Walla Walla Wine Wows Webb (Part 3 of 3)

The focus of Part 1 was the excellent quality of Walla Walla Valley wine, while last week’s post focused on the bargain prices for which many of these wines can be purchased. So why isn’t this excellent, well-priced wine readily available outside of the Northwest? Quantity. A majority of the twenty wineries that I visited produce less than 10,000 cases per year. Some make far fewer than that–Tempus Cellars-800 cases per year, Kontos Cellars-1000 cases per year, Mackey Vineyards-1100 cases per year, Rotie Cellars-2000 cases per year, Skylite Cellars-2000 cases per year, Amaurice Cellars around 3000 cases per year, and Buty Winery-4000 cases per year. On the upper side of production, L’Ecole No. 41 makes 35,000 cases per year, making it one of the largest producers in the valley and the 18th largest producer in the state of Washington.

Quintessential Walla Walla: Vineyards and Wheat Fields

Living in Colorado, it’s rare to find many wines from the Walla Walla Valley in local restaurants or wine shops. I have heard other bloggers living outside the Northwest say as much about finding these wines in their own states. I have found a few L’Ecole No. 41 bottlings (although these are typically their Columbia Valley releases), some Tamarack Cellars releases, a few of Charles Smith’s higher-end bottlings, and some Waterbrook, but California wine dominates the inventory. If you want Washington wine, you’re typically limited to wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, Columbia Winery, Charles Smith Wines (the more heavily produced wines under this label, some releases are very limited) or other mega-producers. I’m not knocking these wines at all–I’ve given high praise to several of them–just pointing out that many wine consumers are given only a limited snapshot of the wines that are being made in Washington state.

How does one get a chance to taste Walla Walla Valley’s finest? My best piece of advice is to visit the area and taste a wide sample of the area’s wineries. Another option is to look for tastings/events focusing on Washington wine (if you’re in the Denver area, there’s a Washington/Oregon/Colorado wine event coming up on June 26th, send me a message if you’d like more details). Lastly, keep your eyes open while perusing your local wine shop. I stumbled across a very nice 2005 Merlot/Cab Sauv blend produced by Gifford-Hirlinger for $12.00 earlier this year!

A cluster of the Airport Wineries. Kontos Cellars is housed in the yellow building on the far right.

Walla Walla Wrap-Up

At most of the wineries that we visited, we were asked three common questions: 1) Which wineries have you been to? 2) Which ones are you going to after this? 3) Where are you going for dinner? These questions came from both tasting room employees and winemakers alike. You could just tell that the questions regarding the wineries we were visiting weren’t stemming from a competitive nature, but instead were out of genuine friendliness and promotion of the valley’s wine industry. Several gladly offered up their own recommendations and favorites.

It was nice to be able to talk to the winemakers/tasting room employees rather than having to worry about jockeying for position next to the tasting bar to ensure timely pours. Granted, most of our visits were by appointment, but the few wineries that we did randomly pop in at had at the most a couple of other tasters. On one stop, the marketing director pouring our wines made the comment that a long-time Napa Valley resident was visiting and made the comment that Walla Walla reminds him of the Napa Valley in the early 1980s, before the crowds, limos, and tour buses showed up.

And the food! Where there’s good wine, good food is sure to follow. The food scene in Walla Walla is really incredible, with an eclectic variety of options. I can personally attest to the following eateries:

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen- The most highly/heavily recommended stop and my favorite. The glazed pork belly was ridiculously good. I also got to sample my first blood sausage (an Anthony Bourdain favorite). I must say, it’s pretty good.
Pho Sho- The sister restaurant to Saffron (their kitchens are actually attached), Pho Sho is a Vietnamese restaurant specializing in pho. This place is great and very reasonably priced–I’m guessing I would end up eating here a lot if I was a Walla Walla resident. They may in fact serve the greatest chicken wings in the world–their chili-garlic version was phenomenal.
Brasserie Four–Serving delicious French fare, Brasserie was my wife’s favorite restaurant. The steak frites and bacon/caramelized onions made me feel guilty after eating them, which is hard to do, but they were very good.
Graze–Really good paninis–a great lunch stop.
Colville Street Patisserie–I developed a serious addiction to the Patisserie’s cheesecake brownies in three days. More addictive than crack? I wouldn’t know, but I have to imagine they’re pretty close.

