2008 Five Star Cellars Quinque Astrum, Walla Walla Valley $28

To me this seemed like another blend that was taken from a few different vineyards and thrown together for the masses. Kind of light on the nose with hints of red vine fruit and hollow in the middle. The finish was nothing to scream over as it just floated away. Sometimes I wish people would just say they had left over juice they did not want to waste and decided to make a blend so they could make a few extra dollars. Drop the price down to around $10 and call it the daily drinker. Something to keep the heart red.

2007 Five Star Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley $30

This was the only wine that I actually liked. Even though I think the price was about $10 more than it should have been it was a decent Syrah. Pretty rich in color with a nice dark red rim. Notes of black pepper, light coffee and a hint of dehydrated plums. On the palate it kept you guessing but had a nice light mint going on with some nice soft tannins. The finish was pretty fast and left with a medicinal coating.

2007 Five Star Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley $34

Color was your basic red. On the nose though it was pretty juicy with red vine fruit. Notes of brown sugar and spices yet it was hollow in the middle and the finish was short and sharp. The tannins were present but nothing that was going to add structure to the wine.

2006 Five Star Cellars "Stellar" $48

Other than being a blend of 5 different grapes, 5 different vineyards and seeing 100% new oak, that's all this wine really has to offer. Pretty heavy on the oak when it comes to hitting the nose. There were a few hints of cola and black-stone fruit but oak was the heavy hitter. On the palate it was big at first but lacked the fruit I was looking for. From what I was told it was oak-aged for 28 months then bottle aged for 12-19 months. That's a lot of oak! Light white pepper on the finish but lacking fruit and was kinda hollow in the middle. Then the price comes into play.

2008 J Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay $25.99

First bottle that was cracked seemed a bit flat. No fruit and just bland. Decided that it was corked but I don't think it was.

Second bottle was a little better but still nothing impressive. Nose was there but not really. The palate had some citrus and a little fruit but still...nothing. OK, I'll just say it. This wine really sucked shit! This is a pretty decent producer but for some reason the two bottles we opened were almost alike. They tasted like shit.

Tasted on 11/20/10

2009 Selbach Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel $11.99

Attention all Riesling nerds....Go buy this.

Clear in color with some light citrus and green apples. Even that trademark mineral note was there. It was a bit flat on the palate but this is a good thing. OK maybe the word flat should not be the word of choice, let go with delicate. Good fruit notes on the end and again minerals. Just a great little Riesling for the price. I think someone gave it 92 points but I really don't give a shit about points.

Tasted on 11/20/10

2007 J Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $34.99

So it has a bright nose with some light cherry notes but seems to be aged in new french oak. Hints of herbs and light dried flowers but again..oak. Seems like a lot of oak for a Pinot Noir. California is not impressing me with its lacks of respect for a grape that deserves it.

Tasted on 11/20/10

2007 Januik Kilipsun Vineyard Merlot $30.99

I've spoken about Januik wines before. His merlot is what I would think is the textbook merlot out of Washington State and possibly the world. Yup, I said it people..The World!

Rich and full-bodied, notes of ripe red fruit with notes of chocolate and a light hint of dried herbs. On the palate it seems a little large at first but let it get some air. She needs to open up a bit before you take her down. On the finish it is a true dream to taste. Soft yet rich tannins with a nice soft finish. Oh and one of the best things is that you are drinking a single vineyard wine that is just a pubic hair above $30. Thank you Mike!

Tasted on 11/20/10

2007 Abeja Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $43.99

Can I just say that six years ago when I moved to the East Coast this wine was around $20 per bottle. Are you telling me that in six years inflation has made this wine jump almost $24? Something has got to be done in this state or people will never buy Washington wines again.

Great looking color in that it is darker than burgundy. Rich nose of red and black fruit with some good spice and cedar. On the palate it is pretty sharp and right to the point. Full-bodied with rich currant and solid tannins. Funny though it's kind of soft on the finish. Very nice wine but the price needs to be dropped.

Tasted on 11/20/10

1999 Friggiali Brunello di Montalcino Riserva $85

Although I have read that some feel this wine should be consumed by 2010, I think they are off by a few years. This Brunello still has enough tannins and fruit in her to make it last another 5 years. The color of the wine is shedding a bit but it still has that nice bing cherry color. Nose is pretty rich with vanilla, overripe strawberries and light dried flowers. Tannins are still pretty firm and the finish can still hold its own. Strange aftertaste of nuts but that could be me. I really like it.

1999 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino $100

I would say almost brick-red color with hints of dried roses on the rim. I picked up lots of fennel and cherry on the nose. Pretty full-bodied even at this late stage in the game. Tannins are soft and smooth. I did pick up a little fresh cigar tobacco and some slight cedar on the finish that also lasted a good 30 seconds. I know this vintage was good but damn!

1999 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino $180

Color is brick-red but damn does she have some legs. With a nose of fresh roasted Foldgers and light oak, this bitch is amazing! Light hints of anise and fennel with a slight chocolate on the finish. What the hell are they doing at the winery? Pretty full-bodied but very silky-soft tannins with a smooth finish. Perfect structure and balance. Some have compared this to the 1997 vintage but I think that vintage was more hype than anything. I love this wine!

1982 Toro Albala Gran Reserva Don PX 375ml $34

So the picture I took with my phone does not do the color justice as this is black as a crayon with hints of brown on the rim. I was actually about to pick up a 1977 Madeira instead but knowing that this vintage is sold out and Nicole had never tried it I figure I could always go back and pick up the 77.

Imagine trying to press raisins until they squirt out juice. That's what is done in order to get the juice for this wine. The grapes are 100% Pedro Ximenez, dried then pressed. I've already told you about the color as you can see for yourself it is dark. On the nose it is amazing. Loads of rich raisins, hints of caramel with some licorice hanging around. On the finish..well let us just say this thing hangs around. Pour it over ice cream and drink it with some nuts or nice fresh fruit. Onc should always have a few of these on hand for special occasions.

Fall Winemakers Event Part I

The following wines were tasted as part of the Fall Winemakers Even Part I & II

This weekend is something of a cluster fuck of tastings in the Seattle area. So on Friday and Saturday I have the winemakers event where World of Wines brings in winemakers for people to taste all their wines. This happens again on Saturday. All weekend long DeLlille Cellars is having their release weekend and on Sunday Ross Andrew is having a release on Sunday. The Hawks are playing Sunday and if that does not suck enough, I am supposed to be going fishing on Sunday but with the amount of rain pissing from the clouds above, that could be canceled as well. Oh well.

