Last week, we met and explored Malbec. Unlike the majority of our previous tasting group meetings, which have focused on a particular varietal from a specific region, this tasting simply focused on the varietal and each group member was free to bring a bottle of Malbec from any region in the world. The only requirement was that it was either varietally-labeled as Malbec (or a Malbec synonym such as Côt, Auxerrois, or Pressac) or, for countries that do not varietally-label, it must contain at least 75% Malbec. Malbec was originally one of the six varieties used in red Bordeaux blends along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and occasionally Carmenère. Today, it is only used sparingly in Bordeaux, and the majority of Malbec plantings in the country are found in the Cahors region in southwest France. In recent years, Malbec has become a celebrated varietal wine in Argentina. More and more Malbec continues to be planted in the United States as well. In my opinion, Washington State is producing some excellent Malbec. In general, Malbec is not as tannic as Cabernet Sauvignon but is spicier than Merlot and goes well with a number of different foods.

We tasted eight bottles of Malbec from around the world. Unfortunately, of those eight wines, two bottles (one from Cahors in France and one from Washington State) were corked so we did not include them in the rankings. The remaining six wines included three from Argentina and three from Washington State. The consensus favorite was the 2009 Archaval Ferrer Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina.

I was pleased to see how favorably the Washington wines performed against their peers from Argentina. The three wines from Washington State finished second, fourth, and sixth in the group consensus rankings. However, the Argentine wines all fared better than the Washington wines in the QPR department.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2009 Archaval Ferrer Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina): Deep purple in color. Very aromatic with blackberry and floral notes as well as a hint of tire rubber on the nose. Blackberry, cinnamon, black pepper, and plum come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and silky tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Compass Wines (Anacortes, Washington), $13; Available elsewhere, $16 to $31

2008 Alexandria Nicole Cellars Malbec (Block 20, Destiny Ridge Vineyards, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 96% Malbec and 4% Merlot. Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with chocolate, pencil lead, and black fruit aromas. Flavors of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, and spice. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, dusty 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, $38

2008 Bodega Catena Zapata ‘Catena Malbec’ (Mendoza, Argentina): Deep purple in color. Aromatic with black fruits, vanilla cream, and sugar on the nose. More black fruits, vanilla, and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $20.49; Available elsewhere, $14 to $20

2008 Almquist Malbec (Northridge Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Dark purple. Nice nose with blackberry, black cherry, and spice aromas. Very fruit forward with blackberry, black cherry, and a hint of chocolate on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, soft tannins, and a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering (Seattle, Washington), $25; Available elsewhere, $27

2008 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina): Medium-deep purplish red in color. Aromatic with black fruit, spice, earth, and a hint of barnyard on the nose. More black fruit, plum, licorice, and faint vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8.79; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

2008 Fidelitas Malbec (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep purple in color. Nose is a bit tight at first and then some spice notes come through. Very jammy with blackberry and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $35; Available elsewhere, $34

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

We first visited Dusted Valley on a trip to Walla Walla in the summer of 2008 and had the pleasure to meet Chad. Their Walla Walla tasting room is located in a converted garage below Corey’s house. In 2009, they opened a second tasting room in Woodinville in the Hollywood Schoolhouse area to have a presence closer to the population base and tourists in Seattle. In addition to being a tasting room, the Dusted Valley Wine Gallery features the art of local artists. In my opinion, Dusted Valley has one of the best names for their wine club that I’ve ever heard, the Stained Tooth Society. Chad, Corey, and all of the folks at Dusted Valley value their STS members but are also able to have a bit of fun with the club giving new members Stained Tooth Society-logoed toothbrushes.

While they source their grapes from vineyards around the state of Washington, Dusted Valley is especially proud of their four estate vineyards, Sconni Block, Birch Creek, Stoney Vine, and Minnick Hills.

Recently, we had the opportunity to meet with Corey and taste through some of the current releases from Dusted Valley at their Wine Gallery in Woodinville. We also took home three of their wines to put into one of our blind samples tastings. We thought all six wines were very good but were especially impressed with the 2009 Grenache.

