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.

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

Concannon Vineyard, founded in 1883, has been run by a member of the Concannon family for its entire 127-year history. John Concannon is the fourth generation at the helm, seeking to sustain the legacy started by his great-grandfather, James Concannon, who founded the winery. Concannon was one of the few wineries that remained open during Prohibition making sacramental wines as a result of a connection with San Francisco’s Archbishop. In 1961, Concannon introduced America’s first varietally-labeled Petite Sirah.

“The 2007 Petite Sirah, Conservancy has fantastic depth and character. It exhibits a rich nose of fresh berry fruit, and the flavorful palate shows blackberries, chocolate, mocha and plums. Subtle notes of molasses, cedarwood, and ripe mulberries are complemented by soft, creamy oak tones and a smooth, silky finish.” –Winemaker Adam Richardson

2007 Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah (Livermore Valley, California): Inky purple in color. Aromatic with black cherry and oak on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, baker’s chocolate, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Full-bodied and crisp with medium to high, drying tannins and a very long finish. Big yet smooth.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $11.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2007 Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

As a judge for the WBC-or-BUST contest, I was invited to join the group of winners for a few of their pre-conference stops: a Woodinville Grand Tasting at Willows Lodge, Brunch and Unique AVA Wine Tasting at Cave B in Quincy, and the Walla Walla Vintners Pizza & Wine Social. These stops allowed me to visit with many winemakers and taste numerous wines before the conference was officially underway.

Things really kicked into high gear on Friday with the official start of the conference. We enjoyed a taco truck tasting for lunch followed by a keynote address by wine writer Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast and SteveHeimoff.com on the future of wine writing. He made several points that really resonated with me: 1) Know who you are, find your voice, and then stretch it. 2) Transparency is key. Bloggers are forcing print critics to be more transparent. 3) To develop and expand your palate, it is important to read a lot, taste a lot, and write a lot. Alan Kropf of Mutineer Magazine then presented the 2010 Wine Blog Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners!

A portion of each day was devoted to breakout sessions on a variety of topics. I won’t bore you with the details, but we found most of the sessions very interesting and informative. We hope to incorporate some of the suggestions and ideas we formulated during these sessions to make Wine Peeps even better. The thread that ran through all of the sessions was the importance of remembering that we are all wine writers, no matter whether our platform is a blog, a newspaper, a magazine, or a book. And once again, there was an emphasis on social networking and interacting with our readers. (So if you aren’t already, please follow/like us on Twitter and Facebook.)

This year, we had two Live Wine Blogging segments (White Wines on Friday and Red Wines on Saturday) which featured wines poured for us by the winemakers themselves in a fast and furious “speed dating”-like format.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates hosted dinner on Friday evening. Doug Gore, Senior Vice President of Winemaking and Vineyard Operations, introduced a number of their winemakers who were on hand pouring their wines. The highlight of the evening was when Domaine Ste. Michelle sparkling winemaker, Rick Casqueiro, demonstrated how to open a bottle of sparking wine with a saber. After dinner, we visited a number of tasting rooms in downtown Walla Walla who opened for an after-hours walkabout.

We got up bright and early the next morning for a fascinating presentation on the terroirs of the Walla Walla Valley by geologist Kevin Pogue. His talk was a perfect start to a day spent visiting vineyards and wineries in the Walla Walla Valley. We divided into groups of 15 and boarded buses, not knowing where we were headed until we got there. Our bus enjoyed visits to Cougar Hills Vineyard, a Syrah tasting and panel presentation at Skylite Cellars that also featured wines by Smasne Cellars and Riverhaven Cellars, and lunch at Pepper Bridge Winery.

The Washington Wine Commission hosted a grand tasting of Washington wines followed by a family-style dinner on Saturday evening with a Washington winemaker sitting at each table. Lettie Teague, wine columnist for The Wall Street Journal and author of Educating Peter, gave the keynote address on finding your voice.

One of my favorite sessions of the weekend was also the last, a Food and Wine Pairing seminar and lunch with chef Jeffrey Saad, the runner up on season 5 of The Next Food Network Star. The conference officially ended just after lunch on Sunday.

While I enjoyed all of the keynotes, sessions, events, and tastings, the best part of the conference was getting to meet so many of our fellow wine bloggers in person and see some friends we had made at previous conferences.

Many thanks to Allan Wright of Zephyr Wine Adventures and Joel Vincent of the OpenWine Consortium for organizing this wonderful conference and to all of the sponsors for your support in making it a reality.

We stayed in Walla Walla for a couple of extra days in order to visit a few more wineries. In the coming weeks, I will be posting in more detail about some of the conference topics and wineries we visited.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted before, during, and after the Wine Bloggers Conference, except those that we already rated during the Live Wine Blogging segments (White Wines on Friday and Red Wines on Saturday). 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 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $38, QPR: 5
2007 Betz Père de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $60, QPR: 5
2006 Boudreaux Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $100, QPR: 5
2008 Betz La Côte Patriarche Syrah, Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $55, QPR: 4

