All of the wines paired well with Mom’s (LaGayle) dinner of curried butternut squash soup, mixed green salad with thyme-seasoned goat cheese cakes and balsamic-dijon vinaigrette, grilled shrimp, sun-dried tomato and basil risotto, roasted asparagus bundles, and Muscat Canelli cake with lemon and mint garnish for dessert.

The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc. Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s vineyards are located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, all of their white wines, including this Sauvignon Blanc, are made in Woodinville. This wine is a wonderful summer sipper, with or without food. It was my favorite of the evening before the meal and was also fantastic with dinner. Best of all, it retails for less than $9 and received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

The other two wines in this tasting that deserve extra attention because of their high quality and excellent value are the 2009 Stevens Another Thought Sauvignon Blanc and the 2009 Substance Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, you can’t go wrong with any of top five wines to enjoy on your deck on a warm summer evening or to compliment the lighter fare often served during these warm months.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Aromatic with apple, pear, and minerality on the nose. Lemon, lime, and other citrus fruits come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart, crisp acidity and a long finish. Well-balanced and refreshing.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $10

2009 Stevens Another Thought Sauvignon Blanc (Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow. Aromatic with floral, grassy, and pear aromas that lead to pear and lime flavors. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Well-balanced and refreshing.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $16.99

2009 Substance Sauvignon Blanc (Washington State): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Beautiful bouquet with grapefruit and citrus aromas. More grapefruit and lime come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very 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), $14.99; Available elsewhere, $13

2009 Efeste Feral Sauvignon Blanc (Evergreen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish yellow. Minerality and pear on the nose; pear and apple on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with a long finish. Crisp and refreshing.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $16.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $15

2008 Alexandria Nicole Steel Horse Sauvignon Blanc (Destiny Ridge Vineyards, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with minerality and grassy aromas. More minerality, toast, and lemon peel on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $13.99

2007 Gordon Brothers Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Minerality, nuts, apple, and cat pee on the nose; burnt toast and apple on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a bitter finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $6.99; Available elsewhere, $7 to $14

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Sauvignon Blanc was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

At Wine Peeps, where we are tasting thousands of wines a year in a variety of settings, as a reader you might want to note the setting for the tasting when placing importance on a particular one of our reviews. Personally, I value the results of our monthly wine tasting dinners and weekly family private tastings the most. The reasons are that the tastings are blind tastings and with food. When I find a wine that knocks my socks off before I’ve had anything to eat and then continues to be my favorite all the way through the evening with the meal, I would give our review of that wine the ultimate in credibility.

Over the years, those of us who taste multiple wines virtually every day develop a memory bank of the main characteristics of each varietal we taste regularly: aroma and taste flavors, acidity, tannins, and so on. We have a standard in our minds and can tell very quickly if a wine is fundamentally sound and measures up to that standard or not. Quite often, the wines we serve in our blind tastings with meals are wines that first caught our attention in a public or trade tasting, a blind samples tasting, or even in a tasting room. Therefore, a good review from a blind tasting with food is a validation of our first impression.

One further question that frequently comes up when we talk about wine with food reviews is: how can a vegetarian or vegan reviewer fully evaluate a big red wine best enjoyed with red meat? It’s a good question, and one I haven’t been able to answer, nor find a good answer. [If you have any insight to help answer this question, please feel free to share in the comments.] We on the Wine Peeps team eat whatever LaGayle calls for in her wine and food pairings, whether it’s a juicy steak, a pork tenderloin, chicken marsala, shrimp etouffee, etc. You name it; we’ll eat it paired with the appropriate wine(s). It’s tough duty, but someone has to do it.

Cheers!

Wine Reviews vs. Wine With Food Reviews was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of curried butternut squash soup, spinach and mango salad, roasted chicken breast with red potatoes and garlic, seasoned zucchini, summer squash and grape tomatoes, topped off by cheesecake with raspberry sauce, garnished with fresh raspberries. Not only did all six wines receive a Quality rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5) or higher, but two of the wines also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2009 Corvidae Crowe White Blend. Corvidae Wine Company, located in Sunnyside, Washington, is a relatively new label in the Owen Roe Winery portfolio. In Latin, Corvidae is the name for the family of birds that includes the crow, raven, jay, and magpie, birds that can often be found in Eastern Washington vineyards. This wine had done extremely well during a blind samples tasting earlier this year, but it was absolutely fantastic with dinner. It is a wonderful summer sipper, with or without food. Even though the suggested retail is $12, I have seen it in local grocery stores for under $9.

