Since we live in Washington State and often drink wines from Washington State, most of our tasting group themes are purposefully non-Washington wines so that we can continue to hone our knowledge of the entire world of wine and maintain well-rounded palates. This month, however, we made an exception for a very special tasting of Washington wines.

Dad (John) generously provided wines from his personal collection so that we could do a Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vertical tasting of twelve wines from the 1997 through the 2008 vintage.

Alex Golitzin and his wife Jeannette founded Quilceda Creek, located in Snohomish, Washington, in 1978. Generally considered the premier winery in Washington State, Quilceda Creek remains a small, family-owned and operated winery that is dedicated exclusively to the production of world-class Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul Golitzin joined his parents in the winery in 1992 and was named head winemaker in 2000.

Quilceda Creek is no stranger to high accolades for their wines. Their flagship wine, the Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that we explored in this tasting, has received four 100-point ratings from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate for the 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007 vintages.

Quilceda Creek sources their grapes from vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley. The vineyard sources for the wines in this tasting are included in the tasting notes below. As you will see, the two constants in every vintage were Champoux and Klipsun with the majority of the fruit coming from Block 1 at Champoux Vineyards. Quilceda Creek became a partner in Champoux Vineyards in 1997 along with Paul and Judy Champoux and three other winery partners, Andrew Will, Powers, and Woodward Canyon.

While our tastings are usually blind, we decided not to taste these blind. We simply wanted to enjoy the wines and taste them in a logical order. We started with the oldest and worked our way to the youngest.

All of the wines were excellent, and some absolutely “wow-ed” us! It was remarkable how fresh the wines were, especially the 1998 vintage, which is 13 years old. The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2003 vintage. Other stars of the tasting were the 1998, 2005, 2007, and 2008 vintages. While the 2008, their current release, is still a young wine, it is already drinking extremely well and shows great potential to only improve with some age. I look forward to trying it again in a few years, if I have the opportunity.

Wines from Quilceda Creek can be hard to come by. Their wines are only offered to members of their private mailing list, which is currently full. The winery is open one weekend each year when mailing list customers can pick up their pre-purchased wines.

From oldest to youngest:

1997 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval, and Tapteil. Deep ruby red. Aromatic with black currant, licorice, earth, and herbal notes on the nose. More black currant, licorice, and earth, as well as dry forest floor come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with medium, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $54

1998 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Dark red garnet. Gorgeous nose with black currant, black cherry, and smoke aromas. Black cherry, smoked meat, and licorice flavors on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. Drinking beautifully right now.
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $62

1999 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black fruit, earth, and vegetal aromas. Black currant, black cherry, earth, and slight vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $75

2000 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.5% Cabernet Franc. Vineyards: Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Unfortunately, this particular bottle was corked; therefore, it was not rated.
Quality: NR (not rated)
QPR:  N/A
Winery Release: $70

2001 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. Vineyards: Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Dark purplish red. Aromatic with bright black fruit, especially blackberry and black cherry, and cinnamon on the nose. Blackberry, spice, and a hint of black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $85

2002 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Vineyards: Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with black cherry, cloves, and earthy aromas. Black cherry, black plum, spice box, and chocolate come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced and good complexity with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $85

2003 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Deep, dark purplish red. Very aromatic with black cherry, earth, and smoke on the nose. Black cherry, black currant, licorice, and chocolate come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with good complexity and a long, lingering finish. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $95

2004 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Vineyards: Champoux, Tapteil, and Klipsun. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, black currant, and licorice aromas that lead to flavors of black fruit, earth, licorice, and a hint of spice. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $100

2005 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fruit-forward with fresh black fruit, spice rack, licorice, and a hint of earth on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, silky finish. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $115

2006 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Dark red. Aromatic with black fruit and spice on the nose. Black currant, black cherry, spice, black pepper, and a hint of espresso come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $125

