This Saturday we are pouring some special wines from Walla Walla and the Willamette that fit with the festive season. These wines are fit for gifts, gourmet dinners or just toasting the season.
2010 Sleight of Hand Cellars, Modern Wine Project Chardonnay $24
From the cooler 2010 vintage MWP’s Chardonnay was aged 22 months in mostly new French oak for, and has been in bottle for the last year, undisturbed and waiting. Full of ripe, tropical fruits, brioche, hazelnuts, and Meyer lemon, it has a wonderfully full, rich texture from the full ML treatment, yet maintains wonderful acidity to carry the finish.
2012 Patricia Green Pinot Noir Reserve $24
Patricia Green is known for her vineyard designated Oregon Pinots. But her multi-vineyard blend is the real deal and the real bargain. 2012 was a good year in the Willamette, amidst a number of challenging ones. The 2012 Reserve is fresh and mouthwatering with sweet black berry and cherry fruit flavors. There’s a bit of very appealing field herbs and earth in the mix and a smooth silky finish.
Turtulia Cellars, Redd Brand Grenache $15
This non-vintage Grenache is a berry cocktail of strawberries, raspberries, black current, with ginger spice, rhubarb and a smooth finish.
2012 Sleight of Hand, The Conjurer $30
42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot
The 2012 Conjurer was aged for 11 months in 20% new French oak. It’s full-bodied and rich, with enough acidity to keep it bright and youthful. The wine is brimming with fresh red fruits, like cherries and pomegranate, and has an herbal note from the Cabernet Franc. The lush finish carries the fruit on forever with well-integrated, fine tannins.
2008 Rasa, QED Syrah $40
83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 2% Viognier.
Rasa Vineyards is the manifestation of a dream shared by two brothers, Pinto and Billo Naravane, avid wine enthusiasts and oenophiles who cashed in their day jobs and went pro. QED comes from the Latin “quod erat demonstrandum” or “to be demonstrated.” The QED demonstrates what they are trying to achieve. It has a seductive, complex bouquet with notes of grilled meats, blackberries, earth, herbes de provence, violet, and vanilla. The flavors are of blackberry, kirsch, white pepper, black truffle, earth, mineral, and smoked meats. Its voluptuous mouthfeel and cashmere textured tannins lead the palate to a resonating finish.