Walla Walla reminds me a lot of the larger towns/smaller cities that you would come across in the Midwest. The people are friendly, the pace is fairly slow, and the houses and buildings are nice but not overly fancy. Throw in the world-class wineries and the great food scene and you’ve got one unique and special city.Day 3 of tasting included stops at two wineries within Walla Walla city limits, four of the “airport wineries”, and another just east of town.

Charles Smith Wines/K Vintners- Founded by Charles Smith, a former sommelier and rock band manager. The Charles Smith Wines label includes wines that retail for as little as $12.00 (the super-valued Kung Fu Girl Riesling) to more limited releases that retail for over $100.00. The K Vintners label also includes several limited release wines. Smith’s wines have received some serious love from the big wine publications–he has scored as high as 99 (on a couple of occasions) with Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

$20 Above wines

Charles Smith Viognier Stoneridge Vineyard-Columbia Valley 2009 ($40.00)- Rich but nicely balanced, with melon and bacon fat aromas. Highly Recommended
Charles Smith Viognier Columbia Vally 2011 ($25.00)- Recommended
K Syrah Milbrandt-Wahluke Slope 2010 ($30.00)- Smooth, with a slight smokiness, cherry, and vanilla. Recommended
K Syrah “Pheasant Vineyard” Wahluke Slope 2010 ($35.00)- A mouth-coater, with smoked meat, black cherry, and floral (geranium and violet) aromas and flavors, and a great finish. A killer value! Highly Recommended
K Syrah “The Beautiful” Walla Walla Valley 2010 ($60.00)- Savory, with a gorgeous aftertaste. Highly Recommended

Tamarack Cellars- Founded in 1998, Tamarack Cellars was the first “airport winery” that we visited. They had some very nice wines selling for under $20.00, including a ridiculously good Chardonnay for $15.00 (reviewed in the next $20 below post). I was also impressed with their Merlot and Sagemoor Reserve red blend.

$20 Above wines

Tamarack Cellars Merlot Columbia Valley 2008 ($28.00)- Big, juicy, spicy, and ending with a memorable finish. Highly Recommended
Tamarack Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008 ($32.00)- Aromatic and mouth-coating, with peppery tannins. Recommended
Tamarack Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley 2008 ($28.00)- Tea leaf, blackberry and black cherry aromas and flavors. Recommended
Tamarack Cellars Sagemoor Vineyard Reserve 2008 ($50.00)- 50% Cab. Sauv., 25% Merlot, 25% Cab. Franc. Red and black cherry and cola aromas. Highly Recommended

Buty Winery- Founded by Caleb Foster and Nina Buty Foster in 2000, it’s impossible to deny that Buty has several beauties in their lineup. Buty also features a “Beast” label, under which they sell a red blend and a Riesling. I was a big fan of their unique Cab. Sauv/Syrah blends (and vice versa), as well as the Chardonnay and Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Muscadelle blend.

$20 Above wines

Buty Semillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle 2010 ($25.00)- Crisp, with enticing honeydew and citrus aromas. Highly Recommended
Buty Connor Lee Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 ($32.00)- One nice Chardonnay. Zestful and beautifully textured. Highly Recommended
Beast Wildebeast Red Blend 2009 ($25.00)- Dark berries, toast, and spice. Recommended
Buty Rediviva Phinny Hill Vineyard Estate Grown 2008 ($48.00)- 60% Cab. Sauv., 40% Syrah. Red currant, spice, and black pepper intermingle on this beauty. The longest finish of any wine I tasted on the trip. Highly Recommended
Buty Rediviva of the Stones 2009 ($60.00) 77% Syrah, 23% Cab. Sauv. Sumptuous and earthy, with green peppercorn, tea leaf, and blackberry. Highly Recommended

aMaurice Cellars- Winemaker Anna Shafer’s enormous talent shines through in aMaurice Cellars’ diverse and stunning portfolio. From Viognier to Chardonnay, from Malbec to Syrah and back to Bordeaux blends, it seems that she can do it all. In my opinion, aMaurice had the best Viognier and Malbec that we tasted.

