Pacific Rim Winery, located in West Richland, Washington, is almost exclusively a Riesling producer. The first Pacific Rim Riesling was produced in 1992 as a brand within Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, California, and used grapes from California, Washington, and Germany. In 2007, Randall Grahm decided to downsize Bonny Doon and spun off Pacific Rim as a stand-alone winery dedicated to Riesling. The entire Pacific Rim operation relocated to Washington State with general manager and winemaker Nicolas Quillé running the operation. In 2011, Pacific Rim was sold to the Mariani family of New York, which owns Banfi Vintners. Later that year, the Mariani family launched a new venture called VinMotion to focus on their Pacific Northwest brands that include Pacific Rim, Sweet Bliss, and Rainstorm. Pacific Rim is a certified Organic producer by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and produced the first Demeter certified Biodynamic wine in Washington State.

Pacific Rim consistently produces good wines at great prices that are widely available. Its annual production is about 160,000 cases with about 95 percent being Riesling. Riesling is one of the most versatile grape varieties. It can be made in many different styles from bone dry to very sweet, reflects the regional character of where it is grown, and is extremely food-friendly. And, it is probably the most age worthy of all white wine varieties. Washington is the largest Riesling producing state in the United States.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste a number of Pacific Rim’s current releases in a blind samples tasting, including five Rieslings and one Chenin Blanc. Given their quality, value, and availability, I encourage you to pick up any of these wines if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop.

2011 Pacific Rim Vin de Glaciere Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium to deep gold in color. Very aromatic with honey and dried apricot on the nose. More dried apricot and honey as well as orange come through on the palate. Sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, luscious finish. Residual Sugar: 18.5%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $13 to $16

2011 Pacific Rim Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale to medium greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with floral and peach aromas. Peach, apricot, and a touch of honey come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 2.3%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $11; Available elsewhere, $8 to $11

2011 Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium yellow. Aromatic with dried apricot and floral aromas. Dried apricot, peach, honey, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 7.0%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $11; Available elsewhere, $8 to $14

2008 Pacific Rim Chenin Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with honeysuckle and honeydew melon on the nose. Honeydew melon, white peach, and floral notes come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 1.1%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $11; Available elsewhere, $8 to $13

2011 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale greenish straw yellow. Lime and white peach come through on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, slightly bitter, finish. Residual Sugar: 0.9%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $11; Available elsewhere, $7 to $13

2011 Pacific Rim Biodynamic Wallula Vineyard Riesling (Wallula Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): Pale to medium greenish yellow. Aromatic with honey and minerality on the nose. Apricot, peach, minerality, and lemon zest come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a medium to long finish. Residual Sugar: 0.8%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $24

After visiting more wineries and tasting more Washington wines than I can count, meeting many of the best winemakers in Washington, and walking the rows in many of the best known vineyards in the state, these are the Wine Peeps team’s picks as the best of 2012 in Washington Wine Country.

BEST WINE: 2009 Rasa Vineyards Plus One Cabernet Sauvignon (featured July 30); this is the third consecutive year that Rasa has produced our Best Wine.
Honorable Mention: 2010 Avennia Sestina Red Wine (featured Sept 10), 2010 Kerloo Cellars Les Collines Syrah (featured July 16), and 2009 Fall Line Winery Red Willow Vineyard Red Blend (featured Aug 6)

BEST VALUE WINE: 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estate Amitage Red Blend, $7-$13 (featured May 3)
Honorable Mention: 2010 Saviah The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon, $14-$18 (featured April 26) and 2010 Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon, $11-$16 (featured Nov 28)

BEST WINERY: Rasa Vineyards
Honorable Mention: Force Majeure (formerly Grand Rêve) and Long Shadows

BEST VARIETY/TYPE: Cabernet Sauvignon (featured in a number of posts)
Honorable Mention: Syrah

BEST WINEMAKER: Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards (repeat winner)
Honorable Mention: Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and FIGGINS

BEST VINEYARD: Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Honorable Mention: Red Willow Vineyard (our 2008 winner) and Boushey Vineyard (always a favorite)

BEST AVA: Red Mountain
Honorable Mention: Yakima Valley

BEST NEWCOMER: Avennia Winery (featured Sept 10)
Honorable Mention: Eight Bells Winery (featured Nov 21)

BEST WINE SHOP: Total Wine & More (featured July 23)
Honorable Mention: BevMo! Beverages & More (featured July 23)

BEST WINE EVENT: Chateau Ste. Michelle Summer Concert Series
Honorable Mention: Taste Washington

Congratulations to all of the winners! Keep up the good work. We would encourage all Washington wine lovers to patronize these producers, vendors, and events. They are the cream of the crop.

