Last Friday, we featured Washington Syrah from the 2008 vintage in our wine tasting dinner. All six wines paired perfectly with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, candied walnut gorgonzola salad, grilled beef tenderloin steaks, braised kale, rosemary roasted sweet potatoes, and topped off with a German chocolate dessert with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Four of the six wines received a Quality rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5), and three wines 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.

The 2008 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah came out on top in this stellar lineup. Bob Betz is one of the most well respected winemakers in the State of Washington. He is one of only 297 Masters of Wine in the world. As a winemaker, Bob strives for purity, elegance, and balance in his wines, and he certainly hits the mark with this wine. The fruit for La Côte Patriarche comes from the 1986 Syrah block at Red Willow Vineyard, the oldest Syrah planting in Washington State. The name of this wine, which translates as “the founder’s slope”, is a nod to Red Willow owner/grower, Mike Sauer, and former Columbia Winery winemaker, David Lake, who planted those original Syrah vines.

Really, 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:

2008 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Beautiful, inky purple-black. Gorgeous nose with smoked meat, black fruit, licorice, and spice aromas. Luscious black fruit, smoked meat, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with great complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55; Available elsewhere, $69 to $100

2008 Rasa Vineyards QED (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. Deep, dark purplish red. Beautiful bouquet with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, floral notes, and a hint of game and earth. More black fruit as well as black pepper and a touch of cinnamon come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50; Available elsewhere, $40 to $90

2008 DeLille Doyenne Signature Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington): 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier. Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with cinnamon and game on the nose. Black pepper, cinnamon, black cherry, and blackberry come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $39; Available elsewhere, $38 to $47

2008 Grand Rêve Collaboration Series III (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 100% Syrah. Winemaker Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with red and black fruit and spice aromas. Black cherry, Red Vines, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish. The 2008 Collaboration Series III is the last wine to carry the Grand Rêve label; the winery has since been renamed Force Majeure.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50; Available elsewhere, $50 to $69

2008 Fielding Hills Syrah (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 94% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with black plum, clove, violets, and dill on the nose. Black plum, blackberry, clove, and a hint of black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. 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: Winery, $38; Available elsewhere, $38 to $40

2008 K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah (Morrison Lane Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark purplish red. Smoked meat and earth come through on the nose; blackberry, black plum, game, and earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $41; Available elsewhere, $53 to $80

Wine Tasting Dinner: 2008 Washington Syrah was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

This month’s wine tasting dinner featured Bordeaux-style red blends from Washington State, all from the 2008 vintage. It was another fabulous evening of great wines, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. All six wines paired extremely well with our dinner of tomato basil soup, mile high salad (mixed greens, pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts with a green onion/Tabasco vinaigrette dressing), prime rib with beef demi-glace, braised kale, garlic mashed sweet potatoes, and German chocolate dessert.

The wines in this tasting, all of which sell for over $30, are premium quality Bordeaux-style blends. The consensus favorite was the 2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse. Once again, we were “wow-ed” by this wine. This was the second time I gave it a Quality rating of 5 stars (out of 5). In fact, it was our Wine Peeps’ Best Washington Wine of 2011. The first time we tasted it at the winery, so I was glad that the rating I gave it then was validated in this blind tasting. If you have not yet tried any Rasa Vineyards wines, you definitely need to seek them out.

Rounding out the top four wines and receiving Quality ratings of 4.5 stars were the 2008 Long Shadows Pirouette, the 2008 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine, and the 2008 Soos Creek Champoux Vineyard Red Wine. As you will see from the quality ratings below, we felt that all six wines were excellent. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with any of these.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. Deep, dark purplish red. Outstanding nose with gorgeous aromas of black cherry, black currant, leather, vanilla, and white pepper. More black cherry, black currant, vanilla, and white pepper as well as cocoa notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and silky, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a finish that goes on forever. An absolutely amazing wine. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95; Available elsewhere, $95 to $100

2008 Long Shadows Pirouette (Columbia Valley, Washington): 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. Dark purple. Nice nose with red and black fruit and clove aromas. More red and black fruit as well as smoked meat and a touch of black pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50; Available elsewhere, $53 to $57

2008 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine (Palengat Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Dark purplish red. Aromatic with blackberry, black plum, cassis, and cherry cola on the nose. More black fruit as well as pencil lead and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $85; Available elsewhere, $85 to $156