N/V PrimaTerra Prosecco $9.99

You know it was not a bad Prosecco but it was not a great one as well. Seems a little bland for my taste in that it had a great nose of light citrus and some soft cream notes but on the palate it was pretty simple or even hollow in the middle. Nothing special.

2008 Grande Reve Collaboration V Grenache/Syrah $55.99

This is a wine that is made by Chris Gorman and every year they pick a new winemaker to make their wines. Kind of like the Long Shaddows project but with WA winemakers instead.

Wine is pretty rich in color with some nice brown sugar and black vine fruit on the nose. On the palate there are loads of tannins but really good acidity and balance. Hints of wet stone linger in as well. Wine sees 100% new french oak. Wine was actually pretty refined for what it is. The price needs to come down in my book. This is their 5th vintage so again I ask why they are charging so much. Fruit is from Red Mountain I believe.

2008 Betz Family Winery Bésoleil Grenache $54.99

This Betz wine is a blend of 82% Grenache, 9% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah from Ciel du Cheval, Olsen and Alder Ridge Vineyards. The first thing you'll notice is the color of the wine. Pretty dark but heading to a delicate ruby rim. Some good sweet fruit on the nose with notes of blackberry, strawberry, anise, and just a hint of herbs like thyme. Pretty big on the palate. Well-balanced yet there was a slight metallic note that kept popping up. Wine needs a few years before it starts to show its true style.

2007 Stevens Winery Merlot $37.99

Grapes come from DuBrul Vineyard so you know it has to be good. Pretty clear in that is was rich in color and has a nose of spices and loads of cherries that have fallen off the tree. Pretty full-bodied on the palate but not enough to push me away. It was funny cause people would come up and ask for a tasting. Tim (winemaker) would start to pour the Merlot and people would say "oh no Merlot please", like it was some kind of swill that was mixed together. At one point I actually told someone to try it. He liked it.

Wine sees 50% new french oak and %50 1-year-old french oak. On the finish it was refined yet still had some nice acidity and earth notes. Tannins were just right.

2007 Stevens Winery XY Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $41.99

Pretty rich in color with blue and black ripe fruit on the nose. There was a spice that I could not pull out. On the palate this thing was HUGE! I mean it was like a fat lady sitting on your chest! The tannins and acidity are perfectly balanced but there is so much more going on it makes you really think. Pretty good spice on the finish. Damn!

2008 Smasne Cellars Rosella Rose $16.99

Very light pink in color with a great nose of strawberries and a light muscat hanging around. Interesting so far. Hints on white pepper on the palate with good acidity and balance. Finish is pretty crisp as well. This is a nice fucking Rose! And the price is just about where I like it.

2007 Smasne Cellars Carmenère $27.99

Almost purple in color with a nose of dirt/soil. Pretty rich on the palate with loads of black fruit and spices. Pretty chewy and rich. Nice.

2006 Smasne Cabernet Sauvignon $29.99

Deep red in color with a garnet rim. Pretty good chocolate and herb notes with a hint of cherry and some light earth. Pretty firm tannins with decent acidity. Finish was nice but it seemed to be missing something.

2008 Smasne Block 3 Syrah $31.99

Almost purple in color with rich notes of earth and dark fruit. There was something like a light nail polish as well. Red fruit on the palate with some herbs and spices. Pretty soft on the finish with good acidity and tannins. Really nice Washington Syrah.

2009 William Church Viognier $ 19.99

Clear with a nice floral note. After a few seconds I noticed that there were some nice honey and citrus notes. Pretty clean on the finish and it was even a little flat. What I mean was not loud and flashy on the end. It just sat there and said "hey, hope you enjoyed me but I think I'll walk away now." I love it!

2008 William Church Bishops Blend $17.99

From what I was told this is a blend of a few different grapes. OK like 5 or 6, I think. Pretty soft on the nose as I felt it was a bit muted. The palate though was/is huge and firm like a porn stars talent. On the finish it was like someone all of a sudden added black pepper on the tip of my tongue.

2008 William Church Malbec $31.99

First off this is a Malbec, that is 100% Malbec. Yup, she is an interesting one. Magenta in color with notes of black pepper and black vine fruit. There are even some floral notes lingering around. On the palate though it was rich with earth notes, spices and a touch of mint. Very nice but the one drawback is the price. Love the wine, don't like the price. It is good but I tend to look at Mabec's as around $10 or so. I'd still pick up a few for shits and giggles though. I'm a wine slut what can I say?

2008 Gorman Winery Evil Twin $59.99

I have known Chris Gorman since he was my wine rep and he was always talking about the wines he was making. I think most of us just said sure whatever but hey he makes good wines. The Evil Twin is a blend of Syrah and Cabernet. Aged in new French for 20 months. Wine is dark with a nice garnet rim. There is a slight mint on the nose with hints of cassis as well. On the palate it is pretty rich and intense. Wine will knock you down with the amount tannins it has. Some good spices and more mint on the palate. Good wine but I am getting tired of seeing the prices on the rise. Remember when wine was actually affordable?

Porto Kopke Bianco Lagrima $17.99

Pretty decent for a white port. Kinda spicy with a nutty character. Not bad to cook with or for a nice after dinner drink.

Porto Kopke 10 Years Old Port $24.99

This is a great little tawny. Hints of roasted nuts with a bit of honey and caramel candies. Just a nice little tawny and at a great price.

1994 Porto Kopke Colheita Tawny $44.99

Amazing color of light caramel with notes of nuts, nutmeg and dried figs. There is even a nice finish of lightly roasted coffee that has been sitting out for a day. Again, amazing.

1988 Porto Kopke Colheita $47.99

I was actually pretty amazed with amount of things that are going on in this thing. Sure you pick up the nuts and the deep caramel notes but then I started to get some sweet tea, ripe cherries and a very smooth finish. I mean I am talking about something that you can spend all night just shoving your two-holed snot rocket in and being very happy with just that.

2007 Porto Rocha Vintage Port $69.99

Let me just say that I am a Port slut. I will do anything for a nice port. Could be a tawny or it could be a vintage port. The 2007 is amazing and over the next few decades it will blow people away. Matter fact if you do not have a case of this, I would pick one up NOW!

Magenta in color with notes of prunes, cooked tar or pavement, and a lovely notes of mint with some herbs to follow. On the palate this thing has some good tannins and great acidity. Very layered and it shows that over time this port will change and start to build onto what it will become. I really cannot wait for a few years to roll by so I can try it again and see how it is evolving. WOW!

1991 Porto Kopke Vintage Port $N/A

By the time I got around to tasting the 1991 vintage port I was getting tired and it was getting packed. People bumping into each other and they were all drinking as I was the only one spitting.

