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

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

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

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

Private Bin

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

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

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

Cellar Selection

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

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

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

Reserve

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

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

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

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

No matter where you live in the United States, you are probably familiar with the wines of Chateau Ste. Michelle, particularly their Columbia Valley line. While those wines enjoy national distribution, Chateau Ste. Michelle also produces a number of other reserve and limited release wines that are not as widely available.

We recently had the opportunity to taste a number of the current releases from Chateau Ste. Michelle, across their family of wines, in a blind samples tasting. We have already featured a number of their Columbia Valley wines in our A Wine for Tonight series. Three wines that do not meet the criteria for that series because they retail for over $15 and are not as widely available, yet are worthy of your attention, are the 2008 Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling, the 2007 Ethos Reserve Syrah, and the 2008 Artist Series Meritage.

The Ethos Late Harvest Riesling is a decadent treat. This special wine was made from select Riesling grapes that were left on the vine longer in order to achieve the natural condition of Botrytis, or noble rot. Botrytis concentrates the sugars and flavors of the fruit.

Ethos means “character” in Greek, the “distinctive spirit” of a specific culture, movement or philosophy. For Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Ethos Reserve series of wines, winemaker Bob Bertheau endeavors to make limited production wines that represent the “best of the vintage.” The 2007 Ethos Reserve Syrah definitely fits that bill. It is a big, yet elegant, wine.

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Artist Series features both artisan winemaking and fine art. The label on the 2008 vintage features the work of artist and photographer Cara Barer, who changes a common reference book into a work of sculpture and photographs the outcome. For the first time, the 2008 Artist Series blend includes all five of the Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Late Harvest White Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Golden yellow in color. Nice nose with floral, white peach, and orange peel aromas. White peach, tangerine, orange peel, and floral flavors come through on the palate. Sweet and medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long, refreshing finish. A delicious dessert wine. Residual Sugar: 22.8%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $35 to $37

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Dark purplish red in color. Nice nose with espresso bean and blackberry aromas. Black fruit, espresso, and dust come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $28; Available elsewhere, $26 to $30

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aromatic with black fruit and oak on the nose. Black fruit, oak, leather, licorice, and a hint of chocolate come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $55

Current Releases from Chateau Ste. Michelle was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste the Mackey Vineyards current releases in a blind samples tasting, the 2010 Riesling, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Syrah, and the 2009 Concordia, which is a Rhone-style red blend. While we would recommend all four wines, we especially enjoyed the 2010 Riesling. In addition to being an excellent wine, it also delivers some serious bang for your buck.

The Mackeys have enlisted the services of an extremely talented winemaker, Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards. He makes their wines at the Rasa Vineyards production facility on Powerline Road, south of Walla Walla. With Billo at the helm, Mackey Vineyards is certainly a winery to watch. The Mackey Vineyards tasting room is located on 2nd Avenue in downtown Walla Walla.

2010 Mackey Vineyards Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Riesling. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with melon and petrol on the nose. Melon, white peach, lime, and a hint of petrol come through on the palate. Off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 3.01%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15

2008 Mackey Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 80.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.7% Merlot, and 4.9% Petit Verdot. Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with jammy black fruit and oak on the nose. More black fruit and oak as well as smoke come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with smooth 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 $32

2008 Mackey Vineyards Syrah (Mackey Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with eucalyptus, licorice, black fruit, and spice on the nose. Black fruit, spice, and mint come through 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: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $32

2009 Mackey Vineyards Concordia (Columbia Valley, Washington): 77.4% Syrah, 12.9% Grenache, and 9.7% Mourvedre. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with earth, vanilla, and game aromas. Black fruits and vanilla come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $38

Mackey Vineyards: A Winery to Watch in Walla Walla was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Winemakers Bob Bertheau and Ernst Loosen work together every step of the way to produce world-class Riesling from Washington State grapes. The partnership launched in 1999, and the 2010 vintage, the current release, is Eroica’s 12th vintage. Eroica is named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony.

We have found Eroica to be consistently excellent from vintage to vintage. Recently, I had the pleasure to attend an Eroica tasting and lunch with Bob Bertheau and Ernst Loosen at Wild Ginger in Seattle. It is obvious that these two gentlemen work very well together.