If you live near or are visiting either Walla Walla or Woodinville, I encourage you to make a point to stop at one of Dusted Valley’s tasting rooms. Not only are they making great wines, but also they are very friendly, welcoming folks.

2009 Dusted Valley Grenache (Columbia Valley, Washington): 91% Grenache and 9% Petite Sirah. Deep, dark ruby red. Gorgeous nose with blackberry, black cherry, spice, perfumed, and gamey aromas. Black cherry, game, strawberry, plum, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish. A great food wine.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $28; Available elsewhere, $22 to $28

2008 Dusted Valley Tall Tales Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier. Deep, dark purple. Very aromatic with smoked meat, earth, truffles, and pencil shavings on the nose. More smoked meat and earth as well as blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $53; Available elsewhere, $46

2008 Dusted Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. Deep, dark inky purplish red in color. Nice nose with blackcurrant, leather, oak, chocolate, and dusty aromas that lead to black fruit, licorice, leather, and smoked meat flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and 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 $30; Available elsewhere, $24 to $26

2009 Dusted Valley Wallywood (Columbia Valley, Washington): 63% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 7% Mourvedre. Dark purplish red. Nice nose with earth, spice, and licorice aromas. Red cherry, spice, and Red Vines come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Winery, $42

2008 Dusted Valley Malbec (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark inky purple-black in color. Nose is a bit tight at first. Black cherry, leather, and spice dominate the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium, 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, $42; Available elsewhere, $34

2006 Dusted Valley Late Harvest Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Deep, dense purple. Aromatic with raisins, prunes, meat, and savory notes on both the nose and palate. Very different dessert wine; not sweet like most Late Harvest wines. Both sweet and savory. Residual Sugar: 5.1%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Winery, $30 [375ml]

Crack that Cap with Dusted Valley Vintners 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 all five wines from Obelisco Estates’ second vintage in a blind samples tasting including the 2008 Malbec, 2008 Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Syrah, 2008 Red Wine, and 2008 Merlot. The fruit for all of these wines, with the exception of the Syrah that is from the Hedges Family’s Les Gosses Vineyard, is sourced from the Obelisco Estate Vineyard. The 30-acre vineyard is located on the southwest slope of Red Mountain.

In August of last year, Obelisco Estate opened a tasting room in Woodinville’s warehouse district. Open regularly on the weekends and by appointment during the week, Obelisco Estate is a great place to visit. Not only are their wines very good, but also their tasting room is nicely appointed and welcoming.

2008 Obelisco Estate Malbec (Obelisco Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep red in color. Nice nose with beautiful black fruit and tobacco aromas. More black fruit and tobacco as well as spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30

2008 Obelisco Estate Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon (Obelisco Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Malbec. Deep red in color. Nice nose with black fruit, vanilla, and spice on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, elegant finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $60

2008 Obelisco Estate Syrah (Les Gosses Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 90% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purple. Very aromatic with black fruit, black pepper, and floral notes on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, drying 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 $30

2008 Obelisco Estate Red Wine (Obelisco Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 70.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 4.5% Malbec. Deep red. Aromatic with red fruit and spice aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying 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 $30

2008 Obelisco Estate Merlot (Obelisco Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, and 5% Syrah. Deep, ruby red in color. Aromatic with black fruits, smoke, and vanilla notes on the nose. Black cherry, black plum, smoke, and a hint of cola come through on the nose. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium 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 $30

Obelisco Estate: Red Mountain Vineyard, Woodinville Tasting Room was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The festivities kicked off on Friday with the Washington Wine Restaurant Awards, picked up steam on Saturday with Education Day, and launched into overdrive on Sunday when the doors opened for the Grand Tasting.

Washington Wine Restaurant Awards

The purpose of the Washington Wine Restaurant Awards is to honor restaurants, sommeliers, and individuals that help promote Washington wines in restaurants. Judges evaluate restaurants on a variety of criteria, including wine list, service and staffing, promotions and overall wine philosophy. The Walter Clore Honorarium, given to an individual who has demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the Washington wine industry, was awarded to Maureen “Mo” Shaw of Ray’s Café in Seattle. The Washington Wine Restaurant of the Year is the most prestigious award, given to the restaurant that has promoted Washington wines above and beyond all others. This year’s winner was Canlis Restaurant in Seattle.

