This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely wine from wine importer (and now blender) Kermit Lynch.

Kermit Lynch was born and raised in California. From his youth he remembers that his father and uncle worked for a winery, but he has no memory of anyone in his family drinking wine. The Lynch family was rich in preachers, too, but at communion they served Welch’s grape juice, even though, as Kermit points out, Jesus turned water into wine, not grape juice.

In 1972 he opened a retail wine shop and later began importing and distributing nationally. In 2000 he was named Wine Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, in 1998 the French government presented him with the Ordre de Mérite Agricole award, and in 2005 named him Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. In 1988 he planted his little terraced hillside near Bandol with Mourvèdre vines. The juice now goes into Domaine Tempier’s famous La Migoua cuvée. In 1998 he purchased the historic Domaine Les Pallières in Gigondas in partnership with his friends the Bruniers of Vieux Télégraphe.

2012 Kermit Lynch Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Blanc        ($12)
50% Chardonnay, 50% Viognier
Made by Domaine Durban and blended by Kermit the Blanc is full and tasty and non traditional. Round-bodied texture, yet tart, stony crispness and a knockout aroma of pear, sun-baked apples, and spicy hints of anise.-Limited production.

2012 Kermit Lynch Vaucluse                        ($11)
55% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot, 10% Marselan
With this VDP, Kermit steps out of his importer role and takes on blending his own cuvee. The wine is made by Domaine de Durban, harvested by hand and ferment by carbonic maceration, then aged for 8 months before being bottled unfiltered. In the blending Kermit goes wild breaking all the rules, but comes up with a tasty wine.

As much as we love the complexity and tradition of the wines from France and Italy, it is nice to find tasty wine a little closer to home. This Saturday we’ll be pouring wines from four Washington wine makers who don’t get as much attention as they deserve. These winers are winners. Stop in and get a taste of local flavor.

2010 Upland, Sauvignon Blanc $13
Upland vineyard in Snipes Mountain is the reclaimed site of Washington’s first winery east of the cascades (Bridgeman). Their food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc is barrel fermented in neutral oak barrels and aged sur lees for 7 months. The wine is lush up front, loaded with tropical fruit, hints of citrus, lemon grass and fig that is balanced around bright acidity and a crisp dry finish. 

2010 Sun River, Chenin Blanc $13
A relatively new kids on the block, Sun River Vintners in Kennewick is making some interesting and reasonably priced wines like this Columbia Valley Chenin. Chenin Blanc usually goes one way or another – sweet or dry – and this Chenin took the dry route which meant it would not be just a summer wine. In fact, this lemon, citrus inspired flavor profile is the perfect partner for the sea. 

2009 Corfini Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon $12
Corfini is best known for their delivery trucks that run all over town every day distributing gourmet meats and cheeses to local restaurants. This great value Cab was made for them by an unnamed Washington wine maker on Waluke Slope   

2008 Cedergreen, Thuja $21
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon 
A smooth and supple Bordeaux blend put together from some prestigious vineyard sources (Conner Lee, Klipsun, Chandler Reach, & Clifton Hills). Deep, dark, and luscious with black cherry, clove and peppery pizzazz! The aroma of this blend entices the nose, deep and unctuous on the palate with a lifting finish that demands another glass.

2009 Uplands, Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon $30
Planted in 1973 on the south slopes of Snipes Mountain by Alfred Newhouse, the fruit from this Cabernet Sauvignon block has the refined but definite tannins. The wine was aged in new American oak for 22 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon shows dried berry fruits, herbal spice and chocolate caramel. Its refined tannins are backed by well integrated oak flavors that build around its depth, concentration and full bodied finish. Only 96 cases were produced and only a few of those are left before it rolls into 2010.

This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely Washington wines. A moderately priced Walla Walla rosé and Columbia Valley Tempranillo.

