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

Charles Smith of K Vintners founded Magnificent Wine Company in 2004. Magnificent’s flagship brands are the House Wines, a red Cabernet blend and this white Chardonnay blend. When people refer to a “house” wine, they generally mean something they would drink anytime with anything and that is affordable. That is exactly what these wines are designed to deliver. The House Wines have easily recognizable black and white labels.

“Bright honeysuckle, peach and floral aromatics swirl in the glass. Wonderful flavors of tangerine, pineapple and peach are layered on the palate. This delicious, rich wine is crisp and clean on the finish.” –Magnificent Wine Company

2008 Magnificent Wine Company House Wine White (Columbia Valley, Washington): 78% Chardonnay, 11% Riesling, 5% Muscat, 5% Gewurztraminer, 1% Pinot Gris. Very pale, almost watery, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with floral, pear, and tropical fruit aromas. Pear, apple, and lemon peel come through on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and crisp with a long finish. Residual Sugar: 0.16%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington) $7.99; Available elsewhere, $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Magnificent Wine Company House Wine White was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. 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

Washington is the largest Riesling producing state in the United States. And, Washington State’s own Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest Riesling producer in the world. Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s vineyards are located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, all of their white wines, including this Dry Riesling, are made in Woodinville.

Last week during the Riesling Rendezvous, winemaker Wendy Stuckey of Chateau Ste. Michelle sat on the panel during the International Blind Tasting of Dry Rieslings in which this wine was poured. When it was revealed and the audience was told that this wine retails for around $8 (we purchased it for under $6), Wendy received resounding applause.

“The Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling is a dry, crisp, refreshing style of Riesling with beautiful fruit flavors, crisp acidity and an elegant finish. It offers beautiful ripe peach and apricot aromas with a clean finish. This is an incredibly versatile food wine and my favorite with oysters.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Very aromatic with apricot and white peach on the nose; more white peach, apricot, and lime on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, pleasing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington) $5.99; Widely available elsewhere, $8 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of curried butternut squash soup, spinach and mango salad, roasted chicken breast with red potatoes and garlic, seasoned zucchini, summer squash and grape tomatoes, topped off by cheesecake with raspberry sauce, garnished with fresh raspberries. Not only did all six wines receive a Quality rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5) or higher, but two of the wines also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2009 Corvidae Crowe White Blend. Corvidae Wine Company, located in Sunnyside, Washington, is a relatively new label in the Owen Roe Winery portfolio. In Latin, Corvidae is the name for the family of birds that includes the crow, raven, jay, and magpie, birds that can often be found in Eastern Washington vineyards. This wine had done extremely well during a blind samples tasting earlier this year, but it was absolutely fantastic with dinner. It is a wonderful summer sipper, with or without food. Even though the suggested retail is $12, I have seen it in local grocery stores for under $9.

The other wine in this tasting that deserves extra attention because of its high quality and excellent value is the 2008 Columbia Crest Vineyard 10 White Wine. I continue to be amazed at the quality Columbia Crest is able to achieve at such a high production level. This wine is a great go-to white wine for parties and large groups because it is excellent, appeals to both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc lovers, and can often be found in local grocery stores for under $6.

It is interesting to note that among those attending this tasting dinner, there seemed to be a slight preference for the wines with a higher percentage of Sauvignon Blanc. With that said, the Semillon-based blends are very good as well. In fact, you can’t go wrong with any of these wines to enjoy on your deck on a warm summer evening or to compliment the lighter fare often served during these warm months.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2009 Corvidae Crowe White Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 48% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Chenin Blanc, 18% Riesling, 13% Pinot Gris, 2% Muscat. Pale, greenish yellow. Very aromatic with beautiful floral and tropical fruit aromas. More floral notes, apples, pears, lemon, and lime come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish. A wonderful summer sipper, with or without food.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

2008 Fidelitas Optu White Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 56% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromas of petrol, apple, and a hint of mint lead to flavors of apple, pear, and citrus fruits. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Well-balanced with good complexity.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $23.99; Available elsewhere, $18 to $31

2008 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 White Wine (Washington State): 40% Chardonnay, 34% Sauvignon Blanc, 11% Semillon, 15% Other various aromatic varieties. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Citrus aromas, especially grapefruit, as well as a touch of minerality come through on the nose; lots of apple, lime, lemon peel, grapefruit, and white peach on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $5.99; Widely available