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 5
2006 Rulo Syrah, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
2008 Walla Walla Vintners Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 5
2009 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Chardonnay, Puget Sound, $24, QPR: 5
2007 Gilbert Cellars Estate Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $24, QPR: 5
2007 Glencorrie Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 5
2007 Rulo Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $40, QPR: 5
2009 Sparkman Cellars Pearl Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: 4
2009 Syncline Grüner Veltliner, Underwood Mountain Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Dowsett Family Winery Gewurztraminer, Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, $20, QPR: 4
2007 Camaraderie Tempranillo, Yakima Valley, $25, QPR: 4
2008 Nefarious Rx-4 Red Wine (Rhone-style blend), Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2007 Barrister Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2005 Skylite Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2008 Dusted Valley Big Bad MOFO! Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Rulo Silo Reserve Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $36, QPR: 4
2005 Otis Kenyon Reserve Merlot, Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $40, QPR: 4
2007 Pepper Bridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 4
2008 William Church Malbec, Gamache Vineyards, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 3
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $34, QPR: 3
2006 Cave B Cuvée de Soleil (Bordeaux-style red blend), Columbia Valley, $40, QPR: 3
2008 Buty Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee & Champoux Vineyards, Columbia Valley, $40, QPR: 3
2007 Sparkman Cellars Ruby Leigh (Merlot-based blend), Columbia Valley, $42, QPR: 3
2007 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Bordeaux Blend, Red Mountain, $45, QPR: 3
2006 Glencorrie Cuvée Marquis (Bordeaux-style blend), Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 3
2007 Skylite Reserve (Malbec-based blend), Columbia Valley, $47, QPR: 3
2006 Alma Terra Syrah, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, $54, QPR: 2
2007 Buty Rediviva of the Stones (Syrah/Cab), Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 2
2007 Pepper Bridge Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 2
2006 Col Solare (Cabernet-based blend), Columbia Valley, $75, QPR: 1

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, $9, QPR: 5
NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs, Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: 5
2006 Kiona Estate Lemberger, Red Mountain, $12, QPR: 5
2009 Nefarious Riesling, Stone’s Throw Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
NV Barrister Rough Justice (Red blend), Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Rulo Sundance Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope, $20, QPR: 4
NV Hard Row to Hoe Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan, $25, QPR: 4
2007 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Glencorrie Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Glencorrie Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40, QPR: 4
2007 Glencorrie Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40, QPR: 4
2006 Rulo Cabernet Sauvignon, Klipsun Vineyard, Red Mountain, $40, QPR: 4
2008 Cedergreen Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 3
2009 Cedergreen Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 3
2009 Tildio Viognier, Lake Chelan, $18, QPR: 3
2008 Cougar Crest Grenache Rosé, Walla Walla Valley, $18, QPR: 3
2008 Rulo Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $18, QPR: 3
2008 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Dowsett Family Winery Devotion (Rhone-style red blend), Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Skylite Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Skylite Cellars Syrah, Minnick Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Syrah, Red Mountain, $32, QPR: 3
2007 SYZYGY Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $33, QPR: 3
2007 Sinclair Estate Syrah, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2008 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2007 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $49, QPR: 3
2007 Cooper Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $50, QPR: 3
2009 Amavi Semillon, Walla Walla Valley, $20, QPR: 2
2009 William Church Viognier, Conner Lee Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $21, QPR: 2
2009 Doyenne Rosé (Rhone-style blend), Yakima Valley, $23, QPR: 2
2009 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Roussanne, Horse Heaven Hills, $24, QPR: 2
2007 Camaraderie Malbec, Crawford Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $25, QPR: 2
2008 CAVU Malbec, Columbia Winery, $30, QPR: 2
2007 Cougar Crest Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, $36, QPR: 2
2007 Doyenne Syrah, Yakima Valley, $39, QPR: 2
2007 Pepper Bridge Winery Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $50, QPR: 2
2007 Sparkman Cellars Stella Mae (Cabernet-based blend), Columbia Valley, $42, QPR: 1
2007 Sinclair Estate Vixen (Rhone-style red blend), Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 1
2005 SYZYGY Saros (Tempranillo/Malbec/Cab), Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 1
2007 Glencorrie Cuvée Marquis (Bordeaux-style blend), Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 1
2007 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick Cabernet Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $50, QPR: 1
2006 Alma Terra Syrah, Minnick Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $54, QPR: 1
2006 Pepper Bridge Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 1
2007 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2007 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, Columbia Valley, $13, QPR: 5
2007 DaMa Cowgirl Cab, Columbia Valley, $21, QPR: 5
2007 Rulo Syrca Red Wine (Syrah/Cab), Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 4
2009 DaMa Rosé (Mourvedre/Syrah), Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2008 DaMa Syrah, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2007 Gilbert Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 4
2007 Riverhaven Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, River Rock Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $34, QPR: 3
2006 SYZYGY Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $36, QPR: 3
2009 Shameless Hussy [Hard Row to Hoe] Sangiovese Dry Rosé, Lake Chelan, $15, QPR: 2
2009 Rulo Combine (Sauvignon Blanc/Muscat Ottonel), Evergreen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 2
2009 Rulo Rosé (Syrah/Cab), Walla Walla Valley, $15, QPR: 2
2007 Cedergreen Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 2
2009 Cave B Saignée Rosé, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 2
2007 Tildio Merlot, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 2
2007 Des Voigne Cellars The Duke Red Wine (Zinfandel blend), Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2007 Riverhaven Estate Syrah, River Rock Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2007 Glencorrie Merlot, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2009 Davenport Cellars Semillon, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: 1
2007 Cougar Crest Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $20, QPR: 1
2008 Tru Rosé (Syrah/Chard/Riesling), Washington State, $21, QPR: 1
2008 CAVU Barbera, Horse Heaven Hills, $30, QPR: 1
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Rattlesnake Hills, $32, QPR: 1
2007 Dusted Valley Malbec, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 1
2007 Camaraderie Elegance (Bordeaux-style red blend), Meek Family Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $35, QPR: 1
2007 Smasne Cellars Block 3 Syrah, Lawrence Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Sweet Valley Double Barrel Red, Walla Walla Valley, $20, QPR: NR
2008 Rulo Birch Creek Chardonnay, Walla Walla Valley, $20, QPR: NR
2009 DaMa Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $21, QPR: NR
NV Tru Blanc de Blancs, Washington State, $40, QPR: NR
2007 Sinclair Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $45, QPR: NR

Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
2007 Tru Gewurztraminer, Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, $21, QPR: NR

Highlights and Wine Tastings from the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

5:05pm
2007 Sequel Syrah [Long Shadows] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Always a favorite. Made by John Duval from Australia. Black fruits, smoke, chocolate, lots of layers. Well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $55

5:11pm
2008 Solena Estate Pinot Noir (Hyland Vineyard, McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon): Luscious red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, spice. Smooth, crisp. Well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $50

5:17pm
2007 Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah (Livermore Valley, California): Inky purple. Blackberry, black plum, baker’s chocolate. Big yet smooth.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $15

5:22pm
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5:26pm
2006 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, California): 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Black fruits, oak. Drying tannins. Long, lingering finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $52

5:32pm
2007 Maryhill Zinfandel (Columbia Valley, Washington): Black cherries, raspberry, pepper, hint of cocoa. Fruit-forward, jammy. Long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $15

5:37pm
2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, California): Gorgeous nose, good fruit. Red and black fruits, black pepper, spice. 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)
Price: $28

5:42pm
2006 Hogue Cellars Genesis Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): Black plums, spice box. Medium to full-bodied, medium tannins. Long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $16

5:47pm
2006 Buty Columbia Rediviva (Phinny Hill Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah. Black fruits, smoked meats,  black pepper. Extremely well-balanced, smooth, velvety tannins, long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $48

5:52pm
2007 Boomtown [Dusted Valley] Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Black plum, blackberry. Medium, dry tannins. Long finish. A great weeknight wine.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $15

5:57pm
2007 Gordon Brothers Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Syrah. Black fruits, cinnamon, hint of earth. Medium-bodied and smooth.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $20

6:02pm
2005 Nicholas Cole Cellars Camille Red Wine (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 45% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot. A lot of bacon on the nose. Black fruits, smoke, bacon. Big and bold. High, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $35

6:06pm
This concludes the Live Wine Blogging – Red Wines segment.

Cheers!

Live Wine Blogging from WBC in Walla Walla – Red Wines was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Many thanks to Josh Wade of Drink Nectar for hosting, Washington Tasting Room Magazine and the Washington Wine Commission for sponsoring, and all of you who participated. The event was a success!

“There were almost 400 people tweeting about #WAWine last night. 1850 Tweets. Possibly 2000 people at various events. #success” –Host Josh Wade (@nectarwine)

We hosted a small gathering of friends for the event. We provided some of the wines from our own cellar and each couple also brought a bottle to share. We enjoyed ten bottles of Washington wine. Those ten wines covered seven varieties, five AVAs, and a variety of price points. It was a good representation of the breadth and depth of Washington wine.

To kick off the evening, we toasted Washington wine with a sparkling wine which was predominately Chardonnay, then moved to still white wine for a Riesling, and then had eight red wines including Cabernet Franc, a Sangiovese blend, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

The ten Washington wines we tasted, in my personal order of preference:

2005 Chateau Rollat “Rollat” Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Stunning nose with black fruit, oak, cedar, and pencil lead aromas. Blackcurrant, black plum, earth, and a touch of chocolate come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and complex with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Costco (Seattle, Washington), $30.99; Available elsewhere, $32 to $40

2006 Saviah Cellars Laurella (Columbia Valley, Washington): 51% Sangiovese, 33% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot. Dark, inky, purplish red. Beautiful bouquet with black and red fruits on the nose; more red and black fruits, sour cherry, and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins. Good mouthfeel, well-balanced, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $35

2008 Nefarious Stone’s Throw Vineyard Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Estate grown fruit. Pale gold in color. Dried apricots come through on the nose; Granny Smith apples and white peach on the palate. Off dry, medium-bodied, long finish. Very crisp, smooth, and well-balanced. A great sipper and also excellent with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2007 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Rattlesnake Hills Syrah (Rattlesnake Hills, Washington): Dark, purplish red. Very aromatic with black fruits, pepper, spice, and smoked meats on the nose; black fruits, beef jerky, spice, and black pepper on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with good complexity and a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32

2005 Camaraderie Cabernet Franc (Washington State): Deep, ruby red in color. Black fruit, spice, and vegetal aromas. Flavors of black fruits and spice with pronounced green pepper on the finish. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Central Market (Seattle, Washington), $19.99; Available elsewhere, $20 to $22

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 five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Albertsons (Seattle, Washington), $9.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $11

2007 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Dark, ruby red. Nice nose with black fruit aromas. More black fruits and a hint of leather on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with sweet tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $20; Available elsewhere, $20 to $22

2005 McKinley Springs Syrah (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Dark, purplish red. Moderately aromatic with mocha, ripe fruit, and vegetal aromas. Black fruit flavors. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a medium finish. A weeknight wine.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $13.49; Available elsewhere, $14 to $16

2007 Animale Petite Sirah (Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark, inky purple. Stinky feet and Kool-Aid on the nose; red and black fruits up front but flavors trail off on mid-palate. Medium-bodied and lively with soft tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $22.29; Available elsewhere, $26