The Hence cellars winery is located on the south side of Walla Walla on shared grounds with the Orchards personal residence. The estate vineyards provide the landscape between the two. Current production sits plus or minus 1,200 cases a year, with 90% of the fruit grown and managed Henderson, and my father Willis “Papa” Orchard. The focus is on quality control, from the grape to the “Juice”. We take the fruit and extracts a concentrated delightful blend of fruit with 100% new oak, which is a mix of French, American, and a “sprinkle” of Hungarian Oak. The process is not one of speed, considering the wines avg. 24-28 months in barrel, which is critical in order to get that balance of fruit and barrel flavors.

2012 Hence Cellars Walla Walla Rosé        ($11)
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec
Another wheat farmer turned wine maker, Hence Cellars producers small lot estate wine from their Wall Walla properties.  This on has a little bit of the whole vineyard in it.  It is bold and fruity, but has enough acid to hold it all togeher.

Kana is a native word for the spirit or the fire within a mountain, in reference to the perceived supernatural power of volcanic activity. The Yakima and Columbia Valleys are awash with volcanic soil influences, providing terroir from the millennia of “Kana” escaping from nearby volcanic mountains, to lay resting as soil for our world-class vineyards.

2008 Kana Tempranillo($15)
Sourced from Stone Tree (60%) and Elephant Mountain (40%) Vineyards and aged 3 years in French and American oak, 1/3 new, Kana’s Tempranillo shows beautifully intense aromatics and flavors of black cherry, raspberry and caramel almonds wrapped with chalky tannins and finishes long with a compact fruit finish and balanced acids.

We start tasting at 11am until the bottles run out – stop by early to make sure you get to taste these two lovelies.

As August runs itself out into Labor Day weekend, everyone deserves a last break.  So this Saturday we corralled a few discount deals that will see you into September.  We have three crisp wines from the Loire and two expansive Spanish reds that should fill out the holiday weekend.  Come wet your whistle.

Paul Buisse, Prestige, Tourane Brut Rosé  $15
Pineau  d’Aunis
A crisp and lightly fruity Rosé sparkler. 
Was $20 now $15

2012 Paul Buisse, Les Domaniales  $9
Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Pineau d’Anuis
A very crisp Rosé with aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries and a slight herbal note.
Was $12 now $9

2012 Couronne & Lions, Sancerre Blanc  $15
Sauvignon Blanc
More grassy and citrus heavy than mineral packed, but a good deal at the price which puts it down where it can out preform NZ.  
Was $20 now $15

2008 Almanseñas, La Huella de Adaras  $9
60% Garnacha , 30% Monastrell, 10% Syrah
From the town of Almansa in south east Spain.  The La Huella is from 30 year old vines fermented in stainless. “An enticing nose of smoke, underbrush, and blue fruits leading to a supple, mouth-filling, savory wine with excellent depth and length”  WA —
Was $12 now $9

2011 Casa Castaño, Monastrell  $10
From Yecla, just south of Almansa, Castano makes this Monestrell from 31 year old vines.  A full, ripe red fruited Monastrell that has a lot of concentration for the price.  Silky mouth with a good structure, balanced.
Was $12 now $10

This Saturday we’re pouring some wines from the sunny French countryside that fit perfectly with our lingering summer.  The wines are fresh and expansive and are quite suitable to the other seasons as well.  Come have a taste. 

2012 Joseph Drouhin, Macon Villages  $12
Chardonnay
Joseph Drouhin is so renowned for their Cru Burgundies that it is easy to forget that they make some delicious everyday wines as well.  The Macon Village is lightly floral and fruity.  “Very straightforward and direct on the palate, as if biting into a grape. Fresh and light, with a very pleasant aftertaste”.

2012 D’or et de Gueules Les Cimels Rosé $13 
34% Cinsaut, 33% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre
From the South of France, the Les Cimels is a dry and elegantly full blend with flavors of strawberry, mineral, and sweet herbs.  It is complex enough to drink year round.

2010 Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages  $12
Gamay
A truly convivial wine, with great charm, owing to the careful blending of various terroirs. The nose is both refined and intense, with notes of violet, peony and red fruit syrup. As you drink it, it feels fresh and silky. Both freshness and fruit remain for quite a long time on the palate”.