2008 Bergevin Lane Calico White (Columbia Valley, Washington): 44% Viognier, 37% Roussanne, 19% Chardonnay. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Minerality and pear on the nose; more pear and apple on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $15.49; Available elsewhere, $16 to $19

2008 Buty Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle (Columbia Valley, Washington): 69% Semillon, 26% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle. Pale yellow in color. Aromatic with floral notes, pineapple, lemon, vanilla, and a hint of oak. Hay, cream, and tropical fruits come through on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and smooth with a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $22.99; Available elsewhere, $20 to $24

2008 L’Ecole Nº 41 Estate Luminesce (Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 70% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale, greenish straw yellow in color and very aromatic. Pear, apple, and coconut come through on the nose; pears, apples, peach, and mint on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied, and crisp with a long, somewhat tart, 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 $20; Available elsewhere, $15 to $21

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington White Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste four sparkling wines from Domaine Ste. Michelle in a blind samples tasting. All four wines offer good overall quality and deliver the most bang for your buck.

Too often, people only think of sparkling wines to celebrate special occasions or to ring in the New Year. I absolutely love bubbly and think that it should be enjoyed on a regular basis. Sparkling wines are also very food-friendly. All of the wines from Domaine Ste. Michelle can regularly be found for under $10 at your local grocery store and are great options to become your “house” sparkling wine that you don’t hesitate to open on a random Tuesday night, just because.

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Light, pinkish salmon in color. Very aromatic with raspberry and floral notes. Raspberry, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and crisp with small, fairly fast bubbles, 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 $12; Available elsewhere, $9 to $15

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with citrus and grassy notes. More citrus fruits, lemon zest, and some minerality come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and crisp with small, fairly fast bubbles, 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 $12; Available elsewhere, $8 to $13

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with orange peel and floral aromas that lead to flavors of gardenias and oranges. Dry, medium-bodied and lively with small, fairly fast bubbles, 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 $12; Available elsewhere, $8 to $12

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, hay, and honey on the nose. Apple, banana, and honey come through on the palate. Off-dry, medium-bodied and lively with small, medium speed bubbles, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $8 to $15

Domaine Ste. Michelle Sparkling Wines: Big Bangs and Sabers was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

While Riesling is enjoying a resurgence of sorts (currently, Riesling is the fastest growing wine in the U.S. market), many consumers still mistakenly dismiss it as being cheap and sweet. In reality, Riesling is one of the most versatile grape varieties. It can be made in many different styles from bone dry to very sweet, reflects the regional character of where it is grown, and is extremely food-friendly. And, it is probably the most age worthy of all white wine varieties.

As a result of discussions that took place at the first Riesling Rendezvous in 2007, the International Riesling Foundation was formed to help consumers better appreciate the many virtues of Riesling. One of their first orders of business was to develop a system to help consumers know what to expect in a particular bottle of Riesling. The IRF created a Riesling Taste Profile which producers may use on their back labels and other merchandising materials. It now appears on over 12 million bottles in the U.S. market. The IRF’s three-year goal is for the Riesling Taste Profile to be the standard for wineries, retailers, and restaurants in the U.S. and other markets where allowed.

Riesling wines will be recognized and demanded internationally as the world’s most noble wines due to their diversity of styles, regional character, consistent quality, and compatibility with food. –Vision of the International Riesling Foundation

I attended all three days of the Riesling Rendezvous, which included a Grand Tasting, blind tastings, and workshops. It was wonderful to have so many producers and enthusiasts from all around the world together for a total Riesling immersion. It was the first time that I had ever focused on a single variety for three straight days. One of my favorite sessions was the Ageability of Riesling workshop, which made a strong case for the age worthiness of Riesling. Look for a future post about that workshop.

A quick look at the breakdown of wines I tasted below indicates the highest quality Rieslings are being produced in Germany and the Alsace region of France and some of the best values (highest QPRs) are coming from Germany and Washington State. Interestingly, this conclusion is consistent with the conclusion of a recent trade survey.