$20 Above wines

aMaurice Cellars Viognier Columbia Valley 2010 ($25.00)- One sip revealed that this was a wine made with care. Delicate, with lilac and tropical fruit aromas. Highly Recommended
aMaurice Cellars Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2009 ($28.00)- Aromas of citrus, with a slight smokiness. Flavorful, balanced, and refreshing. Highly Recommended
aMaurice Cellars Syrah/Grenache Columbia Valley 2008 ($34.00)- Violet and cherry on the nose, with a gorgeous velvety texture in the mouth. Very impressive! Highly Recommended
aMaurice Cellars Malbec Columbia Valley ($35.00)- Understated, with black cherry and leather aromas. Simply the best American Malbec that I’ve had. Highly Recommended
aMaurice Cellars “The Tobey”2008 ($35.oo)- 44% Cab. Sauv., 30% Cab. Franc, 26% Merlot. An explosion of fruit and spice. Highly Recommended
aMaurice Cellars “The Cummings” 2009 ($35.00)- 47% Cab. Sauv., 33% Merlot, 20% Cab. Franc. Black cherry, tomato leaf, and spice. Still a bit rough around the edges, but sure to improve with age. Recommended

Rotie Cellars- Rotie Cellars was by far the most recommended stop by the other wineries that we visited, which speaks volumes of the respect that the Walla Walla wine industry has for winemaker/owner Sean Boyd and his Rhone-stlyle wines. Rotie produces 2000 cases a year and with it’s growing popularity, don’t be surprised if these wines are nearly unobtainable in the years to come. Rhone lovers should consider jumping on the mailing list while they still can–see Sine Qua Non.

$20 Above wines

Rotie Cellars Southern White 2011 ($28.00)- 50% Viognier, 30% Rousanne, and 20% Marsanne. Beautifully aromatic, with rich banana, lemon rind, and floral notes. Minerality in the mouth, balanced with a nice texture and weight. Highly Recommended
Rotie Cellars Southern Blend 2010 ($40.00)- 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre. Lip-smacking dark berry goodness, with notes of roasted meat. This sumptuous wine was meant to please. Stellar
Rotie Cellars Northern Blend 2010 ($40.00)- 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier. Chewy and packing a bit of muscle. Blackberry, roasted meat, and expresso abound on the nose. Highly Recommended

Tempus Cellars- Tempus Cellars was founded by Joe Forest in 2006. Forest also works as the winemaker at Patit Creek Cellars. Tempus had a very impressive portfolio, including an outstanding Riesling for $16.00 and a Grenache Rose for $19.00 with one of the more beautiful colors that I’ve seen in a wine. The Grenache and Syrah were also excellent and very well-priced.

$20 Above wines

Tempus Cellars Grenache Yakima Valley 2010 ($25.00)- Striking light purple in color, well-balanced, with loads of cherry. Highly Recommended
Tempus Cellars Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2009 ($28.00)- A “pretty” syrah, with blackberry, spice, and floral aromas Highly Recommended
Tempus Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008 ($32.00)- Recommended

Kontos Cellars- Brothers Cameron and Chris Kontos, 6th generation Walla Walla residents, founded Kontos Cellars in 2006, releasing their first vintage in 2008. Their father is a winemaker for Fort Walla Walla Cellars. Another up-and-coming winery in Walla Walla that didn’t waste any time before making some really nice wines.

$20 Above wines

Kontos Cellars Gossamer White 2011 ($22.00)- 35% Viognier, 28% Chardonnay, 20% Rousanne, 17% Orange Muscat. Nicely balanced, with lots of character. Highly Recommended
Kontos Cellars Merlot 2009 ($32.00)- Big plum and cherry aromas, spiciness, and a long, lingering finish. Highly Recommended
Kontos Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($32.00)- Recommended
Kontos Cellars Alatus 2008 ($32.00)- 60% Merlot, 25% Cab. Sauv., 10% Malbec, 5% Syrah. Firm tannins, juicy fruit, and a lingering finish. Highly Recommended

Me, outside of Rotie Cellars, preparing to sample some Rhone goodness.

Notes

-Wines in Bold above were my personal favorites–”Nick’s Picks” if you will.

-Wines retailing at $20 and below will be discussed in the next $20 Below post.

-Sean Sullivan, author of the Washington Wine Report, ranks his 100 top Washington wines every year. I stumbled across his list after the visit and was interested to see that a handful of the wines that I reviewed were on the 2011 list.

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Nick in $20 Above, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Red Blends, Riesling, Syrah, Washington, Wine Column, Winery Visits 2 Comments

$20 Below: Trio Vintners and Saviah Cellars

The wines discussed below were tasted on our second day of winery visits in the Walla Walla Valley. Short descriptions of the wineries, reviews for the $20 Above wines tasted, and links to the wineries can be found here.