This vintage port has always been one of my favorites and I think it is at ready to be polished off. Been in the bottle for almost 20 years, could sit from another but I really like where it is now.

Good plum notes with loads of dark cherries and a very long, silky finish. Still has some spices at the very end but that shows me that it wants you to remember that it is a vintage port. It was a great way to finish the night. For the Saturday part of the event we have the following wineries:

J.M. Cellars

Cossart Gordan Madeira

Kontos

Chappellet Winery

Smith Woodhouse Port

Page Cellars

Hestia

Pondera

Should make for another interesting day of tasting.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tasting

I like to think I am a lucky man when I can find someone who enjoys tasting CDP wines as much as I do. Nicole is that person. She'll try anything and gives it a chance but tends not to hold her thoughts back when it comes to a wine she does not or does like. Some might try to blow sunshine up a rep or wine makers ass but not Nicole. She just tells you how her palate it telling her. God I love tasting wines with her. Plus she tends to like the same wines I do. I can't wait till I get her tasting the old German juice.

2008 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc $33

This Southern Rhone wine is made from 100% Roussanne and is pretty amazing for the price. Almost gold in color it reminds me of a young Sauterne. Great tree-fruit that pulls from the light peach of sides and with a pretty smooth finish. I know I bitch a lot about prices of wines but in this case I’d be happy to crack this open for some guest or maybe it cause I'm tired of see the wine prices on Washington wines from pretentious wine makers.

2008 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition $26

Rich in color in that you do not want to spill this on your shirt while tasting. I did. Hints of flowers with strong notes of dark-vine fruit and minerals. Lots of minerals. Tannins were pretty solid but gave a light fall leaf presentation on the palate that slowly crept up through the nose. Hints of sweet cassis as well on the finish. I liked this wine but can see how some people might be pushed away as this is a traditional ‘old world’ style. Love it.

2008 Clos des Brusqières Châteauneuf-du-Pape $36

Ruby red in color with some nice rich red fruit and black stone fruit. Hints of pepper follow but not a lot. Tasted like a campfire that had smoldered a bit but still had a nice helping of cherry-like notes on the palate. Plenty of layers for someone to go through and still had that nice little mineral note on the finish. Tannins were a bit tight but I went in knowing that. It is a 2008 folks! Love it.

2008 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape $36

So this wine is dark. It was like looking through a welders mask when not welding. Ruby on the rim but dark in the middle. Notes of dark cherry and earth with some nice spices in the middle. Finish was dry but made you wanting more. It is like a drug that you know will get better each time you taste it. Finish was longer than I thought it would be. Again one needs to remember that these are ‘old world’ types of wines so tasters beware..or take the sip and try something new. Again I love it.

This wine is a blend of 65% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 5% Syrah. Only 1600 cases produced so really 1599 after I was done.

2008 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape $61

I’m sorry did someone get a perm when I was tasting this wine? Really though the first whiff I got was the smell of a salon. I loved it as I knew it would blow off but others were already turning their noses at it. Not the person I was with but other people around. Fine, more for us.

After the smell of a cheap salon and sweat socks blew off we got down to business. Pretty deep red in color with some nice spices, picked red vine-fruit and a quick dash of pepper. The pepper was going back and forth toward the white and black side of things. Great structure as this is a wine not to play with. You need to let her work for you. The finish was very nice but I was afraid she was going to jump up and slap me at any moment. This wine is a tease.

This wine was also just released or will be ready for purchase very soon so it will need some time in the bottle before she is truly ready to break open.

2007 Domaine de la Charbonniere Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Mourre des Perdrix $61

So when I think of CDP wines this is what I think of. This bitch is erotic with its color, notes and the finish are not even funny. You should only be allowed to get this at a porn shop but since I have never been in one nor would I know where one is…guess I’ll never find this wine other than at a tasting.

The color looks almost purple yet stains to a nice light red. Rich on the palate that I would call almost wealthy. Notes of blackberry and cassis with a light hint of mint in there as well. Great earth notes and tannins that are firm yet gentle. Fruit on the finish and spices that follow. Like most woman I know this wine is a tease and I love it.

Novelty Hill Winery Visit

The following 4 wines were tasted with my friend Nicole who seems to share the same views on wines as I do. I've tasted some of Novelty Hill's wines in the past but figured I should give them another shot. I asked Nicole to come along as I wanted someone who was not going to rake the wines over the coals. My bad as she has a great palate and in the middle of the tasting she turns to me and tells me she liked the wines we tasted at the Châteauneuf-du-Pape tasted instead. We went through 4 of the wines and in the middle of each wine she just looked at me with this blank look on her face. She was not impressed, unlike the night we tasted the vertical of Valdicava.

One thing that pissed me off was the staff that seemed to be less friendly to help me since we were not going to spend money on the wines. I did hear one person tell customer at the bar that that a white wine was aged in new French oak for 18 months while it was really aged for only 10 months. Then I heard another lady say that Chardonnays from Napa are more like French wines than Washington wines since they are full bodied and aged in French oak for that toasty vanilla note. REALLY? Maybe the winery should worry less on how their employees look and more on education.

2008 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc $18

Very pale yellow in color with some light citrus notes but more on the lemon than anything. Some good minerals that are from mother earth. Pretty well-balanced but seemed to be lacking fruit where the oak was taking over. Good but not something I would go out and buy for myself.

2008 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Roussanne $22

Some nice honeysuckle on the nose with good green melon and light flint notes on the palate. Some good citrus notes with a decent finish.

Washington State have been doing Roussanne since about 1990 and I think we might actually be starting to get things right. This is a pretty good example of what we can do. I think we should give it a few more years then see what will happen.

This Roussanne was Sur lie aged for 10 months.

2007 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sangiovese $25

Not as bright as I was led to believe plus there seemed to be some fumes hanging around ever after I let it mellow for a bit. Some nice dark tree-fruit on the palate with a pretty decent amount of oak. I was picking up some lead pencil shavings that I could have sworn were from Cab Franc but nope. 20 months in 1 year-old new and old Frenck oak. Nice but I want something more traditional.

2008 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $25

Down right purple in color with a Welch's grape juice nose. On the palate it was full of rich dark-fruit and solid tannins. Needed to breathe or needs to lay down. Wine seemed to be tight or just over-oaked. Price was nice. Still not what I was looking for in a wine.

2006 Hestia Cabernet Sauvignon $34.99

The Next 14 wines were part of the Fall Winemakers Event II


This wine is pretty dark in color with a good helping of Spanish cedar, spices and black fruit. There were also hints of coffee and chocolate on the nose as well but on the palate it was rich and rustic with large tannins and pretty well-acidity. Pretty nice wine. Wine was aged in new French oak for around 23 months.