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and wine-filled 2013!

Columbia Crest, located in Paterson, Washington, has been one of our favorite sources of value wines for many years. In 2011, Juan Munoz Oca took over as head winemaker from Ray Einberger. Einberger had been at the helm since 2002 when he took the reins from Doug Gore who had been the winemaker since Columbia Crest was founded in 1983. The Columbia Crest winemaking team has produced more 90+ scoring bottles of wine than any other winery in the world. For those of us who live in Washington State, it is nice to have such a consistent, affordable producer in our own backyard.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste the current releases of two of the red blends in their extensive portfolio in a blind samples tasting, the 2009 Grand Estates Amitage and the 2010 H3 Les Chevaux. Both of these wines have been favorites of ours in the past and previous vintages have been featured in our A Wine for Tonight series. These new vintages are also very good and, once again, would be great choices to enjoy tonight or over the coming weekend.

The Amitage name is a combination of the prefix “ami” which means love and the word “heritage” which is a tribute to the artisan winemaking techniques used to produce Columbia Crest’s Grand Estates tier of wines. H3, an abbreviation for Horse Heaven Hills, is another tier in the Columbia Crest portfolio and showcases the region in which their winery is located. All of the fruit used to produce H3 wines comes from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The H3 red blend is called “Les Chevaux”, French for “the horses” and a reference to the wild horses that once roamed the region.

If you are ever in the Columbia Gorge or Horse Heaven Hills areas, I recommend taking a little side trip over to Paterson, Washington, to visit and tour Columbia Crest. And even if you aren’t able to visit, be sure to keep your eyes out for their wines. They consistently deliver serious bang for your buck.

2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage Red Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington): 63% Merlot, 33% Syrah, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with cinnamon, blackberry, and black plum aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $8 to $13

2010 Columbia Crest H3 Les Chevaux Red Wine (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Syrah. Deep red. Aromatic with red fruit and leather on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $10 to $21

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12)

Merry Christmas!

Fajitas are a popular Mexican dish and a Wine Peeps’ favorite. Years ago in Texas, we stumbled upon a delicious fajita preparation at a local restaurant that we absolutely love. Fajitas a la Baya (or berry) is fajitas that have been marinated in wine along with other typical Mexican spices. The flavor it gives the meat and vegetables is fantastic!

In preparing the marinade for this challenging wine pairing dinner, I decided to use Pinot Noir along with garlic, fresh cilantro, kosher salt, and black pepper. Very simple, yet very good. The meat, onions, and bell peppers were grilled and served with soft corn tortillas, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Mexican rice, ranchero beans, and a green salad dressed with a honey Serrano balsamic vinegar accompanied the fajitas a la baya.

Once the menu was set, my attention turned to selecting the best wines to pair with the meal. After referring to my favorite guide, What to Drink with What You Eat, I decided to go with a Pinot Noir from Oregon and a Primitivo from Washington State. I selected the 2010 Winderlea Dundee Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2009 Columbia Crest Reserve Primitivo. While we enjoyed both wines very much, the nod for the best pairing with the fajitas a la baya went to the Pinot Noir. It really complemented the flavors in the fajitas without overpowering them.

What would you have paired with this meal? We would love to hear your thoughts. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2010 Winderlea Dundee Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills, Oregon): Medium-deep ruby red in color. Nice nose with earth, raspberry, and olive aromas. Raspberry, earth, and sour cherry come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and soft 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 $38; Available elsewhere, $35 to $44

2009 Columbia Crest Reserve Primitivo (Stone Tree Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep purplish red. Aromatic with black cherry, black pepper, and chocolate 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: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $30

During my recent media trip to Chile, 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 Colchagua Valley, located about 180 kilometers south of Santiago.

One of Chile’s best known wine regions, the Colchagua Valley has received much praise for its full-bodied red wines. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for more than 40% of all varieties planted, but the Colchagua Valley also does well with Carmenere, Syrah, and Malbec. We tasted a number of wines from different producers whose grapes came from the Colchagua Valley. Our winery visits in the Colchagua Valley were to Viu Manent and Casa Silva.