Trio Vintners Riot Columbia Valley 2008 ($18.00)- A blend of Mourvedre, Sangiovese, and Grenache. Medium-bodied, with berries, maple, and spice on the nose and palate. One of the more interesting wines that you’ll find for under 20 bucks. 19.5/20
Trio Vintners Mourvedre 2007 ($20.00) Smooth and tempting, with red cherry and black licorice oozing on the nose. Another spectacular value! 20/20
Trio Vintners Zinfandel Yakima Valley 2009 ($20.00)- An interesting contrast to the California Zinfandels that I am more familiar with. Medium-bodied with a bit of tartness, loads of cranberry and raspberry. 17/20

The Jack Syrah Columbia Valley 2010 ($18.00) (Saviah Cellars)- Easily approachable and loaded with tea leaf and blueberry. 18/20
The Jack Riesling Columbia Valley 2010 ($18.00) (Saviah Cellars)- Another great riesling under $20.00! Refreshing, with pear and enticing minerality. 18.5/20
Saviah Cellars Late Harvest Gewürztraminer Columbia Valley 2010 ($20.00)- Mucho sweetness, with 8.5% residual sugar. Delicious! A slice of honeycomb packed with lovely floral aromas. 18.5/20

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Nick in $20 Below, Gewuztraminer, Mourvedre, Riesling, Syrah, Washington, Winery Visits, Zinfandel Leave a comment

Walla Walla Wine Wows Webb (Part 2 of 3)

In the distance, the Walla Walla Valley's famous Les Collines Vineyard, famous for its Syrah grapes, lies in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

Last week, I discussed the excellent quality of the wines being produced in the Walla Walla Valley. What makes the wines of this region even more impressive is how well-priced they are.

I’m a bargain hunter. Growing up in a part of the Midwest that borders the gateway to the South, auctions and flea markets were aplenty and I frequently tagged along with my parents and grandmother to find deals on baseball cards. These early experiences have certainly influenced my “adult” life, although now I’m on the hunt for wine.

Of the twenty wineries that we visited on our recent trip to Walla Walla, the prices of the wines ranged from $12.00 to $85.00 (Rasa’s 2008 Principia, which in my opinion was well worth the price). Only a small portion of the wines sampled retailed for over $50.00. In fact, several wineries did not have a current release retailing for over $40.00, including Walla Walla Vintners, Mackey Vineyards, Amavi Cellars, Trio Vintners, Saviah Cellars, Tempus Cellars, and Kontos Cellars. Honestly, I don’t remember a wine on the trip that I tasted where I was thinking “wow, this is over-priced”. Walla Walla is abound with bargain-priced wines.

Much of the focus last week was on the region’s red wines, but make no mistake, there are plenty of good whites as well. The variety of the whites was not as extensive as the reds. I tasted several excellent Rieslings, with the bottlings of Long Shadows’ Poet’s Leap, Tempus Cellars, and Charles Smith’s Kung Fu Girl really standing out. The Chardonnays that I tasted were very nice–crisp, with oak influence but not oak dominance. My favorite white wine of the trip was Amaurice Cellars Viognier, a real stunner. Other impressive efforts were Rotie Cellars’ Southern White blend, Buty’s Semillon/Suavignon Blanc/Muscadelle blend and Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay, Charles Smith’s Stoneridge Vineyard Viognier, Amaurice Cellars’ Chardonnay, and Kontos Cellars’ Gossamer White.

Vineyard just off Mill Creek Road, east of Walla Walla.

We also sampled a handful of rose’s, with many sitting around the $20.00 price range. The bottlings of Amavi and Buty really stood out, while there were a few that I did not care for.

Day 2 of tasting included stops at three wineries within Walla Walla city limits and three a few minutes south of town, near the Oregon border.

Day 2 Wineries

Gramercy Cellars- Founded by Master Sommelier Greg Harrington and his wife Pam in 2005. Gramercy has received much praise from publications such as Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate and as a result several of their releases were sold out. We did get to sample a few current releases, poured by Gramercy’s Director of Awesome Steve Wells (seriously, that’s his real title. Best job title outside of “brewmaster” in my opinion).

$20 Above wines

Gramercy Cellars Inigo Montoya Tempranillo 2009 ($42.00)- Easily approachable with dark berries, red cherry, dill, and vanilla aromas on the nose. Recommended
Gramercy Cellars Columbia Valley Third Man GSM 2009 ($45.00)- Subtle and well-balanced, with a long, gum-tingling finish. Highly Recommended
Gramercy Cellars Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($45.00)- Understated with a lingering finish. Highly Recommended

Forgeron Cellars- Founded in 2001 by a group of investors. Forgeron’s winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla is well respected in the area–several of the wineries that we visited mentioned her talents. Forgeron makes wine under two labels–Forgeron and Blacksmith. The Blacksmith wines retail for under $20.00 and are very sought after in the area.