German and Alsatian Rieslings rated highest in quality, Germany high in value (along with Washington). –Trade Survey Conclusion by Wine Opinions

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that I tasted during the Riesling Rendezvous, except those tasted during the Ageability of Riesling workshop that will be included in a future post. Under each Quality heading, the wine name and region will be listed along with price (when provided) 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 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spatlese Urziger Wurzgarten, Mosel, Germany, $30, QPR: 4
2009 Donnhoff Riesling Spatlese Niederhauser Hermannshohle, Nahe Valley, Germany $37.75, QPR: 4
2008 Hugel et Fils Hugel Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2009 Donnhoff Riesling Kabinett Oberhauser Leistenberg, Nahe Valley, Germany $15.10, QPR: 5
2009 Efeste Evergreen Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington, $16, QPR: 5
2009 Glenora Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York, $16, QPR: 5
2008 Donnhoff Riesling Grosses Gewachs Niederhauser Hermannshohle, Nahe Valley, Germany, $17.60, QPR: 5
2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington, $18, QPR: 5
2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett “Blue Slate”, Mosel, Germany, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Viento Dry Riesling Columbia Gorge Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, $20, QPR: 4
2007 Viento Riesling Select Harvest Columbia Gorge Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Mosel, Germany, $24, QPR: 4
2008 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E, Alsace, France, $25, QPR: 4
2009 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Vineyard Riesling, Frankland River, Western Australia, $27, QPR: 4
2009 Jim Barry Wines The Florita Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, $29, QPR: 3
2009 Van Volxem Spatlese Pierpointe St. Urbans Hof, Mosel, Germany, $35, QPR: 3
2009 Josef Leitz Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Trocken Alte Reben, Rheingau, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Domane Wachau Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel, Wachau, Austria, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Villa Maria Reserve Dry Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Forrest Wines The Valleys Dry Riesling, Wairau Valley, New Zealand, $NA, QPR: NA
2005 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Grand Cru Clos Schild, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Cuvee Henri, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2005 Vins Schoenheitz Riesling Linsenberg, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Loimer Riesling Steinmassl, Kamptal, Austria, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Becker Steinhauser Auslese Brauneberger Sonnenuhr, Mosel, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Triple Entente Cuckoo’s Nest Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $NA, QPR: NA
2000 Black Star Farms A Capella Riesling Ice Wine, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Framingham Wines Classic Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand, $NA, QPR: NA
2007 Egon Muller-Scharzhof Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, Saar Valley, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Gysler Riesling Kabinett, Rheinhessen, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington, $9, QPR: 5
2008 Chateau Grand Traverse Dry Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $12.49, QPR: 5
2008 Viento Riesling Columbia Gorge Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, $16, QPR: 4
2008 Efeste Evergreen Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington, $16, QPR: 4
2008 Chateau Grand Traverse Whole Cluster Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $16, QPR: 4
2009 Josef Leitz Dragonstone Riesling, Rheingau, Germany, $18, QPR: 4
2009 Van Volxem Rotschiefer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Domane Wachau Riesling Federspiel Terrassen, Wachau, Austria, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Hugel et Fils Riesling Classic, Alsace, France, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Loimer Riesling Kamptal, Kamptal, Austria, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Jim Barry Wines The Lodge Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Frankland Estate Poison Hill Vineyard Riesling, Frankland River, Western Australia, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Domane Wachau Riesling Smaragd Terrassen, Wachau, Austria, $25, QPR: 3
2009 Frankland Estate Cooladerra Vineyard Riesling, Frankland River, Western Australia, $30, QPR: 2
2008 Fox Run Vineyards Reserve Riesling Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York, $30, QPR: 2
2006 Dr. Von Basserman-Jordan Riesling Spatlese Deidesheimer Leinhohle, Pfalz, Germany, $30, QPR: 2
2008 Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling, Alsace, France, $40, QPR: 1
2005 Jim Barry Wines The Florita Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Brundlmayer Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein, Kamptal, Austria, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Clemens Busch Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Marienberg “Falkenlay”, Mosel, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Riesling, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Pierre Sparr Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Helfrich Winery Noble Tier Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2007 Trimbach Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Tradition, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2002 Loimer Riesling Steinmassl, Kamptal, Austria, $NA, QPR: NA
2007 St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spatlese, Saar Valley, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Robert Weil Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Bowers Harbor Vineyards Block II Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Tesch Riesling Trocken “Unplugged”, Nahe Valley, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Clemens Busch Pundericher Marienburg Riesling “Fahrlay” Grosses Gewachs, Mosel, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Schafer-Frolich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe Valley, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2007 Ansgar-Clusserath Drohn Hofberger Riesling Auslese, Mosel, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2008 14 Hands Riesling, Washington State, $10, QPR: 4
2008 Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York, $15, QPR: 3
2008 Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling Semi-Dry, Finger Lakes, New York, $15, QPR: 3
2008 Black Star Farms Arcturos Dry Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $16.50, QPR: 3
2008 Robert Weil Riesling Trocken Kiedrich Grafenberg Erstes Gewachs, Rheingau, Germany, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Left Foot Charley 7th Hill Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Chehalem Reserve Dry Riesling, Willamette Valley, Oregon, $21, QPR: 2
2007 Anthony Road Martini-Reinhardt Selection Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York, $22, QPR: 1
2007 Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Arthur Metz Riesling, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Espenhof Riesling Trocken “S” Muschelkalk, Rheinhessen, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Rainer Schnaitmann Uhlbacher Riesling Trocken, Wurttemberg, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Schneider Ellerstadter Kirschenstuck Riesling Trocken, Pfalz, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA
2008 Garage Winery Riesling Feinherb “Wild Thing”, Rheingau, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Chateau Grand Traverse Dry Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $14, QPR: NR
2008 Chateau Grand Traverse Lot 49 Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $22, QPR: NR
2004 Hugel et Fils Riesling Jubilee, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NR
2004 Leon Beyer Riesling Ecaillers, Alsace, France, $NA, QPR: NR
2006 Cave Spring Riesling CSV, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, $NA, QPR: NR
2009 2 Lads Winery Riesling, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, $NA, QPR: NA
2009 Gysler Riesling Trocken “S” Rotliegendes, Rheinhessen, Germany, $NA, QPR: NA