The Viu family owns Viu Manent. Founded in 1935 by Miguel Viu-García and his two sons Agustín and Miguel Viu-Manent, the winery is now in the hands of the third generation and led by Jose Miguel Viu. In 1966, Miguel Viu Manent purchased the Hacienda San Carlos de Cunaco in Colchagua, which included 150 hectares of vineyards, a winery, and a manor house. Around 1990, Viu Manent changed its focus from bulk wine to fine wine and began exporting its wine. Viu Manent celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. The winery produces 250,000 cases annually.

Today, Viu Manent has a very modern tasting room, gift shop, winery and vineyard tours, and horseback riding school. It also has facilities for corporate meetings, weddings, and other special events. During our visit, we had the pleasure to meet managing director Jose Miguel Viu and chief winemaker Patricio Celedón. After the tour and tasting, we enjoyed a delicious lunch outside the restaurant, under the pergola, with a gorgeous view of the vineyards. It was truly a highlight of my trip to Chile.

Casa Silva is a family-owned and operated winery, now in the 5th generation. In 1892, Emile Bouchon arrived in Chile from Bordeaux, France, with the dream of planting high quality vineyards in the Colchagua Valley. His dream became a reality and the vineyards have remained in the family though some of the shares were sold through the years. In 1977, Mario Silva Cifuentes, who was married to Maria Teresa Silva Bouchon, bought back the majority of what had been sold and resurrected the family business. His son, Mario Pablo Silva, has taken it to the next level. In 1997, Mario Pablo proposed to his father that they stop their bulk sales and start bottling their own wines and selling them under their own brand. He agreed, and Casa Silva was born. Casa Silva is completely focused on the Colchagua Valley and gets 100% of their grapes from their own vineyards. Casa Silva has four main estates with the oldest vines planted in 1912. Best known for its Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon, Casa Silva produces a total of 650,000 cases per year.

Casa Silva is currently involved in a micro-terroir project, studying why there is such variability in small geographical areas. The whole estate has been mapped, and they harvest different areas at different times. They have identified 42 different field types of Carmenere. The study is being done in conjunction with the Chilean government and two universities, one in Chile and one in Germany. This is the first time that Carmenere has been studied like this anywhere in the world.

During our visit, we had the pleasure to meet managing director Mario Pablo Silva, commercial manager Arnaud Frennet, and marketing executive Francisco Espinoza Ibarra. In addition to touring the winery and tasting through their wines, we also enjoyed seeing their rodeo and polo operations. The Silva family loves horses, and both rodeo and polo are an important way of life for them. After a lovely dinner at their restaurant overlooking the polo pitch, we stayed in their quaint hotel, which has been converted from the old family home on the estate. If your travels take you to the Colchagua Valley, I highly recommend staying at Casa Silva.

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

2007 Casa Silva Microterroir De Los Lingues Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep purple. Very aromatic with black fruit, earth, and vegetal notes on the nose. Black fruit, earth, and eucalyptus come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and soft, elegant tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish. Would love to have with food.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $45-50

2007 Casa Silva Altura (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 50% Carmenere, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot. Deep purplish red. Very aromatic with mint, cocoa, and smoke on the nose. A beautiful wine with blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, green pepper, and cocoa on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $200 (not available in the U.S.)

2011 Viu Manent Gran Reserva Malbec (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep purple. Nice nose with black fruit, spice, and oak aromas. Black cherry, blackberry, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high smooth tannins, and good structure. 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)
Suggested Retail Price: $10

2010 Casa Silva Carmenere Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Deep purplish red. Nice nose with black fruit, smoke, and a touch of green pepper. Very spicy with black fruit and vegetal notes on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12-14

2010 Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenere (Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile): 95% Carmenere and 5% Carignan. Deep purplish red. Gorgeous nose with blackberry, earth, tobacco leaf, and a touch of green pepper. Luscious palate with blackberry, tobacco, and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and sweet tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

2010 Primus The Blend (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Carmenere, 23% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Deep, dark red. Beautiful nose with black fruit and spice aromas. Black cherry, blackberry, black plum, spice, and a touch of smoked meat come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $18