2007 Kamari Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, purplish red. Bacon, smoke, and oak on the nose; good fruit up front but fades off. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long finish. Very different than most Cabernet Francs. Over-oaked and plain.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $25.29

WAWine World Tasting Event: Oh, What a Night! was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend three days in Paso Robles wine country on a media tour hosted by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. We had the pleasure to meet winemakers, visit vineyards, dine at local restaurants, and stay in luxurious accommodations. Paso Robles, a quaint town of 30,000 people, is a wonderful wine country destination and served as an excellent home base as we toured the surrounding areas. Within walking distance of our hotel, Hotel Cheval, were many tasting rooms, restaurants, boutique shops, and a lovely park. For those of you who are more familiar with Washington wine country, Paso Robles reminds me a lot of Walla Walla. It is about the same size and offers numerous wine and food options.

I tasted a total of 65 wines on this trip, a representative sampling of what is coming out of the Paso Robles AVA. Sixty out of that 65 are wines that I would recommend. Suffice it to say, the wineries in Paso Robles are producing some high quality wines, and best of all, doing it with a smile on their face. Everyone we met genuinely seemed to love where they live and what they do.

Three things stood out as the common threads running through Paso Robles wine country:

• Community – There really is a close sense of community. The wineries, restaurants, and hotels seem to work together to offer a wonderful wine country experience for their visitors. And many of the winemakers and vineyard owners are good friends with each other, often helping each other out and simply shaking hands to seal deals.
• Local – The people of Paso Robles are passionate about where they live and what the land provides. The restaurateurs encourage their patrons to support local wineries while the winemakers recommend local restaurants. And many chefs take it even further by buying their produce at local farmers markets or growing it themselves.
• Sustainable – The word I heard used most frequently by winemakers and vineyard owners was sustainable. They are strong proponents of sustainable viticulture and strive to be good stewards of the land.

In the coming weeks, I will be writing more about the people and places that I encountered in Paso Robles. And if you are planning a trip there anytime soon (which I highly recommend), feel free to ask me any questions about the area in the comments below or via our Contact Us form. I’m happy to help if I can.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that I tasted while visiting Paso Robles. 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 Turley Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $60, QPR: 3

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2007 kukkula Sisu (red Rhone blend), $24, QPR: 4
2006 Edward Sellers Syrah Selectionnée, Paso Robles, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Zenaida Cellars Zephyr (Syrah/Zin/Viognier), Paso Robles, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Four Vines Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Windward “Monopole” Pinot Noir, Paso Robles, $36, QPR: 4
2009 Villicana Viognier, Paso Robles, $23, QPR: 3
2007 Tablas Creek Rosé, Paso Robles, $27, QPR: 3
2007 Four Vines “Loco” Tempranillo, Paso Robles, $40, QPR: 3
2006 Terry Hoage “The Pick” Grenache Cuvee, Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 3
2006 Edward Sellers Cuvee des Cinq (red Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 3
2007 Austin Hope Grenache, Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 3
2007 Justin Savant (Syrah blend), Paso Robles, $45, QPR: 3
2009 L’Aventure Estate Rosé, Paso Robles, $35, QPR: 2
2008 L’Aventure Estate Roussanne, Paso Robles, $35, QPR: 2
2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel (red Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $50, QPR: 2
2006 J. Lohr Cuvee St. E. (Bordeaux blend), Paso Robles, $50, QPR: 2
2005 L’Aventure Estate Cuvee (Syrah/Cab/PV), Paso Robles, $85, QPR: 1

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: 5
2007 Kiamie Late Harvest Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $18 [375ml], QPR: 5
2007 Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, $20, QPR: 5
2007 Victor Hugo Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, $22, QPR: 4
2008 Villicana Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $26, QPR: 4
2007 Vina Robles Jardine Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, $26, QPR: 4
2008 Justin Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: 3
2009 Villicana Estate Vin Rosé, Paso Robles, $18, QPR: 3
2007 kukkula Lothario (Zin/Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Villicana Estate Syrah, Paso Robles, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Adelaida Cellars Version (red Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $32, QPR: 3
2007 Grey Wolf Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $36, QPR: 3
2008 Eberle Cotes du Robles Blanc (white Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $20, QPR: 2
2007 J. Dusi Zinfandel Port Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles, $28 [375ml], QPR: 2
2007 Hearst Ranch “Lone Tree” Cabernet Franc, Paso Robles, $35, QPR: 2
2006 Kiamie Kuvee (Cab/Syrah/Merlot/Zin), Paso Robles, $38, QPR: 2
2007 Four Vines Anarchy (Zin/Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $40, QPR: 2
2006 Windward Gold “Barrel Select” Pinot Noir, $60, QPR: 2
2007 Lone Madrone “Points West White” Roussanne, Paso Robles, $28, QPR: 1
2008 Terry Hoage “The Gap” Cuvee Blanc (white Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $32, QPR: 1
2008 J. Dusi Carignane Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles, $38, QPR: 1
2008 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc (white Rhone blend), Paso Robles, $40, QPR: 1
2007 Villa Creek Damas Noir Mourvedre, Paso Robles, $40, QPR: 1
2006 Steinbeck The Crash (Cab blend), Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 1
2007 Alta Colina “Ann’s Block” Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, $48, QPR: 1
2006 Terry Hoage “5 Blocks” Syrah Cuvee, Paso Robles, $50, QPR: 1
2001 L’Aventure Estate Cuvee (Cab/PV/Syrah), Paso Robles, $85, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2007 J. Lohr South Ridge Syrah, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: 4
2008 Ancient Peaks Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles, $12, QPR: 3
2008 Clayhouse Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles, $14, QPR: 3
2007 Ortman Family Sangiovese, Paso Robles, $22, QPR: 3
2008 Anglim Winery Rosé, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: 2
2008 Hearst Ranch “Glacier Ridge” Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, $25, QPR: 2
2009 Eberle Viognier, Paso Robles, $21, QPR: 1
2007 Kenneth Volk Roussanne, Paso Robles, $24, QPR: 1
2007 Steinbeck Viognier, Paso Robles, $29, QPR: 1
2008 J. Dusi Zinfandel Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles, $32, QPR: 1
2007 Peachy Canyon Snow Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $36, QPR: 1
2008 Denner Vineyards Grenache, Paso Robles, $42, QPR: 1
2005 Halter Ranch Ancestor Estate Reserve (Bordeaux blend), Paso Robles, $44, QPR: 1
2007 Hope Family Treana Red (Cab/Syrah), Paso Robles, $50, QPR: 1
2007 Hearst Ranch “The Point” Special Reserve (Cab blend), Paso Robles, $70, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Robert Hall Rosé de Robles, Paso Robles, $15, QPR: NR
2007 Ancient Peaks Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $16, QPR: NR
2008 Niner Wine Estates Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles, $17, QPR: NR
2008 Thacher Vineyards Viognier, Paso Robles, $25, QPR: NR
2008 J. Dusi Syrah Caterina’s Hill Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles, $38, QPR: NR