Riesling Rendezvous: Producers and Enthusiasts from Around the World Celebrate and Promote this Noble Grape was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Jason thought that participation was down due to the lagging economy, conflicting events like Riesling Rendezvous, and Syrah simply not selling as well as in the past. Cheryl blamed the lower participation on wineries cutting back on travel and donor budgets, and distributors not looking for more labels to carry in their portfolio. “It’s just a tough market right now,” said Cheryl.

Jon Martinez of Maison Bleue even recruited Washington winegrowing legend Dick Boushey to pour at his booth. It was a great marketing idea, and it worked. Maison Bleue had a good crowd the whole afternoon.

This was the third year in a row that I attended the Rhone Rangers trade/media tasting here in Seattle. The Rhone Rangers are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting American Rhone varietal wines. To be members, wineries must produce wines from one or more of the 22 varietals that are native to the Rhone Valley in France. Twenty-nine Rhone Ranger member wineries from Washington, California, Oregon, and Idaho participated in this tasting, down from over forty a year ago.

The good news is that for wine consumers, there is great opportunity. The wines continue to get better while the prices are the same or lower. There were a higher percentage of 4 star (out of 5) wines or better, and there were a higher percentage of great QPR wines (5 bangs for your buck) than I’d found the previous two years at this event. There were no real “new” discoveries this year, but a number of excellent new vintages from familiar producers. From a quality standpoint, my two personal favorites were the 2007 Columbia Winery Red Willow Syrah [QPR: 5, as well] and the 2008 Maison Bleue “Liberte” Boushey Syrah. From a QPR standpoint, I continue to be impressed with what Cline Cellars produces at price points we all can afford.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that I tasted at the Rhone Rangers event; I focused on red wines this year. 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)
2007 Columbia Winery Red Willow Syrah, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 5

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2008 Cline “Cashmere” Red Blend, California, $14, QPR: 5
2007 Cline “Cool Climate” Syrah, Sonoma County, $14, QPR: 5
2006 Snoqualmie Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
2008 Tablas Creek “Cote de Tablas” Red Blend, Paso Robles, $25, QPR: 4
2008 Justin Syrah, Paso Robles, $26, QPR: 4
2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Boreal” Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2007 Sarah’s Vineyard “Cote de Madone” Red Blend, Santa Clara Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2008 Maison Bleue “Liberte” Syrah, Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $39, QPR: 3
2006 Domaine Serene Roadblock Reserve Syrah, Oregon, $40, QPR: 3