2007 Pondera Winery Cuveé $19.99

This was the first time I had the chance to taste any wines from Pondera. Clear with rich earth and soft prune notes. Slightly high acidity with a non-balance feel. Finish was kinda blah.

2007 Pondera Salon Series Red Blend $28.99

Almost purple with a rich-red center. Black and blue fruit on the nose. The finish was smooth with some nice light mint notes. Wine is sound in that it is well-balanced with good tannins.

2007 Pondera Consensio Red Wine $33.99

Rich in color and rich in red fruit on the nose. The palate was pretty much a ball buster. Honestly, this wine is huge. In the nose and on the palate. BALL BUSTER.

2006 Kontos Cellars Merlot $27.99

Deep red with a light sulfur nose. Rich in nutrients with pretty firm tannins. Wine was not showing well.

2007 Kontos LVLL Alatus Blend $31.99

Pretty clear with a rich red center. Light plum with hints of mint on the nose. On the palate it was medium bodied with high acidity. Getting tired of people making wines that are made just for scores. Remember when you could drink wines instead of letting them age for 10 years?

2007 Kontos Cabernet Sauvignon $31.99

Darker than garnet to the eyes with hints of berry and cola on the nose. Palate-wise the wine was decent in that it was not too overpowering and had good balance.

2007 Andrew Will Winery Two Blondes Vineyard $47.99

So I can't really remember what the actual price was but I'll take a shot in the dark and say it was around $50 large ones. This is a blend of 40% Cab Sauv, 34% Cab Franc, 19% Merlot and 7% Malbec. Aged in oak for 21 months with 35% of it NFO (new french oak). It was a hair darker than garnet with a green or almost stem-like nose. Rich with peppers and medium plus tannins. Good wine but will need some time. The Cab Franc really shows its true colors.

Cossart Gordon 5 Year Old Bual Madeira $21.99

First let me say that I love a nice Madeira and even a pretty cheap one like this. Cossart Gordon makes a great cheap little Madeira that everyone should try at least once in their life, hopefully when they are young so the can put some away for later use. With a color of yellow-brown and a nose of figs, nuts and spices, this was something amazing for the price. On the palate there were more spices that I was led to believe and a finish that had a lingering amount of more figs, nuts and apricots.

Smith Woodhouse 10 Year Old Tawny $27.99

Most people know that my panties get wet over a nice tawny and if you don't, you do now...sorry bout that. I love a good tawny and this one was great. I sometimes feel that Smith Woodhouse gets the shaft up against other larger port houses.

Great textbook tawny color with a nose nuts and dried fruit. Solid wood notes with just a hint of smoke. This is a nice full-bodied tawny that would go great with any cigar or just a nice sipper at the end of a good meal. Love it.

2003 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port $69.99

Well it had to come down to this. Me finishing the night with two vintage ports. Dark is not even the word I would use for this port, I am thinking more on the lines of BLACK like a crayon. Yup that fucking black. Some light floral notes but I mean very light with a helping of spices and herbs. Pretty full-bodied as it should be and layered with very ripe red and black fruit. The finish was not even a finish, it was more like an encore at RUSH concert where you know they are coming back out to play Tom Sawyer. Damn this is showing very well and in 10 more years...hold onto your jocks boys cause this bitch is gonna blow your mind. I can't wait.

2007 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port $55.99

Being that this port has only been in the bottle for little over a year, I was surprised at how the rim was kinda light, almost purple. Pretty good dried flowers on the nose with some healthy spices to follow. On the palate this thing is too young. I mean it should be on the TV show "To catch a predator", that is how young it is. Full-bodied, cassis with huge notes of anise and ripe black and red fruit. She needs to lay down for a few more decades before she will start to show who she really is. I can't wait.

2009 JM Cellars Chardonnay $34.99

Let me just say that I am not so happy about spending $35 bucks on a Columbia Valley Chardonnay. That being said, the wine was pretty clear with just a hint of hay-like color. On the nose the wine was showing well with some light tree fruit, a dabbing of floral and minerals as well. Finish was nice but nothing I would drop $35 on. Don't get me wrong, I did like the wine but if I'm going to throw down a few bucks for a Chardonnay, it better be from Burgundy! Not sure on the oak but there was a light butter/malo note on the finish as well.

Trevisiol Prosecco Extra Dry Valdobbiadene N/V $15

Pretty clear with nice little bubbles. On the nose it was like sniffing wet chalk (if you can imagine) with a load of floral notes and very light peach hints. Soft on the palate but with a little bite. There was more of that peach and wet minerals as well hanging around. The finish was kind of bland. It was nice but there are others I would rather crack open, even at only $15 I'd pick the Riondo over this.

2008 Rulo Sundance Vineyard un-oaked Chardonnay $19.99

I have to say that I have always like Rulo wines. They taste great, are not over priced and are just really nice people. There were some people a few weeks before who went over to Walla Walla for a weekend Tasting. Rulo was the one they were all raving about. The Chardonnay was nice but lacked what I thought was depth. First off there was no oak so none of those toasty or vanilla notes which is fine by me. More on the tropical side than anything with little notes of Lychee. On the palate I felt it was kinda flat. Just seemed to not hold on well and there was pretty good acidity but lacked the fruit that the nose had. Finish was just like the palate, nothing really to pull your crank about.

2007 Duckhorn Merlot $49.99

I have never really been a fan of Duckhorn wines. I feel like you are just dropping cash on a Napa name while there are other wines out there that you can have for a better price that taste a hell of a lot better. The color of the wine was pretty red maybe even heading toward the purple side of things. Notes of black fruit and spices. On the palate there were huge notes of oak (wow what a fucking shocker!) with some earth tones. Tannins were big but seemed to slide away like first time you farted in front of a girl. You knew you just did it but could not believe you did. Kinda meaty on the end. For $50 I expect a bit more.

2009 El Corazon Malbec $22.99

This is a new winery from Walla Walla so I was interesting in try some juice from them. I could not find a whole hell of a lot from the 2009 vintage but since it is 2010 right now I can only assume that this did not spend that much time in oak. Winery only produces about 350 cases per year for total output.

Pretty dark juice with some rich tar and dark fruit/minerals. On the palate it was pretty much the same as the nose. A bit meaty and chewy but if you let it get some air and toss in a nice piece of red meat, you'll do just fine.

2008 Cadence Coda $25.99

First off this is from Red Mountain and is a blend of 35% Cab Sauv., 31% Merlot, 28% Cab Franc and 6% Petite Verdot. Color is dark! Notes of spices like sweet cassis, nutrients and dark tree fruit. On the palate this wine is a bulldozer with good fruit and solid tannins. This is a wine that should hang around for a few years before it is even popped! Only about 750 cases produced.

