Wine Peeps » Rose Wine

Challenging Wine Pairing: Greek Moussaka

LaGayle — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:14 +0000

While I generally prefer flavorful but simple-to-prepare recipes, I decided to make Greek moussaka for this month’s challenging wine pairing meal. Although there are short-cut versions, I wanted to follow the standard recipe. Moussaka is a little like lasagna in that there are layers—potatoes, eggplant, cheese, ground lamb (although beef can also be used) with tomatoes and spices and topped with a béchamel sauce which is an egg custard. It is then baked until golden brown. I have to say that the dish was delicious; however, it was way too time consuming to prepare. The basic preparation required the eggplant to be sliced and salted and then allowed to set before rinsing and dredging in egg whites and breadcrumbs and baked. The potatoes had to be cooked and the lamb browned. Once everything was ready, the layering was done. Then the béchamel sauce took a while to prepare and thicken before pouring over the layers. And, finally, it had to be baked 45 to 55 minutes. Again, it was very good, so if you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, this is a dish to consider. The full menu for the dinner included a Greek salad, the moussaka, and Greek-style green beans.

When researching what wines might be served with moussaka, it was no surprise that Greek wines were recommended. However, I wanted to pair this meal with Washington State wines, so I looked in both What to Drink with What You Eat and The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page to see what other wines are recommended with moussaka or Greek cuisine. I decided to pair the meal with a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Rosé so we selected the 2008 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2010 Chinook Cabernet Franc Rosé. Both wines were very good; however, the rosé was the unanimous choice as the best pairing.

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!

2010 Chinook Cabernet Franc Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale, pinkish salmon in color. Aromatic with strawberry, raspberry, and floral notes on the nose. Watermelon and raspberry come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. 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: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $14.99

2008 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with black cherry and leather aromas. More black cherry as well as spice and oak come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $19.99; Available elsewhere, $17 to $30

Challenging Wine Pairing: Greek Moussaka was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Domaine Carneros: Napa Valley Sparkling Wine by Taittinger

Kori — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:00:28 +0000

Founded in 1987 by Champagne Taittinger of France in partnership with Kobrand Corporation, Domaine Carneros is located in the heart of Carneros in California’s Napa Valley. Claude Taittinger, the president of Champagne Taittinger, began searching for a site to open a winery in the United States in the late 1970’s. He selected a site in the Carneros AVA because he believed that it had the potential to produce world-class sparkling wines. Domaine Carneros sources 95% of their fruit from estate vineyards, and all of their wines are labeled with the Carneros appellation. Eileen Crane is the winery’s first and only winemaker.

Calling upon Taittinger’s knowledge of producing quality Champagne in France, Domaine Carneros has established itself as a world-class sparkling wine house in the United States. Domaine Carneros produces three styles of sparkling wine: Brut, Brut Rosé, and Blanc de Blancs. Recently, we had the opportunity to taste their Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour in a blind samples tasting. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this Brut Rosé is excellent and a great representation of the quality sparkling wine that Domaine Carneros produces.

The Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour is named for Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV, who is credited with introducing Champagne to the court at Versailles.

“Champagne is the only wine a woman can drink and remain beautiful.” –Madame de Pompadour, namesake of the Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour

So when you are selecting sparkling wines to enjoy during the rapidly approaching holidays, I encourage you to give Domaine Carneros, and particularly this Brut Rosé, a try. And if you are ever in the Napa Valley, consider a visit to their beautiful chateau.

NV Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour (Carneros, Napa Valley, California): 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. Pale pinkish salmon color. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Very aromatic with strawberry, peach, and floral notes on the nose. Strawberry, raspberry, citrus notes, and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35; Available elsewhere, $28 to $50

Domaine Carneros: Napa Valley Sparkling Wine by Taittinger was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Challenging Wine Pairing: Hot Dogs

LaGayle — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:00:47 +0000

It’s football season! So, time, again, to consider meals for watching our favorite teams on television or for tailgating before attending games. Of course, there is a wide choice of favorite foods for these events. However, hot dogs always seems to be a special favorite—easy to prepare, easy to eat, and quite enjoyable.

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.

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Rosé for Summer

Kori — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:02 +0000

This month’s wine tasting dinner featured six rosé wines from Washington State. It was another fabulous evening of good wine, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. The wines paired extremely well with our dinner of vichyssoise, crab Louie salad, grilled prawns, grilled vegetables, rice pilaf, and peach and strawberry salad for dessert with almond cookies.

