Red Willow Vineyard is one of the top vineyards in Washington State. Located in the northwest corner of the Yakima Valley near Wapato, Washington, Red Willow is a fourth-generation family farm, owned and operated by Mike Sauer and his family. Red Willow has one of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon blocks in the state, planted in 1973, and the first Syrah block in the state, planted in 1986. The iconic Monsignor Chapel sits atop Red Willow and gives the vineyard a distinct identity.

Red Willow Vineyard has had a longstanding relationship with Columbia Winery, formerly known as Associated Vintners, which dates back to 1978. For almost 30 years, Columbia Winery sourced Red Willow fruit almost exclusively. However, in 2005, Columbia started giving up some of their blocks, which allowed other notable Washington producers the opportunity to source this prized fruit. While Columbia is still one of their largest customers, this diversification is allowing the true potential and value of the vineyard to be realized. In recent years, we have been closely watching the releases of Red Willow wines from some of our favorite wineries including Betz Family Winery, Owen Roe, Adams Bench, and Fall Line, as well as newer wineries like Avennia and Eight Bells. While Red Willow’s place in the history of the Washington wine industry is already well established, it is exciting to see the Red Willow name on more bottles through these new partnerships.

Last Friday evening, we featured red wines from Red Willow Vineyard in our wine tasting dinner. To experience the breadth of wines from this world-class vineyard, we tasted one red blend, two Cabernet Sauvignons, and three Syrahs. All six wines paired beautifully with our dinner of tomato basil soup, mixed green salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and gorgonzola cheese tossed with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing, roasted beef tenderloin with a beef demi-glace, braised kale, pan roasted fingerling potatoes seasoned with herbs de Provence, and German chocolate dessert.

The consensus favorite of the evening was the 2009 Adams Bench Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, followed closely by the 2010 Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah. For more information about Red Willow Vineyard, you might enjoy reading an article that I wrote for the Fall 2009 issue of Washington Tasting Room magazine.

Red Blend:

2009 Fall Line Winery Red Willow Vineyard Red Blend (Yakima Valley, Washington): 64% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with black plum, black cherry, licorice, smoke, and clove aromas. Red and black fruit, smoke, spice, and dark chocolate come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and chewy tannins. Well-balanced and smooth 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; Available elsewhere, $30

Cabernet Sauvignon:

2009 Adams Bench Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, dense purple. Gorgeous nose with blackcurrant, blackberry, leather, and molasses aromas. Blackberry jam, leather, and a touch of tobacco come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, dry tannins. Big and bold yet well-balanced and smooth with a luscious mouthfeel and a very long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $60

2009 Owen Roe 1973 Block Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark purple in color. Red fruit and leather come through on both the nose and 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: Winery, $72; Available elsewhere, $60 to $75

Syrah:

2010 Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Dark purple. Beautiful nose with blackberry, black cherry, and smoked meat aromas. More smoked meat, bacon, black fruit, and warm spices come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, dry tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle Washington), $45; Available elsewhere, $44

2010 Owen Roe Chapel Block Syrah (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with red and black fruit and cinnamon on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and sweet tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55; Available elsewhere, $35 to $62

2010 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Distinct nose with earth, black fruit, and brine. Earth, black fruit, spice, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, dry tannins, and a very long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $55

Sweet and sour pork is a popular dish and one that easily lends itself to a challenging wine pairing given both its sweetness and tartness. The main dish included the pork, green bell peppers, celery, and onion in the sweet and sour sauce that included pineapple, apple cider vinegar, and sugar, as well as other seasonings such as soy sauce. I rounded out the meal with a green salad with mandarin oranges tossed with a mango ginger balsamic dressing and white rice.

Once the menu was set, my attention turned to answering the question, “What wines do we pair with this meal?” After referring to my favorite guide, What to Drink with What You Eat, we decided to try a Riesling and a Pinot Noir. We selected the 2011 Efeste Evergreen Riesling from Washington State and the 2010 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir from Oregon. We enjoyed both wines very much; however, the Riesling was the unanimous choice as the best pairing with the meal. The acidity in both wines worked well with the sauce’s tartness, but the residual sugar in the Riesling really helped the flavors come together with the sauce’s sweetness.