Education Day

Education Day featured eight seminars on a variety of topics. The seminars give attendees the opportunity to taste, discuss, meet, and learn from some of the biggest names in the Washington wine industry as well as a few notable guests from outside of Washington State. I attended the Common Ground seminar featuring Seven Hills Vineyard as well as one discussing Washington’s Singular Style.

Common Ground: A Seven Hills Vineyard Investigation
Shayn Bjornholm MS, the Education Director for the Washington Wine Commission, led this seminar focused on the Walla Walla Valley’s famed Seven Hills Vineyard. The panel featured Marty Clubb of L’Ecole Nº41, Jean-Francois Pellet of Pepper Bridge Winery, Drew Hendricks MS of Pappas Brothers, and Blake Gray of The Gray Market Report. Each panelist spoke about their thoughts regarding Seven Hills Vineyard, which was named one of the “Top Ten Vineyards in the World” by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2004, and then Shayn Bjornholm led us through a tasting of wines from L’Ecole Nº41, Leonetti Cellar, and Pepper Bridge Winery. The common threads from winemaker comments about Seven Hills Vineyard were texture, tannin structure, vibrancy, and black fruits, especially black plums.

IN SEARCH OF: Washington’s Singular Style
Bruce Schoenfeld of Travel + Leisure Magazine moderated a stellar panel, which included Bob Betz MW of Betz Family Winery, Shayn Bjornholm MS, Sandy Block MW of Legal Seafoods, and Drew Hendricks MS. After tasting wines from Chablis in France, Ribera del Duero in Spain, and Barolo in Italy, which are very synonymous with a singular style from their region of origin, the panel then took the seminar attendees through a tasting of Washington wines and a discussion of whether or not Washington State has, or should have, a singular style. While no definitive conclusions were made, I will offer up three quotes from Bob Betz that I found particularly interesting:

Washington wine is “Old World structure and New World fruit”.

“Washington Syrah is what America should be drinking.”

“Consumers have a 2-point system (not a 100-point), Yum or Yuck.”

Grand Tasting

The Grand Tasting is the showcase event of Taste Washington. This year’s event featured over 200 wineries pouring their wines and over 50 restaurants serving small bites. With more than 700 wineries now open in the state of Washington, this event offers attendees the opportunity to try a large number of them in one place at one time. Considering the time and gas money you save not having to crisscross the state visiting tasting rooms and making appointments, the $125 for VIP tickets or $75 for general admission tickets is money well spent. Now, don’t get me wrong, once you attend an event like this and discover some favorite new wines and wineries, you will definitely want to make plans to travel to the wineries to visit and taste again. There is nothing like spending a long weekend in Washington wine country.

One of the best aspects of Taste Washington is that often you will find either the winemaker and/or winery owner pouring that winery’s wines. In addition to visiting with a number of people whose wines we have enjoyed in the past, we had the opportunity to try some wines from wineries whose wines we had not previously tasted. Our most exciting discovery was JB Neufeld Winery. Located in Yakima, Washington, JB Neufeld Winery is owned by Justin and Brooke Neufeld. While the JB Neufeld wines were new to us, we have long been fans of Gilbert Cellars for whom Justin is also the winemaker. A quick glance at the breakdown of wines we tasted at the Grand Tasting below shows that Justin’s wines also deliver serious bang-for-your-buck with the first three QPR: 5 wines being two wines from Gilbert Cellars and one from JB Neufeld.

