Washington State Wine Tasting at WWWB

Bring water, bring wine, boy! Bring flowering garlands to me! Yes, bring them, so that I may try a bout with love. ~Anacreon

The first people who planted grapes in Washington were the German and Italian immigrants and that was around 1825.

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington state’s Founding Winery, with some of the oldest and most acclaimed vineyards in the Columbia Valley.

Built on the 1912 estate owned by Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, the winery’s roots date back to the Repeal of Prohibition, when the Pommerelle Wine Company and the National Wine Company were formed.  They merged in 1954 to form American Wine Growers. In 1967, American Wine Growers began a new line of premium vinifera wines called “Ste. Michelle Vintners” under the direction of legendary California winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff.

Ste. Michelle Vintners planted its first vines at Cold Creek Vineyard in Eastern Washington in 1972. Cold Creek remains one of the oldest and most renowned vineyards in the state. Ste. Michelle Vintners now own more than 3,500 prime vineyard acres in the Columbia Valley.

Some of the other founding fathers of the Washington state wine industry are- Leonetti Cellars, Woodward Canyon and Quilceda Creek.  These three producers are the first “cult wines” from Washington state and basically the second round of producers to move in.

Leonetti Cellar, which was bonded in 1977 by Founders Gary and Nancy Figgins, started as Gary’s vision to make world-class wines in Walla Walla has turned out to be a true American success story. Today, Leonetti Cellar produces some of the most sought-after wines not only from Washington state but in the world.

Woodward Canyon Winery was one of the first two wineries to help put the Walla Walla Valley on Washington State's wine map.  From its first powerful 1981 cabernet sauvignon to the new releases today they have been among this state's top producers and we have actually have some of these wines in our tasting tonight!

Founded in 1979, Quilceda Creek has had an unbroken string of highly-rated vintages that has led Robert Parker Jr. to name it Washington State’s premier Cabernet Sauvignon producer with five vintages receiving (100 points) from Robert Parker Jr.'s The Wine Advocate, this is the mosxt sought after collectible.  Although we are not showing any Quilceda Creek this evening we do have several vintages available for sale after the notice of this tasting we have a list of all the Washington state wines in the store.

The industry and been expanding rapidly, Washington is the second largest wine producing state with just over 500 wineries in 2007.  Just a few short years later, today there are over 850 with the giant Chateau St. Michelle leading the way in terms of size.  The proliferation of small producers is incredible and we found a few new ones this evening with over 20 wines on the table this is a crash course in Washington State wine!

Join us as we taste through over 20+ wines from Washington State along with some tasty treats prepared by Wine Watch Catering Chef Toni Lampasone.  The fee for this tasting is $45 per person call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com to make reservations.

Washington State Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, August 30th
7:30pm

Southern Wine

2014 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Lower East
Price: $38.25       Sale $33.66          Case $391

(91 Points) Coming from the Columbia Valley, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East from Gramercy is a polished, classy Cabernet Sauvignon that has lots of spice box, black currants and dried herbs in a supple, rounded, delicious and textured style. It's ideal for drinking over the coming 5-7 years. The Wine Advocate

2013 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Columbia Valley
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

(94 Points) I compared the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (86% Cabernet, 10% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot) to a top Margaux last year when I tasted if from barrel, and I stand by that comparison today. Sandalwood, kirsch, black currants and floral notes all emerge from this beautiful, silky, impeccably polished and balanced Cabernet that has no hard edges, medium to full-bodied richness and a seamless profile that makes it impossible to resist. It's going to keep for 15+ years.   The Wine Advocate

2013 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley

Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

This wine blends 4 vineyards – the northerly Oldfield and Olsen with two Walla Walla sources – Old Stones in the Rocks and the iconic Les Collines. Oldfield, adjacent to Boushey, and Olsen provide red fruit and freshness, the Rocks gives pepper, funk, smoke, depth, and structure. Les Collines provides a world class base for the wine. This wine, aged 18 months in neutral barrel, is about 50% whole cluster.

“Readers looking for a killer Syrah to purchase to see what Washington is all about couldn’t do any better than a bottle of the 2013 Columbia Valley Syrah from Gramercy. Possessing lots of gamy, olive, peppery, lavender and salted meats, with a core of ripe plum and darker fruits, this beauty is full-bodied, supple, polished and utterly seamless, with no hard edges and a clean, focused finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Buy this beauty by the case and drink it over the coming decade.” Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate (94 pts)

Chateau St Michelle

2015 Eroica Riesling
Price: $20.25       Sale $17.82          Case $207

Eroica Riesling offers sweet lime and mandarin orange aromas with subtle mineral notes. The mouth-watering acidity is beautifully balanced by flavorful Washington Riesling fruit. Eroica is a blended statement of the finest Riesling vineyards in the state. To achieve the Eroica style we strive for bright fruit with crisp acidity and enhanced mineralilty.