Please let us know what you would have paired with this meal, and we welcome your suggestions for future challenging wine pairings.

Bon Appétit!

2011 Efeste Evergreen Riesling (Evergreen Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale to medium yellow. Very aromatic with citrus fruit, especially orange, and banana on the nose. More orange as well as white peach comes through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with very crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $16.99; Available elsewhere, $16 to $20

2010 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Nice nose with strawberry and orange peel aromas. Fruit-forward with bright red fruit, particularly red cherry, on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, soft tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $24 to $29

This year’s Open That Bottle Night was last Saturday, February 23. Open That Bottle Night, created by former Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, is the one night a year that we are all encouraged to get out that bottle of wine that is so special that no special occasion seems special enough to actually open it. That’s exactly what LaGayle and I did when we sat down for dinner and opened a bottle of 1999 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz from the Eden Valley in the Barossa region of South Australia that I had been saving for just such an occasion.

Our visit to the Henschke winery and cellar door (aka tasting room) in 2005 was the highlight of our Australian wine tour for the Wine Peeps team. We visited during the middle of crush, yet our hosts could not have been more accommodating. Henschke was our first stop that morning, and yet they insisted that we taste through their entire lineup of 15+ wines, some retailing for over $70 US, and they didn’t even charge a tasting fee to anyone, whether you were in the industry or not. Thank goodness we were spitting, or there wouldn’t have been a second stop that day.

During our visit we learned that 170 years ago Johann Christian Henschke came from Silesia [Prussia] to settle and farm at Keyneton in the Eden Valley. The Henschke family has been making wine since 1862, with each generation building on the foundations of their forbearers.

By the time third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke took over the reins in 1914, the famous Hill of Grace shiraz vines were already over 50 years old. They were planted just across the road from a beautiful stone Lutheran Church euphoniously named Gnadenberg, meaning “Hill of Grace”. Since our family is Lutheran, seeing the lovely church and its connection to the vineyard gave the wine even more significance for us.

Cyril Henschke, the fourth-generation to head the operation, made the first single vineyard wines from these 140-year-old vines in 1958.  Now, fifth-generation Stephen Henschke and his wife, Prue, along with their children Johann, Justine, and Andreas are the current custodians passionately upholding the family name and reputation in the wine business.

Since Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz has great aging potential, I wanted to buy a bottle that already had some age on it so that we could enjoy it sooner. I bought several bottles, one of them being this 1999 vintage, which is considered to be one of their better (although probably not their best) vintages. Once I had it in the cellar, all we needed was an occasion to drink it. Enter Open That Bottle Night.

So Saturday night we sat down to a wonderful dinner of mixed greens tossed with fresh fruit and blackberry ginger vinegar, pan seared flat iron steak, garlic mashed sweet potatoes, and crisp oven baked spinach garnished with parmesan cheese that LaGayle had prepared to pair with the Hill of Grace and opened that special bottle. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint!

1999 Henschke Hill of Grace (Eden Valley, Australia): 100% Shiraz. Deep, inky purple. Brilliant with very little dilution in color on the rim despite the fact that it is 14 years old. Earth tones, spice, fruit, vanilla, and some floral notes on the nose. Medium to full-bodied with good concentration. Lots of black pepper, black fruits, some red berries, and smoked meat come through on the palate. Not as overtly tannic or as alcoholic (14% ABV) as most big wines. Very smooth. Tastes much younger than a 14 year old wine. Extremely well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck  (out of 5)
Where to buy: Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. (Chicago, Illinois), $300; Available elsewhere, $300 to $400

While our goal at Wine Peeps is to find excellent wines that are also excellent values, it sure can be fun to splurge every once in a while.

If you missed this year’s OTBN, go ahead and open your special bottle anyway. Or mark your calendar for next year’s OTBN on Saturday, February 22, 2014 (always the last Saturday in February).

Cheers!

Founded by Washington wine pioneer Allen Shoup, Long Shadows Vintners is a collection of ultra-premium wineries comprised of internationally acclaimed winemakers from the major wine regions of the world. Each winemaker is a partner in a unique winery dedicated to producing a single Columbia Valley wine representing a “best of type” that reflects the winemaker’s signature style.

Allen Shoup is considered one of the pioneers of the Washington wine industry. He was the CEO of Stimson Lane wine group for years. During that time, he oversaw their portfolio of wineries, including Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, and forged relationships with many important players in the wine business around the world. Upon retirement, he pursued his dream of bringing some of the most highly acclaimed winemakers from different regions around the world to Washington to make world-class wines from Washington grapes comparable to the wines they make in their native wine regions. The Long Shadows winemaker-partners began crafting their signature wines in 2003.

Through the years, we’ve had the pleasure of tasting a number of Long Shadows wines. Recently, we had the opportunity to taste the 2009 Sequel Syrah and the 2008 Chester-Kidder Red Wine in a blind samples tasting. Both wines are outstanding and, while not inexpensive, they both deliver serious bang for your buck.

Sequel is a Syrah made by John Duval, one of the most famous winemakers in Australia and around the world. He is best known for his work with Penfolds Grange, Australia’s most famous wine, and now owns his own John Duval Wines. Chester-Kidder is a red blend made by winemaker Gilles Nicault and is named for founder Allen Shoup’s grandfather, Charles Chester, and his grandmother, Maggie Kidder.

2009 Sequel Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 99% Syrah and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, dense purple. Gorgeous nose with spice, oak, and black fruit aromas. Blackberry, black pepper, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, smooth 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 $50; Available elsewhere, $49

2008 Chester-Kidder Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Dark, dense purple in color. Very aromatic with black fruit and smoked meat on the nose. More black fruit and smoked meat as well as spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a very long 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 $50; Available elsewhere, $44 to $50

Over the past few months, I have highlighted some of the people and places I encountered on my media trip to Chile in October. Chile is a long, narrow country that runs 2,600 miles along the southwestern coast of South America between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. But don’t let its geography fool you, there is more climatic and soil diversity found east to west than from north to south. Spanish settlers first planted wine grapes in Chile around 1550. While Chile has a long wine history, I believe that it is just now coming into its own as a world-class wine region. Chile is producing some excellent wines, has wonderful welcoming people, and is a beautiful area to boot. It truly is a special place.

For easy reference, here are links to my previous posts about my media trip to Chile:
Wines of Chile: Exploring Terroir
Wines of Chile: An Overview
Wines of Chile: Casablanca Valley
Wines of Chile: Maipo Valley
Wines of Chile: Cachapoal Valley
Wines of Chile: Colchagua Valley
Wines of Chile: Maule Valley

Before filing away my notes, I want to mention the wines I tasted that were not from a Chilean wine region that I highlighted in a previous post.

2012 Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc (Central Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Nice nose with lemon, lime, and grassy aromas and flavors. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a medium to long finish. A bit thin on the mid-palate.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99

2012 Santa Rita Medalla Real Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow with green tinges. Nice nose with soft, elegant aromas of melon and minerality. More melon and minerality as well as tropical fruit comes through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. A food wine.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

2011 Santa Rita 120 Chardonnay (Central Valley, Chile): Pale to medium straw yellow. Aromatic with apple, pear, and lemon cream pie on the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99

2010 Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay (Leyda Valley, Chile): Medium yellow with green tinges. Nice nose with apple and creamy aromas. Apple, cream, and butter come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

2010 Santa Rita Reserva Carmenere (Rapel Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with black fruit, eucalyptus, and vegetal aromas. Black fruit, green pepper, and a touch of oak come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2012 Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley, Chile): Very pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with lime, grapefruit, and lemon peel aromas and flavors. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10-12

2012 Santa Carolina Reserva Moscato (Elqui Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with apricot, melon, and a touch of honey on both the nose and palate. Off-dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10-12