My favorite wine from the Grand Tasting was the 2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah, which will be released in the fall. The fruit for this wine comes from the 1986 Syrah block at Red Willow Vineyard, the oldest Syrah planting in the State of Washington. The name of this wine, which translates as “the founder’s slope”, is a nod to Red Willow owner/grower, Mike Sauer, and former Columbia Winery winemaker, David Lake, who planted those original Syrah vines.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted during the Grand Tasting. Under each Quality heading, the wine name and region are 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)
2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah, Yakima Valley, $55, QPR: 4

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2007 Gilbert Cellars Allobroges Red Rhone-style Blend, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
2007 Gilbert Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 5
2008 JB Neufeld Artz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $32, QPR: 5
2007 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon XIII, Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 5
2010 Nefarious Cellars Estate Viognier, Lake Chelan, $18, QPR: 4
2010 William Church Winery Viognier, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 William Church Winery “2 Spires” Syrah/Cab Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Syrah, Rattlesnake Hills, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Laurelhurst Cellars Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Adams Bench Reckoning Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $34, QPR: 4
2008 Hollywood Hill DIst83 Red Rhone-style Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $34, QPR: 4
2008 L’Ecole Nº41 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $37, QPR: 4
2010 Côte Bonneville Cabernet Franc Rosé, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 3
2007 Gilbert Cellars Petit Verdot, Wahluke Slope, $36, QPR: 3
2008 Nefarious Cellars Rocky Mother Syrah, Columbia Valley, $42, QPR: 3
2006 Côte Bonneville Carriage House Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $50, QPR: 2
2008 Andrew Will Sorella Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $70, QPR: 1

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Brut, Columbia Valley, $14, QPR: 5
2008 Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, $20, QPR: 4
2008 William Church Winery Bishop’s Blend Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Dunham Cellars Lewis Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2007 Bridge Press Cellars Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2008 JB Neufeld DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Laurelhurst Cellars Laurus Nobilis Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2009 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir, Puget Sound, $38, QPR: 3
2008 Nefarious Cellars Malbec, Snipes Mountain, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Adams Bench Reckoning Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $39, QPR: 2
2008 Cooper Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $60, QPR: 2
2008 Cooper Wine Company L’inizio Red Blend, Red Mountain, $45, QPR: 1
2008 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $56, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2009 Covey Run Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $6, QPR: 5
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Extra Sec, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 5
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Demi-Sec, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 5
2007 Bridge Press Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40, QPR: 3
2008 Laurelhurst Cellars Merlot, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 2
2009 Andrew Will Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Laurelhurst Cellars Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2009 Icicle Ridge Winery Sangiovese, Washington State, $85, QPR: 1

Taste Washington 2011: Highlights from Washington Wine’s Signature Event was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

“Originally a blending grape in the Bordeaux region of France and then a varietal in Argentina, this grape is cropping up in Washington because of its ability to grow well in the hot days and cool nights of eastern Washington.” –Seattle Magazine

Last Friday, we featured Washington Malbec in our monthly wine tasting dinner. All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of roasted pepper tomato soup, sautéed pear salad with blue cheese dressing, roasted beef tenderloin, twice-baked red potato bites, braised kale, and German chocolate dessert with whipped cream garnished with shaved chocolate.

While all six wines were good, the 2007 àMaurice Cellars Malbec stood out from the rest. It was my favorite from the first sip right on through the meal. The 2007 Milbrandt The Estates Malbec also showed extremely well. On top of being excellent wines, the àMaurice and Milbrandt also deliver serious bang for your buck.

Anna Schafer of àMaurice Cellars is a very talented winemaker. In addition to founding àMaurice Cellars with her family in 2004, Anna has also spent time in Argentina working harvest. Given the experience she gained there, it is no wonder that she has a deft touch when it comes to producing top quality Malbec. Consistent from vintage to vintage, Anna’s àMaurice Cellars Malbec is one of the best Malbecs produced in the United States.

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of enjoying Washington Malbec, this list is a good place to start. Enjoy!