2007 Cantele Primitivo $12.99

This is a wine that I have had many times and love it. Made from 100% Primitivo and aged in oak for 6 months. Ruby red in color with a light garment rim. On the nose I picked up some good minerals with some nice cherries and for some damn reason green ferns. Don't ask, sometimes my nose picks up strange shit. There was even some light floral notes with light spices. On the palate this was more of a traditional rustic wine. I mean I was picking up a light iron or rusty notes. The tannins were pretty soft and then it was all over. Just like the first time you did it, it was great, you knew it was happening, then poof...it was done. Very nice for the price. Time for a smoke.

2007 Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon $49.99

I mean I am kind of getting tired of wines from Napa putting some juice in a bottle and jacking the price up. If they want I can unbutton my pants, piss in a bottle and call it Chardonnay but I don't cause I'd miss the hole and piss all over my hand.

Deep red in color with some sweet herb notes and a light candied nuts. HUGE tannins with high acidity and a strange dustyness on the palate. Imagine walking into an old house filled with spider webs and inhaling all the dust...yup that's what I'm talking about.

2007 Rulo Syrah $19.99

Well the night before I had tried the wine and it was amazing. Pretty rich in color and the nose was filled with sweet red & black fruit. Great acidity and balance, good firm tannins but not enough to blow you away. Great earth tones and a great finish. I have heard the Parker or someone gave it 96 points (not that I give a shit about points) but I guess that's good. I think the best part is that they can keep the price under $20 and still make a great quality Syrah. And yet again I ask...why are other winemakers charging so much for their Syrah's in this state but Rulo can make this for only $20?

I have always been a huge fan of Owen Roe wines. I remember the time I asked the winery to give me as many cases as they could. I asked for 9 cases of wine and I got 5. I came home and there are 5 cases of Owen Roe wines sitting in my living room. Having a few wines left from that bunch I decided to ask my friend Shanti to accompany me as I also brought down a bottle of 2003 DuBrul Cab Sauv for everyone to taste as well.

2008 Owen Roe Riesling DuBrul Vineyard $20.99

Knowing that the 2008 Riesling was sold out and we were able to taste it was kind of a treat. Since I have been out of the loop so to speak, this was the first Owen Roe Riesling I have tried and I was impressed. Only 270 cases made which means the QPR (quality to price ratio) was thrown out the door. Great wine with high acidity, notes of light tropical fruit with nice petrol notes. Taste like a nice German wine. Really don't like the price point but I would pick up a few anyway as it was worth it. Just used to seeing Rieslings around $12.

2009 Owen Roe Abbot's Table $19.99

The 2009 Abbot's table is basically a salad but with grapes instead of lettuce and veggies. Check this shit out: 25% Zinfandel, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 13% Grenache, 7% Blaufrankish (that is Lemberger to the non-nerds), 2% Cab Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Merlot. Told you. Pretty deep red in color with notes of black and red fruit. On the palate this thing is smooth. I mean slicker than snot on a brass door knob. Great mouth feel in that it coats and has a nice medium finish. Wine only sees around 6 months of oak with those 6 months being about 17% new French. Well worth the price of $20. Why are other winemakers charging so much more for their Washington blends? Greed perhaps?

2009 Sinister Hand $19.99

Here we go with another blend but not as bad as Abbot's table of fun. 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre and 2% Counoise. This is one of those wines that you think should be made in the Rhone Valley but instead is made here in Washington. Garnet in color with notes of black pepper, strawberry and light currants. Black fruit on the palate with dried herbs and light earth notes. Now when I say 'earth notes' what I mean to say is dirt and light barnyard smells. Trust me..it's a good thing! 10 months in oak but only 17% of it is new French oak.. The finish was smooth and rich. Great wine.

2008 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris $24.99

This is a 100% Syrah with notes of light smoke that I think is possibly due to some forest fires some years ago. Could be me though. All the grapes come from the western Yakima Valley. This seems to be more like the signature Syrah that is coming out of Washington State. Forget those HUGE tannin bombs that some people are making. This has the fruit (plums and rich cherries) and the mouth feel of liquid silk with some spice and black pepper. As for the color, lets just say I would not wear a white shirt when drinking this wine. Finish is nice but could use a bit more time in the bottle or decant it and beat/shake the living shit out of so it get loads of air. For $25 per bottle, you are still getting QPR!

2008 Owen Roe Yakima Valley Red $43.99

Now we are getting to the side of Owen Roe that I feel most people do not see. These are the serious, a bit more spendy and tend to have a bit more kick to them. I love them. This is a blend of 36% Cab Sauv, 33% Merlot and 31% Cab Franc with 16 months in French oak but only 34% being new French oak. Trust me it does matter. If you put everything in new French oak it comes out tasting like a shitty wine from one of the Washington cult wineries. Then when I go to Starbucks I hear people in line talking about how they just their allocation of so and so and how much they spent on it. Big fucking deal, it still taste like asshole with a hint of oak and ashtray.

All grapes were picked from the Yakima Valley and from three vineyards being; Red Willow, Elerding and one of my favorites DuBrul. Only 865 cases of them stuff was made so get it while you can people. This was one of those wines where I could have just stuck my hooter in it all night and sniffed. The color was dark as night so again, don't wear a white shirt. On the nose though it was loaded with black and red tree fruit with a light hint of fresh-cut green ferns. On the palate there was some spice and a bit of pepper but the tannins were very soft and with a finish that begged you for another glass. This is what Washington wine is about. For the price of $44 bucks. I'd do a couple.

2003 Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon DuBrul Vineyard $64 (N/A)

So this was the bottle I brought in for everyone to try. I have a few and being that my wife does not drink and most of my friends won't see this as anything special I decided the best place to crack it was at a Owen Roe tasting. This was one of those times when I was actually scared that I might have a corked bottle. Where would I get another one of the same year? Nowhere.

When it came to the color she was all show. Deep red hue with a nice ruby rim. On the nose though shit was going on. Rich cherries and hints of spices. On the palate though this bitch was moving! Loads of fruit and tons of spices. The tannins were pretty calm until the end when I thought it was over then BAM the fuckers popped out again. Then like an eclipse, it went away slowly. This is the reason why I love Owen Roe. They make solid wines at great prices that are made to age but will drink well now. People were raising their glass to me and thanking me for bringing it. No no no, thank you for loving the wine and enjoying. Seeing the look on their faces told me they were pleased. So was I. One guy actually cracked a Rulo Syrah and gave me a glass. Shanti and I both loved it and at $20 per bottle for a 96 pointer...thank you sir!