2010 Domaine de Piaugier, Sablet $15
75% Grenache, 25% Syrah 
Domaine de Piaugier is located in the village of Sablet, in the southern Rhône valley. Jean-Marc Autran, whose father and grandfather before him were wine growers, and his wife, Sophie, cultivate 30 hectares of vines. The wine has lots of dark fruit, notes of smoked meats and herbs and a good tannic finish.

2009 Lyonnat Lussac Saint-Emilion $24
85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc. 
A long standing family estate in this satellite of St. Emillion Lyonnat is a classic right bank Bordeaux.  It has a nose of spice cake, licorice and red fruit.  The palate is powerful and smooth, with very elegant and blended tannins.

Lopez de Heredia, founded in 1877, is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja and still makes their wine in the traditional manner, from their own vineyards. Fermentation takes place in their 72 large oak vats, some of which are 139 years old. After fermentation, the wines are ready to be aged, in 14,000 hand-made American oak barrels. The wines remain in the underground cellars, stored at perfect temperature and tranquility.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring some of their wines long with a couple of upstarts.  Come compare the difference. 

2011 Buil & Gine, Nosis, Rueda $17
Xavier Buil and his wife Anna own vineyards in Priorat, Montsant, Toro and Rueda.  Their motto is “passion for fruit, appreciation of wood and respect for the soil.”  The Nosis is 100% Verdejo from 35 year old vines in the Fuente la Miel vineyard. The vines grow in sandy and rocky soils with a foundation of clay. It has zesty citrus aromas with a peach and spice notes.

2003 Lopez de Heredia, Gravonia  $26
100% Viura 
Gravonia wines come from the Viña Zaconia vineyard, all of which is 45 year old Viura vines.  The south-facing slopes are poor and stony, and roots are forced to go deep – hence grapes have balanced biological composition and ripen with complex flavors. The Gravonia ages for 4 years in barrel, being racked twice a year before release.  The wine is complex and developed with notes of flowers, stone fruit, spice, and nutty character.

2007 Sabor Real Crianza  $13
Tempranillo
Sabor started in 2003 by a group of grape growers from the Zamorana de Toro area, who wanted to pool together to create something special. The vineyards are all over 40 years old, with a significant amount hitting 100 years of age. The Sabor has tamed the tannic, wild side of Tinto de Toro and enhance the concentrated fruit and power of these old vines.  The wine over-delivers big-time with blackberry, cherry and tobacco flavors fill the palate with a big, rich finish. 

2005 Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo  $25
65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacho, 10% Mazuelo & Graciano
From the vineyard Viña Cubillas, whose vines average 40 years of age.  The soil is from the tertiary age and is a mixture of clay and limestone. The wine ages for three years, being racked twice per year before release. It is fresh and slight aroma to licorice with consistent texture and persistent aroma. 

Buil & Gine Vermut $25 
This artisan made vermouth is made from Macabeo and Garnacha Blanc and infused with more than 110 different plants for several years in a wooden barrels. It has powerful flavors of a Mediterranean forest (rosemary, eucalyptus, thyme, fennel, tobacco leaf) along with tones of old wood floor after a rain, truffle, honey, artichoke, thyme and fennel.

This Saturday we’ll be pouring some great wines from two Washington wineries.  Kestral started in 1999.  Their Kestrel View Estate vineyard 1200′ up the Rattlesnake Slope is home to old plantings of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec dating back to 1972.  Alexandria Nicole  focuses on small lots of hand-crafted wine from our their Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard located high above the bluffs on the Columbia River, near the town of Paterson, in the Horse Heaven Hills.

2011 Alexandria Nicole, A Squared Rosé $12
96% Pinot Gris, 2% Mourvedre, 2% Syrah
This very pretty, salmon color Rosé boasts a bright bouquet of watermelon, strawberry, and raspberry. The palate starts out broad and fruit filled with cherry, rhubarb and hints of spice which lead to a crisp, yet lingering finish.

