2010 Icon Cellars Viognier $20

I'll be honest...I know nothing about this winery! I do know one thing though...This wine was amazing. Pretty light in color yet with rich tropical fruit all over. You can really smell the soil on this one. I even picked up a little lime lingering around. On the palate this thing was a ball buster. Light on the mouth feel yet rich in flavor. Hints of candied green apples, light hints of Riesling with a very light touch of flint. Just sweet enough to make you stand up and beg for butter milk!

This Viognier reminds me of when Rulo came out with theirs and it blew us all away. I'd love to do a side by side with Icon, Syncline and Rulo and see what the masses think. Great job and I look forward to stacking this in the shop! This is what the people needed, a decent priced wine from Washington.

2009 Finca Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard $17

After tasting the Muga Rose we were given this gem. At first it had something going on with its nose but then it blew off. Rich with black fruits and some candies lingering around. The palate was pretty full-bodied yet seemed to lack the balance. There was some good fruit, herbs and dark tree fruit but it seemed to fall apart at the end. Maybe that's not the word I should use. It didn't fall apart, just didn't stick around as much as I wanted. Seemed a little off but I would buy one anyway cause it was a nice drink. I think a few years would do it some good.

2010 Muga Rioja Rose $13

I love a good Rose and don't care where it's from. Could be Spain, Washington or even out a jug. I just don't care as long as it taste good. This one is great so I was in luck. Thinking I was just going to hit up some Malbec today and this little treat was the starter.

Let start off with the color...It looked like something I used to drink before I was of age to drink. What was it now...Oh yeah, MD 20/20! The nose was something else though. Didn't smell like MD and sure hell didn't taste like MD either. Tropical fruit on the nose with a light hint of fresh sea air. Seemed to have some light peach lingering around as well. On the palate it was refreshing and clean. Very-lightly sweet but not like someone added sugar rather like it was picked at a high brix. Acidity and balance holds this betty in check. Would go great with a fresh salad or just by itself. Hell I could even read a book while enjoying this. I mean the book would be a quick one like Green Eggs and Ham, would still take me a few hours to finish though.

2001 Piero Busso Barbaresco San Stefanetto $110

I really like Italian wines and this is by far I think my favorite one! I first tried this wine at a Vias (past importer) tasting some years back and everyone I was with fell in love with it. Matter fact we bought I think most of it up in the state then sat on it and only told a select few which I thought was bullshit since I wanted everyone to try it. Any who, I picked up a case or so and stashed it throughout the years only to crack one here and there. This was the last bottle I had of the single vineyard 2001 vintage.

Nicole and I had our friend over for dinner last Sunday and I decided it was time to crack this gem. Paired it up with some nice fillet mignon's from our butcher that I BBQ'd with a few other stuff that really is not important.

I let the wine breathe for about ten minutes or less, I mean it is 10 years old and should be perfect right? Right! Once the cork came out Nicole asked what that smell was. It was the smell of dedication and love. Rich cherry notes with a helping of blackberry and some spices. On the palate it was like we were drinking liquid silk with some great fruit notes and light tannins. Perfectly balanced does not sum up the quality of this wine! The finish lasted for around a minute then it was back to the glass. We each got two good sized glasses and it was done.

If Piero Busso was on the stock exchange I would invest my life savings and live of the interest. It is that good. Sadly I just went to his website and noticed that the San Stefanetto was not listed as one of the vineyards used. Although this saddens me, this will not stop me from buying more of his wine. Matter fact Nicole and I are planning on a trip there and will be stocking up on all his reds for drinking in the future (with us tasting before we buy anything of course, just cause I love a producer does not mean I will not taste before I buy. Just a simple rule I live by).

I leave you with this thought...Whenever you try a wine that you like, DO NOT say you will come back to get more or just think about it! You will forget and a once in a lifetime chance of pleasure will skip you by. Don't just buy a few bottles. Somehow pick at least a case for the cellar cause you know you will drink a few bottles by the time you find another wine you need and by then the first wine will be gone. This is not a sales pitch but just some friendly wine nerd advice.

Cheers.