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2007 àMaurice Cellars Malbec (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark red in color. Gorgeous nose with aromas of earth, game, smoked meat, and spice. Smoked meat, black cherry, and a hint of earth and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $31; Available elsewhere, $35

2007 Milbrandt The Estates Malbec (Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep ruby red. Aromatic with cinnamon, red fruits, and floral notes on the nose. More red fruits and floral notes as well as chocolate and licorice come through on the palate. Medium to 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: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $18 to $27

2007 Barnard Griffin Malbec (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, purplish red in color. Nice nose with herbal and earthy aromas that lead to red fruit and herbal flavors. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $24; Available elsewhere, $27

2008 Nefarious Cellars Malbec (Upland Vineyard, Snipes Mountain, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with black cherry and spice aromas. More black cherry and cinnamon 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: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $26; Available elsewhere, $28

2008 Watermill Winery Estate Malbec (Walla Walla Valley, Oregon): Deep, dark purplish red in color. Cotton candy, cinnamon, and floral aromas come through on the nose; red fruits, cinnamon, bacon, earth, and floral notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28; Available elsewhere, $28

2007 Seven Hills Winery Malbec (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with red fruit and floral aromas. Candied red and black fruits and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long, jammy finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $27; Available elsewhere, $23

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Malbec 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

Redwood Creek is one of the brands in the E. & J. Gallo Winery portfolio. E. & J. Gallo Winery, headquartered in Modesto, California, is the world’s largest family-owned winery and the largest exporter of California wine. Sixteen family members spanning three generations of the Gallo family actively work at the winery. Redwood Creek’s winemaker, Cal Dennison, has been making wine for over 25 years. While the winery is located in California, the fruit for this Malbec was sourced from Argentina.

“The Redwood Creek Mendoza Malbec displays cherry and dark blackberry fruit with integrated brown spice and maple oak flavor notes. The wine has a soft texture but full in structure and fruit flavor. The finish is long and plush.” –Redwood Creek

2009 Redwood Creek Mendoza Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina): Deep red in color. Aromatic with blackberry, black cherry and spice on the nose. More black fruits and spice as well as black licorice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long, smooth 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 $7.99; Available elsewhere, $6 to $10

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Redwood Creek Mendoza Malbec 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

Trapiche, founded over 125 years ago, is Argentina’s largest exported premium wine brand. They own over 1,000 hectares of their own vineyards and also source fruit from more than 200 other producers throughout Argentina. Trapiche is the leader in Malbec sales in Argentina.

For those of you who are not very familiar with Malbec, its ties go back to Bordeaux, France, where it was originally one of the five varieties used in red Bordeaux blends along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Today it is only used sparingly in Bordeaux but has really come into its own as a stand-alone varietal in Argentina.

“Beautiful, intense red color with violet hues. Sweet aromas of blackberries and plums. Elegant touch of smoke and vanilla. Velvety texture and a sweet, long aftertaste.” –Trapiche

2008 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina): Deep, purplish red in color. Nice nose with blackberry, black cherry, oak, and spice aromas. Blackberry, plum, and licorice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, chewy tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish. The bottle is heavier and nicer than you might expect at this price point making it a great gift wine as well.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8.79; Available elsewhere, $8 to $13

A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Since I’m a Texan, I found the origin of chili to be interesting. Spanish Canary Islanders first invented chili in San Antonio, Texas. And, by the way, chili is the official dish of the state of Texas.

The menu for this month’s challenging wine pairing was very basic. It included the chili, a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados with a cilantro lime dressing, and Fritos corn chips.

Now, what wines to pair with this meal? The fact that wine is probably not what first comes to mind to pair with chili only added interest in doing this pairing. I hope this series proves that wines can be found to pair with just about anything. Once again, I referred to my favorite book, What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, and selected Malbec and Syrah. We enjoyed the 2007 Andrew Will Annie Camarda Syrah and the 2007 Milbrandt Vineyards The Estates Malbec. While both wines were good, all four of us thought that the Syrah paired best with the chili.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2007 Andrew Will Annie Camarda Syrah (Washington State): Dark, inky purple in color. Very aromatic with ripe, jammy black fruits, oak, earth, and eucalyptus on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $22.99; Available elsewhere, $23

2007 Milbrandt Vineyards The Estates Malbec (Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Nose is a bit tight at first then coffee, licorice, and waxy aromas come through and lead to flavors of black plum and olive. Medium-bodied and smooth with soft tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $17.99; Available elsewhere, $20

Challenging Wine Pairing: Chili con Carne 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.