2007 Owen Roe The Parting Glass Late Harvest Semillon 375ml $24.99

Man do I like dessert wines. Something about the sugar level, nose of almost candy-like proportions and the simple fact that they taste so damn good. You could pour this thing over cheesecake and be happy! Clear with a light hay tint but with a nose of light floral notes and dehydrated pineapple with just a hint of wet rock. The palate pretty much coated my mouth like a nice aged cough syrup. The finish was.. you know what, just go buy a damn bottle. All you need to know is, it was good, and just for once, drop a few extra pesos and get something nice for yourself. Really. I'll leave you with the quote from The Parting Glass.

“But since it falls unto my lot that I should go and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and softly call, good night and joy be with you all.”

2007 Rudolf Müller Riesling Tasting

I have mentioned before that I am a huge Riesling fan. Mostly ones from Germany but Washington State also has a few out there as well. Here are some notes from three Rieslings made by Rudolf Müller of the Mosel region. I feel like these are traditional Rieslings but made more for the American palate. They have the wet stone and petrol notes that the Germans have but the sweetness that the Americans need. Pretty much right in the middle.

2007 Rudolf Müller Kabinett Riesling $12.99

The first thing you will notice is that it has the color of a Brut Champagne. The nose is to die for. Light mineral notes with a hint of petrol, with the background lingering some nice tropical fruit.

Very juicy on the palate with notes of wet rock and light fruit. At first I thought there was a lack of acidity but then came to the conclusion that this wine has enough acidity to balance out the sugar level.

On the finish there is a light spritz of carbonation as is slowly disappears from the mouth. Medium body, this wine will do great for that summer white. Love it.

2007 Rudolf Müller Spätlese Riesling $14.99

A bit darker than the Kabinett, but not by much. Nose of more petrol and lighter on the tropical fruits, this wine is heading to the "true German" side of Riesling.

More sugar on the palate and even leaves a bit of lemon zest. Great notes of lemon/lime peel and light orange blossom. We are now starting to taste less fruit and more petrol notes. Great little wine. I would call this the getting ready for the true German wines of the world.

2007 Rudolf Müller Auslese Riesling $16.99

I'm sorry mister, did you park your semi-truck near my nose?!

Almost hay-like in color. The nose of this $17 beast is to die for! This is why I got into the wine world. The nose is full of petrol notes with very-light hints of tropical fruit, maybe even a bit of jasmine in there.

The sugar level jumps out of your mouth like a bad case of the Hershey squirts! Acidity and balance are the key here. Wet rock, light mandarin and very crisp green apple hit the palate.

The finish is pretty soft yet still carries a bit of spice as it makes you wanting to take another sip. Thirst quenching yet refreshing. I wish more Americans knew about what are in these bottles.

Januik Winery Tasting

Look at how deep red this wine is. Even on the rim it is solid. Shit it should be, this was my spit bucket I was using while tasting at the Januik Winery.

Now that I have your attention here are my notes from the four wines I tasted today on this very shitty, rainy, windy and cold Seattle Sunday. As my wife would say "This wind is bullshit!"

The first time I tasted Mike's wines were at the 2001 charity auction of Washington wines at Chateau Ste. Michelle. He pulled out the 1999 Columbia Valley Merlot. I'll assume it was aged for 18 months in new french oak since when it hit my palate it felt like someone had put pepper, spices and TNT into my mouth and shook my head up like a fucking martini mixer. That's when I realized that this guy knew his Merlot and people who said they did not drink Merlot were never introduced a good Merlot like his.

Winery was packed with people who were talking shit about all the wines they have at home. I love how people only name drop first growth Bordeaux when you know they have never tasted one in their life. I held back from commenting and giving my 2 cents since I would have had to ask for change back.

2008 Januik Elerding Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $25

Wine color was almost light hay in color with a soft buttery nose. Nothing too special so far. Very soft citrus notes with a bit of vanilla bean. I'll chalk the vanilla part up to the 67% new french oak while the rest is one-year old french oak. On the palate there was more citrus but also a nice helping of lemon peel and grapefruit. Was this a Chardonnay I was tasting or a Pinot Grigio, can't remember. Finish was smooth and nice. Not your average Chardonnay by all means.

2009 Januik Bacchus Vineyard, Columbia Valley Riesling $20

I really like Riesling. Yah I know it is not manly but fuck off. Good wine is good wine. Wine is almost clear in color with notes of lychee and other tropical notes. On the palate this beauty is smooth with a light bite. Just enough to remind you that you are drinking quality Riesling and not Blue Nun! Normally I will stray away from a $20 Riesling but being that it is a single vineyard and very tasty, I'll bite.

2007 Januik Columbia Valley Merlot $25

Pretty decent in color in that it was garnet in the middle with a nice ruby rim. Looking good so far.

This Merlot is a blend of 95% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc. On the nose this was pretty much everything I have expected to smell from Mike's Merlot, cassis with some soft cooked mocha. On the palate this thing was pretty big for only being a Columbia Valley Merlot. Rich and full-bodied with great balance. Tannins are firm and balanced, again something I would expect from a wine that aged for 18 months in new french oak.

There was a slight bang on the finish in that it was like the tip of my tongue had black pepper on it. This is exactly what I remember from his Merlot's. Great.

2007 Januik Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $30

Deep red in color! Really deep! Deep like this..nevermind. Notes of bitter chocolate with vanilla and a light sweet or burnt sugar note. This Cab is a blend of 93% Cabernet, 3% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc and 2% Malbec. Wine sees 20 months in new french oak. Pretty HUGE on the palate in that you know you are tasting a big mutha fucka! Not big in that it is loaded with tannins and acidity, big in that it has flavor and you just want to keep shoving your dork in the glass to see what goes on next. Great spices on the palate with some firm tannins. This is an amazing wine for the price.

I always find it funny that new wine makers will charge 2 to 3 times more for their wines when they have only been making wine for a few years. Here we have someone who has been doing it for over 25 years and yet for some reason he can keep his prices low and still make great wine. Makes you question what you are paying for in other wines huh?!

Cantine Talamonti Tasting Notes

Yet another Saturday goes by and yes I am at another wine tasting. Seems like all I do is taste wine and write about it. OK, so that is what I do. Friday I missed a good wine tasting but since I was not feeling in the mood to taste, I didn't.

Saturday I had the chance to taste some wines that are not that far from my place in Rome. The following wines from Talamonti came from the d'Abruzzo region of Italy. Talamonti is making wines that on the shelf in Italy are around €7,00 and in the States are a bit more due to Washington State having the highest alcohol tax in the nation. Now for the tasting notes.