Santo

2008 Northwest Cellars Merlot $18/ Northwest Cellars Tasting

Decent in color and less Merlot to the nose than I normally look for. There was a pretty good amount of olive juice and smoke. I like less oak since it tends to bring out less for Merlot but it was not bad just not my cup of tea. I can see how people would like this and it would go well with a lot of dishes. Hell, I bet if you give a few more years in the bottle it will calm the acidity and tannins a bit. I bet I'd like it more then. Still though pretty decent juice for the price.

2007 Nothrwest Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon $24/Northwest Cellars Tasting

First off let me say that the price for a nice Cab from Washington State should be around $24. That being said, at first glance this gem was nothing I had not seen before. Red wine, nice legs with little stains in it so good viscosity. Then I put my snout in her. There was a stink that made me want to know more about the wine. The wine itself is 80% Cab, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Cab Franc and sourced from Les Collines Vineyard out of Walla Walla so this wasn't like I was trying something new yet I was picking up more dried flowers and wet herbs than normal. I did just blow my nose about an hour or so before so I know it was working OK. Cooked rhubarb and loads of dirt were to follow. On the palate it was pretty full-bodied yet not powerful enough to want to put down. If I had to give this any points I'd give it a zero since I don't give point. Finish was nice and even hung around. We are talking about a $24 Cab from home that I was impressed with. Yup its going to the shop. Now why are all the other wines from Walla Walla so much more money? Hmmm...

2007 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $14

When I was in NJ and consulting for a wine shop there, I used to buy this wine in cases of 10. For one to get a good deal on it but also because people would buy me out every week. It's been over 3 years since my palate had tasted this and since we were looking for a quick red to go with some BBQ burgers, we decided on it.

As soon as the cork came out I could smell the stink. It was the stink of love. Some nice toasty notes with blackberries and light hints of dried leather. On the palate it reminded me of drinking wine with my grandpa Trino while we were hunting. Rich is flavor yet slicker than snot on a brass door knob. The finish was very easy and begs you to take another sip. Matter fact, right after it was opened I poured some in Nicole's glass, left mine so I could toss the meat on the grill and Nicole yelled out...Great wine babe! Came back in and took a sip. She was right. It was really great wine and at a fraction of the cost. This will be on the shelf at the shop. Hell, I'll take the whole Masciarelli line for that matter.

Maybe I could get some large format bottles for weddings and special occasions?

2009 Urban Uco Torrontes $12

I've actually had this wine many times just not this vintage and since it has been getting hotter in the Seattle area we figured why the hell not? Now my previous notes are ones of joy and delight but I found the 2009 a bit off or just to damn acidic. Nice and crisp but with a thud of an aftertaste of acidity in the back of your throat or in this case mine and Nicole's throat. Did have the pear notes but it was more like an unripe pear and some kind of rhine or peel that was kinda nasty. It was a bit cold when we first dove in and since it was hot out it helped a little but then the aftertaste stuck around. Maybe both of us were having on off day?

2010 Patterson Cellars Late Harvest Roussanne $20/ 375ml

About 2 months ago Nicole and I received this wine as a gift from someone and we had been waiting for a good time to open it. Over this last weekend her family came up for the weekend and on Thursday night Nicole was busy making a cheesecake. It was a toss up between the Single Berry Select and the late harvest Roussanne and Patterson Cellars won the coin toss.

After I cracked her open I could tell there was some good juice in there. The first thing Nicole said was "wow" and I tended to agree with her as did everyone else in the room. On the nose it was like sniffing pears that were not quite ripe yet with some light floral notes. On the palate the pear was there again but this time was ripe and ready to play. Solid structure with great balance and acidity. There was even a little hint of frizzante lingering around. Overall this is a great wine and I'll be bringing this into the shop fo sho! The pair up with homemade cheesecake matched very well and I might even drizzle a little of some ice cream someday. Solid!

2004 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino $96/ Vinifera Tasting

Let me start of by saying how the price I put of $96 is in Washington State but if you do a search for the same wine in another state it will come up as around $56. Oh how we love this three-tier system in this state!

This is a great example of a traditional Brunello di Montalicino. Great nose of dried flowers, light herbs with a hint of vanilla and wild berries. Pretty full-bodied yet could use a year or so in the bottle to calm down. Tannins are firm but with a little air they seemed to mellow some. This is what I'd call the "full belly sit down" kind of wine. Good juice.