2007 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with black cherry, floral, and vegetal notes on the nose. Black cherry, blackberry, game, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish. Still young; should open up even more with time.
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $125

2008 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Vineyards: Champoux, Klipsun, and Tapteil. Dark purple. Nice nose with black cherry and earthy aromas. Black cherry, earth, licorice, spice box, and espresso come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish. Very young but headed for greatness. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $130

Tasting Group: Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical, 1997-2008 was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Last week, our tasting group met and explored Carmenere from Chile. Carmenere, a red varietal originally found in the Bordeaux region of France, disappeared from European vineyards almost completely in the mid-19th century. Today, Carmenere is known as Chile’s signature grape, having been discovered in that country in 1994 among vines that were previously thought to be Merlot. It is a deeply colored red grape that seems to thrive in Chile’s Mediterranean climate with sunny days and dramatically cooler nights. Grown in the right conditions, Carmenere has the ability to produce very fine wines that exhibit the finesse of Merlot and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.

We tasted seven bottles of Chilean Carmenere, and the consensus favorite was the 2007 Montes Purple Angel Carmenere from the Colchagua Valley. We also thought that the 2009 Viu Manent Carmenere Reserva and the 2008 Santa Rita Reserva Carmenere were very good. As far as bang-for-your-buck goes, the Viu Manent is hard to beat.

If you’ve never had Carmenere or want something different than Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon for a change, I encourage you to give Chilean Carmenere a try.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2007 Montes Purple Angel Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot. Dark purplish red in color. Beautiful bouquet with cinnamon, clove, and black cherry aromas. More cinnamon, clove, black cherry, and a hint of smoked meat come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fine Wine and Cigars (Redmond, Washington), $54; Available elsewhere, $40 to $64

2009 Viu Manent Carmenere Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with red fruit, vegetal notes, and a bit of barnyard funk on the nose. More red fruit, green bell pepper, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $10; Available elsewhere, $9 to $11

2008 Santa Rita Carmenere Reserva (Rapel Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with perfume, floral, spice, and smoked meat aromas. Olive, smoked meat, and floral notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $21; Available elsewhere, $10 to $19

2009 Panilonco Carmenere Reserve (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Ripe red fruit, green bell pepper, spice, and smoked meat comes through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Trader Joe’s (Seattle, Washington), $4

2006 Alcance de Viña Calina Carmenere (Maule Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purplish red. Very stinky at first with barnyard and vegetal aromas. Ripe red fruit, especially raspberry, and green bell pepper on the palate. Seems slightly fizzy. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, sweet tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $15; Available elsewhere, $14 to $18

2009 Manos Negras Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep, ruby red in color. Aromas and flavors of ripe black fruit, pencil lead, green bell pepper, and a hint of bacon. Medium to full-bodied with tart acidity, medium to high tannins, and a thin finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $15

2009 Haras Carmenere (Maipo Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purplish red. Very stinky nose with canned corn and car exhaust aromas that lead to medicinal and vegetal flavors. Full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, drying tannins, and a long, bitter finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $7; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

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

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

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

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

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

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

2008 Alexandria Nicole Cellars Malbec (Block 20, Destiny Ridge Vineyards, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 96% Malbec and 4% Merlot. Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with chocolate, pencil lead, and black fruit aromas. Flavors of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, and spice. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, dusty tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $38

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

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

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

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

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

Recently, our tasting group met and explored Spanish Garnacha. Many believe that Grenache is indigenous to Spain where it is called Garnacha, but some contend that the Spanish took the vine from Sardinia during their occupation of the island. Sardinia claims the grape as its own, where it is called yet another name, Cannonau. Grenache/Garnacha is primarily a blending grape, but in recent years, more and more winemakers are producing it as a single varietal wine. Today, it is the third most widely planted red grape variety in Spain and is used to produce both varietal wines and blends. Grenache/Garnacha wines tend to be relatively high in alcohol and offer strawberry, cherry, and perfumed notes. The variety itself typically produces low tannins, low acid wines with moderate amounts of pigment. But low yields can produce dark, rich, spicy reds. We tasted eight bottles of Spanish Garnacha, and the consensus favorite was the 2009 Bodegas Zabrin Ateca Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines. Retailing for only $7.99, it delivers serious bang for your buck. In fact, you could buy a case of the Garnacha de Fuego (the consensus favorite) for the price of one bottle of the Espectacle del Montsant (which finished last in the tasting and is not recommended). A perfect example that price is not always indicative of quality.