$20 Above wines

Forgeron Cellars Ambience 2010 ($25.00)- 47% Grenache Blanc/36% Marsanne/17% Orange Muscat. Light straw in color, with tangerine, and orange blossom. Recommended
Forgeron Cellars Barbera 2008 ($30.00)- Soft textured, with berry and vanilla aromas and flavors. Recommended
Forgeron Cellars Klipsun Vineyard Merlot ($48.00)- Savory, with plum and spice. Very nice! Highly Recommended
Forgeron Cellars Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($48.00)- Big and chewy, with a burst of black currant. Recommended
Forgeron Cellars Primitivo 2009 ($30.00)- A bit of muscle, with blackberry, tea leaf, and leather aromas. Recommended

Trio Vintners- Karen LaBonte is the winemaker/owner of Trio Vintners, a bargain hunter’s dream. Trio’s most current releases can all be purchased for under $26.00. I was super impressed with the Plaisir, a blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. Karen indicated that they had just submitted it to Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast–I’d be very surprised if it didn’t score a 92+. Several of Trio’s wines will be featured in the next $20 Below post.

$20 Above wines

Trio Vintners Plaisir 2009 ($26.00)- 50% Syrah/34% Mourvedre/16% Grenache. Provencal herbs, dark berries, and peppermint intermingled on this well-balanced beauty. A wine of considerable character. Highly Recommended

Rasa Vineyards- Founded by brothers Pinto (Managing Partner) and Billo (Winemaker) Naravane in 2007, Rasa is quickly making waves in the Valley. Rasa’s red wines had this amazing savory, earthy quality. In my opinion, Rasa’s four Syrahs were among the top seven that I tasted on the trip, with the Principia being at the top. For Syrah lovers, especially those who like their Syrahs on the savory side, I would recommend jumping on Rasa’s mailing list while you still can.

$20 Above wines

PB Wines Red Mountain Syrah/Cab Blend 2009 ($29.00)- Recommended
Rasa Living in the Limelight Petit Verdot ($55.00)- Manly and nicely textured. Highly Recommended
Rasa QED 2008 ($50.00)- 83%Syrah/10% Grenache/5% Mourvedre/2% Viognier. Lush blackberry and mocha aromas. Highly Recommended
Rasa Occam’s Razor Syrah Block 10 Seven Hills Vineyard 2009 ($60.00)- Dark and brooding, with mouth-coating blueberry, blackberry, and earth. Highly Recommended
Rasa Doctrina Perpetua Montaigne Syrah Block 5 Bacchus Vineyard 2009 ($60.00)- Similar in texture to the Occam’s Razor, but with a more ripe fruit presence. Highly Recommended
Rasa Principia Reserve Syrah 2008 ($85.00)- Rasa’s magnificent flagship wine. Blackberry, roasted meats, and blackberry rise from this sumptuous Syrah. Stellar
Rasa The Lyricist Riesling 2010 ($30.00)- Recommended

Amavi Cellars- Amavi was highly recommended as a must-stop by several of the wineries that we visited. I’m very glad that we took their advice. Amavi’s lineup of current releases is absolutely rock solid. As far as quality for the price, Amavi’s wines were among the top that we visited.

$20 Above wines

Amavi Cabernet Franc Rose’ ($21.00)- Favorite rose’ on the trip. Ripe cranberry and attractive minerality. Highly Recommended
Amavi Syrah WWV 2009 ($29.00)- This one’s sold out, but lucky they had a bottle opened A big, mouth-coating powerhouse. Highly Recommended
Amavi Syrah WWV 2010 ($29.00)- Violet, blueberry, blackberry, and pepper aromas. A stark contrast to the 2009, but a real beauty. Highly Recommended
Amavi Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2009 ($29.00)- Aromas of of cherry pie in a glass. After tasting this wine, I’ll take my cherry pie in a glass from now on. Highly Recommended

Saviah Cellars- Founded in 2000, Saviah sells wine under two labels: Saviah and The Jack. I was extremely impressed with their Une Valle, Petit Verdot, and Syrah, which all retail for under $35.00–excellent quality for the price. Also, being a Gewürztraminer fan, I was happy to see that they were pouring a late harvest Gewurzt (to be discussed in the next $20 Below post).

