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

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 Cachapoal Valley, located about 85 kilometers south of Santiago.

The Cachapoal Valley is in Chile’s agricultural heartland. With its Mediterranean climate, it is best known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Carmenere. We tasted wines from three different producers whose grapes came from the Cachapoal Valley. Our winery visit in the Cachapoal Valley was to VIK.

Alexander Vik, a Norwegian entrepreneur, wanted to create an exceptional vineyard in order to produce a unique, world-class wine. He enlisted the services of wine industry veteran Patrick Valette to locate the perfect site. They looked at about 50 different properties in Argentina and Chile and took over 6,000 soil samples in the process. In 2006, Vik purchased 4,325 hectares in Chile about 200 kilometers south of Santiago, began planting the vineyard, and Viña VIK was born. When they began planting, there were no other vineyards in the area. Currently, VIK has 385 hectares planted to grapes with about 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Carmenere, and the remainder to Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot. There are twelve different valleys on the VIK property, and each variety is planted where they believe it will grow best.

VIK only produces one wine, a red blend, and its first vintage was 2009. In the winery, they have one tank for each vineyard block and keep each block separate until it is time to blend. During our visit, chief winemaker Cristian Vallejo talked about the winemaking process at VIK, which includes blending two different times as part of a “weeding out” process. After 15 months, they start working on the initial blend. At VIK, they use only new French oak with medium toast. They work on the final blend around 23 months. Currently, VIK produces about 2,500-3,000 cases per year.

“Chile has historically been known for its value, lesser quality wines. But now Chile is proving that it can make higher quality wines as well.” –Patrick Valette, General Manager

VIK is an ambitious project, and it is obvious that Alexander Vik is sparing no expense in pursuit of his goal to produce the “Premier Grand Cru” of South America. While I thought the 2010 VIK Red Wine was excellent, only time will tell if the winery can reach those lofty heights. Nevertheless, VIK is an impressive place and well worth a visit if you find yourself in Chile. They are in the process of building a new hotel with fine art to showcase the wine and encourage tourism, which they hope to have completed by next fall. Also, they are in the process of building a new winery facility, which will be very “green” and utilize gravity. The goal is to have it ready in time for the 2013 vintage.

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

2008 Santa Carolina Herencia (Peumo, Cachapoal Valley, Chile): 96% Carmenere and 4% Malbec. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, spice, and floral aromas. Black cherry, leather, clove, herbs, and floral notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish. A beautiful wine.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $100

2010 Santa Carolina Specialties “Wild Spirit” Mourvedre (Cachapoal Valley, Chile): Deep purple. Very aromatic with black fruit, game, and tobacco on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and smooth 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: $15-17

2010 VIK Red Wine (Cachapoal Valley, Chile): 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Carmenere, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 3% Syrah. Deep, dark purplish red in color. Very aromatic with ripe red and black fruit, spice, and leather on the nose. Blackcurrant, black plum, licorice, spice, and a touch of raspberry come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with good complexity and a very long, elegant finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $130

2010 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere (Cachapoal Valley, Chile): 100% Carmenere. Deep purplish red. Aromatic with black plum, chocolate, and a slight vegetal note on the nose. Jammy with black plum, black pepper, and a touch of chocolate on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $22

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

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? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2010 Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 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

Brothers Butch and Jerry Milbrandt planted their first vines in Washington’s Columbia Valley and Wahluke Slope in 1997. Today, Milbrandt Vineyards is comprised of 2,000 acres of estate vineyards. After selling their grapes to wineries throughout Washington for years, the Milbrandts launched their own winery in 2005. Joshua Maloney, who previously worked for wineries in California and then as Chateau Ste. Michelle’s red winemaker, joined Milbrandt Vineyards as Director of Winemaking in 2011. The Milbrandt Vineyards tasting room is located in Prosser, Washington.

“Our Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, harmonious and complex with flavors of black cherry, plum, cassis, coffee mocha, and a touch of mint.” –Winemaker Joshua Maloney

2010 Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Syrah. Deep, dark red in color. Aromatic with black cherry, black plum, and oak on the nose. More black fruit as well as chocolate and cinnamon come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $10.99; Available elsewhere, $11 to $16

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 Maipo Valley, the closest wine region to the city of Santiago.

The Maipo Valley spans from the Andes to the coast and is one of Chile’s oldest and most well-known wine regions. Best known for its red wines, the Maipo Valley does well with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Syrah. We tasted a number of wines from several producers whose grapes came from the Maipo Valley. Our winery visits in the Maipo Valley were to Santa Rita and Santa Carolina.

Founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernandez Concha, Santa Rita Winery was among the first to pioneer plantings of European grape varieties in Chile. In 1980, its present owner, Gruppo Claro, acquired Santa Rita. The winery has vineyards in several of Chile’s appellations including the Maipo Valley, Apalta, Casablanca, Rapel, Leyda, and Curico. Santa Rita’s total production is about 1.7 million cases per year. Casa Real was the Concha family’s summer home. Today, it is recognized as a National Monument of Chile and has been converted to a hotel with 16 rooms. Santa Rita uses the house image on its labels. The winery property is gorgeous and tourist-friendly with stately buildings, a beautiful chapel, a museum, restaurants, and a park in addition to its production facilities. The park on the grounds covers 43 hectares and has a very European feel. They host classical concerts to mark the beginning of each season.

Santa Carolina is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, founded in 1875. Founded by four winemakers who came from France, the house on the Santa Carolina property was built in 1875 and is a Chilean national monument. It was damaged during the 2010 earthquake, and it had to be rebuilt exactly as it was. Today, the house is used as offices for the winery. Santa Carolina was the first Chilean winery to receive an award outside of Chile, in France in 1889.

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

2007 Santa Rita Triple C (Maipo Valley, Chile): 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Carmenere. Deep, dark, dense purple. Gorgeous nose with black cherry, smoked meat, and black pepper aromas. Black fruit, smoked meat, spice, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a very long, lingering finish. A lovely wine.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $35

2009 Santa Rita Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile): 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark, dense red. Nice nose with aromas of blackcurrant and smoke. Blackcurrant, smoke, cocoa, and licorice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, chewy 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: $19.99

2009 Viña Ventisquero Grey Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile): 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with red and black fruit, black pepper, and floral aromas. Blackberry, black raspberry, mint, and floral notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and big, bold tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $29

2009 Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile): Deep, dark red. Aromatic with blackcurrant, black cherry, and oak on the nose. More blackcurrant and black cherry as well as licorice and leather come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, high, dry tannins, and a very long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2009 Santa Carolina VSC Assemblage (Maipo Valley, Chile): Blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Mourvedre, and Carmenere. Deep, dark purple. Lovely nose with black plum, oak, and leather aromas. Jammy black fruit, leather, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $50

2010 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile): Deep, dark, dense red. Nose is a bit tight. Blackcurrant, black cherry, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, high, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $17-20

2010 Santa Rita Reserva Merlot (Maipo Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Aromatic with black plum, oak, and smoke on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, dry tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

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

Salud!

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends as you enjoy good food and wine. And remember to give thanks for this great country, which stands for freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all. Happy Thanksgiving!

(Photo by ConstructionDealMkting)

Eight Bells Winery is a small urban winery located in the Roosevelt/Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is jointly owned and operated by Tim Bates, Andy Shepherd, and Frank Michiels. The trio got their start as home winemakers. In 2009, they moved from their garages into a commercial space to start Eight Bells. Since their first crush in 2009, they have sourced fruit from vineyards in Eastern Washington and Western Oregon. Currently, their annual production is less than 2,000 cases.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste eight of Eight Bell’s current releases in a blind samples tasting. All of the wines were good, but we were especially impressed with the 2010 Sangiovese and 2010 Red Willow Syrah Clonal Block. Both of those wines as well as the three other red wines are produced predominantly with fruit sourced from Red Willow Vineyard. And, one of the white wines even includes a small percentage of fruit from Red Willow.

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.

Eight Bells wines are currently available at the winery or at McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants. If you have not had any Eight Bells wines, I encourage you to give them a try if you have the opportunity.

2010 Eight Bells Sangiovese (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep red in color. Very aromatic with black cherry and spice on the nose. More black cherry and spice as well as cocoa come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20

2010 Eight Bells Red Willow Syrah Clonal Block (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 95% Syrah and 5% Grenache all from Red Willow Vineyard. Deep, dark purple. Beautiful nose with savory aromas of smoked meat and herbs. Black cherry, blackberry, smoked meat, and herbs come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $32

2009 Eight Bells Roosevelt Red (Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Merlot from Red Willow Vineyard. Deep red. Nice nose with aromas of blackberry and raspberry. Black and red fruit, leather, and spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18

2010 Eight Bells Red Willow Vineyard Syrah (Red Willow Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Aromatic with earth, barnyard, and black fruit aromas. Fruit-forward with blackberry, black cherry, and plum on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $25

