Owen Roe works primarily with smaller vineyards in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Yakima Valley in Washington State. Both of these areas have cooler climates that yield fruit with low pH and excellent acidity. All of the grapes used by Owen Roe are hand harvested, handled with minimal processing, small-lot fermented, and aged in French Oak barrels.

We had the pleasure to visit Owen Roe during a recent visit to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. I highly encourage you to do the same the next time you are in the area; but plan ahead, they are open by appointment only. We tasted nine wines, and our favorite was the 2009 Ex Umbris Syrah. It is outstanding. As you will see from my notes and ratings below, Owen Roe produces a number of wines worth checking out if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

2009 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah (Columbia Valley): Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with dark black licorice and black fruit aromas. Very vibrant fruit, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and herbal notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $22 to $33

2010 Owen Roe Sinister Hand Red Wine (Columbia Valley): 71% Grenache, 24% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Deep purple. Aromatic with strawberry, red cherry, game, and spice on the nose. Black cherry, game, spice, and a hint of coffee come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $20 to $30

2009 Owen Roe Yakima Valley Red Wine (Yakima Valley, Washington): 59% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with blackberry, black cherry, thick jam, and liqueur aromas. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice, spice, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42; Available elsewhere, $35 to $50

2008 Owen Roe Rosa Mystica Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, garnet red. Beautiful nose with black fruit, earth, herbal, and vegetal aromas. Flavors of black cherry, black plum, bell pepper, white pepper, and earth. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and dry yet smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42; Available elsewhere, $33 to $47

2008 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah (Columbia Valley): Deep, dark purple. Gorgeous nose with blackberry, black plum, and spice rack aromas. Deep, rich black fruit, espresso bean, and mocha come through on the palate Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $22 to $29

2010 Owen Roe Abbot’s Table Red Wine (Columbia Valley): 48% Sangiovese, 15% Blaufrankisch, 14% Zinfandel, 14% Malbec, 7% Syrah, and 2% Merlot. Deep purple. Nice nose with red and black fruit. Jammy with ripe fruit, blueberry, plum, and cherry on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish. An approachable table wine.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $23; Available elsewhere, $17 to $27

2010 Owen Roe Chardonnay (Columbia Valley): Light straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, and a touch of vanilla aromas and flavors. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $21

2009 Owen Roe Slide Mountain Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Gorgeous nose with meat, game, and blackberry aromas. Black cherry, game, and a touch of vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $72; Available elsewhere, $57 to $72

2009 Owen Roe Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir (Durant Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Oregon): Medium rusty red. Aromas of cherry, berry, herbs, and a hint of earth on the nose; cherry, strawberry, herbs, and earth on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly rough, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42

Owen Roe Winery: David O’ Reilly Took His Dream Solo was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Hedges Family Estate, located on Red Mountain, is the largest family-owned winery in Washington State. Founders Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges created an export company called American Wine Trade in 1986 to sell wine to foreign importers. Out of that business came the establishment of a négociant-inspired wine called Hedges Cellars. Tom and Anne-Marie bought land on Red Mountain, planted vines, and built the chateau that is now home to their wine estate. The House of Independent Producers is a Hedges Family Estate project directed under Christophe Hedges.

“Intense northern latitude West Coast style. Angular, sharp, and grown for food consumption. Apple, flint, citrus, and stone define the palette. A classic Northwest style. A true place of origin wine.” –House of Independent Producers