2008 Soos Creek Champoux Vineyard Red Wine (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot. Dark purplish red. Nice nose with chocolate, licorice, and black fruit aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with lively acidity and extremely smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $33; Available elsewhere, $30 to $36

2008 Andrew Will Sorella (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 14% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with black cherry, toast, and pencil lead aromas. More black fruit, oak, and a hint of leather come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $68; Available elsewhere, $60 to $90

2008 Saviah Cellars Une Vallée Red Wine (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red in color. Nice nose with blackberry jam, baking spice, and licorice aromas. Fruit-forward with blackberry, plum, and spice on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32; Available elsewhere, $27 to $40

Wine Tasting Dinner: 2008 Washington Bordeaux-Style Red Blends [Wow! Alert] was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

This month’s wine tasting dinner featured Rhone-style red blends from Washington State. It was another fabulous evening of great wines, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. All six wines paired extremely well with our dinner of tomato basil soup, mixed green salad, roasted beef tenderloin, green beans with almonds and caramelized shallots, roasted rutabagas, and Death by Chocolate ice cream with ladyfingers.

The overwhelming consensus favorite was the 2008 Olsen Estates Red Wine. It received an unprecedented eight out of eight first place votes against some stiff competition. This is the first time in 102 tasting dinners that I can remember a wine sweeping the top spot. And, at $11, this wine is an absolute steal. The bad news is that Olsen Estates is now a defunct winery, officially closing its doors last year. While the Olsens continue to focus their efforts on grape growing, they are no longer making their own wine. But if you see this wine on closeout at a local Seattle retailer, I highly encourage you to grab a few bottles.

Rounding out the top three wines and also receiving Quality ratings of 4.5 stars were the 2008 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend and the 2008 Grand Rêve Collaboration Series II. As you will see from the quality ratings below, we felt that all six wines were very good. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with any of these. Not only did all six wines receive a Quality rating of 3.5 stars or higher (out of 5), but five of the six also received a QPR rating of either 4 or 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Olsen Estates Red Wine (Yakima Valley, Washington): 70% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 12% Cinsault, 5% Grenache, and 1% Counoise. Dark purplish red in color. Nice nose with black cherry, blackberry, spice, and vanilla aromas. A lot going on in this wine. Gorgeous black fruit, nutmeg, pencil lead, and leather come through on the palate. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. An outstanding wine from the first sip right on through dessert.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $11; Available elsewhere, $15 to $18

2008 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend (Washington State): 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre. Deep, ruby red. Nose is a bit tight at first but then opens up with nice red and black fruit aromas and a hint of earth. More red and black fruit and earth as well as spice and perfume come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $40; Available elsewhere, $38

2008 Grand Rêve Collaboration Series II (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 40% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier, and 1% Roussanne. Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with eucalyptus, violets, vanilla, and a hint of barnyard on the nose. Black plum, vanilla, and oak come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and big, bold, chewy tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50; Available elsewhere, $54 to $78

2010 Owen Roe Sinister Hand Red Wine (Columbia Valley): 71% Grenache, 24% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Deep purplish red. Aromatic with strawberry, red cherry, pencil lead, and floral notes on the nose. Black cherry, vanilla, floral notes, and a hint of coffee come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, 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), $23; Available elsewhere, $20 to $30

2010 Syncline Subduction Red (Columbia Valley, Washington): 31% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 12% Cinsault, 7% Carignan, and 4% Counoise. Deep ruby red in color. Nice nose with black cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon aromas. Fruit-forward with red and black cherry, spice, and herbs on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity, 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: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $18 to $20

2007 Brian Carter Cellars Byzance (Columbia Valley, Washington): 51% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 2% Counoise, and 1% Cinsault. Deep, dark red. Smoked meat, spice, blackberry, and black cherry come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $27; Available elsewhere, $22 to $27

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Rhone-Style Red Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

All of these Champagnes paired nicely with Mom’s dinner menu which included curried butternut squash soup, shrimp Louie salad, broiled lobster tails, roasted asparagus with balsamic browned butter, seasoned white, brown, wild, and red rice, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. While we would recommend all six wines, the top three were excellent and definitely stood above the rest. The Taittinger was the clear favorite. However, we had an interesting discussion around the dinner table after the wines and their prices were revealed. While all six wines were good, there are much better values to be found in domestic sparkling wines. So if your pocketbook doesn’t allow for spending over $40 for a bubbly, you might consider trying Domaine Ste. Michelle and Mountain Dome in Washington State, Argyle in Oregon, and Domaine Carneros in California.