As you’ll notice in the tasting notes below, we had duplicates of two of the wines, the Las Rocas and the Tres Picos. While the rankings were close on the Tres Picos and we found them to be very similar, the Las Rocas, while also noticeably similar, varied a bit more. Once again, just one of the many things that keeps the world of wine interesting.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2009 Bodegas Zabrin Ateca Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines (Calatayud, Spain): Medium-deep ruby red. Aromatic with sour cherry and strawberry on the nose. More cherry and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth with soft tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $7.99; Available elsewhere, $6 to $13

2008 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain): Deep ruby red. Gorgeous nose with strawberry, cherry, and dusty notes. Loads of red cherry, dust, spice, and a hint of earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $12; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

2008 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Veraton Garnacha (Campo de Borja, Spain): Deep red in color. Aromatic with dark red fruits, earth, and a bit of funk on the nose. More red fruits as well as spice and black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $28.99; Available elsewhere, $22 to $42

2008 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha (Calatayud, Spain): Deep ruby red. Nice nose with red fruits, earth, and floral notes. Red fruits, earth, dust, and floral notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $11.79; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

2006 Clos Figueras Priorat (Priorat, Spain): Deep purplish ruby red. Aromatic with Red Vines and prunes on the nose; more prunes and stewed plums on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth with medium tannins. Very ripe and a bit hot with a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $50; Available elsewhere, $68 to $83

2009 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha (Campo de Borja, Spain): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with perfume, dust, and rubber on the nose that lead to flavors of dust, earth, and sour cherry. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Whole Foods (Seattle, Washington), $16; Available elsewhere, $7 to $17

2009 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha (Campo de Borja, Spain): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with red berries and floral notes on the nose that lead to more red berries, earth, and oak on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $13.49; Available elsewhere, $7 to $17

2007 Espectacle del Montsant Garnacha (Montsant, Spain): Medium-deep ruby red. Sour cherry Jolly Rancher, strawberry, and dust on the nose; rough, dry, and dusty on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, hard tannins, and a very bitter, unpleasant finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: J.J. Buckley (California), $108.99; Available elsewhere, $100 to $125

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

Recently, our tasting group met and explored Tawny Port. Port comes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. While some producers in other countries use the name “Port” on their port-style wines, it is inappropriate to do so if it is not from Portugal. To distinguish the real Port from the imitators, most Port producers in Portugal now label their wines as “Porto” as you will see in the list of wines we tasted. Also, real Port bears a neck label with the Instituto do Vinho do Porto Garantia, which is a seal of guarantee. Port is a sweet fortified wine produced by adding grape spirit during fermentation, which stops fermentation and retains considerable sugar. Residual sugar in the finished wine typically ranges from 8 to 12 percent. Port is typically a blend of grape varieties, vineyards, and vintages. Tawny Port is aged in wood. Those that spend an extended amount of time aging in barrel or cask can be labeled in multiples of 10 years. We tasted ten bottles of Tawny Port, and the consensus favorite was the Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Porto.

Since Port has a higher alcohol level than still wine, it is often consumed as an after-dinner drink or with dessert rather than with a meal. Even though I was spitting during our tasting, I could definitely feel the higher alcohol content after trying all ten wines. When it comes to Port or any fortified wine, a little can go a long way. Thankfully, that higher alcohol level also means that it lasts longer even after the bottle has been opened. While a still wine will only stay fresh for a couple of days, Port can easily last a week and often much longer after opening.