2103 Eroica Gold
Price: $28.25       Sale $24.86          Case $289

Eroica Gold Riesling offers the best of both worlds, the bright natural acidity of our original Eroica with concentrated, ripe fruit flavors and a touch of sweetness. German winemakers have been making Riesling with Botrytis influence for generations. Eroica Gold combines the trademark Washington acidity with German botrytis influence. The wine offers lush orange marmalade flavors with a crisp finish.

2012 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley
Price: $26.00       Sale $22.88          Case $266

(91 Points) The deep ruby colored Columbia Valley 2012 Merlot is a full-bodied, elegant, perfumed Merlot that gives up lots of cassis, sweet oak, black cherry and a touch of crushed rock in the hallmark elegant, balanced style of this estate. The tannin is present, yet ripe, and it has enough concentration to keep for a decade or more. The Wine Advocate

2013 Col Solare Red Mountain
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40          Case $689

(94 Points) Coming from the Col Solare and Quintessence vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2013 Proprietary Red is a rich, fabulously textured, full-bodied effort the has tons of black cherry and cassis fruits intermixed with notes of licorice, smoked herbs, graphite and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Made from a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec that spent 22 months in 100% new French oak, drink this pure, layered and polished Red Mountain Bordeaux blend over the coming 15-20 years.  The Wine Advocate

2102 Spring Valley Vineyards Frederick
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

(94 Points) Slightly darker in color than the Uriah release, the 2012 Frederick checks in as a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec and a splash of Petit Verdot. It’s another classically styled, age-worthy wine from this estate that offers lots of tobacco leaf, lead pencil, currants and damp earth-like aromas and flavors. Elegant, ripe, medium to full-bodied and with fine tannin, enjoy it anytime over the coming 15 years. The Wine Advocate

2013 Spring Valley Vineyards Uriah
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

(93 Points) Broad and expressive, playing red plum, black cherry and peppery spice flavors against lightly prickly tannins, coming together on the long and generous finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Spectator

2011 Spring Valley Vineyards Nina Lee
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

This 100% Estate-grown Syrah offers inviting aromas of violet and raspberry with a hint of pepper and orange zest. On the palate the wine is full and rich and loaded with concentrated blackberry and almond paste flavors that linger on a juicy finish. Enjoy this Nina Lee Syrah now or cellar for future enjoyment.

Breakthru

2014  Woodward Canyon Chardonnay
Price: $40.50       Sale $35.64          Case $414

This wine was fermented in 100% French burgundy barrels; roughly 20% new.  Beautifully vibrant flavors of ripe pear, caramelled apple, and peach marry perfectly with wonderful acidity.  Whole cluster pressing gives delineated fruit which integrates beautifully with notes of vanilla, mineral and toasted hazelnut.  Finally, the oak is understated by our choice and is in wonderful proportion with the alcohol, fruit and acidity.  Fully mature fruit shows in the mouth; the texture is smooth and silky.  The finish is complex, generous, and long.  And while this wine may be consumed now, it will benefit substantially with a year in bottle and should continue to improve for another several years with proper cellaring.

2013 Woodward Canyon Merlot
Price: $48.75       Sale $42.90          Case $498

(90 Points) The 2013 Merlot has plenty of oak, yet also plenty of fruit, with medium to full-bodied richness and lots of black cherry, leafy herbs, truffle and blackcurrant aromas and flavors. Rich, nicely textured, with ripe tannin and outstanding length, drink it anytime over the coming decade.  The Wine Advocate

2015 Woodward Canyon Nelms Road Red Blend
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40          Case $306

The very warm 2015 vintage gave beautifully ripe yet balanced fruit with enticing flavors of black cherry, mocha and baking spice. Complex aromas of roasted meat, black fruits and tobacco integrate, leading to a soft generous finish. The wine is purple in color and has lovely texture; and though it was bottled early to retain fruit, is quite enjoyable now.  This red blend will improve substantially with additional time in bottle and with proper storage should age well for five years or more. 

2015 Owen Roe Abbots Table Red
Price: $28.50       Sale $25.08          Case $291

Abbot’s Table honors the most fundamental form of hospitality through the ages -the meal. The Abbot’s Table traditionally provides an opportunity for fellowship with guests over food and wine. This wine, with its unique varietal diversity, is rich in red fruit notes, with balanced flavors and acidity, exuding charm and texture. It pairs beautifully with many flavors and feasts. The grapes for this wine come from our estate vineyards as well as vineyards farmed by other dedicated families in beautiful eastern Washington State.

2013 Owen Roe Yakima Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

Our staff was pleasantly surprised by the upfront fruit aromas of this Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon blend and feel thatit is an approachable young wine, ready for enjoyment or for cellaring long-term. Lush floral aromas, pomegranite, red plumsblack pepper and baking spice give way to a silky palate with pomegraite, vanilla finishing with gripping tannins.

2014 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris
Price: $27.00       Sale $23.76          Case $276

(90 Points) Bright ruby-red. Black cherry, black raspberry, pepper and mocha on the vibrant nose. Plush, sweet, broad and fruit-driven, conveying noteworthy energy and definition to the flavors of black fruits, spices, licorice and herbs. Not a wild style of Syrah despite a hint of reduction but this very youthful wine has the backbone to gain in nuance and weight in the bottle. Suave tannins coat the front teeth. A great value in Washington Syrah. Vinous / Antonio Galloni

Breakthru

2014 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Price: $18.75       Sale $16.50          Case $192

This Cabernet embodies an enticing array of ripe red and black plum, intermixed with notes of fresh red cherry. Characteristic of the appellation and 2014 vintage, the nose offers spiced potpourri with a touch of raspberry preserves. The addition of Syrah leads to a full and rich texture on the mid-palate, further accented by bright acidity from the Petit Verdot, sweet red fruit from the Merlot and luscious blackberry notes supplied by the Malbec. The soft and supple mouthfeel is supported by the complexity of sweet oak tannins and fresh fruit character, finishing with the juicy acidity that is characteristic of Horse Heaven Hills.

2014 Browne Family Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $36.75    Sale $32.34            Case $375

Inky red, almost black in color, this classic Cabernet Sauvignon is heavily concentrated with ripe cherry aromas and dark fruit flavors, backed by vanilla oak notes. Layered with texture that belies its silky smooth tannins, this wine's perfectly balanced alcohol and bright, clean acidity make it a perfect companion for red meat and savory dishes.

2014 Browne Family Tribute Red Blend Columbia Valley
Price: $27.00    Sale $22.95            Case $276

This silky red blend offers big fruit flavors and well-integrated, velvety tannins. Aromatics of pipe tobacco, leather and dark fruit layer with ripe boysenberry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The finish lingers with blackberry jam and toasty, graphite back notes. Pair with rosemary and peppercorn-crusted pork loin, lamb burgers or a grilled Portobello sandwich.

Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval
Price: $52.50       Sale $46.20          Case $536

The wine is a deep violet color, transitioning through purple to magenta around the edges. The nose is heavy and brooding, displaying fresh baked blackberry cobbler with hints of earth and spice. The palate is full and opulent, with substantial dusty, chewy tannins well integrated and sufficiently balanced with rich flavors of baked cherry, blue plums, earth and creamy oak. It is delicious now and it will improve substantially in the first few years of cellaring, aging gracefully for at least ten years.

2013 Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $27.75    Sale $24.42            Case $284

Since our first planting in 1980, our central focus at Seven Hills has been growing and making Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the unique terroir of our region. This wine is drawn from some of the best small, hand farmed vineyards, carefully selected from our favorite sub-AVAs of the Columbia Valley. We believe this wine expresses the unique personality of Cabernet Sauvignon from our region - generous and pleasing, yet well-structured and powerful. After careful vinification in small, open top fermenters, the wine was aged for 18 months in a selection of French, American, Hungarian, and Russian oaks which contribute a broad spectrum of baking spices to the aroma. The wine has generous and supple red cherry, currant, and raspberry fruit character accented with sarsaparilla, vanilla cream, coffee, cinnamon, violets and pie crust notes. The wine is well framed by firm but fine grained tannins, adding nice earthy character and distinctive cabernet “grip”. It is rich and accessible at release, but has the underlying tannin to improve for 4-6 years from vintage date, and is capable of cellaring up to 10 years.

2015 Seven Hills Merlot Columbia Valley
Price: $26.00    Sale $22.88            Case $266

After careful vinification in small, open top fermenters, the wine was aged for I6 months in a selection of French, American, Hungarian and Russian oaks resulting in a wine with spice box-like complexity. It is supple and generous with loads of raspberry, red currant, cherry, vanilla, toffee, and spice character. This wine is already drinking beautifully at release, but will age well for 5-7 years past vintage date. - Casey McClellan, Winemaker

King Estate Winery

North by Northwest Columbia Valley Rose 2016

North by Northwest Riesling Horse Heaven Hills 2015                    
Price: $10.50       Sale $9.24            Case $108

Bright acid helps maintain the fresh fruit and bright floral notes of this dry Riesling. The wine is very well balanced from beginning to end, with a long finish.

North by Northwest Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills 2014   
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153

Our Chardonnay is grown on a dry, silty-loam site with deep soils. The cool winds that blow off the glacial meltwaters of the Columbia River nightly create conditions of acid preservation in the grapes that ultimately help lift these aromatics out of your glass, in the spirit of the breeze itself.

North by Northwest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2014
Price: $28.25       Sale $24.86          Case $289

North by Northwest Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Price: $42.00       Sale $36.96          Case $429

Our Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, produced with grapes from Les Collines and Seven Hills Vineyards, possesses ample, muscular tannins that balance well with the rich, soft fruits and earth tones, making it an elegant wine for any palate to appreciate.

North by Northwest Columbia Valley Red blend 2014

Menu

Wild Mushroom , Mascarpone & Lemon Zest Flat Bread

Hoisin Spiced Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Crispy Pork Belly Bites Drizzled with Truffled Honey

Salmon & Tuna Sushi Rolls wrapped in Knori with Avocado, Scallion & Daikon.

The fee for this tasting is $45 per person call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com to make reservations.