$20 Above wines

Saviah Une Valee WWV 2009 ($32.00)- 56% Cab. Sauv./38% Merlot/6% Cab. Franc. Enticing blackberry and currant aromas. Smooth, with a nice acid backbone and a long finish. Very, very nice! Highly Recommended
Saviah Laurella Columbia Valley 2007 ($35.00)- 51% Sangiovese/33% Cab. Franc./16% Merlot. Recommended
Saviah Petit Verdot WWV 2008 ($35.00)- Interesting and memorable, with dark berries and nutmeg spice. Highly Recommended
Saviah Red Mountain Syrah 2007 ($30.00)- Peppery, with tar and blackberry on the nose. Highly Recommended

Notes

-Wines in Bold above were my personal favorites–”Nick’s Picks” if you will.

-Wines retailing at $20 and below will be discussed in the next $20 Below post.

-Stay tuned for Part 3!

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Nick in $20 Above, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Riesling, Rose, Syrah, Washington, Wine Column, Winery Visits 2 Comments

$20 Below: Wines From Long Shadows Wineries, L’Ecole No. 41, Woodward Canyon Winery

Several of the Walla Walla wineries that we visited had at least one bottling that retailed for under $20.00. White wines were more commonly found in this price range, although there were a few reds that were very good. One particular varietal that really shined in this price range was Riesling. The following $20 Below wines really stood out on Tasting Day 1:

Woodward Canyon's Reserve House

Long Shadows Wineries Poet’s Leap Riesling 2011

Price: Suggested retail is $20.00

From The Winery: 12.3% alcohol, 1.3 g/100 ml residual sugar, 100% Riesling, Columbia Valley

Date Tasted: 5/30/12

Impressions/Notes: A wine with zing. Melon, honeysuckle, and pine aromas on the nose. A bit of sweetness balanced nicely against the firm acidity. A real pleaser!

Score: 20/20

L’Ecole No. 41 Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc Klipsun Vineyard-Red Mountain 2010

Price: Suggested retail is $19.00

From The Winery: 67% Semillon/33% Sauvignon Blanc, 75 cases produced

Date Tasted: 5/30/12

Impressions/Notes: Fruity and crisp, with pineapple, grapefruit, and fresh hay aromas. Certainly had more of a body to it than the Sauvignon Blanc dominated Sauv. Blanc/Semillon blends I’ve recently tasted.

Score: 19/20

Woodward Canyon Winery Non-Vintage Riesling

Price: Suggested retail is $19.00

From The Winery: 100% Riesling

Date Tasted: 5/30/12

Impressions/Notes: Interesting aromas of limestone and ripe pineapple. Nicely balanced, with a refreshing burst of acidity on the palate.

Score: 18.5/20

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Nick in $20 Below, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Washington, Winery Visits 4 Comments

Walla Walla Wine Wows Webb (Part 1 of 3)

There’s nothing quite like that first visit to a burgeoning wine region. For wine fanatics, it’s the equivalent of an eight-year-old going to Disney World for the first time. The thought of all the unexplored wineries in the surrounding miles sets the mind racing. So it was for me on our first trip to Walla Walla wine country this past week. We rolled in to town at 5:30 pm on May 29th, too late to visit any tasting rooms. The scores of wineries that we passed along the way made the wait for our first tasting the next morning nearly unbearable.

As a wine region, the Walla Walla Valley is new even by American wine standards, with the famous Leonetti Cellar opening up the first commercial winery in the area in 1977. By 2001, the number had grown to 30 wineries. A winery explosion in the last decade has pushed that number to well over 100 wineries in the Valley. It’s funny to refer to wineries founded in the 1990s as veterans, but that’s the case in Walla Walla.

A beautiful sight for any wine lover.

The Walla Walla Valley straddles the Washington/Oregon border. I was surprised to learn that 1/3 of the valley actually falls in Oregon and that the largest vineyard in the area, Seven Hills Vineyard, is planted in Oregon soil. Walla Walla is by far the largest city in the Valley, so most of the wineries are either located within city limits or are a very short drive away.

A vast majority of my exposure to Washington wines has come through the very reasonably priced, mass-produced wines put out by producers such as Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, Pacific Rim, and Charles Smith Wines. I have always been impressed with the quality that can be found in these wines, which rarely cost over $15.00. My major wine trips for the last three years have been to California, but I knew that I had to get up to Walla Walla, as I had read and heard of the exciting things taking place in the area.