The other wine in this tasting that deserves extra attention because of its high quality and excellent value is the 2008 Columbia Crest Vineyard 10 White Wine. I continue to be amazed at the quality Columbia Crest is able to achieve at such a high production level. This wine is a great go-to white wine for parties and large groups because it is excellent, appeals to both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc lovers, and can often be found in local grocery stores for under $6.

It is interesting to note that among those attending this tasting dinner, there seemed to be a slight preference for the wines with a higher percentage of Sauvignon Blanc. With that said, the Semillon-based blends are very good as well. In fact, you can’t go wrong with any of these wines to enjoy on your deck on a warm summer evening or to compliment the lighter fare often served during these warm months.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2009 Corvidae Crowe White Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 48% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Chenin Blanc, 18% Riesling, 13% Pinot Gris, 2% Muscat. Pale, greenish yellow. Very aromatic with beautiful floral and tropical fruit aromas. More floral notes, apples, pears, lemon, and lime come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish. A wonderful summer sipper, with or without food.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

2008 Fidelitas Optu White Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 56% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromas of petrol, apple, and a hint of mint lead to flavors of apple, pear, and citrus fruits. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Well-balanced with good complexity.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $23.99; Available elsewhere, $18 to $31

2008 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 White Wine (Washington State): 40% Chardonnay, 34% Sauvignon Blanc, 11% Semillon, 15% Other various aromatic varieties. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Citrus aromas, especially grapefruit, as well as a touch of minerality come through on the nose; lots of apple, lime, lemon peel, grapefruit, and white peach on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and 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), $5.99; Widely available

2008 Bergevin Lane Calico White (Columbia Valley, Washington): 44% Viognier, 37% Roussanne, 19% Chardonnay. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Minerality and pear on the nose; more pear and apple on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $15.49; Available elsewhere, $16 to $19

2008 Buty Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle (Columbia Valley, Washington): 69% Semillon, 26% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle. Pale yellow in color. Aromatic with floral notes, pineapple, lemon, vanilla, and a hint of oak. Hay, cream, and tropical fruits come through on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and smooth with a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $22.99; Available elsewhere, $20 to $24

2008 L’Ecole Nº 41 Estate Luminesce (Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 70% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale, greenish straw yellow in color and very aromatic. Pear, apple, and coconut come through on the nose; pears, apples, peach, and mint on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied, and crisp with a long, somewhat tart, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20; Available elsewhere, $15 to $21

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington White Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Since rosés have a limited window of availability, we decided to change up our normal routine a bit in order to taste a few more wines. It was a gorgeous early summer evening, so we tasted through eleven Washington Rosés outside on the deck. Each person was asked to take one pour of each wine, taste it, and then give a preliminary 1-11 ranking in order of preference. We then tallied up the scores in order to determine the six “finalists” that would move on to the dinner portion of the tasting.

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.

This tasting was a lot of fun. Not only were the wines perfect for the weather, but they paired very well with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, arugula, peach, and tomato salad, grilled pork tenderloins, steamed red potatoes with yellow bell pepper, lemon seasoned fresh green beans, and meringue shells with ice cream, garnished with whipped topping and mixed fresh berries.

The consensus favorite was the 2009 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. My personal favorite of the night was the 2008 Lullaby Rosé. I had it for the first time a couple of weeks ago during the #WARose tasting with Paul Gregutt. French-born Virginie Bourgue is a talented winemaker who recently left her position as head winemaker for Cadaretta to focus full-time on her own Lullaby Winery. The 2009 Milbrandt Traditions Rosé and the 2007 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Rosé were also excellent. And, the best news is that all eleven wines retail for $18 or less with four of them receiving a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

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 with dinner:

2009 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium pink in color. Very aromatic. A lot of red fruits up front on both the nose and palate, especially strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and watermelon. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced and very refreshing with a long finish. A great sipper on a hot summer day and gets even better with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, WA), $11; Available elsewhere, $9 to $13

2009 Milbrandt Traditions Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Light pink and very aromatic. Aromas and flavors of watermelon and raspberry. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Very refreshing.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Whole Foods (Seattle, WA), $12

2007 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Rosé (Washington State): 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier. Medium, hot pink in color. Aromatic with cherries, strawberries, and a hint of vanilla on the nose; more cherries come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry, light to medium-bodied, lively acidity, and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, WA), $6; Available elsewhere, $7 to $9

2008 Lullaby Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Grenache. Very faint copper in color, could easily be mistaken for a white wine instead of a rosé wine. Aromatic with fresh, floral notes. More floral notes, strawberry, melon, and herbs come through on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and crisp with a long finish. Well-balanced and very refreshing with good complexity. A Provence-style rosé. Reminds me of a rosé sparkling wine without the bubbles. Excellent by itself and very food-friendly. My personal favorite of the evening.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering (Seattle, WA), $18 [500ml]; Available elsewhere, $15

2009 Charles & Charles Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Pale, pinkish salmon. Aromatic with watermelon rind and ripe red berries on the nose; watermelon, berries, peach, and a hint of pepper and spice on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied and crisp with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Central Market (Shoreline, WA), $10; Available elsewhere, $9 to $13

2009 Waters Rosé (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 75% Syrah, 25% Viognier. Pale to medium, pinkish salmon in color. Gorgeous nose with vibrant fruit, red berry, melon, and floral aromas. Cranberry, melon, and strawberry on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied and crisp with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18

The rest:

2007 Working Girl Wines [Olympic Cellars] Rosé the Riveter (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Lemberger. Off-dry.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, WA), $10.50; Available elsewhere, $9

2009 Dusted Valley Ramblin’ Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 52.4% Mourvedre, 29% Counoise, 16% Syrah, 2% Viognier. Dry.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18; Available elsewhere, $16

NV Townshend Pink Table Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Sweet.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, WA), $5.50

2009 Syncline Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 37% Cinsault, 35% Counoise, 12% Grenache, 11% Mourvedre, 5% Carignan. Dry.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $16; Available elsewhere, $14 to $16

2007 Eliseo Silva [Tagaris] La Rosa de Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 92% Syrah, 8% Riesling. Residual Sugar: 3.5%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, WA), $10; Available elsewhere, $9

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Rosé Extravaganza was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

It was another fabulous dinner with good wines across the board. All six wines paired well with Mom’s dinner of creamy tomato basil soup, butter lettuce salad with a garlic/Dijon mustard vinaigrette, beef tenderloin shish kabobs, sautéed red kale, cilantro lime mashed sweet potatoes, and German chocolate dessert.

Like Butler making it to the finals of the NCAA tournament, our consensus favorite, the 2006 Four Lakes Syrah from Chelan, was a sleeper that outperformed some better-known wines. We first visited Four Lakes Chelan Winery last summer. Their tasting room, which opened in 2009, boasts gorgeous views of, you guessed it, four lakes: Wapato Lake, Roses Lake, Dry Lake, and Lake Chelan. Founded in 2003, Four Lakes is owned and operated by the Koester family; Don Koester is the owner, and Karl Koester is the winemaker and manager.

The consensus second place wine, the 2006 Watermill Praying Mantis Syrah, is from Watermill Winery in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Since they are located in the Walla Walla Valley, we take a broad view and include them with Washington wines. The Brown family, a third generation apple-growing family and the owners of Blue Mountain Cider, founded Watermill Winery in 2006. They own some prized land in “The Rocks” and have pulled up some of their apple orchards to plant vineyards.

Rounding out our top three was the 2006 Bunchgrass Syrah. I had not previously tasted any wines from Bunchgrass so was excited to discover this excellent wine, and I look forward to trying others from this small production winery in Walla Walla, Washington.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2006 Four Lakes Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Dark purple, looks a bit like prune juice. Very aromatic with black plums, prunes, and spice coming through on the nose; chocolate, cinnamon, meat, and earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and very complex. This wine has a lot going on.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $29

2006 Watermill Praying Mantis Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Oregon): Deep, dark purple. Has a beautiful bouquet with aromas of dark black fruits, spice, oak, leather, and earth. Black fruits and spice dominate the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $30

2006 Bunchgrass Syrah (Lewis Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Aromas of raisins and cinnamon lead to flavors of bitter dark chocolate and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Compass Wines (Anacortes, Washington), $32

2006 Five Star Cellars Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Nose is a bit tight at first, then dark fruits and vanilla show through. Lots of juicy, black fruits on the palate. Fruit-forward, medium to full-bodied, lively acidity, round tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop (Bellevue, Washington), $25

2006 Saviah Cellars Walla Walla Valley Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Dark purplish red. Aromas of leather and oak; flavors of black fruits, oak, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32 (currently, on sale for $20)

2006 Waters Forgotten Hills Syrah (Forgotten Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Earth, spice, cocoa powder, and barnyard aromas on the nose; earth, barnyard, and dill on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and smooth 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: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $37; Available elsewhere, $17 to $35

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Syrah 2006, Part 2 was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The consensus favorite was the 2005 Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. With seven out of eight first place votes, it dominated the field and earned a rare 5 stars (out of 5) quality rating. It is always thrilling to discover a “Wow!” wine. Quilceda Creek, located in Snohomish, Washington, was founded in 1978 by the Golitzin family. Generally considered the premier winery in Washington State, Quilceda Creek remains a small, family-owned and operated winery. Quilceda Creek is no stranger to high accolades for their wines. Their flagship wine, the Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, has received three 100-point ratings from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate for the 2002, 2003, and 2005 vintages. In 2001, they purchased and planted their own Galitzine Vineyard on Red Mountain. The 2004 Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was the first release from this vineyard.

Not only did four of these six wines receive a Quality rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5), but the top four also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5). Even though these wines are not inexpensive, they are well worth the money. I would encourage you to try any of these wines, especially with a meal, to decide for yourself how Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon compares to other world-renowned Cabs.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2005 Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Galitzine Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): Deep, dark, dense red and extremely aromatic. A gorgeous nose of black cherry, vanilla, and blackberry leads to black fruit, pencil lead, and earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with amazing complexity and a long, lingering finish. Excellent from the first sip but really opened up with the meal. Already a “Wow!” wine but should get even better with more bottle age.
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $98; Available elsewhere, $110 to $225

2005 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): Dark red in color. Black fruits and spice come through on both the nose and the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and complex with a long finish. Improves with food.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $44; Available elsewhere, $45 to $54

2006 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Dark red with a beautiful bouquet. Black cherry, black currant, and vanilla aromas lead to more black fruit and vanilla flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with soft, smooth tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $38; Available elsewhere, $40

2006 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep ruby red. Nose is a bit tight at first with some black fruit aromas coming through the longer its open. Fruit-forward with black fruits, oak, and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $27; Available elsewhere, $28 to $40

2006 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark ruby red and aromatic. Caramel, crème brulee, and vegetal aromas lead to vegetal and black fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with smooth tannins and a long 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), $45; Available elsewhere, $37 to $50

2005 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon XI (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark ruby red. Very fruit-forward with a lot of black and red fruits on both the nose and palate along with a hint of cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $45; Available elsewhere, $43

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Cabernet Sauvignon [Wow! Alert] was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Last Friday evening, we had the pleasure to taste six single vineyard red blends from Washington State in our monthly wine tasting dinner. It was another fabulous evening of good wines, the company of wonderful friends, and Mom’s excellent food.

Not only did four of the six wines receive a Quality rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5), but the top three also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5). Even though these wines are not inexpensive, they are well worth the money.

All six wines paired well with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, candied walnut gorgonzola salad, prime rib, braised kale, cilantro lime mashed sweet potatoes, and topped off with a German chocolate dessert with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

The consensus favorite was the 2005 Côte Bonneville Carriage House Red Wine. Côte Bonneville, located near Sunnyside, Washington, is the estate winery for DuBrul Vineyard. Both the winery and the vineyard are owned by Hugh and Kathy Shiels. The Shiels planted their first wine grapes in 1992 and started their own winery in 2001 after their last child left home. They are running a first class operation: amazing fruit, amazing wines, and amazing people. [To read more about DuBrul Vineyard, check out my article in the current Spring 2010 issue of Washington Tasting Room Magazine.]

I would encourage you to try any of these wines, especially with a meal, to get a sense of how Washington wines can stack up against the world’s best such as French Bordeaux.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2005 Côte Bonneville Carriage House Red Wine (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red and very aromatic. Black fruits, spice, oak, and a hint of bacon come through on the nose; more black fruits and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish. Great from the first sip right on through the meal.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50; Available elsewhere, $45 to $65

2006 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine (Ciel du Cheval, Red Mountain, Washington): 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot. Dark purplish red and very aromatic. Aromas and flavors of juicy red fruits and black cherry along with nicely integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish. Really shines with food.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $27; Available elsewhere, $25

2006 Sheridan Vineyard Mystique (Sheridan Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. Dark, dense red in color and very aromatic. Aromas and flavors of black fruits, smoked meat, leather, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish. Big and bold when sipped by itself, yet tannins soften and almost seem a bit sweet with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $23; Available elsewhere, $30

2006 L’Ecole Nº 41 Apogee (Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple and very aromatic. Oak and vanilla dominate the nose with dark fruits and earth showing through as well. Loads of oak on the palate along with blackberry, black cherry, and spice. Medium to full-bodied and lively with very drying tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and gets better with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50; Available elsewhere, $38 to $53

2006 Cadence Camerata (Cara Mia Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purple in color. Aromatic with cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of coconut coming through on the nose. Cinnamon and black fruits show through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying tannins and a long finish. A little heat is present on the back end but improves with food.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: McCarthy & Schiering (Seattle, Washington), $55; Available elsewhere, $53 to $63

2005 Grand Rêve Collaboration Series I Red Wine (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, 12% Merlot. Winemaker Ben Smith of Cadence Winery. Deep, dark purplish red with black licorice, black cherry, and leather aromas along with hints of spice and cloves. More black fruits, spice, and coffee come through on the palate. Full-bodied with high, drying tannins and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55; Available elsewhere, $55

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Single Vineyard Red Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, mixed green salad, ribeye steaks, roasted rosemary sweet potatoes, garlic sautéed Swiss chard, and topped off with a German chocolate dessert with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Not only did four of the six wines receive a Quality rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5), but the top three also received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5). Even though these wines are not inexpensive, they are well worth the money.

Once again, a Fielding Hills wine came out on top. Mike Wade, owner/winemaker of Fielding Hills, continues to produce amazing wines, vintage after vintage. You may remember that his 2005 Syrah was our first “Wow!” wine from Washington. We had the pleasure to taste this 2007 Syrah when it was still in the barrel and were very impressed. We thought it was excellent when we tasted it just after it was released in October, but it has definitely improved with more time in the bottle, and I would expect it to continue to improve for a few years.

Bottom line: You can’t go wrong with any of these wines. Washington State produces fabulous Syrah, and the winemakers who made these six wines are among the state’s best.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2007 Fielding Hills Syrah (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Dark purple and very aromatic. Peppermint, floral, and raspberry aromas on the nose; more peppermint, mocha, and black and red fruits on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $40; Available elsewhere, $40 to $43

2007 Owen Roe “Lady Rosa” Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Beautiful bouquet with aromas of black pepper, spice, black fruits, and a hint of green peppers. Black fruits, black pepper, and vegetal flavors come through on the palate as well. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Compass Wines (Anacortes, Washington), $55; Available elsewhere, $45 to $48

2007 K Vintners Syrah “Pheasant” (Pheasant Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Very aromatic. Black fruits, milk chocolate, and lemon zest come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $35; Cecile’s Wine Cellar (McLean, Virginia), $42

2007 Betz Syrah La Côte Patriarche (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark, almost inky purple. Complex nose with aromas of red fruits, toffee, dirt, and burnt toast. Earthy flavors mingle with blackberry, red fruit, and toast. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55

2007 Sequel Syrah [Long Shadows] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Nose is a bit tight at first. Aromas of smoke and oak. Black fruit and smoky flavors on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins and a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55

2007 Rotie Cellars Northern Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier. Dark, purple-red. Blue and black fruit as well as black pepper aromas and flavors. Good fruit up front but trails off a bit in the mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $35

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Syrah 2007 was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Fortunately, this was a fabulous tasting and lived up to my expectations. All six wines were very good and received a Quality rating of 3.5 stars (out of 5) or higher. In addition, all six received a QPR rating of 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5) or higher.

The winner, the 2008 Eroica Riesling, is exceptional. Eroica is a joint venture between Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington State and Dr. Loosen of Germany. Winemakers Bob Bertheau and Ernst Loosen work together every step of the way to produce a world-class Riesling from Washington State grapes. The partnership launched in 1999, and the 2008 vintage is Eroica’s 10th vintage. Eroica is named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony.

One common misconception about Riesling is that it is always a sweet wine. While some Rieslings are in fact sweet, others are not. All six of the wines in this tasting are considered off-dry. I have included the Residual Sugar percentages in my tasting notes below.

One of the great things about Riesling is its versatility. Rieslings are excellent sipping wines but are also fabulous food wines. All of these Washington Rieslings paired extremely well with Mom’s dinner of curried corn soup, arugula peach salad, seared scallops with crispy leeks, rice au gratin, braised kale, and cider-poached apples with crème fraîche and toasted pecans for dessert. This was one of the absolute best food/wine pairings I’ve ever had!

If you don’t see your favorite Washington Riesling on this list, let us know in the comments. If we get enough recommendations, we just might be persuaded to have another Washington Riesling tasting dinner later this year.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, almost watery, straw yellow in color. Very aromatic with gorgeous citrus, particularly lemon, aromas. Lemon, lime, lemon zest flavors come through on the palate with some river stones on the back end. Off-dry, light-bodied and very crisp with a long finish. Well-balanced and complex. Excellent with food. Residual Sugar: 1.77%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $21; Available elsewhere, $12 to $25

2008 Trust Cellars Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, almost watery, straw yellow in color. Floral aromas dominate the nose; apricot, peach, and pear flavors come through on the palate. Off-dry, light-bodied and crisp with a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth. Residual Sugar: 2%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $14

2008 Poet’s Leap Riesling [Long Shadows] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow with green tinges. Nose is a bit tight at first but as it opens up, mineral, petrol, and hay aromas come through. Flavors of tropical fruit and apricot. Off-dry, light-bodied, and lively acidity with a long finish. Good acidity comes out with the food. Residual Sugar: 1.43%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Cellar 46 (Seattle, Washington), $19; Available elsewhere, $16 to $24

2008 Nefarious Cellars Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow. Takes a while for the aromas to open up. Citrus, particularly lime, flavors come through on the palate. Off-dry and light-bodied with a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1.6%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $16

2008 Cave B Estate Winery Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow with green tinges. Petrol and mineral aromas on the nose; petrol, citrus, and hay on the palate. Off-dry and light-bodied with a long finish. More viscous than the others. Residual Sugar: 2%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2008 Columbia Crest Two Vines Riesling (Washington State): Pale, almost watery, straw yellow in color. Very aromatic with lime and floral aromas. Pear and honey flavors. Off-dry and light-bodied with a long finish. A bit plain at first, greatly improves with food. Residual Sugar: 3.35%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $8; Available elsewhere, $7 to $10

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Riesling was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:00 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

For you regular readers who are wondering why we have had two of our monthly wine tasting dinners on back-to-back Fridays during the same month, this sparkling wine tasting dinner was the regularly scheduled December dinner and last week’s Syrah dinner was a reschedule from November when a winter bug was making its way through our family.

We had a wide range of bubbly in this tasting—four from the United States (two from California, and one each from Washington and Oregon), one from France, and one from Spain. While these wines came from all over the globe, the one thing they all had in common is that they were all Brut (or dry, the most common style). For further explanation of sparkling wine terms, refer back to my Sparkling Wine: Where Extra Dry is not really extra dry post from last year. Interestingly, the U.S. sparkling wines finished 1-2-3-4, followed by the Spanish Cava and then the French Champagne. Most important, as far as we are concerned, is that five out of the six wines earned QPR ratings of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

All of these sparkling wines paired nicely with Mom’s dinner menu which included curried butternut squash soup, shrimp Louie salad, broiled lobster tails, creamy twice baked potatoes, roasted asparagus, and Swiss meringues with ice cream and fresh strawberries for dessert.

If you haven’t had one of the top four sparklers listed below, I encourage you to pick up a bottle to enjoy this holiday season. And if you don’t see your favorite sparkling wine on this list, let us know in the comments as we’d like to try it.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

NV J Vineyards Cuvee 20 Sparkling Wine (Russian River Valley, California): Small, very fast beads. Pale, straw yellow with toasted nut aromas. More nuts as well as citrus fruits come through on the palate. Crisp and complex. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $22; Available elsewhere, $15 to $40

2006 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Pale, straw yellow and very aromatic. Aromas of lemon, lime, peach, and licorice lead to even more citrus flavors. Very crisp and flavorful 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), $18; Available elsewhere, $19 to $26

NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige Sparkling Wine (Napa Valley, California): Pale, straw yellow with apple and pineapple aromas. Crisp yet creamy on the palate. Improves with food. Long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle), $15; Available elsewhere, $13 to $18

2004 Mountain Dome Brut Sparkling Wine (Washington State): Small, fast beads. Pale yellow with aromas and flavors of bread along with faint citrus notes. Crisp acidity 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), $19; MadWine (Seattle), $21

NV Cristalino Brut Cava (Spain): Small, fast beads. Pale yellow in color. Nose is a bit tight. Butter and lemon zest aromas lead to more lemon flavors. Improves with food but comes off a bit flat.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (Californina), $8; Available elsewhere, $6 to $10

NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut (Reims, France): Pale, yellow gold. Oak and butter dominate the nose. Oak, butter, river rocks, and yeast come through on the palate. Crisp acidity with a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle), $37; Available elsewhere, $25 to $33

Wine Tasting Dinner: Brut Sparkling Wine was originally posted on Wine Peeps on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:27 UTC. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.