2010 Casa Silva Carmenere Gran Terroir Los Lingues (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep purplish red. Aromatic with earth, black fruit, barnyard, and vegetal notes on the nose. Earth, black cherry, and slight vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19-20

2010 Viu Manent La Capilla Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Vines are about 25 years old. Deep purple. Gorgeous nose with aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry, cinnamon, pencil lead, and leather. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, yet smooth, tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with good mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $20

2009 Viña Los Vascos Le Dix Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere, and 5% Syrah. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with blackcurrant, licorice, and cinnamon aromas. Blackcurrant, blackberry, licorice, black pepper, spice, and cinnamon come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and big, bold, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. Gets better the longer it’s open.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $64.99

2012 Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc Cool Coast (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Pale greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with citrus fruit, especially lemon, and a touch of banana on the nose. Lemon and lime as well as a hint of minerality come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, rich finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $22-23

2011 Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with lemon, pineapple, and a touch of banana on the nose. More citrus notes as well as a touch of minerality come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, elegant finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $25

2007 Santa Rita Pehuen Apalta Carmenere (Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with black pepper and vegetal notes on the nose. Black cherry, black pepper, and green pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $40

2010 Viu Manent El Incidente Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep purplish red. Beautiful nose with black fruit, oak, spice, and black pepper aromas. More black fruit, spice, and a touch of green bell pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish. Gets better the longer it’s open.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $40-45

2011 Viu Manent Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Vines over 100 years old, just bottled last week. Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with black fruit and smoke on the nose. Blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, smoke, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, high, dry tannins, and a long, full finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10

2010 Primus Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep red. Nice nose with black fruit, smoke, mocha, and floral aromas. Black cherry, smoke, and mocha come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $18

2010 Casa Silva Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Terroir Los Lingues (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep red. Very aromatic with mint, eucalyptus, and herbal notes on the nose. Mint, earth, herbal notes, spice, and black fruit come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, high, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19-20

2009 Santa Rita Reserva Malbec (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep red. Aromatic with black cherry, blackberry, and spice on the nose. Fruit-forward with blackberry, black cherry, spice, and black pepper on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with good structure, crisp 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)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2012 Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 1/2 old vines and 1/2 coastal vineyard. Very pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with floral, citrus, and lime on the nose. Lime, Meyer lemon, and a touch of grass come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp, almost tart, acidity, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12-14

2011 Primus Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep red. Aromatic with black fruit, especially black plum, herbs, and spice on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $18

2009 Santa Rita Medalla Real Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purple. Lovely nose with black fruit, mint, cocoa, and green pepper. More black fruit and green pepper come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

2010 Viu Manent San Carlos Single Vineyard Malbec (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Oldest vineyard on the property. Deep, dark purplish black. Beautiful nose with black cherry, blackberry, oak, spice, and herbal aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $20

2008 Casa Silva Quinta Generacion Red (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Carmenere, 6% Syrah, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep purplish red. Nice nose with smoked meat, mint, cocoa, and black fruit aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, sweet tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $25-30

2008 Neyen Espiritu de Apalta (Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile): 80% Carmenere and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purplish red. Aromatic with bright, jammy red fruit on the nose. Candied red fruit, leather, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, high, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $40

2011 Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Deep purplish red. Aromatic with blackcurrant, black cherry, and a touch of leather on the nose. Leather, spice, and chocolate come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, dry tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10-12

2010 Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with red and black fruit, earth, oak, and pencil lead aromas and flavors. A bit thin on the mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with smooth tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19

2010 Casa Silva Merlot Reserva (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 100% Merlot. Deep ruby red. Aromatic with black plum and smoked meat on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12-14

2012 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris 1912 Vines (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 1912 old vines. Very pale straw yellow. Aromatic with melon, lemon, and a touch of minerality on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with good acidity, a bit of creaminess, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19-20

2009 Koyle Royale Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): 85% Carmenere, 8% Petit Verdot, and 7% Malbec. Deep purple. Aromatic with black fruit, dark chocolate, and pencil lead on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, high, dry tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $25.99

Be sure to come back as I individually highlight more Chilean wine regions in the coming weeks.

Salud!