Paso Robles: California’s Emerging Wine Region was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Unfortunately, the conference got off to a slow start on Friday afternoon when the host hotel in Santa Rosa suffered from major Wi-Fi issues which caused the postponement of the Live Wine Blogging segment that was supposed to kick off the festivities. With a quick juggle of the schedule, Tom Wark presented the 2009 American Wine Blog Awards while they worked to get the Wi-Fi up and running. We were able to finally have the Live Wine Blogging segment which featured wines poured for us by the winemakers themselves in a fast and furious “speed dating”-like format.

Later that evening, we enjoyed a grand tasting of Sonoma wines out by the pool followed by dinner with Chris Alden of Six Apart as the keynote speaker. He referred to Blogging 2.0 as “social publishing” in which blogging and social networking are inextricably intertwined. (So if you aren’t already, please follow/fan us on Twitter and Facebook.)

On Saturday, we hopped into buses and headed for the Napa Valley. We enjoyed keynote addresses by Barry Schuler, former CEO of AOL, and Jim Gordon, editor of Wines & Vines, at the Culinary Institute of America. Then we split up and each bus went to its assigned wineries for Napa Green presentations, vintner discussion panels, and dinner, only coming back together for a grand tasting of Napa wines in the afternoon. Our day in Napa was worth the price of the conference admission alone, and I’ll be devoting a post next week to our day in Napa and later doing a spotlight on one of the wineries we visited.

Sunday morning featured breakout sessions on a variety of topics. I won’t bore you with the details but we found the sessions very interesting and informative. We hope to incorporate some of the suggestions and ideas we formulated during these sessions to make Wine Peeps even better.

The conference officially ended at noon on Sunday but we took advantage of the optional lunch and vineyard walk since we had had such a wonderful experience on our vineyard walk last year. It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon and we enjoyed a lovely lunch on the lawn at Dry Creek Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley. From there, we boarded buses bound for three different vineyard walk venues. We chose to visit Montemaggiore, a winery that specializes in Syrah and is very proud of their biodynamic vineyard. The sun was scorching down on us so we took an abbreviated vineyard walk and sought shade wherever we could find it.

While I enjoyed all of the keynotes, sessions, events, and tastings, the best part of the conference was getting to meet so many of our fellow wine bloggers in person and see some friends we had made at last year’s conference.

Many thanks to Allan Wright of Zephyr Wine Adventures and Joel Vincent of the OpenWine Consortium for organizing this wonderful conference and to all of the sponsors for your support in making it a reality.

We are already looking forward to next year’s conference. I am thrilled that our home state of Washington will be hosting the 2010 Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla next June. We have had two great years in northern California, but I can’t wait for our fellow wine bloggers to see our great state and get to experience Washington wines firsthand. There’s nothing like walking the vineyards, visiting the wineries, and talking with winemakers to truly enjoy the complete wine experience.

Here’s a breakdown of the Sonoma wines that we tasted at the Wine Bloggers Conference, except those that we already rated during the Live Wine Blogging segment. 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 stars (out of 5)
2007 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County, $20, QPR: 5
2007 Seghesio Barbera, Alexander Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2007 Gustafson Petite Sirah Dry Creek Mountain Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2005 Rockaway [Rodney Strong] Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, $75, QPR: 4
2005 Montemaggiore Nobile Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, $45, QPR: 3

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Teresina Zinfandel MacLeod Family Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, $24, QPR: 4
2005 Rued Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, $25, QPR: 4
2007 Thomas George Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2006 Dry Creek Vineyard Beeson Ranch Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, $34, QPR: 3
2006 Sapphire Hill Winberrie Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, $34, QPR: 3
2005 Montemaggiore Paolo’s Vineyard Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2005 Rued Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, $45, QPR: 3
2007 Viansa Prindelo Red Wine, Sonoma County, $35, QPR: 2

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, $16, QPR: 2
2008 Schug Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, $18, QPR: 2
2008 Gustafson Rosé of Syrah Dry Creek Mountain Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, $20, QPR: 1
2007 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, $45, QPR: 1
2007 Sojourn Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, $48, QPR: 1
2003 Garden Creek Tesserae Red Wine, Alexander Valley, $70, QPR: 1
2006 Ty Caton Tytanium Red Wine Caton Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, $75, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Eric Ross Pinot Noir Saralee’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley, $38, QPR: NR
2005 Skipstone Oliver’s Blend Red Wine, Alexander Valley, $90, QPR: NR

Highlights from the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Having major wi-fi issues at the host hotel. So they’ve switched a few things on the agenda and postponed the Live Wine Blogging segment. Hopefully, they’ll get it sorted out and we’ll be back soon.

