This week’s Wine Word of the Week is decanting.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Decanting is the optional and controversial step in serving wine, involving pouring wine out of its bottle into another container called a decanter. The most obvious reason for decanting a wine is to separate it from any sediment that has formed in the bottle which not only looks unappetizing in the glass, but usually tastes bitter and/or astringent. …. Another, traditional but disputed, reason for decanting is to promote aeration and therefore encourage the development of the wine’s bouquet.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Decanting is the process of pouring wine from its bottle into another container, generally a glass container called a decanter. Older wines are decanted to remove any sediment while younger wines are decanted to promote aeration. Decanting is certainly not an exact science. Even the most knowledgeable wine enthusiast sometimes struggles with the decision of whether or not to decant, and if so, for how long.

Washington State is second only to California in U.S. wine production; so if you like wine, you’ll want to visit Washington wine country. As people taste Washington wine, they also discover that the quality of Washington wine is second to none, and often at great prices, too.

Where you go in Washington wine country will depend on your answers to the following questions:

1. Are you a tourist who likes wine or are you a wine tourist?
2. How much time do you have to visit Washington wine country?

If you are just a tourist who likes wine, your best bet is probably Woodinville, Washington. Woodinville is only 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, the largest city and main tourist hub in the state. There is easy access to Woodinville year-round, because there are no mountain passes to cross in the winter. It is an exploding tourist area with excellent infrastructure and almost 100 wineries, including a number of tasting rooms for Walla Walla wineries, the most famous wine town in Washington. Woodinville is also home of the state’s oldest, largest, and most well known wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery. You can taste a good cross-section of Washington wine in one day in Woodinville. For a tourist who likes wine and is just passing through Seattle for a day or two on the way to another ultimate destination or to board an Alaskan cruise, spending a day in Woodinville is a great choice. In fact, I am not aware of another place in the United States, including California, where there are as many fine wineries and tasting rooms so close to a major city. The only knock on Woodinville is that it’s not where the vineyards are located.

For a tourist who likes wine and is planning to spend more time in the state’s other tourist areas, such as Leavenworth or Lake Chelan, you will find good wine tasting there as well. With Leavenworth and/or Lake Chelan, you are looking at a 2.5-3 hour drive from Seattle, and a trip that can get iffy in the winter. However, both cities offer many activities for tourists in addition to a growing wine community, including beautiful vineyards on the shores of Lake Chelan.

For a tourist who likes wine and is flying into Portland rather than Seattle, the Columbia Gorge and Horse Heaven Hills wine areas are worth exploring. There is great scenery and many outdoor activities available along the Columbia River, but this area does not have as big of a tourist infrastructure as some of the other areas I’ve mentioned. It is about a 1.5-hour drive from Portland, but 4 hours from Seattle. However, some of the best vineyards in the state are located there, including Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge and Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.

For a true wine tourist, for whom distance from a major metropolitan area is no problem, the Yakima Valley and the Walla Walla Valley offer a plethora of enological stimulation.

The Yakima Valley, which includes Red Mountain and areas around the cities of Yakima and Prosser, is from 2.5-3.5 hours by car from Seattle, depending on which end of the valley you visit. While a visit to the Yakima Valley can be iffy in the winter and the tourist infrastructure is somewhat limited, grapes grown in the Yakima Valley are the key ingredients to more than half of all the wine produced in Washington State. Great vineyards in the Yakima Valley include Boushey, Ciel du Cheval, DuBrul, Klipsun, and Red Willow. Most wineries in the Yakima Valley are small family operations, so it’s a good idea to call in advance to schedule your visits.

The Walla Walla Valley is a 4.5-hour drive from Seattle. For years, the words Walla Walla have been synonymous with Washington wine. That fact is a tribute to the pioneering winemaking families in the Walla Walla Valley, names like Figgins, Small, and Ferguson. In the early days, there were actually less than 100 acres in the Walla Walla Valley planted in grapes. It has often been said that the reputation of Walla Walla was built on Columbia Valley grapes. Today, there are a number of great vineyards in the area, including Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, and the exploding area of The Rocks, although most of them are actually located on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA.