As you’ll notice in the tasting notes below, we had duplicates of two of the wines, the Taylor Fladgate and the Otima. While the rankings were close on the Otima and we found them to be very similar, the Taylor Fladgates were very different. Even after we unveiled them and then re-tasted, we all thought that they tasted different. By looking at the bottles, the only difference was the code on the IVDP guarantee seal. While both wines were good, we preferred code “MJ” to code “ND”. Just one of the many things that keeps the world of wine interesting.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Code “MJ”. Medium-deep amber brown with ruby red hues. Gorgeous nose with prune, caramel, and toffee aromas. Prune, toffee, chai tea, vanilla, and a slight hint of lemon come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $21 to $30

Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Duoro Valley, Portugal): 500ml bottle. Golden, amber brown. Aromatic with vanilla and nutty aromas and flavors. A hint of coffee comes through on the palate as well. Off-dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pike & Western Wine Shop (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $13 to $28

Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Duoro Valley, Portugal): 500ml bottle. Golden, amber brown. Aromatic with vanilla and caramel on the nose that leads to toffee, caramel, and nutty flavors on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Costco (Seattle, Washington), $20; Available elsewhere, $13 to $28

Fonseca Porto 10 Year Old Tawny (Duoro Valley, Portugal): Deep, ruby red with amber tones. Aromatic with dried fruits and toffee on the nose. Flavors of toffee, coffee, and dried apricots. Medium-sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: DeLaurenti (Seattle, Washington), $32; Available elsewhere, $22 to $35

Quinta da Prelada 20 Years Old Porto Tawny (Duoro Valley, Portugal): Medium caramel, amber brown in color. Aromatic with nutty and toffee aromas. Flavors of prune, caramel, and vanilla. Medium-sweet and medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $40; Available elsewhere, $48

Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Code “ND”. Medium-deep amber brown with ruby red hues. Nice nose with prune and vanilla aromas. Nuts, vanilla, caramel, and prunes come through on the palate. Medium-sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $21 to $30

Quarles Harris 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium, amber brown. Caramel and walnut aromas lead to flavors of coffee, toffee, vanilla, and nuts. Medium-sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Trader Joe’s (Seattle, Washington), $15

Graham’s Fine Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium ruby red in color. Prunes and dried red fruits come through on the nose; prunes, caramel, and coffee on the palate. Medium-sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Outlet (Seattle, Washington), $17; Available elsewhere, $12 to $18

Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown. Nuts, vanilla, and coffee come through on both the nose and palate. Medium-sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long finish. A bit hot on the back end.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $30; Available elsewhere, $22 to $37

Dow’s Fine Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown with ruby red hues. Prunes, caramel, and vanilla aromas and flavors. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $14; Available elsewhere, $10 to $19

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

Last week, our tasting group met and explored Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Pinot Noir is a finicky grape that will not grow just anywhere. New Zealand is one of the few places in the world where it does remarkably well. Pinot Noir is the number two most planted variety in New Zealand, after the country’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc. The country’s temperate, maritime climate provides ideal conditions for growing Pinot Noir. In my opinion, New Zealand Pinot Noir has found its niche in style somewhere between the elegance of Burgundy and the sometimes-intense herbal and gamey notes of Oregon Pinot Noir.

We tasted eight bottles of New Zealand Pinot Noir, and the consensus favorite was the 2006 Isabel Pinot Noir from the Marlborough region. In fact, four of the top five wines in our consensus rankings were from Marlborough. In 2005, we took a trip to the Marlborough region of New Zealand to visit some of the wineries that we had come to love as well as observe New Zealand winemaking up close. 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’ve never had a New Zealand Pinot Noir or are looking for a more economical alternative to Burgundy or Oregon Pinot Noir, I encourage you to give New Zealand Pinot Noir a try.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2006 Isabel Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Light to medium ruby red in color. Very aromatic with raspberry, cranberry, earth, smoke, and barnyard on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fine silky tannins. Well-balanced and long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $24.99; Available elsewhere, $19 to $43