2012 Alexandria Nicole, Shepard’s Mark $19
65% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne, 15% Viognier,
A stainless steel aged Rhone blend, Shepard’s Mark comes from all estate fruit.  This unique and flavorful white wine boasts floral notes of lavender, layered with pineapple, bosc pear, lemon zest, all leading into a delicious mix of citrus and white peach, and a viscous yet crisp mouth-feel that lingers to a refreshing finish.

2009 Kestrel, Sangiovese $20
This estate grown Sangiovese employs a number of different techniques to increase color and intensity.  The vines are fan trained to spread the fruit out and improves exposure to sun, with only one bud per spur, and one cluster per shoot, reducing the yield   At crush they draw off about 20% of the juice, this intensifies the color and flavors of the remaining wine by increasing the skin to juice ratio, making it darker and richer in body and structure.  The wine has aromas of cherry, cassis, blackberry, blueberry and dried herbs, with notes of vanilla, cedar and leather, intertwined with the dark cherry and blackberry.

2010 Kestrel, Tribute Red $20
52% Mourvedre, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Sangiovese 
The Tribute commemorates Kestrel’s founder John Walker.   The Merlot lends strength and structure while the Mourvedre introduces beauty and elegance.  The wine ages in 30% new French and American oak for 18 months.  It is full of ripe dark fruits such as cherry, currant and elderberry accompanied by tobacco, dried herbs, cedar, vanilla, spice and currant jam.  

2011 Kestrel, Cabernet Sauvignon  $21
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 1% Syrah
The grapes for this cab are 72% Kestrel View Estate Vineyards, 17% Olsen Estate Vineyards and 11% McKinley Springs Vineyard. They age twenty-two months in small French, Hungarian and American oak barrels.  The wine is filled with dark fruit such as Van cherries, boysenberries, elk heart plums, black currants, spice, dried herbs, cigar, coffee and smoke. This expansive and generous wine is full bodied, dense, with firm tannins and a lingering finish.

When Ernst Loosen took over his family estate of ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of the Mozel’s best-rated vineyards, he dramatically reduced the crop size, stopped all chemical fertilization, And he turned to gentler cellar practices that would allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of technological meddling.  Later he took over the historic J.L. Wolf estate In the Pfalz, Where the wines are more full-bodied, with higher alcohol and pure flavors of ripe fruit and stone.  Come by on Saturday when we’ll be pouring some excellent value wines from the Doctor as well as one of his more developed world class Rieslings.

2012 Ernst Loosen,  Villa Wolf, Pinot Noir Rosé   $12
The Pfalz is a very warm and sunny region, often called “the Tuscany of Germany,” so all of the Pinot varieties do well here. The Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé is a true rosé, made with a brief maceration before pressing to extract color. It is light and refreshing, with deliciously bright berry and fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish.

2012 Ernst Loosen Villa Wolf,  Pinot Gris $13
Pinot Gris was first identified in the Pfalz region. Villa Wolf Pinot Gris is made in a full-bodied, dry style with fresh, unoaked fruit and a crisp texture. Half of each vintage is made in large, neutral oak casks for depth and complexity. The other half is done in stainless steel to preserve freshness and enhance the vibrant fruit.

2011 Ernst Loosen Red Slate Dry Riesling  $16
Made from red slate estate vineyards in Erden and Ürzig, this dry Riesling has an intense minerality that is warm and enveloping. It has floral, spicy, citrus blossom aromas and harmonious flavors with a full, expansive texture. A very expressive wine that is an excellent introduction to the Mosel.

2007 Ernst Loosen Erdener Treppchen Spätlese Riesling  $32
Erdener Treppchen Spätlese is from a truly “grand cru” vineyard in the village of Erden. Stone steps are built into this vineyard’s steep hillside to reach the vines. The iron-infused, red slate soil produces wines that are muscular and complex, with an intense mineral finish. Wines from Erdener Treppchen are more like a powerful, hard-body rock climber than the graceful ballet dancer. They benefit greatly from a few years in the bottle developing more nuance as they age.  The 2007 is showing signs honeysuckle, melon and a bit of diesel. 