2009 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carmenere (Rapel Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with aromas and flavors of black cherry, black plum, spice, floral notes, and a touch of green pepper. 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: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $17-20

And, finally, here are a few tidbits about Chilean wine and culture that were shared with me by some of the Chilean winemakers I met:

• Chile is fairly conservative for Latin America.
• Chileans are relatively shy, reserved people as compared to other Latin Americans.
• Chileans are proud of their country but have not always been bold about expressing it. Historically, Chile has not been very good in sports, which contributes to their lack of patriotism and pride. They are now working to create a strong brand and identity with wine.
• Chilean Wine = Soil + Climate + Culture

I look forward to visiting Chile again someday, and I encourage you to put it on your “places to visit” list too. For more information about Chilean wine country, visit the Wines of Chile site. And if you are planning a trip there anytime soon (which I highly recommend), feel free to ask me any questions about the area in the comments below or via our Contact Us form. I’m happy to help if I can.

Salud!

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2011 Pepi Chenin Blanc-Viognier from California.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Pepi Winery, located in Parlier, California, has been a pioneer in California white wine for over 40 years. Founded in 1968, Pepi sources its fruit from cool coastal vineyards. Mark Rasmussen serves as Pepi’s head winemaker. This Chenin Blanc-Viognier is produced from grapes from the Clarksburg and Central Valley growing regions.

“Our Chenin Blanc-Viognier is an appetizing blend of these two under-appreciated grapes. The Chenin Blanc supplies the backbone for the wine and displays sweet honeysuckle notes, while the Viognier allows for spicy expressions of peach and other fruit nectars. Crisp and clean, this wine has a refreshing and spritzy finish.” –Winemaker Mark Rasmussen

2011 Pepi Chenin Blanc-Viognier (Clarksburg and Central Valley, California): 66% Chenin Blanc and 34% Viognier. Pale, straw yellow in color. Aromatic with melon and floral notes on the nose. Melon, lime, and floral notes come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10

Dry Creek Vineyard, founded in 1972 by David Stare, is located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley just outside of Healdsburg, California. Today, Dry Creek Vineyard is run by David’s daughter Kim Stare Wallace and her husband Don. Well-known for their Fumé Blancs and Zinfandels, Dry Creek Vineyard also produces a number of other excellent wines including their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet-based blends.

We recently had the opportunity to taste the 2008 Meritage and the 2008 Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon in a blind samples tasting. Dry Creek Vineyard has a long history with Meritage, dating back to 1985 vintage when it was the first winery to use the term on a wine label. Meritage is a blend of five Bordeaux varieties. While primarily known for Zinfandel, the Dry Creek Valley actually has more Cabernet Sauvignon planted than any other variety. The fruit for the Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Dry Creek Vineyard’s Endeavour Estate Vineyard. Located in the Lytton Springs area of Dry Creek Valley, Endeavour is a sustainably farmed vineyard.

We continue to be impressed by the quality wines being produced by Dry Creek Vineyard, and the people behind the winery are wonderful folks to boot. Both of these wines are worth a try if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list. And if you are visiting Sonoma County, I highly encourage you to visit Dry Creek Vineyard.

2008 Dry Creek Valley Meritage (Sonoma County, California): 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 14% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot. Dark purplish red in color. Very aromatic with black cherry, blackberry, molasses, and smoke on the nose. Black fruit, smoke, and cocoa come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high 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 $30; Available elsewhere, $22 to $27

2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley, California): 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot. Dark, dense red. Jammy black fruit, molasses, and cinnamon come through on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to 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 $65

For those of you who are not familiar with a vertical tasting, it is a tasting in which you taste different vintages of the same wine from the same winery. We were first “wow”-ed by Fielding Hills in the summer of 2008. Since then, we have visited the winery, tasted all of their new releases, and even helped them with bottling. Previously, we have had the pleasure to enjoy vertical tastings of their Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot that have demonstrated the remarkable consistency that Fielding Hills has been able to produce since their very first vintage. We were thrilled when we were able to get our hands on all eight vintages of Cabernet Franc that they have produced, from the 2003 vintage to the current 2010 vintage, for another vertical tasting.

Fielding Hills Winery, a small, family-owned winery in Wenatchee, is one of the top wineries in Washington State. 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. The grapes for all nine of these wines were sourced from the Wade’s Riverbend Vineyard, planted in 1998, in the Wahluke Slope AVA. However, the 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 vintages are labeled as Columbia Valley because Wahluke Slope was not established as an official AVA until 2006. Strictly red wine producers, Fielding Hills’ current production is about 1400 cases.

Recently, the four Wine Peeps and our good friends, Mark and Jill and Doug and Amee, sat down to dinner to enjoy this vertical tasting. While most of our tastings are blind, we decided not to taste these blind. We simply wanted to enjoy the wines and taste them in a logical order. We started with the oldest and worked our way to the youngest before we ate any food to try to get a good baseline for evaluation. [Unfortunately, the bottle of the 2007 vintage that we had during the dinner was corked, and we did not have a second bottle on hand. A few days later, we were able to get our hands on another bottle, which, thankfully, was good. So my tasting notes below for the 2007 vintage are for that bottle and not the one we had during the dinner.]

This tasting was fabulous! Once again, we were amazed at the consistency of quality in these wines. They paired extremely well with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, mixed green salad with apples, caramelized leeks and maple Dijon dressing, roasted pork tenderloin with southwestern and peppercorn seasonings, baked mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and non-fried ice cream garnished with fresh raspberries and drizzled with chocolate raspberry balsamic vinegar for dessert.

You can’t go wrong with any of these wines. In fact, all eight wines were very good and received a Quality Rating of at least 3.5 stars (out of 5). We thought that six out of the eight were excellent and rated them as 4 stars (out of 5) or higher. Once again, we were “wow”-ed by the 2008 vintage and gave it a rare 5 stars (out of 5). It remains the best Cab Franc I’ve ever had. The oldest vintages are still holding up well, but Mike really seems to be hitting his stride with the last three vintages.

If you are ever in the Wenatchee area, Fielding Hills is a stop you do not want to miss. I encourage you to give Mike and Karen a call to make an appointment to visit the winery. And regardless of whether you are able to visit or not, try to get your hands on a bottle or two of Fielding Hills wine and enjoy.

From oldest to youngest:

2003 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep garnet in color. Aromatic with red fruit, prune, herbs, and licorice on the nose. Red cherry and vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $28

2004 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark garnet. Nice nose with red fruit and cinnamon aromas. More cinnamon as well as red and black cherry comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $28

2005 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark red. Nice nose with red fruit, caramel, and floral aromas. Red and black fruit, spice, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

2006 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep red in color. Aromatic with red fruit and floral aromas on the nose. Fruit-forward with bright red fruit, floral notes, and a touch of spice on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

2007 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 88% Cabernet Franc, 6% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark garnet red. Aromatic with black cherry and cinnamon on the nose. Fruit-forward with black cherry and spice on the palate as well. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

2008 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 88% Cabernet Franc, 6% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red in color. Gorgeous nose with red and black fruit, spice, floral, and a touch of bell pepper aromas. Luscious black cherry, spice box, and herbal notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, dry tannins. Extremely well-balanced and smooth with good complexity and a very long, lingering finish. Still the best Cabernet Franc I’ve ever had. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

2009 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 90% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, raspberry, and spice aromas. Black cherry, spice, 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 and smooth with a very long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

2010 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): 85% Cabernet Franc, 5% Syrah, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red in color. Beautiful nose with red and black fruit, cinnamon, and clove aromas. Black cherry, cinnamon, and clove come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Winery Release: $30

During my media trip to Chile in the fall, I had the pleasure to visit a number of its wineries and vineyards and meet many of the movers and shakers in the Chilean wine industry. I am individually highlighting some of the wine regions we visited including reviews of wines I tasted from those regions. Today, I am focusing on the Maule Valley, located about 250 kilometers south of Santiago, which is the southernmost region we visited.

