines, but has enough for the MW in all of us.