This is the time of year when we turn our attention to rosé wines. In fact, many wineries only make small quantities of rosé wines to be released during the summer months. Rosé is French for “pink” and is used to describe wines of that color. Rosés are generally made from red grapes; however, unlike typical red wine production, the skins are removed from the juice after only a couple of days. This limited skin contact gives rosé its light pink color and is the reason that rosés are lighter-bodied than most red wines. Rosés can run the gamut from dry to sweet. Too many people think pink wines are all sweet. Not so. For me, the dry rosés are more serious and interesting.

The consensus favorite was the 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese. It is one of the most well-known and widely available Washington State rosés. I look forward to its release each year. Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard founded Barnard Griffin Winery, located in Richland, Washington, in 1983. Rob moved to Washington State in 1977 to be winemaker for Preston Wine Cellars when there were under ten wineries in the entire state. Shortly after founding Barnard Griffin, Rob left Preston and went to work for Hogue Cellars as winemaker and general manager. In 1991, Rob left Hogue to devote his full time and energy to Barnard Griffin. The current winery and tasting room were built in 1996. Barnard Griffin’s current annual production is approximately 75,000 cases.

When the sun is shining and you’re looking for a refreshing beverage to enjoy on the deck, don’t forget to give rosé wine a shot.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale to medium pink in color. Nice nose with strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, and floral aromas. More red fruits as well as orange peel come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced and very refreshing with a long, lingering finish. An excellent summer sipper and also great with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $11; Available elsewhere, $10 to $13

2010 Mark Ryan The Vincent Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20% Mourvedre. Very pale salmon color. Aromatic with orange peel and raspberry on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $12; Available elsewhere, $14

2010 Jones of Washington Rosé of Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium pink. Aromatic with aromas and flavors of honey, strawberry, rose petals, and Red Vines. Off-dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $12

2010 Syncline Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 33% Pinot Noir, 17% Grenache, 17% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 9% Mourvedre, and 9% Counoise. Very pale salmon color. Nose is a bit tight at first. Strawberry, melon, and orange blossom come through on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $16; Available elsewhere, $18 to $19

2009 Flying Dreams Little Red Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep ruby pink. Aromatic with plums and mineral notes on the nose. Cherry and plum on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a bitter finish. A bit hot on the back end.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2010 Waters Rosé (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 65% Syrah and 35% Viognier. Pale pinkish salmon in color. Interesting aromatics with hairspray, perfume, and floral notes on the nose. Light red fruit and perfume comes through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, somewhat sour, finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $16 to $18

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

Challenging Wine Pairing: Jerked Chicken

LaGayle — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:00:39 +0000

This month’s challenging wine pairing was a special treat. Our friends Darren and Mardee invited us over for jerked chicken, and we did our challenging pairing with their fabulous meal. What a beautiful evening in Seattle, out on their deck, eating delicious food, drinking great wine, and spending time with wonderful friends!

Jerk is a Jamaican cooking style where the meats are either dry rubbed or wet marinated with a number of ingredients including a mixture of spices such as allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon (just to name a few), garlic, and hot peppers. Today, the usual process is to prepare a hot spicy rub and cook the meat on the grill.

The full menu for this meal included the jerked chicken topped with sour cream and roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, tri-color cheese tortellini salad, pineapple beach bread, and key lime pie for dessert.

After referring to my favorite guide for pairing food and wine, What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, we decided to go with a rosé and a sparkling wine. We enjoyed the 2010 Trust Cellars Cabernet Franc Rosé from the Columbia Valley in Washington State and the 2007 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Both wines were excellent; however, the rosé was the consensus favorite with the meal while the sparkling wine was the favorite prior to having it with the food.

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!

2010 Trust Cellars Cabernet Franc Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium salmon-pink in color. Very aromatic with cherry, strawberry, and raspberry on the nose. More cherry as well as watermelon and pear come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity. Well-balanced and very refreshing with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $15.99; Available elsewhere, $17

2007 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine (Willamette Valley, Oregon): 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Nice nose with banana and apple aromas. Apple, pear, and a hint of pineapple come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and crisp. Well-balanced with a long finish. An excellent bubbly.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $21.99; Available elsewhere, $19 to $29

Challenging Wine Pairing: Jerked Chicken was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese

Kori — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:46 +0000

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.