The biggest drawback to Walla Walla is that it’s so far from a major population center or tourist hub. Realistically, there is no way to make a day trip to Walla Walla from Seattle. Once you get to Walla Walla, it’s a nice town with an excellent wine tourism infrastructure and a large concentration [over 100] of very good wineries and great people. To really do the area justice, you need to spend three or four days there, preferably around a weekend since not very many wineries in Walla Walla are open daily. And for at least six months of the year, driving over the mountain passes to Walla Walla makes the trip iffy at best.

In addition to out-of-state tourists, the many thousands of wine lovers among the 3.5 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area are prospects to tour Washington wine country and/or join a winery wine club. While local wine lovers like myself enjoy the experience of visiting wine country and walking through the vineyards, regular trips for Seattleites are more likely to be to Woodinville. That’s probably one reason why so many Walla Walla wineries, for example, have opened satellite tasting rooms there. When you join your favorite winery’s wine club, you not only get a first taste of their latest vintages that they send you automatically three or four times a year, but you typically also receive discounts on additional purchases, free winery tours, invitations to special events, and in some cases you can even go and hang out at a special winery club room after work. Of course, you will only be able to take advantage of some of those perks if you live relatively close to the winery or a satellite tasting room. More folks live close to Woodinville than any other winery cluster in the state, giving Woodinville another advantage in the wine dollar race.

Are you a tourist who likes wine, or would you consider yourself a wine tourist? What’s most important to you in visiting wine country? Which wine regions in Washington State have you visited, and/or where do you plan to visit? I’d love to hear your thoughts on wine tourism in Washington.

Cheers!

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? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.

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

The Blanc de Noirs is one of an excellent array of value sparkling wines from Domaine Ste. Michelle. Producing sparkling wines for over thirty years, Domaine Ste. Michelle is one of the largest sparkling wine houses in the United States, producing more than 300,000 cases each year. Rick Casqueiro has been head winemaker since 1994. While this Blanc de Noirs is good enough to celebrate a special occasion, its price point makes it an excellent weeknight or Sunday brunch bubbly.

“Rosé sparkling wines are original not only because of their color, but also their vinous character. Blanc de Noirs is a beautiful salmon pink wine, with a persistent column of small bubbles. A delicate sparkler, with strawberry impressions coming through in the nose, and on the palate. The initial impression is dry, with a soft and fruity aftertaste.” –Winemaker Rick Casqueiro

NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Pinot Noir. Pale salmon in color. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Very aromatic with raspberry, strawberry, cherry, lime, and yeast aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. A nice, refreshing weeknight or Sunday brunch bubbly.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Metropolitan Market (Seattle, Washington), $8.49; Available elsewhere, $8 to $15

Riesling has become known as Washington State’s signature white variety. Washington is the largest Riesling producing state in the United States. And, Washington State’s own Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest Riesling producer in the world. 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.

Riesling is one of the most versatile grape varieties. It can be made in many different styles from bone dry to very sweet, reflect 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.

We recently had the opportunity to taste five Chateau Ste. Michelle Rieslings from the 2011 vintage in a blind samples tasting, the Eroica Riesling, Dry Riesling, Harvest Select Sweet Riesling, Cold Creek Riesling, and Columbia Valley Riesling. These five wines represent different styles and price points, from the number one selling American Riesling, the Columbia Valley Riesling, to the ultra-premium Eroica Riesling.

Eroica is a joint venture between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen of Germany. Winemakers Bob Bertheau and Ernst Loosen work together every step of the way to produce a world-class Riesling from Washington State grapes. The partnership launched in 1999, and the 2011 vintage is Eroica’s 13th vintage. Eroica is named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony. We have found Eroica to be consistently excellent from vintage to vintage. It has raised the bar for the entire Riesling category in Washington.  If you have not had the pleasure to try Eroica, I encourage you to seek it out.

However, you cannot go wrong with any of these five Rieslings. All of them are good and deliver serious bang for your buck as well.

2011 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow in color. Very aromatic with white peach, floral notes, and a touch of lime on the nose. More white peach and floral notes as well as a hint of minerality come through on the palate. Off-dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 2.28%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20; Available elsewhere, $15 to $20

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Very pale yellow. Aromatic with floral notes, pear, and white peach on both the nose and palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, clean finish. Residual Sugar: 0.72%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $9; Available elsewhere, $6 to $12

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale to medium yellow. Nice nose with peach and orange aromas. Good mouthfeel with more peach and orange on the palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 5.22%
Quality: 3.5 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 $12

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling (Cold Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with peach, apricot, and floral aromas. Orange zest, peach, and floral notes come through on the palate. Slightly off-dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a medium to long finish. Residual Sugar: 2.1%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $14 to $18

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale straw yellow in color. Moderately aromatic with lime, peach, and a touch of petrol and minerality on both the nose and palate. Off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a medium to long finish. Residual Sugar: 2.23%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $9; Available elsewhere, $5 to $13

This week’s Wine Word of the Week is bouquet.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Bouquet is the oft-ridiculed tasting term for the smell of a wine, particularly that of a mature or maturing wine. …. It is used loosely by many wine tasters to describe any pleasant wine smell or smells but, just as a bouquet (rather than a bunch) of flowers suggests a composition of several varied elements, many wine professionals distinguish between the simple aroma of the grape and the bouquet of the more complex compounds which evolve as a result of fermentation, elevage, and bottle aging.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Bouquet is a term that many wine tasters use when they: (a) think that a wine has an exceptional aroma and simply saying it is aromatic would not be enough, (b) are looking for a more interesting word to use than aroma or smell, or (c) want you to think that they are wine experts, and “This wine has a beautiful bouquet” sounds more sophisticated than “This wine smells good.”

Winemaker Tim Sorenson and his wife Nancy Rivenburgh founded Fall Line Winery in 2003. Located in South Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, the winery was officially licensed and bonded in 2004. Both Tim and Nancy are avid skiers and the name “Fall Line” refers to the natural line of descent on a slope. Until he retired last year, Tim was an economics professor at Seattle University. For years, he balanced his day job at the university with his budding wine career. He completed an Introduction to Winemaking course at the University of California-Davis in 2000 and has never looked back. Tim met many local winemakers during his time working at a wine shop in downtown Seattle that led to a two-year ‘vinternship’ with Ben Smith at Cadence Winery from 2002 to 2004. The 2003 vintage was Fall Line’s inaugural commercial release. Fall Line now produces about 1,800 to 2,000 cases annually.

The core of Fall Line’s lineup is comprised of three single-vineyard wines, all classic Bordeaux-style red blends. Fall Line partners with three of the most well-regarded vineyards in Washington State, all located in the Yakima Valley AVA, Artz Vineyard, Boushey Vineyard, and Red Willow Vineyard.

Artz Vineyard, owned by grower Fred Artz, is located on Red Mountain adjacent to the famed Klipsun Vineyard. In fact, Artz was the vineyard manager of Klipsun for 20 years. Fall Line has used fruit from Artz Vineyard since 2004.

Boushey Vineyard is located in the central Yakima Valley, which is relatively cooler than Red Mountain. Owner Dick Boushey, one of the most respected growers in Washington State, has been producing much sought after fruit for over 30 years. Fall Line has partnered with Boushey Vineyard since 2003, and Dick planted a block of Tempranillo especially for Fall Line in 2007.

Red Willow Vineyard, which sits in the northwest corner of the Yakima Valley AVA, is located on the fourth-generation family farm established by grower Mike Sauer’s grandfather-in-law in the 1920’s. The iconic Monsignor Chapel sits atop Red Willow’s highest hill, built with native stones from the farm. Fall Line has been working with Red Willow since 2008 and introduced its Red Willow Vineyard Red Blend in 2010.

Recently, we had the pleasure to visit with Tim and taste through Fall Line’s current and upcoming releases. With the 2008 vintage, Fall Line ushered in their all Yakima Valley program. The 2009 vintage marks the introduction of a new wine to Fall Line’s lineup, a Tempranillo from Boushey Vineyard. We tasted the Tempranillo as well as both the 2008 and 2009 vintages of the single-vineyard blends. While we were very impressed with all seven wines, we thought that the 2008 Artz Vineyard and the 2009 Red Willow Vineyard were truly outstanding. I am especially looking forward to trying the 2009 Red Willow again in a few years when it has had additional time to age.

If you have not yet tried any Fall Line wines, I encourage you to seek them out. Not only are they excellent, but they deliver serious bang for your buck as well. Fall Line holds an open house for its mailing list members on the third Saturday in November each year. Other than that event, the winery is open by appointment only.

2008 Fall Line Winery Artz Vineyard Red Blend (Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Washington): 46% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purplish red. Very aromatic with spice, cinnamon, and red and black fruit on the nose. Blackberry, black cherry, and cinnamon as well as floral and herbal notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, chewy tannins. Big and bold yet well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

2009 Fall Line Winery Artz Vineyard Red Blend (Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Washington): 41% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with cinnamon, gingerbread, clove, red cherry, and raspberry on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, ~$30-32 [to be released Fall 2012]

2008 Fall Line Winery Boushey Vineyard Red Blend (Yakima Valley, Washington): 43% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red in color. Aromatic with black cherry, cherry cola, oak, and smoke on the nose. More black cherry, smoke, and cola come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

2009 Fall Line Winery Boushey Vineyard Red Blend (Yakima Valley, Washington): 39% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red in color. Gorgeous nose with black cherry, smoked meat, spice, and herbal aromas. Good mouthfeel with black cherry, blackberry, smoked meat, spice, and a faint vegetal note on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp 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: Winery, $28 [to be released Fall 2012]

2008 Fall Line Winery Red Willow Vineyard Red Blend (Yakima Valley, Washington): 53% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark red. Nose is a bit tight at first and then beautiful aromas of black fruit, perfume, licorice, and spice come through. Good fruit on the palate with more blackberry, black cherry, and spice as well as cocoa and savory notes. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, chewy tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

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, lavender, licorice, clove, and cinnamon aromas. More cinnamon, black plum, lavender, and dark chocolate come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and chewy tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity. A big, bold wine with great mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. Very young but outstanding already and should only get better with some age.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, ~$30-32 [to be released Fall 2012]

2009 Fall Line Winery El Otro Tempranillo (Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Tempranillo. Deep purple in color. Lovely aromatics with black and blue fruits and floral notes on the nose. Black cherry, violet, spice, and a touch of leather come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $25

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? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Syrah from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.

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

Saviah Cellars is a family-owned winery located south of downtown Walla Walla, Washington, near the Oregon state line in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Owner/winemaker Richard Funk and his wife Anita, both natives of Montana, moved to Walla Walla in 1991. Rich became acquainted with a number of the area wineries while working as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department. Through his work at the Health Department on water quality and wastewater issues, he got a firsthand look at the vineyards in the area and developed a relationship with a number of local winemakers who helped him get his start in the industry. Saviah Cellars was founded in 2000 and currently produces about 9,500 cases per year. The name Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother. Saviah Cellars consistently produces high-quality wines. The Jack is a value line in the Saviah portfolio produced with declassified fruit.

“If you are looking for a great Rhone blend at a value price…The Jack Syrah is your best bet! This wine has appealing aromas of spicy red fruit, raspberries, plum and sweet herbs. The Jack is a friendly wine offering a mouthful of juicy fruit flavors that are complemented by silky tannins.” –Owner/winemaker Rich Funk

2010 Saviah Cellars The Jack Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with aromas of plum, raspberry, and cinnamon. Juicy red cherry, raspberry, plum, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a very long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Metropolitan Market (Seattle, Washington), $14.99; Available elsewhere, $13 to $15

Founded by Rich Frank and Koerner Rombauer in 1996, Napa Cellars was acquired by Trinchero Family Estates ten years later. Trinchero Family Estates has been producing wines for over 60 years. Through the years, the Trinchero family and the company have expanded. Today, Trinchero represents over 27 brands in the United States and Australia.

Winemaker Joe Shirley received his Master of Science in Enology from UC Davis and launched his winemaking career in 1997. He joined Trinchero Winery in 1999 and worked his way up to winemaker for Trinchero Family Selection and Trinchero Napa Wines in 2002. In 2007, Joe was named head winemaker for Napa Cellars.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste the 2009 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Cellars in a blind samples tasting. It is outstanding and delivers serious bang for your buck, especially for a Napa Valley Cabernet.

Stagecoach Vineyard is an unusual vineyard site in the Napa Valley, stretching from Eastern Oakville to Atlas Peak and climbing to 1,700 feet above the valley floor. Due to the cool nights and long, warm days at Stagecoach Vineyard, the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes enjoy extended hang time that helps them develop more concentrated flavors.

2009 Napa Cellars Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley, California): Dark purplish red in color. Gorgeous nose with mint, evergreen, and floral aromas. Blackcurrant, blackberry, cocoa, and mint come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $45; Available elsewhere, $48

This week’s Wine Word of the Week is estate bottled.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Estate bottled is a term used on labels which has a very specific meaning in the United States, where an estate-bottled wine must come from the winery’s own vineyards or those on which the winery has a long lease; both vineyards and winery must be in the geographical area specified on the label.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Estate bottled means that the vineyard where the grapes were grown and the winery where the wine was produced are located in the same viticultural region and the winery either owns or has direct control of the vineyard.

Founded in 2007 by brothers Pinto and Billo Naravane, Rasa Vineyards is a bona fide Washington wine superstar. Their beautiful winery is located south of downtown Walla Walla near the Washington/Oregon state line. Billo serves as winemaker and Pinto as managing partner, but the brothers collaborate on every aspect of the business. They both have engineering and mathematical backgrounds and worked in the computer industry.

In November, they will be releasing their third vintage of wines. As you may remember, a Rasa Vineyards wine has been our pick for Best Washington Wine the past two years. Their 2007 Principia Reserve Syrah topped our list in 2010, and their 2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse took top honors in 2011. On a recent visit to Walla Walla, we tasted through their five upcoming releases and the overall quality of their lineup of wines continues to impress. Rasa is introducing two new wines with the 2009 vintage, a Bordeaux-style blend called “in Order to form a more perfect Union” and a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Kiona Vineyard on Red Mountain called Plus One. Well, folks, the Naravane brothers have done it again. We gave the 2009 Plus One a 5-star Quality rating; it truly is another “Wow!” wine.

Rasa Vineyards offers their wines through their mailing list first. They are also distributed in 17 states. If you have not had a chance to try one of their wines, I encourage you to keep your eyes out for them on the shelf at your local wine shop or go ahead and put your name on their mailing list. Only open by appointment, Rasa Vineyards is definitely a must-visit if you are in the Walla Walla area.

For a more detailed write-up about Rasa Vineyards, the Naravane brothers, and their winemaking philosophy, please refer back to my Spotlight On: Rasa Vineyards post.

2009 Rasa Vineyards Plus One Cabernet Sauvignon (Kiona Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): Deep, dark purple red. Amazing nose with gorgeous aromas of black fruit, chocolate, and floral notes. Big, bold black fruit, spice, and chocolate come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a finish that goes on for days. An absolutely amazing wine. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $75 [to be released November 2012]

2009 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. Deep purplish red. Gorgeous nose with luscious cherry, spice, and a hint of smoked meat. Black cherry, red cherry, spice, and smoke come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and bold yet smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95 [to be released November 2012]

2009 Rasa Vineyards QED (Columbia Valley, Washington): 71% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, and 3% Viognier. Deep purple in color. Aromatic with black cherry, cinnamon, and a touch of smoke on the nose. More black cherry, cinnamon, and some oak come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and silky tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50 [to be released November 2012]

2009 Rasa Vineyards Principia Reserve Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark purple-black in color. Nose is a bit tight at first and then black fruit, licorice, and smoke come through. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and smoke on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $85 [to be released November 2012]

2009 Rasa Vineyards in Order to form a more perfect Union (Columbia Valley, Washington): 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 23% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with cinnamon stick, gingerbread, and red and black fruit aromas. More spice, red fruit, and a hint of green bell pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95 [to be released November 2012]