I encourage you to pick up some Champagne or sparkling wine to enjoy as an aperitif at a holiday party, to take to relatives on Thanksgiving or Christmas, or to pop on New Year’s Eve. Cheers!

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

NV Taittinger Brut Champagne (Reims, Champagne, France): Medium straw yellow. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Aromatic with apple, apricot, yeast, and floral notes on the nose. Apple, pear, lemon, and some creaminess come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $43; Available elsewhere, ~$47

NV Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne (Champagne, France): Pale to medium straw yellow. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Nice nose with honeysuckle and fresh citrus aromas. Pear and more citrus notes come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $45; Available elsewhere, ~$35

NV Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne (Chouilly, Champagne, France): Pale straw yellow in color. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Nice nose with apple, pineapple, mango, and floral aromas. Tropical fruits, particularly papaya, and a hint of honey come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $24; Available elsewhere, ~$32

NV Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Champagne (Reims, Champagne, France): Pale to medium straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Aromatic with apple, lemon, and yeast on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $57; Available elsewhere, ~$52

NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne (Reims, Champagne, France): Medium yellow. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. A bit stinky with aromas of overripe apples and compost. Some minerality comes through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $36; Available elsewhere, ~$35

NV G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Champagne (Reims, Champagne, France): Pale straw yellow. Small, very fast bead of bubbles. Apple, vegetal notes, especially Brussels sprouts, and a hint of sulfur come through on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $45; Available elsewhere, ~$39

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

Hosting regular wine tasting dinners in our homes has proved to be a great social event for us as well as an opportunity to compare wines we think we like in a blind tasting paired with food. To mark the special occasion of our 100th dinner, we featured Washington Merlot, which was the same theme as our first dinner. We were also honored to have four special guests join us, one couple who attended that first dinner and one couple who attended our second dinner.

Thankfully, I believe that the Sideways effect has finally diminished and many people are enjoying Merlot again. For those of you who think that you don’t like Merlot, it’s time to give this noble grape another chance. Merlot is a wonderful variety, and Washington State makes outstanding Merlot. Washington Merlot is bigger, more complex, and has higher acidity than most Merlot produced elsewhere.

“Rather than using merlot as a simple blending grape to soften their cabernets, Washington winemakers are just as likely to do the reverse.” –Paul Gregutt, Washington Wines & Wineries, Second Edition

While all six wines were good, the top four were excellent and paired well with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, candied walnut gorgonzola salad, roasted beef tenderloin, garlic mashed sweet potatoes, braised kale, and German chocolate dessert with whipped topping and garnished with shaved chocolate. The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2008 Fielding Hills Merlot, followed closely by the 2008 Leonetti Cellar Merlot.

Fielding Hills Winery is a small, family-owned winery located in Wenatchee, Washington. Owner/winemaker Mike Wade and his wife Karen are longtime apple and cherry growers who have turned a middle portion of their orchard near Mattawa into a vineyard. Their Riverbend Vineyard, planted in 1998, is in the Wahluke Slope AVA. They source all of their fruit, including the fruit used to produce this Merlot, from Riverbend Vineyard.

Leonetti Cellar, founded by Gary and Nancy Figgins in 1977, was the Walla Walla Valley’s first modern-day winery. Leonetti wines have been standard bearers for quality and consistency since the beginning and have achieved a cult following. In 1996, Gary and Nancy’s son, Chris, joined them in the winery after graduating with a degree in Horticulture from Washington State University. While Gary is still actively involved in the winery, Chris now serves as CEO and Director of Winemaking. From early on, the Figgins family has worked on developing their own vineyards in order to achieve their goal of exclusively using estate-grown fruit from the Walla Walla Valley.