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

Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard founded Barnard Griffin Winery, located in Richland, Washington, in 1983. Rob moved to Washington State in 1977 to be winemaker for Preston Wine Cellars when there were under ten wineries in the entire state. Shortly after founding Barnard Griffin, Rob left Preston and went to work for Hogue Cellars as winemaker and general manager. In 1991, Rob left Hogue to devote his full time and energy to Barnard Griffin. The current winery and tasting room were built in 1996. Barnard Griffin’s current annual production is approximately 75,000 cases. Their Rosé of Sangiovese is one of the most well-known and widely available Washington State rosés. I look forward to its release each year.

“The 2010 boasts gorgeous melon, pomegranate and cherry fruit with hints of pineapple and rose petal. Dry and flavorful with a pleasant underlying minerality. Quite food-friendly, as well as a great stand-alone wine. Stock up on this delicious Rosé for all your summer get-togethers.” –Owner/winemaker Rob Griffin

2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium bright pink in color. Nice nose with cherry, strawberry, and watermelon aromas. More red fruits as well as orange peel and strawberry Twizzlers come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Very refreshing with a long finish. Gets better the longer it is open. An excellent summer sipper.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $10.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $13

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese

Kori — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.

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

Maryhill Winery, located in Goldendale, Washington, is perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge with Mt. Hood in the distance. Founded in 1999 by Craig and Vicki Leuthold, Maryhill’s production has grown from 4,300 cases in 1999 to over 80,000 cases today, making it the 15th largest winery in Washington State. The winery has a beautiful setting with gorgeous views, a 3,000-square-foot tasting room, and a 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre, which plays host to a summer concert series.

“Lighter in color than previous years and lighter on the palate, this wine is sure to keep Rosé lovers happy. Look for light hints of strawberry and occasional tropical aromas. On the palate you will enjoy lightly honeyed strawberries and thoughts of vanilla with a bit of minerality on the finish. Pair with creamy dips and spreads and creamy cheeses.” – Maryhill Winery

2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium salmon in color. Pleasant aromas and flavors of strawberry and orange peel. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Very refreshing.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Taste Washington 2011: Highlights from Washington Wine’s Signature Event

Kori — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Hosted annually by the Washington Wine Commission, Taste Washington is dubbed “the ultimate wine experience.” This past weekend brought Washington wine lovers from around the country to Seattle to drink, eat, and be merry. The event is a wine and food lover’s paradise.

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

Washington Wine Restaurant Awards

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

Education Day

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

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

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

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

“Washington Syrah is what America should be drinking.”

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

Grand Tasting

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

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

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

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

Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah, Yakima Valley, $55, QPR: 4

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

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

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

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

Exploring Woodinville Wine Country

Kori — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:00:16 +0000

Woodinville has definitely become a must-visit destination in Washington wine country. Home of the state’s oldest, largest, and most well-known wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery, the Woodinville area is also home to over 90 wineries and tasting rooms, with new ones opening all the time. Woodinville now boasts the second largest concentration of Washington wineries after Walla Walla and is located just 17 miles northeast of Seattle. Today, Woodinville is one of the Seattle area’s top tourist attractions, with at least 18 tasting rooms open daily and upwards of 70 open on the weekend. I am not aware of another place in the U.S. where there are this many fine wineries so close to a major city.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cascade Valley Wine Country: Mountains, Lakes, Sunshine, and Wine

Kori — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:00:39 +0000

Located in central Washington State halfway between Seattle and Spokane, Cascade Valley Wine Country is home to around 50 wineries and tasting rooms in Wenatchee, Chelan, and Leavenworth. Cascade Valley Wine Country is a marketing alliance formed in 2009 by area wineries and funded by the Port of Chelan County and the Port of Douglas County to promote trade and tourism. Boasting majestic mountain and lake views and 300 days of sunshine per year, the region has been a tourist destination for years, long before wineries started opening in the area. The oldest wineries in the Cascade Valley Wine Country have only been in existence about a decade. However, in that short time, they have capitalized on the tourist-appeal of the area and have established a thriving wine community. The region also includes the Lake Chelan AVA, Washington State’s newest American Viticultural Area.

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.