2007 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Medium ruby red with slight browning around the edges. Nice nose with red fruit and dusty aromas with a hint of smoke and barnyard notes. Bright red fruits and smoke come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $16 to $20

2006 Walnut Block Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Light ruby red in color with a slight browning around the edges. Nose is a bit tight at first and then opens up with red fruits and perfume. Flavors of raspberry, cranberry, and spice. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Garagiste (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $20 to $35

2008 Peregrine Pinot Noir (Central Otago, New Zealand): Light ruby red. Aromatic with nice bright red fruits, spice, and smoke on the nose. Raspberry, cranberry, and spice also come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $19 to $27

2007 Whitehaven Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand): Medium ruby red in color. Aromatic with cherry, raspberry, spice, earth, and a bit of funk on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied and lively with soft tannins and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $15 to $27

2007 Pyramid Valley Vineyards Growers Collection Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir (Central Otago, New Zealand): Medium ruby red. Barnyard, earth, dark cherry, and raspberry aromas lead to flavors of red fruit, plum, and earth. Light to medium-bodied with soft tannins and a medium finish. A bit thin and plain.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $43

2008 Neudorf Tom’s Block Pinot Noir (Nelson, New Zealand): Light ruby red. Aromatic with smoke and barnyard notes on the nose. Smoked meat, beef jerky, and earth come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with soft tannins and a long finish. A bit funky with some effervescence on the back end.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $24.99; Available elsewhere, $21 to $32

2008 Pyramid Valley Vineyards Angel Flower Pinot Noir (Canterbury, New Zealand): Light ruby red with an unfiltered haze. Aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, licorice, and a hint of dirty diaper. Flavors of red fruits, earth, and oak. Light-bodied with tart acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly hot, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $65; Available elsewhere, $66 to $67

Tasting Group: New Zealand Pinot Noir was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The holidays always get me in the mood for sparkling wine. Last week, our tasting group met and explored Champagne. Champagne is the most well-known sparkling wine in the world, but it can only be called Champagne if it is produced in the Champagne region of France. The Champagne region is one of the coldest and most northerly winegrowing regions, which is why it is best suited to sparkling wine. Champagne is produced from any or all of the three grape varieties allowed for sparkling wine production in the Champagne region: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The majority of Champagne, about 85 percent, is non-vintage and produced in a “house style” by blending wines from several vintages. In the best years, a vintage Champagne is produced in which all of the wine is from the year indicated on the bottle.

We tasted six bottles of Champagne, and the consensus favorite was the 1996 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon Brut Champagne. Colby and I were glad to see this wine do well in the blind tasting because it has special significance to us personally. It is our “anniversary” wine. Each year, we enjoy a bottle of Dom Perignon to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The tradition began when members of our extended family gave us a bottle of Dom Perignon and made a special toast at our rehearsal dinner. The 1996 vintage itself is not significant for us other than we purchased a case of it several years ago and have been working through the case each anniversary since then. We have occasionally opened a bottle of it for other occasions such as this tasting. We have five bottles left and were thrilled to find that it is still drinking well at 14 years old.

If you like Champagne and enjoy history, you might be interested in a book I read last year, Champagne: How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times by Don and Petie Kladstrup. It was a fascinating read and would make a great stocking stuffer.

Unfortunately, one of the bottles in our tasting was corked so you will only see tasting notes below for five sparkling wines. All five would make good choices to enjoy during the upcoming holidays. From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

1996 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon Brut Champagne (Champagne, France): Pale to medium, golden yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Very aromatic with citrus fruits and floral aromas on the nose. Lemon, lime, yeasty, and nutty flavors come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with very crisp acidity. Well-balanced and elegant with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $125; Available elsewhere, $205 to $300

NV Deutz Brut Classic Champagne (Champagne, France): Pale, straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Aromatic with cheesecake and milky aromas on the nose; lime, yeasty, and nutty flavors on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively 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: Whole Foods (Seattle, Washington), $42; Available elsewhere, $29 to $55

NV Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (Champagne, France): Pale, straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Aromatic with corn and play-doh aromas that lead to flavors of corn, bread, and green apple. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $36 to $60

NV Henri Abele Brut Champagne (Champagne, France): Medium straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Nutty and yeasty aromas on the nose. Lemon, lime, bread, and nutty flavors on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $36.79; Available elsewhere, $27 to $40

NV Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut Champagne (Champagne, France): Medium yellow. Medium, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Vegetal, petrol, and applesauce aromas on the nose. Beer, yeasty, and creamy flavors come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Available from various retailers, $29 to $33

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

Last week, we met and explored Mourvèdre. Unlike our previous tasting group meetings, which have focused on a particular varietal from a specific region, this tasting simply focused on the varietal and each group member was free to bring a bottle of Mourvèdre from any region in the world. The only requirement was that it was either varietally-labeled as Mourvèdre (or a Mourvèdre synonym such as Mataro or Monastrell) or, for countries that do not varietally-label, it must contain at least 75% Mourvèdre. Mourvèdre is a late-ripening variety that often produces tannic, high alcohol wines that are characterized by aromas and flavors of game, earth, and red fruits. It is often used as a blending grape in Rhone-style wines, frequently with Grenache and Syrah.

We tasted nine bottles of Mourvèdre from around the world, and the consensus favorite was the 2008 Rasa Vineyards Vox Populi Mourvèdre from Washington State. I was glad to see this wine do well in the blind tasting because I had been particularly impressed with it on our recent visit to Rasa Vineyards in Walla Walla. The Mourvèdre that goes into Rasa’s Vox Populi was originally sourced to be a blending grape in their QED (a Syrah/Grenache/Mourvèdre blend). However, when some of their winemaker friends tasted barrel samples of it, they commented on how remarkable it was. Even some collectors who tasted it offered to buy it in futures and asked them to bottle at least some of it by itself. Therefore, Vox Populi or “voice of the people” was born.

Of the nine wines we tasted, three were from France, two were from Spain, one was from Australia, and three were from Washington State. I was especially excited to see how favorably the Washington wines performed against peers from around the world. The three wines from Washington State finished first, second, and fourth in the group consensus rankings.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Rasa Vineyards Vox Populi Mourvèdre (Minick Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Mourvèdre. Deep, purplish ruby red. Gorgeous nose with red and black fruits, plum, raspberry, smoked meats, game, spice and white pepper on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high drying tannins and a long finish. Big yet smooth and well-balanced.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $45

2006 Syncline Mourvèdre (Coyote Canyon Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Mourvèdre. Deep, dark purplish red in color. Very aromatic with red fruits and spice on the nose. Game, earth, smoked meats, red fruits, and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with very crisp acidity and medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: PCC Natural Market (Seattle, Washington), $22; Available elsewhere, $29

2008 Juan Gil Monastrell (Jumilla, Spain): 100% Monastrell. Deep, ruby red. Very aromatic with dusty, smoky, and black pepper aromas that lead to chalky flavors, ripe red fruits, meat, and a hint of coffee. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, drying tannins 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), $16; Available elsewhere, $10 to $19

2006 Trio Vintners Mourvèdre (den Hoed Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 96% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with cinnamon, spice, and perfume on the nose. Game, ripe red fruits, and smoke come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, 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), $20; Available elsewhere, $27

2007 Hewitson “Old Garden” Mourvèdre (Barossa Valley, Australia): Deep, ruby red. Aromatic with dirt, earth, and red fruits on the nose; earth and ripe red fruits on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $42; Available elsewhere, $33 to $42

2006 La Bastide Blanche Bandol Cuvée Estagnol (Bandol, Provence, France): Deep, dark ruby red. Peppermint, dirt, and earth on the nose lead to more earth and barnyard notes on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium to high, slightly bitter, tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $32; Available elsewhere, $30

2007 Viña Honda Monastrell (Jumilla, Spain): 100% Monastrell. Deep, ruby red in color. Nose is a bit tight at first, and then cardboard, oak, and cracked black pepper come through. Grapefruit rind, red plum, and chalky notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and tart with medium, drying tannins, and a long, somewhat bitter, finish. Very different profile than the others in the tasting.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $10; Available elsewhere, $10 to $14

2008 Domaine Astruc dA Mourvèdre (Vins de Pays du Languedoc, France): Deep, dark purplish red. Smoke, red fruits, game, and earth come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $10

2005 Chateau Pibarnon Bandol (Bandol, Provence, France): 90% Mourvedre. Deep, ruby red. Stinky cheese, expired milk, dirty diapers, and barnyard aromas lead to stinky cheese and rotten eggs on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish. The aromas and flavors are not pleasant. Not sure if it’s just a flavor profile we don’t like or whether this bottle actually had a problem.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $40; Available elsewhere, $30 to $53

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

Last week, we met and explored Cabernet Franc from France’s Loire Valley. The Loire Valley is France’s third largest wine region. It is a long, narrow region that runs predominately east/west along the Loire River. The region spans about 600 miles. There is great diversity in Loire Valley wines due to its wide range of microclimates. Loire Valley wines are very food-friendly and are the most popular wines ordered in restaurants in France. In the Loire Valley, “Cabernet” means Cabernet Franc. It was the Loire’s first red grape variety, and it thrives there. Known for its earth, spice, and red fruit characteristics, Cabernet Franc is the red grape variety used to produce wines in Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur, Saumur-Champigny, and Anjou, among others.

We tasted eight bottles of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, and the consensus favorite was the 2006 Domaine Jo Pithon Anjou. This tasting proved to be a good palate check for me as this wine was my favorite (and the group’s favorite) in this blind tasting and was also my favorite at the recent Loire Valley Wines trade tasting.

I must admit that this tasting was a pleasant surprise for me. I have not always been a big fan of varietal Cabernet Franc, particularly from France, but have preferred it when used as a blending grape. However, this was probably the best overall set of wines we’ve had in one of our tasting group meetings. I look forward to trying some of these wines again with food as I can certainly see why they are so popular in restaurants in France. Not only are they food-friendly wines, but also they can be more pocketbook-friendly than wines from other regions in France.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2006 Domaine Jo Pithon Anjou (Anjou, Loire Valley, France): Deep, dark ruby red. Aromatic with cream, butter, herbal, cola, and floral aromas on the nose. Red and black fruits and more herbal notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Extremely well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin (Seattle, Washington), $29

2007 Bernard Baudry Les Grezeaux Chinon (Chinon, Loire Valley, France): Medium, ruby red. Aromatic with cherry pie, red fruit, barnyard, green vegetable, and savory aromas. Cherry pie, earth, green vegetables, wet stone, and white pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $25

2006 Marc Bredif Chinon (Chinon, Loire Valley, France): Deep, ruby garnet in color. Aromatic with earth, red fruit, floral, and vegetal aromas on the nose. Fruit-forward with red fruits, green bell pepper, mint, and a hint of earth on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth with high, drying tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $17 to $20

2007 Bernard Baudry Le Clos Guillot Chinon (Chinon, Loire Valley, France): Medium, ruby red. Aromatic with cherry pie, red fruit, barnyard, and earthy aromas. Red fruits, earth, green vegetables, and eucalyptus come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $31; Available elsewhere, $25 to $30

2005 Domaine Les Grandes Vignes Les Cocainelles Anjou-Villages (Anjou-Villages, Loire Valley, France): Dark, purplish red. Nice nose with aromas of earth, herbs, green vegetables, cinnamon, and clove. Flavors of black fruits, coffee, mint, and spice. Full-bodied and lively with chewy tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Whole Foods (Seattle, Washington), $24

2008 Charles Joguet Cuvee Terroir Chinon (Chinon, Loire Valley, France): Deep, ruby red. Aromatic with red cherry, earth, and tea aromas. Red fruits, rubber, tar, tea leaves, and earthy and vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium, drying tannins, and a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pike & Western Wine Shop (Seattle, Washington), $22; Available elsewhere, $17 to $24

2009 Cave des Vignerons de Saumur Lieu-Dit Les Vignoles Saumur-Champigny (Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, France): Deep, purplish ruby red in color. Butterscotch and very ripe red cherries on the nose; green vegetables, oak, barnyard, and jammy red fruits on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins, and a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin (Seattle, Washington), $13

2006 Henri Bourgeois Le Pigeonnier Bourgueil (Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France): Deep, ruby red. Aromas of red and black fruits, pencil lead, mint, eucalyptus, and stinky feet. Flavors of earth, eucalyptus, and cherries. Medium to full-bodied and lively with chewy, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Seattle, Washington), $15

Tasting Group: Loire Valley Cabernet Franc was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Last week, we met and explored Italian Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio, known as Pinot Gris in some parts of the world, is a very popular quaffing wine. In most cases, it is light, simple, refreshing, and pairs well with a variety of foods, which gives it broad consumer appeal. Pinot Grigio is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir. It is traditionally fermented in stainless steel to preserve its fruit and freshness. Pinot Grigio has really made a name for itself in the northeast of Italy in Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

We tasted seven bottles of Italian Pinot Grigio, and the consensus favorite was the 2008 Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio. Livio Felluga, the man, is considered the patriarch of viticulture and winemaking in the Friuli region of Italy. Founded in the 1950’s, the Livio Felluga estate covers more than 160 hectares. The Livio Felluga bottle features a distinctive map label that Livio Felluga himself created in 1956 to portray his love of the land.

Well, this was a first. As you’ll notice in the tasting notes below, we had three bottles of the exact same wine, the 2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, which is actually not that surprising considering that it is the most popular Italian Pinot Grigio sold in the United States. While the rankings were close, no one identified them as being the same wine. In fact, as you’ll see from the notes, they all tasted slightly different. Even after we unveiled them and re-tasted the three wines, we all thought that they tasted different. Even so, they were all good. Just one of the many things that keeps the world of wine interesting.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio (Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Very aromatic with white peach, nuts, and floral notes on the nose. Apple, peach, and almonds come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fine Wine & Cigars (Redmond, Washington), $24; Available elsewhere, $19 to $33

2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with lime, Granny Smith apple, and grapefruit aromas. More citrus, apple, and pear flavors on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Thriftway (Seattle, Washington), $25; Available elsewhere, $16 to $23

2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with lime, lemon, and apple on the nose; honey and some minerality on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied and viscous with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $23; Available elsewhere, $16 to $23

2008 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy): Pale yellow in color. Aromatic with nuts, lemon, and minerality on the nose. Apple and pear flavors dominate the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $13.50; Available elsewhere, $11 to $18

2008 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy): Pale yellow. Aromatic with tropical fruits, particularly pineapple, on the nose; citrus, lemon peel, and a hint of minerality on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Whole Foods (Seattle, Washington), $20; Available elsewhere, $16 to $23

2008 Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Nose is a bit tight at first, and then some pear and apple aromas come through. More pear and nuts on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a medium finish. A bit watery and plain.
Quality: 3 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $15; Available elsewhere, $12 to $18

2009 Tramin Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Fizzy citrus notes on the nose; apple, citrus and tropical fruits on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and tart with a long, bitter finish. Tastes carbonated. Not pleasant.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Whole Foods (Seattle, Washington), $16; Available elsewhere, $11 to $14

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