These wines are all good representations of the quality Merlot that Washington State produces.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2008 Fielding Hills Merlot (Riverbend Vineyards, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 91% Merlot, 5% Syrah, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red in color. Nice nose with black fruit, smoke, and spice aromas. Blackberry, black cherry, smoke, and clove come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $36; Available elsewhere, $39

2008 Leonetti Cellar Merlot (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Merlot. Deep purplish red. Aromatic with vanilla and black fruit on the nose. Black fruit, plum, and a hint of chocolate come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $75; Available elsewhere, $59 to $106

2008 Fidelitas Champoux Vineyard Merlot (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Merlot. Deep purplish red. Red fruit, especially cherry, and vanilla come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $53; Available elsewhere, $58

2008 Seven Hills Winery Merlot (Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley): 100% Merlot. Deep ruby red in color. Nice nose with smoke and dark red fruit aromas. Smoke, game, and dark red fruit comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium 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: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $26; Available elsewhere, $26 to $27

2008 Abeja Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Merlot. Deep ruby red. Aromatic with blackberry, plum, and a hint of spice come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with medium to high tannins 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: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $35; Available elsewhere, $35 to $45

2008 Buried Cane Merlot (Washington State): 90% Merlot and 10% Syrah. Deep ruby red. Aromatic with cherry and raspberry on the nose. Fruit-forward and jammy with candied cherry and raspberry on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth with medium tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $7; Available elsewhere, $6 to $17

Wine Tasting Dinner #100: 2008 Washington Merlot was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Viognier (pronounced vee-oh-NYAY) is a white variety that originated in the northern Rhône in France. Viognier is known for its profound aromatics. In addition to varietal wines like we tasted in this dinner, Viognier is also used in small amounts to co-ferment with Syrah in order to enhance the aromatics of that red variety.

The consensus favorite was the 2010 Nefarious Cellars Defiance Vineyard Viognier. The husband-wife winemaking team of Dean and Heather Neff founded Nefarious Cellars in 2005. Heather handles the white winemaking duties while Dean is in charge of the reds. Located in Chelan, Washington, Nefarious produces about 2,000 cases per year. Their winery and estate vineyard are situated on the South Shore of Lake Chelan and boast gorgeous views of the lake.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2010 Nefarious Cellars Defiance Vineyard Viognier (Defiance Vineyard, Lake Chelan, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, white peach, and floral notes. Lemon peel, lime, pear, and a hint of grapefruit come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $17; Available elsewhere, $19

2009 Alexandria Nicole Cellars Reserve Viognier (Destiny Ridge Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with citrus fruits, apple, and oak on the nose. Lemon, lime, pear, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and crisp with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

2009 Maryhill Winery Viognier (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow in color. Nose is a bit tight at first, then aromas of pear, oak, and vanilla come through. Creamy on the palate with flavors of pear, vanilla, and a hint of coconut. Medium-bodied and lively with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $15

2009 àMaurice Cellars Viognier (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Nice nose with pear, white peach, and floral aromas. Lime, lemon peel, white peach, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $25; Available elsewhere, $25

2009 Mark Ryan Winery Viognier (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with white peach, lime, and floral notes on the nose. White peach, lime, melon, and almonds on the palate. Medium-bodied and crisp with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $27; Available elsewhere, $24 to $29

2009 Watermill Winery Viognier (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with pear, apricot, floral notes, and a hint of honey on the nose. Apricot, pear, and buttery popcorn come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $16; Available elsewhere, $17

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

It was another fabulous evening of good wine, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. The wines paired extremely well with our dinner of curried squash soup, spinach and mango salad, chicken tapenade, long grain and wild rice, sautéed haricot verts, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. In fact, one of the wonderful things about Chardonnay is how food-friendly it is. All of the wines in this tasting improved with food.

The consensus favorite was the 2010 Sparkman Lumière Chardonnay. It was followed closely by the 2010 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay and the 2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay. These are three of the best Washington Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted. Five out of the six wines in this tasting were excellent and received a Quality rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5), and those five wines 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.

If you consider yourself a member of the “ABC” (Anything but Chardonnay) crowd, I encourage you to give these a try. I have a feeling they just might change your mind. And for you Chardonnay lovers, you just might find a new favorite in this group.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2010 Sparkman Lumière Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with pear and lemon on the nose. More pear and lemon as well as orange peel, Granny Smith apple, and a hint of minerality and vanilla come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $25; Available elsewhere, $21 to $26

2010 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay (Washington State): Pale to medium, golden yellow. Very aromatic with pear, apple, nectarine, and vanilla on the nose. More pear, nectarine, and vanilla as well as mineral notes and a hint of lemon come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $38; Available elsewhere, $33 to $41

2008 Phelps Creek Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Pale to medium yellow in color. Gorgeous nose with green apple, pear, lemon peel, and vanilla aromas. More apple, pear, citrus fruit, and a hint of spice comes through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, beautiful finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $24

2009 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay (Lewis Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, and floral aromas. More apple, floral notes, and a touch of oak come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, creamy finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $24; Available elsewhere, $21 to $25

2009 Baer Shard (Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% unoaked Chardonnay. Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, lemon zest, pineapple, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $22; Available elsewhere, $23

2008 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay (Bishops and Celilo Vineyards, Columbia Valley, Washington): Unfiltered. Medium golden yellow. Aromatic with lemon, butterscotch, and vanilla on the nose. Lemon, tropical fruit, apple, butterscotch, and vanilla come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $33; Available elsewhere, $27 to $34

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

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

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

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

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The wines in this tasting, all of which sell for over $25, are premium quality Bordeaux-style blends. The consensus favorite was the 2007 Saviah Cellars Une Vallée Red Wine. Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, Washington, near the Oregon state line. Founded in 2000 by winemaker Rich Funk and his wife Anita, Saviah Cellars currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother. This classic Left Bank Bordeaux-style red blend is a consistent performer for Saviah Cellars from vintage to vintage.

The Saviah Une Vallée was followed closely by the 2007 Andrew Will Sorella and the 2007 Seven Hills Winery Ciel du Cheval Vintage Red Wine. As you will see from the quality ratings below, we felt that all six wines were excellent. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with any of these. Not only did all six wines receive a Quality rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5), but all six also received a QPR rating of either 4 or 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5). Even though these wines are not inexpensive, they are well worth the money.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2007 Saviah Cellars Une Vallée Red Wine (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Dark red in color. Aromatic with black currant, black cherry, spice, earth, and a hint of barnyard on the nose. More black fruits and earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $32

2007 Andrew Will Sorella (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, cinnamon, and licorice aromas. Flavors of black cherry, black currant, licorice, and a hint of earth. Full-bodied and crisp with high, drying tannins, and a very long finish. Big and bold yet well-balanced.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $62; Available elsewhere, $57 to $80

2007 Seven Hills Winery Ciel du Cheval Vintage Red Wine (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Dark red. Aromatic with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, spice, and a hint of licorice on the nose. Black fruits, spice, and hint of earth on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins and a long finish. Well-balanced and smooth with good complexity.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $26; Available elsewhere, $28 to $30

2007 Chateau Rollat Sophie (Columbia Valley, Washington): 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red in color. Black fruits, chocolate, and a hint of petrol on the nose; black fruits, earth, and leather 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: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $26; Available elsewhere, $23

2007 Mark Ryan The Dissident Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 39% Merlot, 34% Syrah, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot. Dark red. Nose is a bit tight at first but opens up with nice black fruit aromas. Black cherry, licorice, and leather come through on the palate. 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), $27

2007 Quilceda Creek Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec. Dark red in color. Aromatic with black fruit, leather, and pencil lead aromas. Flavors of black fruit, leather, cocoa, earth, and a hint of smoke. 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: Winery, $35; Available elsewhere, $59 to $60

Wine Tasting Dinner: 2007 Washington Red Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The consensus favorite was the 2007 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. What can I say other than Fielding Hills has done it again? I continue to be amazed at the quality that winemaker Mike Wade is able to produce from vintage to vintage. If you have not yet tried any Fielding Hills wines, you definitely need to seek them out. A close second was the 2007 Grand Rêve Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Not only did all five 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. 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:

2007 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark inky purplish red. Gorgeous nose with black fruits, licorice, and spice rack aromas. Blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice, and a hint of tobacco come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and extremely smooth with a long, lingering 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

2007 Grand Rêve Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): Deep red. Very aromatic with beautiful black cherry, black plum, and spice aromas. Black cherry, pencil lead, and a hint of black tea come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $75; Available elsewhere, $250 to $255

2007 Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark ruby red in color. Nice nose with very fruity and creamy aromas that lead to black cherry, pencil lead, and oak flavors on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and fruit-forward with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $39; Available elsewhere, $40 to $45

2007 Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Galitzine Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with toast, pencil shavings, and black currant on the nose. Black cherry, black currant, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with very dry tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $98; Available elsewhere, $129 to $175

2007 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): Dark red in color. Aromatic with butter, smoke, black fruits, and spice on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $90; Available elsewhere, $88 to $200

Wine Tasting Dinner: 2007 Washington Cabernet Sauvignon was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.