Saturday, February 16th 2pm
With a few exceptions, Washington’s wineries are still mostly small family operations. And the story of farmers turned grape growers turned wine makers is a common one. This leads to some notable and some not so notable local wines. This Saturday we are just pouring winners.
2011 Gard, Freyja White $15
49% Viognier, 36% Roussanne, 15% Pinot Gris
The Lawrence family.have been farming Royal Slope in Columbia Valley for more than 45 years where they now have their sustainably farmed estate vineyards. Their distinctive white blend has notes of lemon peel, white blossoms, and white peach and citrus zest. Swirling brings up honeysuckle, ripe peach and fresh apricot. The palate is round, textured and crisp. The wine is balanced and fresh.
2010 Mercer Canyon, Cabernet Horse Heaven Hills $14
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Syrah
The Mercers are 4th generation farmers in the Horse Heaven Hills.
Their HHH Cab is mostly from their estate fruit. The wine is loaded with ripe red cherries, cassis, vanilla and toast. On the palate the wine is full with pleasantly soft tannins. The bursting fruit gives way to a lingering finish with notes of candied cherries, earth and char.
2008 Helix, Pomatia $16
30% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc
Helix is Reininger’s label for their Columbia Valley AVA wines. Chuck’s notes for his Pomatia: Buckle up for an unforgettable red wine roller coaster ride! This adventurous and fearless blend will take you straight through a tunnel of plum and hearty cherry marmalade. Twist and turn through a nose of baking spices, pipe tobacco. Prepare to splash into a finish of juicy pomegranate and red licorice. Trust me, you’ll get in line again for more.
2010 Hedges, DLD Le Gosses Vineyard Syrah $25
In 1976 Anne-Marie Liegeois said goodbye to her life in Champagne, France and left for the United States with her new husband Tom Hedges. The DLD Syrah is an homage to her grand-father. Grown on a 15 acre vineyard, named Les Gosses, this wine displays the greatest qualities of low yield farming. It has earth, fennel spice and structure, the hallmarks of a great Red Mountain Syrah, framed by classic French Oak barrels.
2009 Reininger, Cabernet, Walla Walla $31
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Chuck Reininger’s Cab comes from the cream of Walla Walla Vineyards being a blend of Pepper Bridge & Seven Hills. Chuck’s notes on the wine: Man, this is a Muscular, Charles Reininger Atlas, Anaconda, Steak house, lick the tannin off my teeth Cab. Dense, volume expanding, weighty. Black raspberry, Black currant (cassis), Black plum, black berry, Black licorice, Black earth, toffee. It’s a good thing the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body.