Syncline Winery Visit

So after 10+ years, one ex-wife, about 200+ miles, and Nicole driving through the canyons like Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull F1 Racing Team) I had made it or I should say, we had made it. Due to my great map skills we drove past the road that would take us to the winery and instead drove for another 8 miles along the Columbia River. There is a very small sign that tells you the winery is on the right but once you're heading down the road you cant miss it...OK I can miss it.

We were trying to get there on Friday so I could watch James bottle up some sparkling wine but due to us being so tired we decided to take the Saturday visit instead. James and Poppie were in town at a festival but that was OK, we decided to walk around the winery and snap a few shots of the grounds. Goes to show what you can do with a very little winery and a couple who truly loves what they do.

The wines are not in order but you get the idea.

2010 Syncline Rosé $18

I mean you can get a pretty sure shot of light strawberries and light wet rock but is pretty crisp on the palate. The blend is: 33% Pinot Noir/ 17% Grenache/ 17% Cinsault/ 15% Carignan. This is a "real" Rosé.

2009 Syncline Roussanne $30

Have you ever cut a fresh lemon and taken a big whiff? If so that is what you will smell. Not kidding, I don't know what they do in the cellar and honestly I don't care as long as they keep doing it. The Roussanne only lasted 48 hrs.

2009 Syncline Subduction Red $18

This is the daily dinner wine that everyone will enjoy. Rich and juicy with some good tree fruit on the palate. Tannins are smooth and send you wanting more. Really...this is a great table wine. Next time you have dinner guest tell them you have this wine but don't give them the name. Decant it and serve. Then ask what they think. This will blow their minds when they find out it is only a $18 bottle.

2009 Syncline McKinley Springs Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $30

This thing will stain your clothes. Trust me, it did me in pretty well. Has a great nose of homemade blackberry jam with some good spices and even a little fresh ground coffee. On the palate this thing is soft with loads of character. Really, this is a wine where you buy a case and let it sit and drink a bottle every 6 months. Nicole and I loved it!

2008 Syncline Mourvedre $30

So this was the chicken dinner winner for us. On the nose it was mind blowing. Spices all over the place, coffee and ground black pepper with a huge mouth feel but not enough to turn it into a Parker wine but that layered stuff. It kept changing and once I looked over at Nicole and she said we needed some of these I knew I was in trouble. Why it is when ever Nicole tastes a grape that is grown in the CDP region she all of a sudden needs that wine? It's like a drug. Being that James and Poppie know how to handle this grape, that would make them a drug dealer right? OK kidding. The wine is great and I grabbed 1 bottle of the 12 or so they had left. When I got home and looked on their site www.synclinewinery.com and the Mourvedre was all gone. It was that good.

2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcno $100/ Vinifera Tasting

This is one of those wines you want to try with friends. You will be the hit of the party as you should for opening this beauty. Although the price in the State of Washington is a bit much due to the 3-tier system, it is still one of those wines that makes your head spin. On the nose there was some pretty rich tree-fruit with a helping of spices. Palate-wise the tannins were still pretty firm yet had a sweet style to them. Seemed to last for over a minute until the next sip. I sometimes regret bringing Nicole to these tastings with me as she has a great palate and tends to like wines like this. I can almost see her writing '6-pack' next to her notes. Oh well, I keep telling myself it is an investment that I will never see a return on cause we'll drink them all up. This is a beauty.

2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva "Madonna del Piano" $276/ Vinifera Tasting

**Please note that these are Washington State retail prices.

All I can say about the beauty is that it is big, full of dark-vine fruit, chewy, with great acidity and firm tannins. For some reason though it is very soft on the finish and just amazing. It will age for at least 10+ more years though. I will try to get a few of these but not at the current retail price!

2008 Deux Montille Cote Chalonnaise, Rully $30/ Burgundy Tasting

This is how we started off the tasting. A nice Rully to get us introduced to Montille. I think we all pretty much knew we were in trouble after we tasted it. Very light on color, almost clear actually. Very light hints of honey and butter with just a touch of minerals. I thought it was a little nutty but that could just be me. Very soft on the palate with a quick spritz of citrus and light floral finish. It was going to be an interesting tasting.