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Clayhouse Estate Syrah, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: 5
2006 Columbia Crest Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Maison Bleue “La Roque” Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $25, QPR: 4
2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Ethos” Syrah, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Austral” Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $30, QPR: 3
2006 Tablas Creek Syrah, Paso Robles, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Fess Parker “Big Easy” Syrah, Santa Barbara County, $35, QPR: 3
2008 Treana Syrah, Hope Family Vineyard, Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 2
2008 Justin “Savant” Red Blend, Paso Robles, $45, QPR: 1
2006 Pride Mountain Syrah, Sonoma, $60, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2007 Four Vines Phoenix Syrah, Paso Robles, $20, QPR: 3
2006 Eberle Syrah, Steinbeck Vineyard, Paso Robles, $21, QPR: 3
2006 Curtis Syrah, Crossroads Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley, $32, QPR: 2
2008 Qupe “Sonnie’s” Syrah, Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard, Edna Valley, $35, QPR: 1
2007 Stage Left Syrah “The Scenic Route”, Del Rio Vineyard, Oregon, $38, QPR: 1
2006 Vina Robles “Syree” Syrah, Paso Robles, $39, QPR: 1
2007 Four Vines “The Peasant” Red Blend, Paso Robles, $40, QPR: 1
2007 Epiphany Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley, $40, QPR: 1
2006 Fess Parker Syrah, Rodney’s Vineyard, Santa Barbara County, $45, QPR: 1
2008 Pride Mountain Syrah, Sonoma, $60, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Calcareous Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles, $34, QPR: NR

Rhone Rangers’ Struggles Provide Great Opportunity for Wine Consumers was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. 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

Buried Cane is the value brand for Middleton Family Wines. The Middletons, a multi-generation Washington timber family, also own Cadaretta Winery in Walla Walla, which is where Buried Cane is produced. Buried Cane wines are named after a time-honored practice used to protect grape vines from frigid winter temperatures in which low-growing vine canes are buried and then unearthed after winter freezes pass.

“The inaugural release of Buried Cane Syrah has dark cherry and blackberry spice aromas that open into earthy complexities, with slight cured meat notes. Flavors of cherry and spice lead to silky tannins and a lingering finish. This balanced wine is a great match with grilled meats and Northwest salmon.” –Buried Cane

2007 Buried Cane Syrah (Washington State): 80% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise, 4% Grenache, 3% Sangiovese. Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with black fruits, oak, and some vegetal notes on the nose. Black fruits and black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward with crisp acidity, medium to high 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 $12; Available elsewhere, $11-$12

A Wine for Tonight: 2007 Buried Cane Syrah was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, near the Oregon state line in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Founded in 2000 by Rich Funk and his wife Anita, Saviah Cellars currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother.

Rich took us through a vertical tasting of his Saviah Cellars Une Vallée Red Wine from the 2003 through the 2008 vintage. (For those of you who are not familiar with a vertical tasting, it is one in which you taste different vintages of the same wine from the same winery.) Une Vallée is French for “one valley”. This Left Bank Bordeaux-style blend features fruit from the Walla Walla Valley. When Rich founded Saviah, there were not a lot of vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley so his goal from the beginning has been to blend together the best wine that he can from the Walla Walla Valley. The only exception so far has been the 2004 vintage when the Walla Walla Valley suffered from a terrible freeze; the fruit for that wine was sourced from Columbia Valley vineyards.

“I want to make a wine that really showcases my style as much as the elegance and silkiness that Walla Walla wines portray. I think that the essence of Walla Walla is the silkiness that we have in our wines. The Une Vallée has always been about restraint rather than trying to make a big, bruiser, over-extracted wine.” –Rich Funk, winemaker

As I have said before, one of the things that I really admire about Rich’s winemaking style is that he strives for elegance rather than over-extracted huge wines. As a winemaker, he is all about the fruit, but his wines are not fruit bombs. Rich’s wines show balance, complexity, and elegance.

You can’t go wrong with any of these wines; they are all very good. However, the two that really stood out to us were the 2007 and 2008. Both are very young but are already excellent and should open up even more with a few more years of age. These wines also deliver some serious bang for your buck.