NV Ruggeri Valdobbiadene Prosecco, Veneto $19.99

Something about a nice Prosecco from the Veneto region just makes the day go round and round. Wine was clear with a hint of light hay in color. Very soft on the nose with light hints of citrus and dried straw or hay. On the palate it was creamy and soft with a very delicate finish. What a way to start the tasting off.

2009 Ilauri Tavo Pinot Grigio, Veneto $10.99

Here we have a nice little Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region. Pretty clean and refreshing. Not much for fruit but was better than buying a shitty Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio for $20+. This wine would be great with some shellfish or trout.

2009 Talamonti Pecorino "Trabocchetto", d'Abruzzo $19.99

This is one of those grape varietals that was pretty much lost for years until people started bringing it back. This is a white wine that I would love to pull out for people when they think that the only good white wine to come out of Abruzzo is Trebbiano. Pretty clear in color with a nice light hay hue. When it comes to the nose though things are going on! The nose has a citrus style going on with notes of light-lychee, apricots and very light hints of mint. Pretty full-bodied yet very smooth on the finish . Being that there was only 500 cases for the world to share...I'll be picking up a few for spring time use.

2009 Talamonti Rose', Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo $10.99

Many people do not know this but I love a good Rose! Most men will not admit that but they go with so many foods or are great by themselves. Wine was pumped over for around 18 hrs or so I believe to get that very light ruby color. On the nose this hits with notes of cherries and strawberries. On the palate it is fresh and smooth. Really great balance and acidity and would go great with a nice sandwich made from prosciutto cotto and mozzarella di bufala.

2008 Talamonti ModA', Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $10.99

Deep red in color with notes of cherries, dried fruit and raspberries and a light hint of wet fur (I like that!). On the palate it was medium-bodied but pretty well-balanced with a nice easy finish. Wine sees Slovenian oak for about 6 months. And look at the price!!

2009 Sassotondo Ciliegiolo, Tuscany $21.99

Again another wine that I am pretty sure most people have never tried straight. The grape Ciliegiolo is a grape that is usually blended in most Chianti's. In the last few years there has been a huge debate going on in the wine world on where the hell this grape came from and if it was an off spring from another. Names were called and feelings hurt but from the last papers I read, this is an off spring from the Sangiovese grape. I'm sure they will change their minds next year on this though.

The wine itself is pretty amazing. Deep red in color with great notes of earth tones (dirt, soil or terrior) with good notes of black and red ripe fruit. Medium plus dry on the palate with nice structure and a medium finish. The Sassotondo winery only has 10 hectares of vineyards of which 8 are dedicated to Ciliegiolo. Very small production and worth every peso. Wine does need a bit of time to age though.

2004 Talamonti kudos, Colline Pescaresi $29.99

Now we are talking some good shit. I was tasting these wines with two other people who love wine but are not nerds like I am. The first thing I noticed about the wine was the nose. The color..It was red people! The nose was something to die for. It reminded of the time when I was studying wine barrel staves from different parts of the world that make barrels. I nailed it on the first try yet had a hell of a time pronouncing the name of the forest where the wood was from since my French is so shitty.

There are five main forest where the wood is from; Allier, Trancais, Nevers, Limousin and Vosges of which this wine saw 24 total months of oak from Allier and Trancais then 12 more months in the bottle before being released to the public.

The nose of this wine was great. A blend of Merlot and Montepulciano, it had some pretty strong notes of black and blue vine fruit. Also has a few notes of vanilla and light chocolate notes that were hanging there as well. The palate was like having liquid silk in your mouth. Pretty big wine yet very smooth and gentle. I mean it was great, flat out! Fuck the Napa shit!

NV Il Conte Stella Rosa Brachetto $13.99

Then we come to the Brachetto that was a fine way to end the tasting. Soft yet fizzy with a nice light ruby hue and notes of strawberries and cream. Very smooth and delicate. Just a nice way to end the day.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Tastings

Sometimes my job is not that bad. I decided to take my mother in-law to Chateau Ste. Michelle for some wine tastings. I needed to brush up on some of the current vintages since we don't see much of their wines in the EU.

We started off at the bar with the rest of the folk but then ended walking past the Vintage Reserve Room where I was going to see if we could get in without an appointment. Well the VRR was not full but we were offered instead to taste alone in the library. We sat down and started to power through the line up.

I'll start with the four wines from the bar then head into the library tasting.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Pinot Gris $15

The 2008 Pinot Gris is a blend of 93% Pinot Gris and 7% Viognier. Very soft on the nose with a helping of green apple and ripe melons. There was a spice that I could not nail down but the finish lingered around like after grandpa using the shitter, in a good way.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay $26

There are not a lot of Chardonnays I like that are from the US. Most of the time they are loaded with oak and have no flavor except that. This is not one of those cases. This wine is sur lie aged for I think about 10 months and is 100% malolactic fermented. Brings out those soft notes that I tend to like. Soft butter on the nose with that lovely malo nose added. Hints of citrus with good toasted notes but not enough to throw your mouth into a tail spin. Finish is quick and graceful. I would hit this with a nice breaded veal.

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling $20

I really like wines that are made from Cold Creek vineyard. I have been a fan since I tasted my first 100% Cabernet back with the 1998 vintage. The Riesling (which I am a fucking HUGE fan of Rieslings) on the nose this wine blows you away with loads of ripe tree fruit like peach. It does have a light minerality note on the palate that leads to a soft beautiful finish. Try this with a Pad Thai. My mother in-law is now hooked on the Cold Creek vineyard. She even bought a bottle for when we have stir-fry.

2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 375ml $20

Have you ever had your mouth full of melon or a juicy over ripe peach? Then as you smile it starts to dribble down your chin like a toddler with applesauce? This wine is fantastic! On the nose this wine blows out notes like apricots, melon and light citrus. On the palate this thing is something else. It feels like cough syrup in your mouth, but not that crappy cherry Nyquil you drank back in high school. Finish was long and juicy. I would actually pour this over some cheese cake.

Now for the wines we have in the library. We started off with the 2008 Eroica.

2008 Chateau Ste. Micheele Eroica Riesling $24

This is the top echelon of Rieslings in Washington State. Some people may charge as much for theirs but in my humble opinion they will never reach this point. What do you expect when you have one of Washington's best winemakers and one of Mosel's best winemakers? Perfection. Nutrients on the nose with hints of lime and citrus. On the palate we have a light fizz that I love and lots of acidity with perfect balance.