2008 Deaux Montille Cotes de Beaune 1er Cru, Saint-Aubin $44/ Burgundy Tasting

Clear in that it was just a little lighter than one of my fly fishing lines (I know you all know what color that is). Hints of butter and light hairspray on the nose but also had a fresh sea air to it. On the palate it was more like a granny smith apple with some nice citrus notes. Very soft on the palate as the finish lasted quite a bit. I would have liked to pick a few bottles up but then I heard there were only 2 cases brought into the State of Washington so I think my options are limited now as the importer brought one case to the tasting. Nicole wants more of it. Guess we'll be getting more of it some how.

2008 Domaine de Montille Meursault, Aux Narvaux du Dessours $70/ Burgundy Tasting

I know that some people might scream when they hear that you would buy a $70 white wine but would you rather by a $3 piece of crap wine that is high in alcohol, nasty and huge tannins and is unbalanced so bad you have to force your way to finish it or spend a few pesos and buy a bottle that you will truly enjoy and look back after you are done and say "That was Amazing"?

If you are like me you will do that latter. There was a light-hint of hair spray but in a good way with lots of citrus and soft green apple notes. On the palate it was citrus-spicy with some wet minerals and a nice smooth finish. I know tons of people who would enjoy this and yes it is kind of a lot of money for a white (I don't think so cause I know what you are getting) but when it comes to quality, you are paying for a top-notch Meursault. What else do you want? Love it!

2008 Domaine de Montille Nuit St. Georges. 1er Cru, Les Saints Juliens $55/ Burgnudy Tasting

I was pretty surprised how light this wine was. Just a hint darker than a Rosé. I mean it was beautiful! Very soft on the nose, almost making you sniff harder just so you could get all she had to offer. There are some nice violets and the traditional red fruit but damn was she delicate. On the palate there was some nice soft red fruit and even a little spice at the end while the tannins were just there to round things off. A very light tea bag finish but nothing that would offend anyone, especially not myself or Nicole.

2008 Domaine de Montille Beaune, 1er Cru, Les Greves $70/ Burgundy Tasting

Rich herbs with a slight spice and cedar on the nose with loads of red fruit. Pretty supple on the palate with some crushed fall leaf and a little more cedar to round it out. This wine really is amazing when you are just wanted to spend a little more cash but not blow the wad. It would be worth picking up a six-pack of these and letting them sit for maybe 10 years, that is if you can. I can't. Matter fact Nicole squeezed my arm and whispered to me...six!

2008 Domaine de Montille Colnay, 1er Cru, Les Champans $96/ Burgundy Tasting

Right of the bat you can tell this is going to be great. This is by fare more delicate than the Pommard Les Pezerolles but still has that great taste, nose and finish. When I say delicate I mean if the Les Pezerolles is a dog it would be black lab while the Les Champans would be the poodle.

Loads of fruit on the nose with some nice wet spices and a hint of fall leaves. Seemed to have some fresh cured cigar wrapper plus a nice gamey or even soil lingering. Very soft on the palate with some great cedar notes. This is why I love what I do.

2008 Domaine de Montille Pommard 1er, Les Pezerolles $99/ Burgundy Tasting

Do you know what it's like to have perfection sitting in your mouth? OK that sounded bad, let me try that again. Imagine having something soft yet chewy and full flavor in your mouth. I give up.

This beauty from de Montille was the tops. Young and full of life but still soft enough for the Burgundy lover who wants something nice and soft passing through their gums yet with a kick. Very light red in color with almost a clear rim.

This is what a REAL Pinot Noir should taste, look and smell like. Not that over extracted, high alcohol, over-oaked California crap.

Rich cherry notes with a dose of red-vine fruit added. Did have a hint of dried leaves or maybe spent tea bags as fellow wine nerd Kristen pointed out. Going to have to use than one more often. Rich soil notes seemed to linger on and on. That was just the nose to boot. Very soft tannins with more red fruit but very subtle. Not in your face stuff, this makes you work for it then all of a sudden it's right there presenting its life for you. Then the power kicks in like your down-shifting on an M3. All of a sudden the power goes away and leaves this light mineral note with a very light brown sugar finish and more fruit. Where the hell did all that come from. Needless to say the importer (Elaine) had a smile on her face cause she knew she was pouring some top notch juice. If you get a chance...pick up a bottle. I know it is kinda spendy at $99 per bottle but you will not be unhappy!