2011 Ernst Loosen Villa Wolf Dornfelder  $10
Dornfelder is a crossing developed in 1955 at the Weinsberg Wine School, and was named after the founder. About 20,262 acres (8,200 hectares) of Dornfelder are planted throughout Germany, accounting for 8% of the total vineyard area. Villa Wolf Dornfelder is a fruity, medium-bodied red wine with flavors of plums and cherries balanced by velvety tannins.

Sunday:
We’ll have two pleasing French wines open for tasting all day.
As well as the artist reception for:

Portraits: Man & Beasts
Eden Hopkins
Laura Grover
from 3 to 5pm  
Stop in and meet the artists. 

Penedès in the northeast of Spain is considered one of the country’s best wine-producing regions best-known for its Cava, fresh Grenache and highly-regarded, oak-aged reds. In the shadow of the Pyrenees, Penedés is distinctly Catalan, a very food and wine loving culture.  Stop by on Saturday and try some delicious wines from the region.  

2009 Jané Ventura, Reserva de la Música Brut  $15
32% Macabeo, 38% Xarel·lo, 30% Parellada 
Jané Ventura is a family winery in Lower Penedès with a tradition that dates back to 1914. Their distinct Cava has a delicate and aromatic herb and floral aroma and rich creamy palate reminiscent fennel, white flowers and citrusy orange peel jam.  It has silky small bubbles with a wide entry and a long, subtle flowery and toasty finish.

2011 Jané Ventura, Bianco Selecció $13
72% Old Xarel lo vines, 14% Macabeo, 8% Grenache Blanc, 6% Malvasia de Sitges 
The Bianco Selecció is made using a cold-temperature skin maceration to achieve higher aromatic expression and more structure on the palate. The must is then fermented at low temperature in inox vats and spends 3 months “sur lie”. The nose is elegant and complex, showing stone fruit (peaches) tropical fruit (bananas) and white fruit (yellow plumbs). The flavor is elegant and creamy with white flower reminiscences and a long and persistent finish.

2012 Pardas, Rupestris  $17 
81% Xarel lo, 6% Red Xarello, 13% Malvasia de Sitges.
Ramon Parera and Jordi Arnan, oenologist and agronomist respectively, farm more than 40 hectares of organic vineyards in the Alt Penedes.  Their Rupestris has at first sniff citrus fruit followed by Sant Joan pear and ripe melon, quince, soft hazelnut and a feeling of dawn in a Mediterranean landscape: aromas of lavender, weaver’s broom and dried cuttings.  Beyond the fruit, we find the minerality of the soil where the vines thrive in, quite a lot of flint. Pears, apricots and peaches overlay a marked acidic background and provide an excellent tension across the palate which carries over the depth of the fruit towards an electric fresh and slightly bitter aftertaste. One of them likes to wax poetic.

2011 Finca Viladellops, Garnatxa $13
Grenacha
Viladellops is a large organically farmed estate located in the town of the same name 45 km from Barcelona.  The Garnatxa is made from the freshest and fruitiest wines of the harvest.  It has a fresh and fruity aroma of Picota cherry. It is long in the mouth but at the same time it is tasty and rich in clear fruit flavors.

2008 Pardas Negra Franc  $21
60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Sumoll — Organic.
Made with more continental varietals, the Negra Franc is serious and intense and very fragrant wine with a very present balsamic background, aromas reminiscent of black pepper, fresh plums and grilled peppers along with hints of candied oranges and pencil lead.  It seduces the palate by growing and becoming more ample giving way to plenty fleshy black fruit. Quite a persistence of tannins fills the entire mouth.  A fine long and elegant finish with just the right amount of acidity reverberates and defines the sensation.  They get quite excited describing their wines.