Riesling is one of the most versatile grape varieties. It can be made in many different styles from bone dry to very sweet, reflect the regional character of where it is grown, and is extremely food-friendly. And, it is probably the most age worthy of all white wine varieties. At the tasting at Wild Ginger, we tasted three vintages of the off-dry Eroica Riesling (2005, 2007, and 2010) and two vintages of the very sweet Eroica Single Berry Select Riesling (2001 and 2007). All five wines were excellent, but the 2001 Single Berry Select was absolutely phenomenal. The Single Berry Select is made in the traditional German Trockenbeerenauslese style and is one of the few TBAs produced in North America.

2005 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Golden yellow. Nice nose with honey, pear, white peach, and peach blossom aromas. Pear, white peach, minerality, forest floor, and a hint of honey come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1.6%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $20

2007 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Golden straw yellow. Gorgeous nose with lime, white peach, and minerally aromas. Orange peel, lime, and minerality come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 2.15% [Note: In 2012, it will be re-released for on-premise sales.]
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $20

2010 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium straw yellow with golden tinges. Gorgeous nose with white peach, lime, and floral aromas. Lots of lime, orange peel, and minerality on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 1.64%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $20

2001 Eroica Single Berry Select Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Horse Heaven Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Deep, dark amber in color. Gorgeous nose with honey, butterscotch, and dried apricot aromas and flavors. Very sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced and extremely smooth with a long, lingering finish. Wow! Amazing! Residual Sugar: 38.7% [Note: In 2012, about 1,000 bottles will be re-released.]
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $200 [375ml]

2007 Eroica Single Berry Select Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Horse Heaven Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Golden, orange amber color. Nice nose with honey, dried apricot, and a hint of pineapple aromas. Honey, dried apricot, and orange peel come through on the palate. Very sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish. A rare treat! Residual Sugar: 37%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail: $200 [375ml]

Eroica: The Standard-Bearer for Washington Riesling [Wow! Alert] 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

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

“This second vintage of our Harvest Select Riesling is made in a slightly sweeter style than our ‘Columbia Valley Riesling’ but still shows the elements of classic Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling. It offers beautiful crisp Washington Riesling character with rich flavors of ripe peaches and apricot. The fresh fruit and decadent character is balanced with crisp acidity to keep the wine in harmony. This is a perfect patio sipping wine or would be a great match with Thai food. Enjoy!” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Nose is a bit tight at first, and then apple aromas come through. Apple, pear, honey, peach, and apricot come through on the palate. Medium sweet and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity, good mouthfeel, and a long, smooth finish. Residual Sugar: 4.98%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $9; Available elsewhere, $6 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

For this month’s challenging wine pairing, I decided to prepare hot dogs and some complementary side dishes beyond the usual choices of chips and baked beans. We enjoyed a meal of hot dogs with mustard and relish condiments, green bean salad, hominy salad, and almond crunch bars for dessert. It was delicious, if I may say so myself!

I truly believe that there is a wine to pair with every food, even hot dogs. And, my trusty guide for pairing food and wine, What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, came through once again with recommendations. We selected the 2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett Blue Slate and the 2010 Conde de Valdemar Rosado. Both wines were very good; however, the Riesling was the consensus favorite both for sipping and with the meal. However, the rosé paired really well with the dessert; it really brought out the toasty and salty notes in the almond crunch bars. On a side note, if you like chili on your hot dogs, you might consider a red wine such as Zinfandel.

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!

2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett Blue Slate (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany): Pale to medium greenish yellow. Aromatic with minerality, pear, and white peach on the nose. White peach, Granny Smith apple, and mandarin orange come through on the palate. Off-dry to medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $17.99; Available elsewhere, $15 to $25

2010 Bodegas Valdemar Conde de Valdemar Rosado (Rioja, Spain): 85% Garnacha and 15% Tempranillo. Hot pink in color. Nice nose with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry aromas. Reminds me of Ocean Spray cran-raspberry on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Gets better the longer its open.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $9.99; Available elsewhere, $5 to $13

Challenging Wine Pairing: Hot Dogs 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

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

“Our Columbia Valley Riesling is a blend of Riesling from throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley. We craft it to be a refreshing, off-dry Riesling vintage after vintage. The wine delivers flavors of ripe peach and juicy pear with subtle mineral notes. This is our ‘every day Riesling’ that is easy to match with a variety of foods.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Aromatic with floral notes, honey, and dried apricot on the nose. More white peach as well as pear and a hint of minerality come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 2.29%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $9; Widely available elsewhere, $8 to $12