After visiting twenty of the area’s wineries over the course of three days, I can testify that the Walla Walla Valley is an absolute must visit for any wine lover. The overall quality of the wines is simply outstanding. Readers may look at my notes over the next three posts and wonder if there was a wine that I didn’t like. There were times that I was wondering to myself “can they really be making this many wines that are this good.” If I needed any reassurance, I could simply glance around and see the signs and magazines displayed by several of the wineries touting the 90+ scores they had received from publications such as the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Stephen Tanzer, or the Rhone Report.

The Walla Walla Valley is big red country. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were the first varietals from the area that gained national attention. Holy Merlot! The Cabernet Sauvignons were great, but overall I thought that the Merlots that I tasted were consistently better. There were a few Cabernet Sauvignons that outshone all of the Merlots. The Woodward Canyon Artist Series 2009 was one of those Cabs. I also tasted several amazing Bordeaux blends, with the Long Shadows Pirouette 2007 really standing out.

The strong lineup of L'Ecole No. 41 wines was a great way to kick off Day 1 of tasting.

More recently, producers such as Cayuse Vineyards, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Charles Smith’s K Vintners, and Rasa Vineyards have helped to establish the region as a Syrah powerhouse. The Syrahs that I tasted showed astounding diversity, ranging from big and fruity, to floral and spicy, to savory and earthy. Personally, I’m a fan of such diversity. Who wants to taste a bunch of wine that tastes the same, even if it is really good?

Some of the most exciting wines that I had on the trip were Rhone-style “GSM” blends, featuring a combination of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. Of these blends, the Rotie Cellars Southern Blend, Gramercy Cellars Third Man, and Trio Vintners Plaisir really stood out to me.

I also tasted several Cabernet Francs, a few Petit Verdots, a handful of Malbecs, a Carmenere, some Grenaches, Mourvedres, Zinfandels, a Barbera, a couple of Sangioveses, and a Tempranillo. That may not even be the complete list of reds, but one can see that the wineries here have not pigeon-holed themselves into simply Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah producers–experimentation is alive and well.

What about the whites?? I tasted some excellent whites and I’ll describe the various varietals that I can across in Post 2 of the series.

On Day 1 of our 3 day tasting marathon, we visited seven wineries: five were just west of Walla Walla, one was just east of town, and one was in downtown Walla Walla. A vast majority of the wines that I tasted are featured below.

Day 1 Wineries

L’Ecole No. 41- Founded in 1983, L’Ecole 41 is the third oldest winery in the Valley and actually occupies an old French school house. I was very impressed with L’Ecole’s Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignons that I tasted were excellent. L’Ecole produces 35,000 cases a year, which is very high among Walla Walla wineries.

$20 Above wines

L’Ecole Estate Merlot 2008 ($36.00)- Lovely weight in the mouth, with spice, plum, and anise inter-mingling on the nose and palate. The best Merlot I tasted on the trip! Highly Recommended
L’Ecole Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2009 ($36.00)- Spice and tobacco leaf on the nose with uber ripe cherry in the mouth and a smooth, long finish. Highly Recommended
L’Ecole Estate Perigee 2008 ($49.00)- 55% Cab Sauv, 26% Merlot, with Cab Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in the blend. Big and beautiful, with red licorice and black cherry and powdery tannins in the mouth. Highly Recommended
L’Ecole Apogee Pepper Bridge 2008 ($49.00)- 60% Cab Sauv, 29% Merlot, with Cab Franc and Malbec. Slightly closed up, with a bit of leather and dark berries. Recommended
L’Ecole Estate Syrah 2009 ($36.00)- Recommended
L’Ecole Estate Cabernet Franc 2009 ($36.00)- Recommended

Woodward Canyon Winery- The second oldest winery in the Valley. Admittedly, this winery was not scheduled as a stop on our original list (just too many to see!) but it was highly recommended and literally steps away from L’Ecole 41. I’m very glad that we made the stop. Their Cabernet Sauvignon was one of my top three or four favorite wines on the trip!

$20 Above wines

Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($54.00)- Exotic aromas of dark fruit and tar, ultra-smooth in the mouth with a gorgeous finish. I did not come home with a bottle of this wine and it makes me sad just thinking about it. Stellar
Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2009 ($44.00)- Smooth and graceful, with aromas of mocha and plum. Recommended

Reininger Winery- Founded in 1997, Reininger sells wine under its Reininger and Helix labels. They offered the only Carmenere that I came across (which was very good). I also thought that their Syrah was outstanding.