3:38pm
2007 Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, CA): 89% Zinfandel, 8% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah. Dark cherry, black fruits, lots of oak. A little hot. Very dry. Long finish. Young, should get better with a little age.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $38

3:42pm
2007 Twisted Oak Winery River of Skulls Calaveras County Mourvedre (Calaveras County, CA): 88% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah. Red fruits especially raspberries. Smoky aromas. Smooth, long finish. Will be released in one month.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $35

3:49pm
2006 Schramsberg Vineyards North Coast Blanc de Blancs (North Coast, CA): 100% Chardonnay. A beautiful sparkling wine. Citrus, vanilla, and nutty aromas and flavors. Smooth, crisp. Long finish. Very well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $36

3:54pm
2008 FishEye California Pinot Grigio (California): Apple, pear, melon. Very crisp, fresh. Amazing value for a summer sipper.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $7

4:00pm
NV Pinot Evil Pinot Noir (Vin de Pays de l’ile de Beaute, France): 3L boxed wine. Once opened, will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 6 weeks. Nose is very tight. Muted black fruits. Some acidity. A little too plain and simple.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Price: $19.99 [3L box]

4:06pm
2007 Cupcake Vineyards Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Coast, CA): Lots of oak on the nose. Dark cherries, blackberries. Chocolate, cocoa. Medium to full-bodied. Long finish. Approachable now.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $13.99

4:12pm
2005 Snows Lake Vineyard Two (Red Hills Lake County, CA): 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc. Luscious black fruit aromas, black cherry, blackberry. Full-bodied, lively, high tannins. Long finish. Should soften with a little more age.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $45

4:18pm
2007 Cecchetti Racke Line 39 Lake County Petite Sirah (Lake County, CA): Earthy, barnyard aromas. Dark black fruits and bitter chocolate on the palate. Full-bodied. Very acidic, long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $10

4:24pm
2007 Cline Cellars Ancient Vines Mourvedre (Contra Costa County, CA): Bing cherries, burnt toast on the nose. More cherries and pepper come through on the palate. A bit tart. Medium-bodied, medium tannins. Smooth, long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $16

4:30pm
2007 Tandem Wines Manchester Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay (Mendocino Ridge, CA): Butter, oaky, vanilla, and lemon zest aromas. Fortunately the oak is not as heavy on the palate. Lemon, lime, lots of citrus flavors. Medium-bodied, smooth, long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $54

4:36pm
2007 Foggy Bridge G.E.O. San Francisco Bay Chardonnay (San Francisco Bay, CA): G.E.O. stands for Green Earth Origin. Predominately apple aromas with a hint of cheese. Doesn’t taste like a typical Chardonnay. Light-bodied, crisp.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $18

4:42pm
2007 Clif Family Winery Gary’s Improv Syrah (Napa Valley, CA): Same family that owns Clif Bar Company. Dark fruits and beef jerky on the nose. Black plums, blackberry, and pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, high tannins, long finish. Seems a little young, should improve with age.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $35

4:49pm
This concludes the Live Wine Blogging segment. Whew! A fast-paced process but lots of fun.

Cheers!

Live Wine Blogging from WBC in Sonoma 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 at 2pm for the Grand Tasting.

The Grand Tasting is the showcase event of Taste Washington. This year was the biggest and best one yet with over 200 wineries pouring their wines and over 60 restaurants serving small bites. With 602 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 $85 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.

With 200+ wineries pouring over 900 wines, it is impossible to taste all of them in a six hour period. Therefore, we always try to put together a “plan of attack” before the event. This year we decided to focus on new wineries or wineries that were new to us as well as taste the new releases of some of our favorites. As I mentioned yesterday, we had the opportunity to get a head start and taste some wines during the trade tasting at the Restaurant Awards on Friday and a few more during the seminars on Saturday. Those wines along with the ones we tasted at the Grand Tasting on Sunday totaled 115 different wines. As you’ll see from the complete breakdown of wines below, of those 115 wines, we rated 33 of them as 4-star quality or higher and 18 of them have a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck. Once again, this weekend proved what we’ve been saying for some time: Washington State is producing outstanding wines that deliver the most bang for your buck.