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 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

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

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

2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Nice nose with lemon, lime, white peach, and floral aromas. More lemon, lime, and white peach as well as orange peel and a hint of minerality come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity and a long, refreshing 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 $9; Widely available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

We had the pleasure of visiting Rasa Vineyards and tasting through their inaugural releases shortly after they moved into their new facility last fall. We were blown away by the quality of their wines then. In fact, their 2007 Principia Reserve Syrah was our Wine Peeps’ pick for Best Washington Wine of 2010. On a recent visit to Walla Walla, we made it a point to visit again so that we could taste their new releases. There are no signs of a sophomore slump here. In fact, if it is possible, we were even more impressed with the overall quality of their lineup of wines this time.

We tasted eight of their wines, five from their primary Rasa label and three from their new second label, PB Wines. The PB Wines are made in an identical manner and get the same treatment as the Rasa wines but are just offered at a lower price point.

Their 2008 Creative Impulse, a Cab/Merlot blend from DuBrul Vineyard, which will be released this fall, especially impressed us. It truly is a “Wow!” wine. We also thought that their 2008 QED and 2009 Vox Populi Mourvedre were outstanding.

Rasa Vineyards offers their wines through their mailing list first. They are also distributed in 17 states. If you have not had a chance to try one of their wines, I encourage you to keep your eyes out for them on the shelf at your local wine shop or go ahead and put your name on their mailing list. Only open by appointment, Rasa Vineyards is definitely a must-visit if you are in the Walla Walla area.

For a more detailed write-up about Rasa Vineyards, the Naravane brothers, and their winemaking philosophy, please refer back to my Spotlight On: Rasa Vineyards post.

2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. Deep, dark purplish red. Outstanding nose with gorgeous aromas of black cherry, black currant, leather, smoke, licorice, and earth. Black cherry, black currant, leather, pencil lead, earth, and smoke come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and silky, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a finish that goes on forever. An absolutely amazing wine. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95 [to be released Fall 2011]

2008 Rasa Vineyards QED (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. Deep, dark purplish red. Beautiful bouquet with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and a hint of game and earth. More black fruit, licorice, and game, as well as vanilla cream come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50

2009 Rasa Vineyards Vox Populi Mourvedre (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Mourvedre. Deep, dark purple. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, smoked meat, game, white pepper, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, coarse tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $45

2008 Rasa Vineyards Principia Reserve Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark beautiful purple in color. Nice nose with aromas of black and blue fruit, earth, game, black pepper, and spice. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, earth, spice, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $85 [to be released Fall 2011]

2010 Rasa Vineyards The Lyricist Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Light, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with white peach, pear, orange peel, mineral notes, and hint of pineapple on both the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 4.89%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $30

2010 PB Wines Heritage Pinot Gris (Kilian Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Medium greenish yellow. Aromatic with pear, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, and mineral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and good mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2008 PB Wines Yakima Valley Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Dark, deep purple. Nice nose with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, spice, pepper, and a hint of chocolate. More blackberry, black cherry, pepper, and smoke come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and fruit-forward with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish. Showing nicely with some bottle age.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $29

2010 PB Wines Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Light, greenish straw yellow in color. Nice nose with aromas of white peach, tropical fruit, and honeysuckle. White peach, mango, and floral notes come through on the palate. Off-dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 2.3%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $16

Rasa Vineyards Continues to Wow Us 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

Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, Washington, near the Oregon state line in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Owner/winemaker Richard Funk and his wife Anita, both natives of Montana, moved to Walla Walla in 1991. Rich became acquainted with a number of the area wineries while working as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department. Through his work at the Health Department on water quality and wastewater issues, he got a firsthand look at the vineyards in the area and developed a relationship with a number of local winemakers who helped him get his start in the industry. Saviah Cellars was founded in 2000 and currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother. Saviah Cellars consistently produces high-quality wines. The Jack is a value line in the Saviah portfolio produced with declassified fruit.

“Finally, we have completed The Jack family with this very aromatic Riesling. This food friendly wine…think Chinese, Indian, Thai, Middle Eastern or New Mexican cuisine…shows delicious notes of apricot and peach. It is perfectly balanced with crisp acidity and subtle sweetness one would taste in a perfectly ripe Washington State Gala apple.” –Owner/winemaker Rich Funk

2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with white peach, honeysuckle, and orange peel on both the nose and palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 1.79%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $11 to $18

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.