$20 Above wines

Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2009 ($40.00)- Big and rich. Highly Recommended
Reininger Syrah WWV 2008 ($42.00)- Perfect example of the essence of exploding white pepper, complimented with blueberry and herbs. Highly Recommended
Reininger Carmenere WWV 2007 ($47.00)- A wild menagerie of aromas, with leather, floral, expresso, and dark fruit oozing from this powerhouse. Highly Recommended
Reininger Reserve Chardonnay 2010 ($47.00)- Recommended
Reininger Merlot 2007 ($38.00)- Recommended

Long Shadows Wineries and Vineyards- An assemblage of a who’s who of winemakers and wine consultants make the seven labels sold under Long Shadows. Familiar names include Randy Dunn of Caymus and Dunn Vineyards, John Duval of Penfold’s Grange lore, and Michel Rolland, wine consultant titan. I was simply blown away with several of their wines, particularly the Pirouette. Top to bottom, they had one of the better lineups I tasted.

$20 Above wines

Pirouette 2007 ($50.00)- 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, with some Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec in the mix A blockbuster with rich blueberry and plum fruit, dusty tannins, and beautiful spice on the mid-palate. Stellar
Saggi 2007 ($45.00)- Blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Velvety with a beautiful, lingering after-taste. Highly Recommended
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon 20007 ($55.00)- Round and supple with black cherry and tobacco leaf. Highly Recommended
Sequel Syrah 2007 ($50.00)- Sinfully plush with a long, lingering finish that left my gums tingling. Highly Recommended
Pedestal Merlot 2007 ($55.00)- Plum, sweet spice, and cedar with easy-going tannins. Recommended
Chester-Kidder 2007 ($50.00)- Loads of fruit (cherry pie with crust aromas), glycerin, and vanilla. Recommended

Walla Walla Vintners- Founded in 1995, this east side winery focuses solely on red wines. Walla Walla Vintners is best known for their Cabernet Franc, and indeed, it was one of my favorites. I have yet to have a domestic Cabernet Franc that compares to it!

$20 Above wines

Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2010 ($28.00)- Sultry, ripe blueberry and a bit of spice–a real treat. Highly Recommended
Walla Walla Vintners Merlot WWV 2009 ($28.00)- Smooth and balanced, with a strong acid backbone. Recommended
Walla Walla Vintners Malbec Pepper Bridge Vineyard WWV 2009 ($32.00)- Smooth, with tobacco leaf and dark berry aromas. Recommended
Walla Walla Vintners Belle Rosso Columbia Valley 2009 ($32.00)- Notes of expresso and ripe, red cherry. Recommended
Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2009 ($35.00)- Recommended
Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Sagemoor Vineyard Colubia Valley 2009 ($40.00)- Recommended

Mackey Vineyards- This newcomer’s first vintage was 2008 and they didn’t waste any time in releasing some excellent wines. Brothers Roger and Philip Mackey have enlisted the help of Rasa Vineyards Billo Naravane as winemaker. They’re sure looking like a solid team so far.

$20 Above wines

Mackey Vineyards Merlot 2009 ($36.00)- Subtle nose, with flavors really exploding in the mouth. Highly Recommended
Mackey Vineyards Concordia 2009 ($38.00)- 77.4% Syrah, 12.9% Grenache, 9.7% Mourvedre, with tantalizing blackberry and black pepper aromas. Highly Recommended
Mackey Vineyards Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2008 ($32.00)- Recommended
Mackey Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($32.00)- Recommended

Skylite Cellars- Skylite’s first vintage was 2005. Ernie, a Westie, was one of the more friendly winery dogs that we came across, greeting us just as we exited our car. Skylite sells wines under two labels: Skylite Cellars and its Hiney Wine label.

$20 Above wines

Skylite Cellars Estate Merlot 2007 ($28.00)- Big, mouth-filling plum, rhubarb, and dark chocolate. Recommended
Skylite Cellars Syrah 2007 ($28.00)- Recommended
Skylite Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($28.00)- Recommended

My wife with Ernie, Skylite Cellars' resident Westie.

Notes

-Wines in Bold above were my personal favorites–”Nick’s Picks” if you will.

-Wines retailing at $20 and below will be discussed in the next $20 Below post.

-Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Nick in $20 Above, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Red Blends, Syrah, Washington, Wine Column, Winery Visits 6 Comments

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