2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Chardonnay $37

On the nose this thing is buttery. Yes it was aged in oak and yes it has malolactic fermentation. On the palate this thing tasted a bit oxidized but it could have been that the bottle was opened for too long. Low acidity with pretty good balance. I would like to re-taste the wine with a fresh bottle.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $35

Deep red in color with rich earth tones, solid black fruit and solid amounts of oak. Palate wise, there was some dried leather and big tannins. This was a wine that I was not expecting to like. I am not one who likes big bold in your face wines but the balance of this wine was great.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Wahluke Slope Mourvedre $N/A

Lucky me...only 700 cases made or 8400 bottles and the one we tasted was looking great. This is something you do not want to spill on the counter. Almost ink in color. Loads of nuts and ink on the nose and a palate of farm animals. Basically what I am saying that this thing is everything I have wanted in a Washington Mourvedre. Rhone style all the way. Round, rich and beautiful.

2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $40

What can be said about a wine that is 4 years old and could use a few more years in the bottle. Really this wine is out there. Almost black in color. This wine shows notes of black fruit and hints of mocha on the nose. On the palate this thing was pretty big with solid tannins. The finish was silky soft. Imagine having liquid silk in your mouth...yup, that's right!

2008 Betz Family Winery, La Cote Rousse, Red Mountain, Syrah $62

With a color of almost blood-red in the center and a lighter rim, I knew this wine was going to be fucking great. It has never treated me wrong in past vintages so why would it be any different? Notes of blackberry and earth tones on the nose with a light stew-likeness (is that a word) that followed. On the palate it was pretty much the same as it was in my hooter, yet this time the tannins were there and making sure that I did not forget about then. How the hell could I when they made my mouth stand at attention? They were firm yet had perfect balance and acidity with the rest of the wine. Again at $62 per bottle, so one might not be cracking these open for dinner anytime soon. Matter fact I would wait a few years before I even cracked one anyway. Another great vintage for La Cote Rousse.

2008 Betz Family Winery, La Serenne, Yakima Valley, Syrah $62

I've known Bob Betz, MW for over ten years now and he is by far someone you can sit down and have a conversation about wine with and you'll never feel like he is putting you down for the lack of knowledge you might have. He is a Master of Wine which is 1 of 289 people in the world to hold this title. One might say, he knows his shit!

The 2008 La Serenne is a Yakima Valley wine with all the berries coming from the Boushey Vineyard. When it comes to the color, this wine is almost black. Don't spill this on any white counter top. The nose of this wine is loaded with black vine fruit with a really nice earth note that follows. (When I say earth, I mean dirt) Hints of wet leather are hanging around as well. The fruit follows through on the palate as the medium soft tannins fill out and make the fruit follow to a nice finish.

Overall this is a great wine that shows a Washington State Syrah can compete with its French counter-parts. Price per bottle will run you about $62 each. Most collectors will grab these up as soon as they come out but the average person will use this as a special occasion wine. I go both ways when my wife lets me. Most of the time I try to hide the fact that I am spending the money on the wine. I tend to get in trouble a lot!

2008 Darby, The Dark Side, Columbia Valley, Syrah

I love Syrah, especially Washington State Syrah. Like most red wines, yes the color was red. Nose was sound with notes of coffee, chocolate and light hints of a green shrub that I could not pick out. On the palate though this bitch was HUGE with spices and dried herbs. The tip of my tongue blew up with black pepper and fire. A bit much for me but a nice wine. To much alcohol though. What happened to the days when wine was around 11-12%?

2007 Stevens XY, Yakima Valley, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $42

OK so after tasting the Red Blend from Stevens I was really afraid of tasting the Reserve Cab. I was afraid it would be another reserve that just had the name tag not the quality that it should have. I was corrected!

This wine is nice! Deep red in the center with a nice burgundy rim. Doing good so far. Nose was amazing with hints of cherry, brown sugar and spices. She is winning me over. On the palate it was fuck-fest of fun. Loads of spices, lots of dark fruit and soft, silky tannins one might find on a cleanly shaven leg and like the leg...the finish went on forever. Normally I would walk away since the price was around $42 but in this case I would pick a few up and wait as long as I can. Decant this so you can get the real taste out of her. Good stuff.

2007 Gorman Winery, Columbia Valley, Zachary’s Ladder, Red Wine

Almost blood red in color with a lighter ruby rim. On the nose the wine has a lot of stone fruit and hints of a light green herb. Pretty big tannins with a huge amount of red fruit. Tons of acidity. Pretty full bodied. $28

2006 Argyle Brut Sparling Wine $24.99

So this is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Clear as a bell and with a nose of light citrus, green apple, with some nice spice. There are even some notes of currants. On the palate I was even more impressed. Smooth and elegant. Finish was something out of this world. I would love to taste this up against some medium to high-priced Champagnes. Lovely.

2007 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain Red Wine $24.99

I remember when Hedges was more of a joke when it came to wine making. Wine reps would bring it to me and you would just ask them to not pour it. You were like, "No thanks I just ate." Things have changed. This red is great and more European in style than ever before. Light on the alcohol percentage (which I think is just fine) and more on the actual fruit in the bottle. Nose of rich red fruit and some good spices. This is how wine should be made and the cost is pretty fucking nice as well. On the palate there is plenty of acidity with nice firm tannins but not like a Parker bomb. Balanced and well made. I am guessing that it is only aged in oak for less than a year. WOW.

2008 Board Track Racer Cellars by Mark Ryan, Columbia Valley, Red Wine

Burgundy in color with strong notes of blue/black berries and a helping amount of black pepper. On the palate she was massive and full-bodied, sure did not hold back on the oak here. $20

Light hay in color with a sound nose of floral and citrus notes. On the palate it seems a bit oxidized with very light spring flowers and sea salt touches. I actually liked this Viognier but again, the price of $20 kind of gets me.

2007 Stevens 424, Yakima Valley, Red Wine

This is one of those Bordeaux blends that is really trying to be something. I really like it but feel that it could use a little time in the bottle to mellow out a bit more. If it really wants to be 'like' a Bordeaux blend it will sit for a few years then be cracked. Great wine for the price. With a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Verdot this wine has an amazing color to it with hues of light ruby on the rim and solid brick-red center. Nose is layered with rich red and black fruit and light hints of dried herbs. On the palate is was dry and had some hard tannins. I'll chalk up the tannins to just being opened. Pretty solid finish. Like I said, wait a few years and this will be amazing.

2008 Mark Ryan Winery, Columbia Valley, Chardonnay

Honestly…I was not that impressed with it. Pale yellow in color with a nose that was sound but had hints of light citrus, dried grass and soft oak. There was pretty much the same going on with palate with exception some white pepper and loads of heat. Not really worth the $27.99 price tag.