Tasting notes, in the order we tasted them:

2003 Saviah Walla Walla Valley Une Vallée (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Very aromatic with black fruits, spice, licorice, cinnamon, and a hint of leather on the nose. Blackberry and black cherry dominate the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high 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: Winery, $32

2004 Saviah Columbia Valley Une Vallée (Columbia Valley, Washington): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Herbal notes, black cherry, and clove on the nose; black plum and oak 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: Winery, $32

2005 Saviah Walla Walla Valley Une Vallée (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of ripe blackberry, citrus, coffee, and a hint of mint. Flavors of black and red fruits and spice. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium, silky 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: Winery, $32

2006 Saviah Walla Walla Valley Une Vallée (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Very aromatic with floral notes, black fruits, herbs, and slight vegetal aromas on the nose. Ripe black cherry, red cherry, and earth on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and smooth 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: Winery, $32

2007 Saviah Walla Walla Valley Une Vallée (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Very aromatic with black and blue fruits, vanilla, and spice on the nose. More black and blue fruits, spice, licorice, and floral notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied, crisp yet smooth, medium to high tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced, good complexity, should get even better with some age.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32

2008 Saviah Walla Walla Valley Une Vallée (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, baking spice, and licorice aromas that lead to blackberry, black plum, and spice flavors. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish. Well-balanced with good complexity. A very young wine but shows amazing potential.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32

Saviah Cellars Une Vallée Vertical, 2003-2008 was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

I thoroughly enjoyed preparing this meal at the midpoint of the year and giving us the opportunity to start looking ahead to Christmas. On a side note, our dressing is usually a cornbread dressing; however, I have started making it with rice flour muffins rather than cornbread because we try, when possible, to eat gluten-free. It is amazing that the texture and taste is identical to that of cornbread. I rounded out the menu with an apple walnut salad, seasoned green beans, a spicy jalapeno cranberry relish, and pecan tarts with whipped topping and garnished with shaved chocolate for dessert.

Once the menu was in place, it was time to determine the wines to pair with the meal. I, again, referred to What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page to decide what to serve. White wine is frequently paired with chicken; however, certain red wines are also acceptable. The two varietals chosen to pair with our Christmas in July dinner were Chardonnay (domestic) and Pinot Noir (red Burgundy from France).

For this challenge, I selected the 2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2007 Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin. Phelps Creek is located in Oregon but the fruit for this Chardonnay is sourced from Celilo Vineyard in Washington State. The Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin is a classic red Burgundy made from the Pinot Noir grape. While we enjoyed both wines, we all thought that the Chardonnay was superb, with and without food. It was a marvelous pairing, and we’ll certainly be picking up another bottle of the Phelps Creek Chardonnay to have with this meal come Christmastime. And, best of all, both wines received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

As always, I encourage you to try your own challenging pairings at home. Also, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairing meals for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Medium yellow in color. Very aromatic and refreshing with grass and green apples on the nose. Citrus, apples, and orange peel come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and crisp with a very long finish. Well-balanced with good complexity. Possibly the best Chardonnay we’ve had.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery $24; Available elsewhere, $24

2007 Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin (Gevrey-Chambertin, Cotes de Nuits, Burgundy, France): Grape: Pinot Noir. Medium ruby red. Aromas of earth and oak lead to flavors of cherry and earth. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity, 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: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $42.99; Available elsewhere, $36 to $55

Challenging Wine Pairing: Christmas in July was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. 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

Heinz Eifel Wines is a brand of German wines, produced by Römerhof winery. Heinz Eifel, the man, founded Römerhof in 1979 in Trittenheim in the Mosel Valley. His daughter, Anne Eifel-Spohr, became their winemaker in 2000. The Heinz Eifel brand was created to pay respect to the Eifel family tradition while showcasing the next generation through Anne’s winemaking. The Römerhof winery has long-term contracts with select growers throughout Germany. Heinz Eifel Wines produces five different Rieslings, the full range of which is now nationally available in the United States.

“Heinz Eifel Riesling Spätlese is made from late-harvested Riesling grapes in the middle Mosel Valley of Germany. These grapes hang into late autumn and ripen such that they produce a rich, full-bodied white wine. Loaded with pear, peach, citrus and apricot flavors. An ideal dinner Riesling and also can be enjoyed with riper, aged cheeses and spicy cuisine due to its enhanced complexity.” –Anne Eifel-Spohr, winemaker

2009 Heinz Eifel Riesling Spätlese (Mosel, Germany): Pale to medium greenish yellow. Very aromatic with petrol and hay on the nose. Honey, pear, and tropical fruits come through on the palate. Sweet but not sickeningly sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 6%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Heinz Eifel Riesling Spätlese was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.