Recently, Colby and I had the opportunity to spend three days in the Cascade Valley Wine Country on a media tour hosted by the Cascade Valley Wine Country alliance. We had the pleasure to meet winemakers, visit wineries and vineyards, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Day One was spent in the Wenatchee Valley, the self-proclaimed “Apple Capital of the World.” Day Two took us to the shores of gorgeous Lake Chelan, the longest lake in Washington State and the third deepest lake in the United States. And we concluded our trip by spending Day Three in the quaint Bavarian Village of Leavenworth.

We tasted a total of 94 wines on this trip, a representative sampling of what is being produced in the Cascade Valley Wine Country. As you’ll see from my ratings below, the area is home to a few top-notch producers, a number of average producers, and some underperformers. The wine itself aside, the best part of the trip was the wonderful people we met along the way who truly love where they live and what they are doing.

In the coming weeks, I will be writing more about each of the three destination areas within the Cascade Valley Wine Country, the Wenatchee Valley, Lake Chelan, and Leavenworth. While the wine quality really runs the gamut, there are more than enough good wines and wine country experiences to be had. Given the gorgeous scenery and recreational opportunities, the area is a great get-away destination for everyone in the family, for wine lovers and teetotalers alike.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted while visiting Cascade Valley Wine Country. 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 Nefarious Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $30, QPR: 5
2008 Fielding Hills Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $36, QPR: 5
2007 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $38, QPR: 5
2007 Fielding Hills Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $40, QPR: 5
2008 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, $30, QPR: 4

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2006 Saint Laurent Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $22, QPR: 5
2006 Saint Laurent Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 5
2008 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $42, QPR: 5
2009 Nefarious Consequence (Sauv Blanc/Aligote/Viog), Washington State, $18, QPR: 4
2008 Tsillan Cellars Estate Malbec, Lake Chelan, $25, QPR: 4
2008 Nefarious Rx-4 (Mourv/Syrah/Coun/Cins), Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2007 Hard Row to Hoe Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 4
2008 Fielding Hills Tribute Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Fielding Hills Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $36, QPR: 4
2008 Fielding Hills Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $38, QPR: 4
2007 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc, Wahluke Slope, $30, QPR: 3

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Saint Laurent Riesling, Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: 5
2008 Baroness Cellars Nebbiolo, Horse Heaven Hills, $22, QPR: 5
2008 Crayelle Cellars Dry Riesling, Washington State, $16, QPR: 4
2009 Nefarious Stone’s Throw Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2008 Tsillan Cellars Estate Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2007 Tsillan Cellars Estate Sinistra (Sangio/Nebb/Barb), Lake Chelan, $23, QPR: 4
NV Bergdorf Cellars Glühwein Lemberger, Red Mountain, $24, QPR: 4
2008 Martin-Scott Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley, $24.50, QPR: 4
2006 Benson Vineyards Syrah, Lake Chelan, $26.50, QPR: 4
2008 Nefarious Syrah, Defiance Vineyard, Lake Chelan, $27, QPR: 4
2007 Silvara Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $29.50, QPR:  4
2006 Vin du Lac Barrel Select Merlot, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 4
2008 Tsillan Cellars Estate Gewurztraminer, Columbia Valley, $16, QPR: 3
2008 Martin-Scott Malbec, Columbia Valley, $24.50, QPR: 3
2007 Benson Vineyards Rhythm (Syrah/Mer/CF/Sangio/Cab), Lake Chelan, $26, QPR: 3
2007 Tsillan Cellars Piccolo Rosso (Mer/CF/Nebb/Barb/Sangio), Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Tsillan Cellars Bellissima Rossa (Cab/Mer/CF), Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Chateau Faire Le Pont Milbrandt Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $30, QPR: 3
2007 Fielding Hills Tribute Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, $32, QPR: 3
2007 Karma Brut de Brut Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 3
2008 Icicle Ridge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $50, QPR: 3
2009 Nefarious Viognier, Defiance Vineyard, Lake Chelan, $19, QPR: 2
2009 Silvara Pinot Grigio, Wahluke Slope, $22, QPR: 2
2007 Napeequa Malbec, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 1
2005 Saint Laurent La Boheme (Cab/Mer/Syrah), Wahluke Slope, $42, QPR: 1
2006 Wedge Mountain Charlie’s Stash Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $80, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2008 Martin-Scott Riesling, Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: 4
2007 Saint Laurent Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $14, QPR: 4
2006 Stemilt Creek Merlot, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 4
NV Vin du Lac Red Café Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Silvara Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $22, QPR: 4
2007 Cascadia Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2008 Eagle Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $29, QPR: 4
2009 Stemilt Creek Sweet Adelaide (Ries/Gewurz/Chard), Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: 3
2008 Silvara Chardonnay, Washington State, $19, QPR: 3
2006 Wapato Point Red Delicious (Syrah/Sangio), Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 3
2007 Tsillan Cellars Syrah-Grenache, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 3
2008 Tsillan Cellars Reserve Syrah, Lake Chelan, $25, QPR: 3
2006 Karma Estate Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan, $25, QPR: 3
2008 Wapato Point Reserve Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan, $32, QPR: 3
2007 Karma Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2008 Tsillan Cellars Estate Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 2
2006 Cascadia Merlot, Wahluke Slope, $24, QPR: 2
2007 Tsillan Cellars Estate Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 2
2007 Napeequa Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 2
2008 Benson Vineyards Sangiovese, Lake Chelan, $27, QPR: 2
2007 Tsillan Cellars Estate Barrel Select Syrah, Lake Chelan, $28, QPR: 2
2007 Napeequa Trailhead Merritt Lake Edition (Cab/Malb/Mer), Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2005 Stemilt Creek Cabernet Franc, Washington State, $28, QPR: 2
2006 Wapato Point Syrah, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Kamari Black Label Reserve Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $34, QPR: 2
2009 Benson Vineyards Viognier, Lake Chelan, $19, QPR: 1
2009 Wapato Point Harmony (Pinot Grigio/Gewurz), Lake Chelan, $19, QPR: 1
2009 Icicle Ridge White Riesling, Washington State, $23.50, QPR: 1
2007 Wapato Point Reserve Merlot, Lake Chelan, $36, QPR: 1
2007 Vin du Lac Barrel Select Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $40, QPR: 1
2009 Icicle Ridge Müller-Thurgau Sparkling Wine, Washington State, $55, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Martin-Scott Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $14, QPR: NR
2006 Stemilt Creek Stemilt Hill Red, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: NR
2009 Vin du Lac Les Amis Riesling (and friends), Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: NR
2009 Vin du Lac Red Café Rosé Cabernet Franc/Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: NR
2007 Waterville Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: NR
2009 Cascadia Riesling, Columbia Valley, $16, QPR: NR
2008 Silvara Riesling, Washington State, $18, QPR: NR
2009 Benson Vineyards Curiosity (Viog/Chard), Lake Chelan, $18.50, QPR: NR
2009 Tsillan Cellars Estate Bocciolo di Rosa (Rosé of Syrah), Lake Chelan, $19, QPR: NR
2009 Napeequa Randonee Viognier, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: NR
2007 Vin du Lac LEHM Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: NR
2009 Wapato Point Pinot Grigio, Lake Chelan, $22, QPR: NR
2009 Tsillan Cellars Estate Pinot Grigio, Lake Chelan, $23, QPR: NR
2008 Eagle Creek Montage (CF/Mer), Columbia Valley, $23, QPR: NR
2006 Stemilt Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: NR
2007 Karma Try (Cab/Malb/Mer), Columbia Valley, $30, QPR: NR
2007 Karma Zen (Syrah/Gren/Mourv), Wahluke Slope, $40, QPR: NR

Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
2007 Cascadia Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: NR
2007 Wapato Point Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: NR
2008 Karma Estate Gewurztraminer, Lake Chelan, $22, QPR: NR

Quality: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Eagle Creek Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: NR

Cascade Valley Wine Country: Mountains, Lakes, Sunshine, and Wine was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.