Port comes from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. While there are port-style wines made around the world, strict use of the term Port is reserved for fortified wines produced in Portugal. Most Port producers in Portugal now label their wines as “Porto” and the bottles bear a neck label with the Instituto do Vinho do Porto Garantia, which is a seal of guarantee. Port is a sweet fortified wine produced by adding grape spirit during fermentation, which stops fermentation and retains considerable sugar. Residual sugar in the finished wine typically ranges from 8 to 12 percent. Port is typically a blend of grape varieties, vineyards, and vintages. Tawny Port is aged in wood. Those that spend an extended amount of time aging in barrel or cask can be labeled in multiples of 10 years.

Last Friday evening, we explored Tawny Port in our wine tasting dinner. It was another fabulous evening of great wines, the company of wonderful friends, and LaGayle’s (Mom’s) excellent food. Since Port has a higher alcohol level than still wine, it is often consumed as an after-dinner drink or with dessert rather than with a meal. So for this tasting dinner, we changed up our format a bit. We tasted through each of the Ports before dinner for evaluation purposes. Then we enjoyed two wonderful Washington wines from Red Willow Vineyard with dinner. The 2009 Adams Bench Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah paired beautifully with our dinner of tomato basil soup, candied walnut Gorgonzola salad, prime rib, creamy potato casserole, and roasted asparagus with balsamic browned butter. After dinner, we revisited the Ports and enjoyed them with chocolate truffles for dessert.

The consensus favorite was the Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny Porto, followed closely by the Niepoort 10 Year Old Tawny Porto. When it comes to Port or any fortified wine, a little can go a long way. Thankfully, that higher alcohol level also means that it lasts longer even after the bottle has been opened. While a still wine will only stay fresh for a couple of days, Port can easily last a week and often much longer after opening. Port is a lovely after-dinner or “nightcap” beverage, especially during these cold winter months.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown. Aromatic with honey and caramel on the nose. A hint of toast comes through on the palate as well. Medium sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and good viscosity. 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: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $33; Available elsewhere, $28 to $60

Niepoort 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown with ruby hues. Gorgeous nose with butterscotch and nutty aromas. Butterscotch, caramel, and nuts come through on the palate. Medium sweet and medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $50; Available elsewhere, $25 to $53

Kopke 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown with ruby hues. Aromatic with caramel and butterscotch on both the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $30; Available elsewhere, $15 to $42

Quinta de Ventozelo 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown with ruby hues. Nice nose with prune and raisin aromas. More prune and raisin as well as caramel come through on the palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with soft tannins and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $22; Available elsewhere, $16 to $40

Offley Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium ruby red. Nose is a bit tight at first, then prune and raisin aromas and flavors come through. Medium sweet and medium to full-bodied with medium tannins and a smooth, but slightly hot, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $12; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Porto (Douro Valley, Portugal): Medium amber brown. Aromatic with butterscotch and nuts on the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with medium, soft tannins and a medium to long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $40; Available elsewhere, $36 to $49

Jones of Washington is a small, family-owned winery located in Quincy, Washington. The Jones Family has been farming in the Columbia Basin for over 50 years. In 1997, Jack Jones started planting wine grapes in the Wahluke Slope AVA. At first, they sold their grapes to other wineries. Then, in 2001, Jack decided to start his own winery and Jones of Washington was born. Today, Jack’s son, Greg Jones, oversees the operation.

We recently had the opportunity to taste a number of the current releases from Jones of Washington in a blind samples tasting. We were especially impressed with the 2008 Sangiovese and 2009 Reserve Syrah but would recommend all ten of these wines. Jones of Washington is doing a nice job across the board, and most importantly, their wines deliver serious bang for your buck. Eight of the ten wines received a QPR rating of 4 or 5.

If you haven’t tried any Jones of Washington wines, I encourage you to do so if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

2008 Jones of Washington Sangiovese (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-deep red in color. Nice nose with red fruit, earth, and oak aromas. Red cherry, red plum, earth, and a touch of leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15

2009 Jones of Washington Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Dark, dense purple. Aromatic with black fruit, black pepper, and spice on the nose. Black cherry, blackberry, spice, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering 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

2009 Jones of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark purplish red in color. Aromatic with black fruit and magnolia blossoms on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, and floral notes come through 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: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

2008 Jones of Washington Merlot (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Aromatic with black cherry and oak on the nose. More black cherry as well as mocha comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

2009 Jones of Washington Cabernet Franc (Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark red. Aromatic with plum preserves on the nose. More plum, earth, and licorice come through 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: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