2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay (Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Chardonnay. Pale greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with fresh citrus aromas. More citrus as well as honeysuckle, apple, and pear come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Tom was born in Richland, Washington, while Anne-Marie was born in Champagne, France. Both of their upbringings have influenced what Hedges Family Estate is today. They truly believe in the importance of place of origin and embrace the French concept of terroir. If you quickly glance at the labels on their wines, you might mistake them for French wines. Tom and Anne-Marie’s son, Christophe, designs the labels. He is also the national director of sales and marketing. Their daughter, Sarah Hedges Goedhart, is also involved in the business. She serves as assistant winemaker to her uncle Pete Hedges.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste some of the current releases from Hedges Family Estate in a blind samples tasting. To be perfectly honest, I was surprised to receive these samples. Hedges is notoriously opposed to having their wines rated, championing an anti-100 point Score Revolution. In fact, a representative from Hedges initially wrote to me asking, “Would you guys be interested in tasting our wines without scoring them?” My reply, in part, said, “…we have standard policies and procedures that we follow in evaluating wines sent as samples. While we do not utilize the 100-point scoring system, we do assign a Quality and QPR rating to wines we taste in our blind samples tastings. For more information about our policies and ratings, please refer to these pages on our site: Trade Samples and Wine Ratings. If you would like for us to taste your wines after reading this information, samples may be sent to…” Shortly thereafter, we received samples and handled them in the same manner as all other samples we receive.

Our favorite was the 2008 Red Mountain, followed closely by the 2009 DLD Syrah, and the 2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay. If you find yourself in the Red Mountain area, be sure to visit Hedges Family Estate to taste their wines for yourself.

2008 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain (Red Mountain, Washington): 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec. Deep, dark purple. Aromatic with black cherry, blackberry, and black pepper on the nose. More black fruit, black pepper, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25; Available elsewhere, $18 to $26

2009 DLD Syrah (Les Gosses Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark purple. Aromatic with blackberry syrup and oak on the nose. Blackberry, black plum, and licorice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and viscous with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25; Available elsewhere, $21 to $22

2010 House of Independent Producers Chardonnay (Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Chardonnay. Pale greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with fresh citrus aromas. More citrus as well as honeysuckle, apple, and pear come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

2009 CMS Sauvignon Blanc by Hedges (Columbia Valley, Washington): 77% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, and 3% Marsanne. Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with peach, grapefruit zest, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $10 to $15

Hedges Family Estate: French Flair on Red Mountain was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Villa Maria was the first winery in New Zealand to declare itself a “cork-free zone” and now seals all of their wines with screwcaps. Today, about 90 percent of all New Zealand wines are sealed with screwcaps.

“Sir George Fistonich has been called the ‘Robert Mondavi of the New Zealand wine industry’.” –Winemaker Nick Picone speaking about Villa Maria’s founder

In 2005, we had the pleasure to visit Villa Maria Estate on a trip through the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It was a fabulous trip and an educational and rewarding wine experience. We found some of the most beautiful wine country and nicest people in the world. If you ever get the chance, I highly encourage you to visit New Zealand.

Recently, I had the pleasure to attend a Villa Maria tasting and lunch with winemaker Nick Picone when he was visiting Seattle. Nick has been with Villa Maria for 15 years, starting as a cellar hand and working his way up in the company. He is now the senior winemaker at the Auckland winery. During the lunch, we tasted three wines each from three different tiers of Villa Maria wines, Private Bin (entry-level), Cellar Selection (mid-range), and Reserve (high-end). As you will see from my notes below, I found all nine wines to be very good. I have long been a fan of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the country’s flagship wine. The crisp acidity and refreshing citrus, especially grapefruit, flavors are particularly appealing to my palate. I thought all three of Villa Maria’s Sauvignon Blancs were excellent, with my favorite being the 2009 Reserve.

Private Bin

2010 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with lime, grapefruit, and grass on the nose. More grapefruit, lime, and grass on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish. [Represents 40% of Villa Maria’s total production.]
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $14.99

2008 Villa Maria Private Bin Unoaked Chardonnay (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand): Greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with pear and peach on the nose. More stone fruit, minerality, and some toastiness come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity, and a long finish. Clean and fresh.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $14.99

2009 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris (East Coast, New Zealand): Pale, straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity, and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $14.99

Cellar Selection

2009 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Pale, greenish yellow. Beautiful nose with grapefruit, lime, grass, and melon aromas. More grapefruit, lime, and grass comes through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with racy acidity. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. Very refreshing and food-friendly.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $19.99

2009 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Riesling (Marlborough, New Zealand): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with lime, white peach, and orange peel on the nose. Lime, lemon, orange peel, and a touch of minerality come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish. Food-friendly. Residual Sugar: 0.81%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $19.99

2006 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Medium ruby red in color. Nice nose with cherry, plum, and spice aromas. Fruit-forward with red cherry, spice, and a hint of smoke on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish. Gets better with food.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $29.99

Reserve

2009 Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Pale, straw yellow. Gorgeous nose with grapefruit, pineapple, and passion fruit aromas. More tropical fruits, grapefruit, and grass come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with racy acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $29.99

2007 Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with cherry, spice, earth, and minerality on the nose. Red and black cherry, spice, smoke, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and medium, smooth tannins. Well-balanced and food-friendly with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $39.99

2007 Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 2% Malbec. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with fresh mint, cherry, raspberry, and blackberry aromas. Red and black fruits, mint, and a hint of coffee come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $39.99

Villa Maria Estate: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Much More was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

It was another fabulous evening of good wine, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. The wines paired extremely well with our dinner of curried squash soup, spinach and mango salad, chicken tapenade, long grain and wild rice, sautéed haricot verts, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. In fact, one of the wonderful things about Chardonnay is how food-friendly it is. All of the wines in this tasting improved with food.

The consensus favorite was the 2010 Sparkman Lumière Chardonnay. It was followed closely by the 2010 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay and the 2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay. These are three of the best Washington Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted. Five out of the six wines in this tasting were excellent and received a Quality rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5), and those five wines also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5). Even though these wines are not inexpensive, they are well worth the money.

If you consider yourself a member of the “ABC” (Anything but Chardonnay) crowd, I encourage you to give these a try. I have a feeling they just might change your mind. And for you Chardonnay lovers, you just might find a new favorite in this group.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2010 Sparkman Lumière Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with pear and lemon on the nose. More pear and lemon as well as orange peel, Granny Smith apple, and a hint of minerality and vanilla come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $25; Available elsewhere, $21 to $26

2010 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay (Washington State): Pale to medium, golden yellow. Very aromatic with pear, apple, nectarine, and vanilla on the nose. More pear, nectarine, and vanilla as well as mineral notes and a hint of lemon come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $38; Available elsewhere, $33 to $41

2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Pale to medium yellow in color. Gorgeous nose with green apple, pear, lemon peel, and vanilla aromas. More apple, pear, citrus fruit, and a hint of spice comes through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, beautiful finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $24

2009 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay (Lewis Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, and floral aromas. More apple, floral notes, and a touch of oak come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, creamy finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $24; Available elsewhere, $21 to $25

2009 Baer Shard (Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% unoaked Chardonnay. Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, lemon zest, pineapple, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $22; Available elsewhere, $23

2008 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay (Bishops and Celilo Vineyards, Columbia Valley, Washington): Unfiltered. Medium golden yellow. Aromatic with lemon, butterscotch, and vanilla on the nose. Lemon, tropical fruit, apple, butterscotch, and vanilla come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $33; Available elsewhere, $27 to $34

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Chardonnay was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

On a recent visit to Walla Walla, we had the pleasure to sit down with Rick and taste through five of Woodward Canyon’s current releases. As we sat in their beautiful reserve house, Rick shared some of the history and philosophy behind the winery. It was Rick’s good friend Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar who encouraged him to get into wine in the first place back in the mid-70’s. In 1976, Rick planted the first of 41 acres of the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.

With his farming background, it is no wonder that Rick places such importance on Woodward Canyon’s vineyard sources. The hiring of winemaker Kevin Mott in 2003 has allowed Rick to focus his attention on the vineyards. In addition to their estate vineyard, Woodward Canyon is a partner in Champoux Vineyards with Paul and Judy Champoux and three other wineries, Andrew Will, Powers, and Quilceda Creek. They also source fruit from other top vineyards in the state including Sagemoor Vineyards, DuBrul Vineyard, and Celilo Vineyard, to name a few.

“I want people to buy our wines because they are drinkable, go well with food, and are age-able.” –Rick Small, Owner/Director of Production

Rick and Darcey drink wine with food. Therefore, they strive to produce wines that are balanced and food-friendly. In fact, when we were tasting the 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rick could not stop raving about how well it pairs with Darcey’s Dungeness crab cakes. (Mmmm…makes me hungry just thinking about that pairing.)

The Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon is their “standard bearer” for Cab, and each vintage features a different work of art on the label. The featured artists are predominantly from the Pacific Northwest. Woodward Canyon has every original art piece from every “Artist Series” label since 1992.

Of the current releases we tasted, my favorite is the 2008 “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon for this wine typically comes from two of the oldest Cab blocks in Washington State, 1972 plantings from Champoux and Sagemoor Vineyards. This particular vintage also contains a small percentage of Petit Verdot from Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.

We have visited with Rick and Darcey at events and tasted some of their previous vintages. I have interviewed Darcey for our Women of Washington Wine series and Rick for articles about Champoux Vineyards and Sagemoor Vineyards. Whether on the phone or in person, Rick’s enthusiasm and passion for wine, Woodward Canyon Winery, the Walla Walla Valley, and the Washington State wine industry is evident.

Since the very beginning, Rick and Darcey have maintained a cellar library. They hold back a small amount of each wine they make for their library. In the early days, Rick recalls the bank not understanding why he purposely was not selling all of the wine he made. He tried to explain that it was important for research purposes, not to mention sentimental reasons, to have wines from each vintage that could be used for age-ability studies, vintage comparisons, and so forth. This foresight recently proved quite valuable when they began making wines from the 2010 vintage, which was a cool vintage. Rick and winemaker Kevin Mott went into the Woodward Canyon library and pulled out bottles from other cool vintages. They tasted through them to learn what to do and what to expect and made some adjustments as a result.

Woodward Canyon is located in Lowden, Washington, just 13 miles west of Walla Walla. If your travels take you to the Walla Walla Valley, I highly encourage you to visit Woodward Canyon. Their tasting room is in a restored 1870’s farmhouse, and the production facility is in the old Small family farm shops. Private, sit-down tastings of their reserve wines are available in the Reserve House adjacent to the tasting room.

2008 Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with black cherry, black currant, leather, cinnamon, and nutmeg aromas. Luscious black fruit, mocha, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity, and a long, rich finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $79; Available elsewhere, $73 to $80

2010 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay (Washington State): 100% Chardonnay. Medium, golden yellow. Very aromatic with pear, apple, nectarine, and vanilla on the nose. More pear, nectarine, and vanilla as well as mineral notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. One of the best Washington Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $44; Available elsewhere, $41 to $44

2008 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Syrah. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, blackberry, and chocolate aromas. Black cherry, mocha, and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $49; Available elsewhere, $32 to $50

2009 Woodward Canyon Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 4% Mourvedre. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, black currant, tobacco, earth, and mineral aromas. Flavors of black cherry, mocha, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, drying tannins, and a long, very dry finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $44

2009 Woodward Canyon Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Light, straw yellow. Very aromatic with pear, melon, and white peach on the nose and palate. Light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, rich finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $26; Available elsewhere, $25

Spotlight On: Woodward Canyon Winery was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

In 1998, Bill Gordon retired. Jeff’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Marc Nelson, joined the family business in 2001. While the Gordon Brothers vineyards and winery are located in eastern Washington, they opened a tasting room in Woodinville’s warehouse district in 2008.

We recently had the opportunity to taste a number of Gordon Brothers wines in a blind samples tasting. We especially enjoyed the 2008 SIX Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 Gewurztraminer Ice Wine, and the 2005 Tradition Red Wine. I must admit that I have found their wines to be a bit inconsistent in the past. However, if these wines are any indication, Gordon Brothers is on the way up.

2008 Gordon Brothers SIX Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with black fruit and floral aromas with a hint of leather. More black fruit, leather, and floral notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with good acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50; Available elsewhere, $42

2009 Gordon Brothers Gewurztraminer Ice Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium-deep gold in color. Beautiful nose with honey and dried apricot aromas. More honey and dried apricot as well as Asian pear and caramel come through on the palate. Very sweet but not sickeningly sweet. Medium-bodied and lively with a long finish. Well-balanced with a lot going on. Residual Sugar: 38.1%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $37 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $36 to $42

2005 Gordon Brothers Tradition Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 8% Syrah. Deep, dark brownish red. Nice nose with red fruit and cinnamon aromas. Flavors of red fruit, cinnamon, Red Vines, red plum, and a hint of leather. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $29 to $30

2006 Gordon Brothers Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark brownish red. Aromatic with black fruit, vegetal, earth, and spice aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with soft tannins and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20; Available elsewhere, $16 to $17

2007 Gordon Brothers Tempranillo (Columbia Valley, Washington): 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Black fruits, black plum, licorice, and spice aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $65

2008 Gordon Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 3% Merlot. Deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with black fruit, spice, and vegetal notes on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $23; Available elsewhere, $18 to $23

2008 Gordon Brothers Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, golden yellow with green tinges. Aromatic with oak and butter on the nose. Apple, pear, and oak come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied, and lively with a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $16; Available elsewhere, $10 to $14

2007 Gordon Brothers Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 93% Merlot, 5% Syrah, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-deep ruby red. Moderately aromatic with cherry, plum, and oak on the nose. Red fruits come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20; Available elsewhere, $16 to $24

Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards: Family-Owned and Estate Grown was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Boudreaux says, ‘Taste at least one new wine per day.’

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste six of Boudreaux Cellars’ current releases in a blind samples tasting. Boudreaux Cellars is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignons that are excellent. The 2006 Merlot and 2008 Chardonnay also showed very well.

Since his site is not ideally suited for grape growing, Newsom sources his grapes from many different vineyards around the state. He is a master at blending. Most of his bottles are labeled simply Washington State and lists the vineyard sources for that particular wine.

In addition to making great wines, Boudreaux boasts a spectacular setting along the Icicle River in the Cascade Mountains. Since it is located four miles off the power grid, Boudreaux is the only winery in Washington State that is completely self-powered. Only open by appointment, Boudreaux is well worth a visit.

2006 Boudreaux Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit sourced from Champoux and Loess Vineyards. Deep, dark purplish red. Beautiful bouquet with blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, spice, and a hint of floral aromas on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, leather, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $100; Available elsewhere, $100

2006 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with jammy black fruits on the nose. Fruit-forward with blackberry cobbler, black cherry, and leather on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50; Available elsewhere, $49

2006 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot (Washington State): 100% Merlot. Fruit sourced from Dionysis, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, and Wallula Vineyards. Deep, dark red with slight browning. Very aromatic with black fruits, plum, molasses, and allspice on the nose. More molasses, cinnamon, earth, and black fruits come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $40; Available elsewhere, $31

2008 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay (Washington State): Unfiltered. Medium, golden yellow in color. Aromatic with butterscotch and vanilla on the nose. Lemon, apple, and butterscotch flavors on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and very crisp with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35

2009 Boudreaux Cellars Riesling (Gamache Vineyard, Washington State): Pale, straw yellow. Aromatic with fresh aromas of white peach and honey. More white peach and Asian pear come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a medium finish with a hint of effervescence on the back end.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20

2007 Boudreaux Cellars JBO’s Frangio (Desert Hills Vineyard, Washington State): Deep, purplish red in color. Aromatic with red fruit and medicinal aromas. Bright red fruits come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish. Takes a while to open up.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50

Boudreaux Cellars: Master of Blending Produces More Excellent Wines was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

We recently had the opportunity to taste five wines from Three Rivers Winery in a blind samples tasting, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Riesling, the 2008 Merlot, the 2008 River’s Red, and the 2009 Chardonnay. We would recommend all of the wines, except the Chardonnay, and were especially impressed with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Three Rivers is a destination winery boasting an 18,000 square foot facility, which houses their tasting room, cellar and barrel room, meeting rooms, and a spacious deck. They also offer three short holes of golf for winery guests. I must admit that I have found their wines to be a bit inconsistent in the past. However, if these current releases are any indication, Three Rivers is on the way back up. And, best of all, these wines deliver some serious bang for your buck.

2007 Three Rivers Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Malbec. Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with black fruits and green bell pepper on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, bell pepper, spice box, and earth come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $21; Available elsewhere, $18

2008 Three Rivers Winery Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Very pale, straw yellow. Nice nose with floral, petrol, and pencil eraser aromas. Fresh citrus and tropical fruits and orange blossoms come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $12

2008 Three Rivers Winery Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with plum, blackberry, and licorice aromas. Black fruits, plum, and smoky notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $19; Available elsewhere, $18 to $20

2008 Three Rivers Winery River’s Red (Columbia Valley, Washington): 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Malbec, 13% Merlot, 11% Tempranillo, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep red in color. Moderately aromatic with bright red fruits and licorice on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $15

2009 Three Rivers Winery Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow. Nose is tight at first and then some lemon aromas come through. Flavors of lemon, green apple, pear, and a hint of vanilla. Medium-bodied and lively with a long finish. Very watery and plain.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $17.50

Three Rivers Winery: Good Wines, Great Value, and Gorgeous Setting was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Due to its close proximity to Seattle, we have visited Woodinville several times in the last month or so. We focused our visits predominately on wineries whose current Woodinville tasting rooms we had not previously visited; although, in many cases, we have tasted their wines at one time or another. In addition to these visits, we also recently had an extended visit and interview with Rod and Leslie Balsley at William Church Winery and attended the Woodinville Wine Country “Taste for the Trade” event in Seattle. We capped off our most recent visit to Woodinville as guests of Chateau Ste. Michelle for a fabulous Harry Connick, Jr. concert that was a part of their Summer Concert Series.

If you haven’t made a Woodinville wine tasting trip yet, I highly encourage you to do so whether you live in Seattle and are looking for a fun afternoon outing or you are vacationing in the area. (Click here for our updated .pdf list of Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms including website, address, phone, and hours.)

Obviously with over 90 wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville today, it is impossible to visit them all in an afternoon or even a long weekend. However, there are several areas with concentrations of wineries/tasting rooms within Woodinville that makes it easy to focus your visits on different areas. You may want to visit the warehouse district one day, the Hollywood Schoolhouse area another day, and the stand-alones (Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia, Novelty Hill/Januik, etc.) another day. No matter where in Woodinville you are going, if you do not like crowds and would rather avoid the limos carrying bachelorette partygoers, you might want to visit on a day other than Saturday.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted during our recent visits to Woodinville. Under each Quality heading, the wine name and region will be listed along with price and QPR rating. Wines in bold type received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Mourvedre, Horse Heaven Hills, $34, QPR: 5
2008 Obelisco Estate Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $60, QPR: 5
2007 Mark Ryan Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $75, QPR: 5
2008 Gorman Winery The Evil Twin Syrah/Cab, Red Mountain, $60, QPR: 4
2007 Gorman Winery The Albatross Cab/Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $80, QPR: 3

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2006 Robert Ramsay Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $20, QPR: 5
2008 Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte (Cab-based blend), Horse Heaven Hills, $20, QPR: 5
2009 Gorman Winery Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $25 [375ml], QPR: 5
2008 Obelisco Estate Tejen Merlot, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 5
2006 Ross Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 5
2007 Robert Ramsay Upland Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Snipes Mountain, $38, QPR: 5
2007 Gorman Winery The Bully Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $42, QPR: 5
2007 Ross Andrew Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2006 Chatter Creek Clifton Hill Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 4
2007 Pepper Bridge Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $50, QPR: 4
2008 Alexandria Nicole Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills, $38, QPR: 3
2008 JM Cellars Longevity (Bordeaux-style blend), Columbia Valley, $38, QPR: 3
2007 Baer Winery Arctos (Cab-based blend), Columbia Valley, $41, QPR: 3
2008 Gorman Winery The Pixie Syrah, Red Mountain, $42, QPR: 3
2007 Robert Ramsay Mourvedre, Horse Heaven Hills, $42, QPR: 3
2008 Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah, Red Mountain, $45, QPR: 3
2008 Mark Ryan Viognier, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvedre, Red Mountain, $45, QPR: 2

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Alexandria Nicole Steel Horse Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $14, QPR: 4
2009 Baer Winery Shard (unoaked Chardonnay), Columbia Valley, $21, QPR: 4
2008 Tempest Sol Syrah, Yakima Valley, $21, QPR: 4
2006 Chatter Creek Lonesome Spring Ranch Syrah, Yakima Valley, $22, QPR: 4
2008 Alexandria Nicole Gravity Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, $24, QPR: 4
2007 Alexandria Nicole Jet Black Syrah, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 4
2008 JM Cellars Merlot, Red Mountain, $35, QPR: 4
2009 Flying Dreams Little Red Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 3
2008 Gecko Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $20, QPR: 3
2008 Mark Ryan Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Amavi Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2008 Obelisco Estate Tejen Syrah, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 3
2008 Obelisco Estate Tejen Red Blend, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 3
2008 Mark Ryan The Dissident Red, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 3
2007 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 3
2006 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 3
2009 Alexandria Nicole Crawford Viognier, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 2
2009 Alexandria Nicole Shepherds Mark (Rouss/Marsanne/Viog), Horse Heaven Hills, $20, QPR: 2
2007 Michael Florentino Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Obelisco Estate Tejen Malbec, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 2
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Grenache, Horse Heaven Hills, $30, QPR: 2
2007 Baer Winery Ursa (Merlot-based blend), Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 2
2009 Gorman Winery The Big Sissy Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 2
2006 JM Cellars Columbia Valley Cuvee (Bordeaux-style blend), Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 2
2007 Robert Ramsay Boushey Vineyards Syrah, Yakima Valley, $38, QPR: 2
2007 Alexandria Nicole Duck Press Red, Horse Heaven Hills, $38, QPR: 2
2008 Alexandria Nicole Members Only (Rhone-style blend), Horse Heaven Hills, $42, QPR: 1
2007 JM Cellars Nietos (Red blend), Columbia Valley, $55, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2008 Tempest Sol Rosé (Merlot), Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 4
2007 Gecko Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 4
2008 Mark Ryan The Vincent Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2007 Amavi Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2009 Convergence Zone Riesling, Yakima Valley, $15, QPR: 3
2003 JM Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: 3
2008 Tempest Sol Dusk (Merlot/Syrah), Yakima Valley, $24, QPR: 3
2006 Ross Andrew Syrah-Cabernet Blend, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 3
2009 Gecko Cellars Rosé, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 2
2009 Ross Andrew Celilo Vineyard Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge, $18, QPR: 2
2007 Chatter Creek Viognier, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Chatter Creek Grenache, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Chatter Creek Orange Muscat, Lonesome Spring Ranch, Yakima Valley, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Gorman Winery Zachary’s Ladder Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2009 Flying Dreams Coquette Sauvignon Blanc, Spring Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 1
2009 JM Cellars Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Ross Andrew Meadow (Pinot Blanc basically), Willamette Valley (OR), $16, QPR: NR
2009 Tempest Sol Riesling, Yakima Valley, $17, QPR: NR
2007 Michael Florentino Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: NR
2009 Lion’s Oak Sauvignon Blanc, Red Mountain, $20, QPR: NR

Exploring Woodinville Wine Country was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.