Of the wineries whose wines I had not tasted prior to this weekend, the most exciting discoveries were Cote Bonneville, which is the estate winery for DuBrul Vineyard, and Chateau Rollat, a relatively new winery located in Walla Walla. 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. We enjoyed the opportunity to visit with some of the winemakers/winery owners whose wines we have enjoyed in the past including Mike Wade of Fielding Hills, Rob Newsom of Boudreaux Cellars, Tim and Erica Blue of Adams Bench, and Chad Johnson of Dusted Valley as well as meet a few who we had not had the chance to meet previously including Kathy Shiels of Cote Bonneville, Greg Lipsker and Michael White of Barrister Winery, and Annette Bergevin of Bergevin Lane.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted during the Taste Washington weekend. 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 Mark Ryan The Dissident, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 5
2006 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $38, QPR: 5
2005 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $50, QPR: 5
2006 Sequel Syrah [Long Shadows], Columbia Valley, $55, QPR: 5
2006 Januik Winery Klipsun Vineyard Merlot, Red Mountain, $40, QPR: 4

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2005 Kana Dark Star (Rhone Blend), Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 5
2006 Darby Winery The Dark Side Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $25, QPR: 5
2006 Barrister Winery Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $25, QPR: 5
2006 William Church Winery Syrah, Yakima Valley, $25, QPR: 5
2007 Elegante Sangiovese Blue Mountain Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $26, QPR: 5
2005 Columbia Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 5
2005 Chateau Rollat “Rollat” Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $38, QPR: 5
2006 Walla Walla Vintners Sagemoor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $40, QPR: 5
2006 Adams Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon “V”, Columbia Valley, $42, QPR: 5
2006 Gorman “The Bully” Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $42, QPR: 5
2006 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $50, QPR: 5
2006 Rock Meadow Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: 4
2007 Dusted Valley Grenache, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 4
2007 Barrister Winery Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2006 Pomum Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $34, QPR: 4
2006 Doyenne Aix, Red Mountain, $34, QPR: 4
2005 Chateau Rollat “Edouard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $62, QPR: 4
2005 Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $80, QPR: 4
2006 aMaurice Cellars Malbec, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Fielding Hills Syrah, Wahluke Slope, $40, QPR: 3
2005 Cote Bonneville Carriage House DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $50, QPR: 2
2005 Bergevin Lane Intuition Reserve, Columbia Valley, $55, QPR: 2
2006 Andrew Will Sorella, Horse Heaven Hills, $75, QPR: 1
2006 DeLille Chaleur Estate Rouge, Yakima Valley, $75, QPR: 1
2004 Cote Bonneville DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $120, QPR: 1
2006 JM Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $NA, QPR: NA
1999 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $NA, QPR: NA
1999 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain Reserve, Red Mountain, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2006 Columbia Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
NV Knipprath Cellars Au Chocolat!, Washington State, $25, QPR: 5
2005 Kana Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2006 William Church Winery Bishop’s Blend Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: 4
2006 Patterson Cellars Recession Red, Yakima Valley, $22, QPR: 4
2007 Dusted Valley Stained Tooth Syrah, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 4
2007 Nefarious Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2005 Robert Karl Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $30, QPR: 4
2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2004 Donedei Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 4
2006 Trust Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $36, QPR: 4
2005 Page Cellars Preface Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $37, QPR: 4
2006 Hestia Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Dineen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $38, QPR: 4
2005 Cedergreen Cellars Thuja Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 3
2006 Trust Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Sparkman Cellars WILDERNESS Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Animale Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Efeste Ceidleigh Syrah, Red Mountain, $29, QPR: 3
2006 Patterson Cellars BDX (Bordeaux Style), Columbia Valley $30, QPR: 3
2006 SYZYGY Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $33, QPR: 3
2006 Efeste Jolie Bouche Syrah, Yakima Valley, $34, QPR: 3
2004 Donedei Merlot, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Cadaretta Merlot, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Baer Winery Ursa Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $39, QPR: 3
2006 Tamarack Dubrul Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, $45, QPR: 3
2006 Januik Winery Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $50, QPR: 3
2006 Sparkman Cellars “Kingpin” Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $56, QPR: 3
2008 Nefarious Cellars Viognier, Columbia Valley, $19, QPR: 2
2006 Adams Bench “Reckoning”, Columbia Valley, $34, QPR: 2
2006 DeLille Cellars D2, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 2
2006 Pomum Cellars Shya Red, Yakima Valley, $36, QPR: 2
2006 Betz “Pere de Famille” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $59, QPR: 2
2006 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Red Wine, Red Mountain, $40, QPR: 1
2006 Doyenne Syrah, Yakima Valley, $49, QPR: 1
2006 Nicholas Cole Cellars Dauphine Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $50, QPR: 1
2006 Hedges Family Estate “Single Vineyard” Limited Reserve, Red Mountain, $NA, QPR: NA
1999 Betz “Pere de Famille” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
NV Knipprath Cellars Positron Tawny Port, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: 5
2005 Okanogan Estate and Vineyards Syrah, Washington State, $17, QPR: 4
2006 Robert Karl Cellars Claret, Horse Heaven Hills, $20, QPR: 4
2006 Mercer Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $24, QPR: 4
2006 Rock Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 4
2006 Elegante Cabernet Sauvignon Les Collines Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2006 Northwest Totem Cabernet Sauvignon Elerding Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2008 Barnard Griffin Rose of Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $12, QPR: 3
2007 Challenger Ridge Syrah, Yakima Valley, $20, QPR: 3
2006 Animale Zinfandel, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: 3
2006 SYZYGY Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 3
2004 H/H Estate Reserve Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 3
2004 Cedergreen Cellars Thuja Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 3
2006 Barrage Cellars Double Barrel, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Esther Bricques Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Washington State, $35, QPR: 3
2006 Gamache Vintners Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 2
2005 Bergevin Lane Syrah, Columbia Valley, $26, QPR: 2
2006 Page Cellars Lick My Lips Syrah, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 2
2006 H/H Estate Reserve Robert Andrews Red, Horse Heaven Hills, $28, QPR: 2
2006 Ward Johnson Winery Merlot, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 2
2006 Ward Johnson Winery Syrah, Red Mountain, $30, QPR: 2
2006 Northwest Totem Cabernet Franc Sagemoor Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 2
2006 Hestia Cellars Syrah Dineen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 2
2006 aMaurice Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $34, QPR: 1
2006 Lodmell Syrah Alder Ridge Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $37, QPR: 1
2006 Cave B Estate Winery Cuvee du Soleil, Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 1
1999 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $ NA, QPR: NA
1999 Columbia Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $NA, QPR: NA