2011 Jones of Washington Late Harvest Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Riesling. Very pale straw yellow. Aromatic with apricot, peach, and a touch of honey on both the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20 [375ml]

2009 Jones of Washington Jack’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with jammy black fruit and oak. Black cherry, blackcurrant, and pencil lead come through 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: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $29

2011 Jones of Washington Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale straw yellow. Aromatic with clementine orange, melon, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15

2009 Jones of Washington Reserve Malbec (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 75% Malbec and 25% Syrah. Dark purple in color. Aromatic with blackberry jam, black cherry, and spice 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: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30

2011 Jones of Washington Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Riesling. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with aromas and flavors of oranges and gardenias. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity, 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 $12; Available elsewhere, $12 to $15

2010 Jones of Washington Syrah (Wahluke Slope, Washington): Dark purple in color. Nice nose with jammy black fruit, spice, and oak aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $15

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington State’s founding winery with its roots dating back to the repeal of Prohibition. In 1976, Ste. Michelle built a French-style chateau in Woodinville, just northeast of Seattle. While all of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s vineyards are located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, all of their white wines are made in Woodinville. Their red wines are made at Canoe Ridge Estate in eastern Washington.

No matter where you live in the United States, you are probably familiar with the wines of Chateau Ste. Michelle, particularly their Columbia Valley line. While those wines enjoy national distribution, Chateau Ste. Michelle also produces a number of other reserve and limited release wines that are not as widely available.

We recently had the opportunity to taste a number of the current fall releases from Chateau Ste. Michelle, across their family of wines, in a blind samples tasting. We were especially impressed with the 2011 Gewurztraminer and 2010 Merlot in the Columbia Valley lines as well as the 2009 Limited Release Boreal Red Wine and 2009 Ethos Reserve Syrah.

Ethos means “character” in Greek, the “distinctive spirit” of a specific culture, movement or philosophy. For Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Ethos Reserve series of wines, winemaker Bob Bertheau endeavors to make limited production wines that represent the “best of the vintage.” The 2009 Ethos Reserve Syrah definitely fits that bill. It is a big, yet elegant, wine.

The Limited Release wines allow the winemaking team to experiment a bit. These small lots are initially available exclusively to members of their wine club, the Vintage Reserve Club. After 30 days, these limited releases are offered to the public at the Chateau Ste. Michelle wine shop in Woodinville and online.

However, when it comes to delivering serious bang for your buck, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley line is hard to beat.

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer (Columbia Valley, Washington): 98% Gewurztraminer and 2% Muscat Canelli. Pale straw yellow in color. Beautiful nose with honey, white peach, and floral aromas and flavors. Slightly off-dry and light-bodied. Well-balanced with a long finish. Very crisp and refreshing. Residual Sugar: 1.95%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $9; Available elsewhere, $7 to $10

2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 91% Merlot, 4% Syrah, and 5% Blender varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Grenache). Deep, dark red. Nice nose with aromas of black plum, black cherry, and leather. More black fruit and leather as well as spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium 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 $16; Available elsewhere, $12 to $15

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Limited Release Boreal Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. Dark, dense purple. Very aromatic with black fruit, cedar, and spice on the nose. Blackberry, cinnamon, clove, and a touch of smoked meat come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively 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 $30

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Reserve Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Dark, dense purple in color. Nice nose with black fruit, eucalyptus, black pepper, and spice aromas. Espresso, cocoa, black fruit, and a touch of game come through on the palate. Full-bodied and lively with high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Chardonnay. Pale to medium yellow. Aromatic with butter and popcorn on the nose. Apple, pear, and a touch of butter come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $13; Available elsewhere, $7 to $11

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark red. Nice nose with black plum, oak, and earthy aromas. Black plum, oak, and chocolate come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $28; Available elsewhere, $22 to $30

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris (Columbia Valley, Washington): 96% Pinot Gris and 4% Viognier. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with peach and apricot on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $13; Available elsewhere, $9 to $13

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Limited Release Mourvedre (Wahluke Slope, Washington): 83% Mourvedre and 17% Syrah. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with blackberry, game, and spice on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, dry tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Limited Release Cold Creek Red (Cold Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 12% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Dark, dense red in color. Aromatic with black fruit, cedar, and leather on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, sweet tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $32

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Limited Release Druthers Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Dark purplish red. Aromatic with black fruit, eucalyptus, and oak 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: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $80