Well-known for their Grand Estates, H3, and Two Vines lines, it is their Reserve line that puts them in the league with the premier producers in the state. As you may remember, the 2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was named as the #1 wine of 2009 in Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 Wines list, the first Washington wine to receive the honor. Their well-known reserve Bordeaux-style blend became designated as Walter Clore Private Reserve with the 1999 vintage to recognize the pioneer who did the unexpected in Washington State—prove that premium vinifera grapes could flourish in the Columbia Valley.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste the current releases of both the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the Walter Clore Private Reserve in a blind samples tasting. While we thought both wines were very good, the 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent.

If you ever find yourself in Paterson, Washington, you should definitely visit and tour Columbia Crest. And even if you aren’t able to visit, be sure to seek out some of their Reserve wines.

2008 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark red in color. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, cinnamon, and clove aromas. Black fruit, earth, clove, and pencil lead comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $45; Available elsewhere, $32 to $50

2008 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 57% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with red and black fruit, leather, and Red Vines on the nose. Black cherry, blackberry, and black pepper 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: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $30 to $35

Columbia Crest Reserve: Cream of the Crop from Washington’s Largest Winery was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

After consulting What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, we decided to try a Gewürztraminer and a Pinot Noir. The two wines that we had with the meal were the 2009 Ardiri Due Stati Pinot Noir from California and Oregon and the 2010 Dowsett Family Gewürztraminer from Washington. Both wines were excellent! We vacillated back and forth as to which was the better pairing with the food—at first, the Gewürztraminer seemed to be the favorite, but once the meal was completed, we concluded unanimously that the Pinot Noir paired better. But really, you couldn’t go wrong with either one. If you are in the mood for a white wine, a Gewürztraminer is a good choice; and if you would prefer to have a red wine, a Pinot Noir works wonderfully.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2009 Ardiri Due Stati Pinot Noir (70% California and 30% Oregon): Medium deep purplish red in color. Nice nose with strawberry, red cherry, and oak aromas. Beautiful red cherry, strawberry, earth, and spice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish. An excellent food wine.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $38; Available elsewhere, $43

2010 Dowsett Family Gewürztraminer (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Pale to medium greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, and white peach on the nose. More gorgeous white peach and pear come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very 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), $18; Available elsewhere, $17 to $25

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

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.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste Baer’s three Bordeaux-style red blends from the 2009 vintage in a blind samples tasting. While we thought all three were very good, our favorite was the 2009 Star Red Wine.

If you are in the Woodinville area, you should definitely visit the Baer Winery tasting room in the warehouse district. And even if you aren’t able to visit, be sure to try some of their wines.

2009 Baer Winery Star Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 77% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with black cherry and vanilla on the nose. Plum, cherry, peanuts, and a touch of spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $27; Available elsewhere, $26

2009 Baer Winery Ursa Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 44% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Malbec. Dark purplish red. Nose is a bit tight at first and then black fruit and floral notes come through. More black fruit, floral notes and spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, dry 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $39; Available elsewhere, $36 to $40

2009 Baer Winery Arctos Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot. Dark purplish red. Aromatic with plum, blackberry, and vanilla on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $43; Available elsewhere, $38 to $50

Baer Winery: A Constellation of Red Blends was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Oregon ranks third in the number of wineries and fourth in wine production in the United States. In its relatively short 40-year history, the Oregon wine industry has evolved into a world-class wine region. With Oregon’s 16 AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas) found in both warm and cool climates, Oregon winemakers are able to produce wines from over 70 different grape varieties. However, Pinot Noir is the variety that propelled Oregon onto the worldwide wine stage and is still what many people think of when it comes to Oregon wine. While Oregon wine is far from a one-trick pony, Pinot Noir is still the queen. Over 12,000 acres of vineyards in Oregon are planted to Pinot Noir and production of Pinot Noir is over three times the next leading variety, Pinot Gris. As you will see in the lists below, we tasted more Pinot Noir than anything else at the event.

Unwine’d was a huge success, especially for a first-time event. By the time the doors opened to the public at 3pm, the line wrapped around the outside of the Left Bank Annex building. Once inside, attendees were treated to great wines and yummy food. Kudos to the Oregon Wine Board and Jamie Peha of Peha Promotions for a job well done!

Considering the time and gas money attendees saved not having to travel around the state visiting tasting rooms and making appointments, the $50 ticket was money well spent. Hopefully, those who attended discovered some favorite new wines and wineries and will make plans to travel to the wineries to visit and taste again. There is nothing like spending a long weekend in wine country.

Between the three days I spent in Oregon wine country on a media tour in March and attending Unwine’d last weekend, it has been a pleasure to immerse myself in all things Oregon wine and get to know so many key players in the Oregon wine industry.

With 100 wineries pouring three to five wines each, we were not able to taste wine from every winery at Unwine’d. Instead, we tried to taste wines from a good representative sample of the participating wineries. We hope you enjoy the following lists that show some of our favorite wines and wineries of those we did taste at the event.

Overall Favorite Wines (Highest Quality Ratings):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5

Best Wines <=$20:
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 4
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Chardonnay, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Pinot Gris, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 4

Best Value Regardless of Price (Quality >=4 and QPR=5):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2008 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley, $27, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $28, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Lachini Pinot Port, Willamette Valley, $28 [375ml], Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2009 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30, Quality: 4, QPR: 5

Top 10 Favorite Wineries (in alphabetical order):
Adelsheim Vineyard
Amity Vineyards
Archery Summit
Argyle Winery
Lachini Vineyards
Phelps Creek Vineyards
Sokol Blosser Winery
Stoller Vineyards
Van Duzer Vineyards
Watermill Winery

If you were at Unwine’d, we’d love to hear what some of your favorites were. And if you missed the event, I encourage you to enjoy some Oregon wines during the month of May and throughout the year.

Cheers!

Unwine’d 2012: Highlights from Oregon Wine’s Big Event was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The Den Hoed brothers established DenHoed Wine Estates in honor of their parents, Dutch immigrants who began planting grapes in the Columbia Valley in the 1950’s. Marie’s View, named for their mother, is a red blend made by winemaker Rob Newsom of Boudreaux Cellars. Andreas, named for their father, is a Cabernet Sauvignon made by winemaker Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows.

The Library in Woodinville is a unique tasting room that features the wines of DenHoed Wine Estates, Long Shadows, and Boudreaux Cellars. It is a cozy setting with comfortable leather chairs and a fireplace where guests can taste through a flight of wines featuring all three wineries.

Recently, we had the pleasure to visit The Library to taste through DenHoed’s complete lineup of released wines, three vintages of Marie’s View and three vintages of Andreas. All six wines were very good but we were especially impressed with the 2006 and 2007 Marie’s View. They are both outstanding.

Marie’s View – Rob Newsom, winemaker

2005 Den Hoed Marie’s View (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 36% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 12% Sangiovese. Dark, dense red.  Nice nose with aromas of dark red fruit, chocolate, coffee, and cinnamon. Black and red cherry, chocolate, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $80

2006 Den Hoed Marie’s View (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 22% Syrah, 11% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Sangiovese. Dark, dense red. Aromatic with black fruit, smoke, and oak on the nose. Blackberry, blackcurrant, smoked meat, and a touch of spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, drying 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: Winery, $80

2007 Den Hoed Marie’s View (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, 12% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, and 11% Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese co-fermented. Deep, dark purplish red. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, leather, and spice aromas. Black cherry, black plum, and clove come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, dry finish. Still very young but should age extremely well.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $80

Andreas – Gilles Nicault, winemaker

2006 Den Hoed Andreas (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purple. Nose is a bit tight at first. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, chocolate, and oak. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $80

2007 Den Hoed Andreas (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark ruby red. Aromatic with black fruit, lavender, and floral notes on the nose. Lush black fruit, spice, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, dry 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, $80

2008 Den Hoed Andreas (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with ripe red fruit aromas along with a touch of smoke and oak. Black cherry and oak come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium, soft tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $80

DenHoed Wine Estates: Gorgeous Red Wines from Wallula Vineyard was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Jon Martinez sources fruit from some of the best vineyards in the state, including the famed Boushey Vineyards. He is committed to expressing the distinctive traits of each vineyard site through his winemaking.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste several Maison Bleue wines in a blind samples tasting. While we thought all three were very good, we especially enjoyed the two white wines, the 2010 Notre Vie Viognier and the 2010 Petite Joie Marsanne. With warmer weather on its way, these are both excellent whites to try this spring and summer.

Open by appointment only, the Maison Bleue tasting room is located in The Winemaker’s Loft in Prosser. If you are in the area, I highly encourage you to make arrangements to visit. Maison Bleue produces a number of wines worth checking out if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

2010 Maison Bleue Notre Vie Viognier (Arthur’s Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with floral notes and lemon on the nose. More lemon and floral notes come through on the palate as well as lime and a hint of grapefruit. Dry and medium-bodied with tart acidity. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. Crisp and refreshing.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25; Available elsewhere, $23 to $26

2010 Maison Bleue Petite Joie Marsanne (Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale to medium yellow. Nice nose with floral and petrol aromas. Lemon zest and floral notes come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long finish. One of the best Marsannes I’ve ever had.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35; Available elsewhere, $28 to $37

2009 Maison Bleue Liberté Syrah (Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with cherry and floral notes on the nose. Big Red soda, strawberry, and cedar come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $45; Available elsewhere, $40 to $44

Maison Bleue Winery: Jon Martinez’s Star Continues to Rise was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste a number of Fidelitas wines in a blind samples tasting. While we thought all five of these red wines were good and would recommend all of them, we especially enjoyed the 2009 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Columbia Valley Merlot.

If you are in the Benton City area, you should definitely visit Fidelitas’ Red Mountain tasting room, which opened in 2007. It has a contemporary style and features great views of Red Mountain and the Yakima Valley. For those of you in the Seattle area, be sure to check out the Fidelitas tasting bar at Urban Enoteca. And even if you aren’t able to visit one of their locations, be sure to try some of their wines.

2009 Fidelitas Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purplish red. Aromatic with black licorice, blackcurrant, and black cherry on the nose. More black cherry, blackcurrant, and licorice as well as pencil shavings come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and high, supple 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $25; Available elsewhere, $20 to $25

2009 Fidelitas Columbia Valley Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Merlot. Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with vanilla, plum, and black cherry aromas. More black cherry, plum, vanilla, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25; Available elsewhere, $21 to $25

2009 Fidelitas Malbec (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Malbec. Deep purple. Aromatic with cherry, plum, and leather on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35; Available elsewhere, $29 to $35

2008 Fidelitas Optu Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with red fruit aromas and flavors as well as a hint of pickle. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35; Available elsewhere, $38 to $40

2009 Fidelitas Red Mountain Merlot (Red Mountain, Washington): 100% Merlot. Deep purplish red. Aromatic with jammy red and black fruits on the nose. Plum and pencil shavings come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50

Fidelitas Wines: A Passion Realized was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

After consulting What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, we decided to try a Tempranillo and a Zinfandel. The two wines that we had with the meal were the 2008 Columbia Crest Reserve Tempranillo and the 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Estate Zinfandel. While we certainly enjoyed both wines, the unanimous choice for the best pairing with the food was the Tempranillo. And for the record, while the Tempranillo was great with the meal, we all concluded that a margarita is still the best beverage of choice overall for taco night.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2008 Columbia Crest Reserve Tempranillo (Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark purple in color. Aromatic with black cherry, earth, and cocoa on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balance with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery $30

2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Estate Zinfandel (Spencer’s Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, California): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with red fruit, mint, and leather aromas. Fruit-forward with raspberry, Red Vines, and mint on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, jammy finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery $32

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

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste a number of Two Mountain wines in a blind samples tasting. While we thought all five of these red wines were good and would recommend all of them, we especially enjoyed the 2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve. It is excellent.

This samples tasting was my first introduction to the wines of Two Mountain Winery. Since the tasting, though, I have noticed their wines on the wine lists at a couple of local Seattle restaurants.

2008 Two Mountain Cabernet Franc Reserve (Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark red in color. Nice nose with red fruit and vegetal aromas. Red fruit, bell pepper, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity and medium, 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $33

NV Two Mountain Hidden Horse Red Table Wine VIII (Washington State): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with floral and vegetal aromas. More vegetal notes and red fruit come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $13 to $15

2008 Two Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark purple. Aromatic with licorice and black fruit on the nose. Black cherry dominates the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25

2008 Two Mountain Merlot (Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark red. Aromatic and fruit-forward with red fruit, plum, spice, and a touch of leather on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20

2010 Two Mountain Lemberger (Rattlesnake Hills, Washington): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Aromatic with strawberry and raspberry notes on the nose. More red fruits as well as earth come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $16; Available elsewhere, $15

Two Mountain Winery: Making Good Wine In A Beautiful Setting was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.