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Challenger Ridge Viognier, Yakima Valley, $13, QPR: NR
2006 Challenger Ridge Gordon Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $20, QPR: NR
2005 Gordon Brothers Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: NR
2007 Knipprath Cellars Matrix Ruby Port, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: NR
2006 Animale Petite Sirah, Yakima Valley, $24, QPR: NR
2003 Willis Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: NR
2007 Cascade Cliffs Barbera, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: NR
2006 Powers Syrah Cougar Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, $25, QPR: NR
2005 Gamache Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: NR
2005 Willis Hall Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: NR
2006 Cadaretta Syrah, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: NR
2005 Nicholas Cole Cellars Michelle Bordeaux Blend, Walla Walla Valley, $55, QPR: NR

Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
2006 Tiger Mountain Columbia Valley Cuvee, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: NR
NV Knipprath Cellars Pink Port, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: NR
2007 Cave B Estate Winery Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $22, QPR: NR
2006 Esther Bricques Syrah, Washington State, $25, QPR: NR
2006 Challenger Ridge Pinot Noir Reserve, Puget Sound, $36, QPR: NR

Taste Washington 2009: The Complete Recap was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

When we arrived at Fairview, we were greeted by Chris Bryant, Fairview’s communications director, who gave us a brief tour and then introduced us to Charles Back, the owner, who was kind enough to spend two hours with us answering questions for a video interview (which we will include in a future post), taking us on a tour of the vineyards including his home that has a beautiful view of the vineyards and mountains, and giving us a personal tasting of a wide range of their wines.

In the course of our conversations at Fairview we learned that the first production of wines on this wine farm was in 1699. Charles’ grandfather bought Fairview in 1937, and Charles has been in charge since the 1990’s. Fairview produces about 230,000 cases per year, of which 80 percent is exported. And 30 percent of their total production goes to the United States.

Most wine consumers in the United States probably know Fairview because of their famous Goats do Roam value label, but there’s a lot more to Fairview than goats. Overall the wines we tasted at Fairview were very good, but we were especially impressed with their Semillon, Petite Sirah, Chakalaka Blend, and La Beryl Rouge.

Our other stop of the day was at Glen Carlou, a Hess Collection winery, which has both a beautiful tasting room and an impressive art collection. We tasted eight wines at Glen Carlou, and our favorite was the Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon.

Please remember from my previous posts on South African wines that because we are buying wines here at South African prices based on the rand (R), we decided that it would be misleading and of little value to our core constituency of readers in the U.S. to calculate a QPR rating unless it is a wine we can buy in the U.S. and is of good enough quality to want to buy. Therefore, for the purposes of the wine reviews on this trip, I will only calculate a QPR rating on a wine which I have given a Quality rating of 4 stars (out of 5) or higher and if I can find a U.S. vendor and price on which to base the QPR calculation. Wines that meet these criteria will be set apart from the others by bold type. Otherwise I’ll denote the QPR as Not Calculated (NC) if the Quality rating is 3 stars or higher or Not Recommended (NR) if the Quality rating is less than 3 stars.

Here’s a complete listing of the wines we tasted in Paarl:

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2007 Spice Route (Fairview) Chakalaka, R90, QPR: 5 [Southern Hemisphere Wine Center (California), $19.99]
2006 Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon, R300, QPR: 5 [Southern Hemisphere Wine Center (California), $44.99 for 2004 vintage]
2006 Fairview La Beryl Rouge, R90, QPR: 4 [Southern Hemisphere Wine Center (California), $33.99 for 2005 vintage]
2007 Fairview Semillon, R90, QPR: 3 [Southern Hemisphere Wine Center (California), $24.99 for 2006 vintage]
2007 Fairview Petite Sirah, R80, QPR: NC

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2008 Goats do Roam Rose, R35, QPR: NC
2008 Fairview Darling Chenin Blanc, R42, QPR: NC
2007 Fairview Syrah, R60, QPR: NC
2008 Fairview Viognier, R70, QPR: NC
2006 Glen Carlou Cabernet Sauvignon, R85, QPR: NC
2007 Fairview Caldera GSM, R90, QPR: NC
2007 Fairview Primo Pinotage, R100, QPR: NC
2005 Glen Carlou Grand Classique, R110, QPR: NC
2006 Glen Carlou Syrah, R130, QPR: NC

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2008 Fairview Riesling, R45, QPR: NC
2008 Spice Route (Fairview) Sauvignon Blanc, R48, QPR: NC
2008 Fairview Chardonnay, R58, QPR: NC
2007 Fairview Mourvedre, R60, QPR: NC
2008 Glen Carlou Sauvignon Blanc, R65, QPR: NC
2007 Glen Carlou Chardonnay, R85, QPR: NC
2005 Glen Carlou Zinfandel, R150, QPR: NC

Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
2008 Glen Carlou Pinot Noir, R150, QPR: NR

South Africa: A Day in the Paarl Region was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.