The Maule Valley is the largest and one of the oldest wine regions in Chile. A long overlooked region, the Maule Valley is garnering renewed attention. The valley is able to produce a wide variety of wines but is especially known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, and old-vine Carignan. Our winery visit in the Maule Valley was to J. Bouchon. We tasted a number of their wines as well as one wine from Santa Carolina whose grapes came from the Maule Valley.

Emile Bouchon, a native of Bordeaux, France, settled in Chile in 1892 with the dream of producing wines in the New World. In 1977, the Bouchon family acquired the Santa Maria de Mingre estate in the Maule Valley, built new facilities, planted vineyards, and modernized their winemaking practices. They began exporting their wines in the 1990’s. Today, Julio Bouchon Sepúlveda and his children continue the family tradition and are committed to producing quality wines from the Maule Valley.

Our visit to J. Bouchon was a special treat as we toured the vineyards on horseback and stayed in the rustic hacienda-style lodge on the Mingre. I will fondly remember my “Chilean cowgirl” experience. It had been a while since this Texas girl had been on a horse, but it certainly was fun.

We had the pleasure to meet and visit with Julio Bouchon Lyon, the marketing manager for J. Bouchon. After our horseback tour of the vineyards, we enjoyed an informal tasting on the back porch of the lodge. (As a result, I do not have detailed tasting notes about all of those wines.) Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner inside the lodge, paired with more J. Bouchon wines. I certainly was impressed with the overall quality of their wines.

Currently, J. Bouchon produces about 150,000 cases per year. They are planning to plant more vines next year. Julio said that he could ultimately see J. Bouchon producing and selling 500,000 cases annually while maintaining the quality for which they are known.

Wines I tasted from the Maule Valley during my recent media trip:

2012 J. Bouchon Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Maule Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with lime and grapefruit on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $15

2012 J. Bouchon Las Mercedes Sauvignon Blanc (Maule Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Nice nose with aromas and flavors of citrus fruit, especially lemon, straw, and a touch of cream. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish. Very crisp and refreshing.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $20

2012 J. Bouchon Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé (Maule Valley, Chile): Pale pink. Nice nose with strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon aromas. Strawberry and orange peel come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $15

2011 J. Bouchon Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc (Maule Valley, Chile): Last vintage of this wine, moving to make a white blend instead.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $28

2010 J. Bouchon Reserva Especial Carmenere (Maule Valley, Chile)
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19

2010 J. Bouchon Reserva Especial Malbec (Maule Valley, Chile)
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19

2010 J. Bouchon Las Mercedes Ensamblaje (Maule Valley, Chile)
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $28

2009 J. Bouchon Mingre (Maule Valley, Chile): Red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, and Carmenere.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $50

1999 J. Bouchon Assemblage (Maule Valley, Chile): Red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Carmenere.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $28

2009 Santa Carolina Specialties “Dry Farming” Carignan (Cauquenes Valley, Maule Valley, Chile): Deep purple. Aromatic with bright black cherry, leather, and earth on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, silky tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR:  4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $15-17

Salud!

Today marks five years since we started sharing our wine adventures with you here on Wine Peeps. What an exciting five years it has been! We have written 1,179 posts and tasted over 5,500 wines. We have had the pleasure to meet so many wonderful people in the wine industry as well as fellow wine enthusiasts. This past year, we traveled to numerous wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Chile. In addition to those trips, we welcomed the many other opportunities we had to expand our palates and taste wines from all around the world through our tasting dinners, private tastings, samples tastings, trade tastings, and other events.

Thank you so much to all of our readers! I know it sounds cliché, but we could not do this without you. We love wine and love sharing that passion with you through this blog. We are humbled that you care to read what we write.

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In the coming year, we will strive to continue providing you with compelling wine-related content. We hope that you will continue to support us by reading Wine Peeps and telling your friends about it. We welcome the opportunity to connect on any or all of the social networking sites as well.

Cheers from your Wine Peeps,
Kori, John, Colby, and LaGayle

(Photo by AndrewEick)