2009 Eight Bells Yakima Valley Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington): 85% Syrah from Red Willow Vineyard and 15% Grenache from Red Mountain. Deep, dark purple. Deep, dark purple. Aromatic with black fruit and spice rack 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: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25

2010 Eight Bells Pinot Gris (Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon): Pale straw yellow. Very aromatic with apple, lime, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18

2010 Eight Bells Chardonnay (French Creek Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale to medium yellow. Aromatic with toast, apple, and pear on the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18

2011 Eight Bells Ravenna White (Oregon): 95% Pinot Gris from Methven Family Vineyard in Oregon and 5% Viognier from Red Willow Vineyard. Pale straw yellow. Nice nose with mandarin orange, pear, and melon aromas and flavors. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $16

This week’s Wine Word of the Week is bud break.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Budbreak, or budburst, is a stage of annual vine development during which small shoots emerge from vine buds in the spring. This process begins the new growing season and signals the end of dormancy, their period of winter sleep. The first sign that budbreak is imminent is bleeding, when the vines begin to drip water from pruning cuts. The buds left at winter pruning begin to swell in the few weeks prior to budbreak, and budbreak itself is marked by the first signs of green in the vineyard, as the first young leaves unfold and push through the bud scales.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Bud break, when shoot growth starts and you begin to see green, marks the beginning of the annual growth cycle of the vine.

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 2011 Waterbrook Sauvignon Blanc 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

Founded in 1984, Waterbrook Winery is one of the Walla Walla Valley’s largest producers. Owned by Precept Wine Brands, Waterbrook is located just outside of Walla Walla in a beautiful facility with lovely grounds and views of the Blue Mountains. Winemaker John Freeman joined Waterbrook as Assistant Winemaker in 2003 and was promoted to Winemaker in 2005.

“Bright aromatics of lime, jasmine blossom and cantaloupe. A refreshing palate of grapefruit, passion fruit and limeade. Hints of citrus linger on the finish with balanced acidity.” –Winemaker John Freeman

2011 Waterbrook Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Very pale straw yellow. Aromatic with grass, grapefruit, and lime on the nose. More grapefruit and lime come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity and a long 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), $8.49; Available elsewhere, $9 to $13

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. Over the next few weeks, I will be individually highlighting some of the wine regions we visited including reviews of wines I tasted from those regions. Today, I am focusing on the Casablanca Valley, the northernmost region we visited.

The Casablanca Valley was Chile’s first cool-climate wine region. With its cool Mediterranean climate and pronounced maritime influence, the Casablanca Valley is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

We tasted a number of wines from various producers whose grapes came from the Casablanca Valley. Our winery visit in the Casablanca Valley was to Veramonte. Founded in 1990 by Agustin Huneeus, Veramonte is located northwest of Santiago about halfway between Santiago and Valparaiso. A vineyard-based winery, Veramonte wines are made from fruit sourced from their estate vineyards in the Casablanca Valley and Colchagua Valley. Founder Agustin Huneeus has extensive experience in the wine industry and also owns Quintessa estate in the Napa Valley. Veramonte boasts a large, modern winemaking facility and was the first winery in Chile to have a Napa Valley-style visitor center. The Veramonte brands include Veramonte, Ritual, and Primus.

Chief winemaker Rodrigo Soto gave us a tour of the winery and estate vineyard and talked at length about the Casablanca Valley and viticultural practices in Chile. A native of Chile, Soto has international winemaking experience having worked in Marlborough in New Zealand, Sonoma and Napa Valley in California, and several other regions in Chile. He recently returned to Chile after spending six years as winemaker for Benziger Winery in Sonoma.

Since his return, Soto has been championing a shift to more sustainable viticultural practices. At Veramonte, they are now avoiding herbicides in their vineyards and utilizing cover crops. Soto says that the owners of Veramonte “live in the future” and want to pass on “healthy” property to future generations.

“Chile is similar to California 20 years ago.” –Winemaker Rodrigo Soto, Veramonte

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

2009 Morandé Gran Reserva Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Pinot Noir. Deep red. Nice nose with floral, cherry, and spice aromas. Spice cherry, white pepper, and a touch of earth come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and smooth 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: $17.99

2009 Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Very aromatic with strawberry, raspberry, spice, and floral notes on the nose. Red fruit, herbs, and spice come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, smooth 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: $20

2011 Veramonte Ritual Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with citrus fruit and melon on the nose. Lemon peel, lime, and minerality come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and good mouthfeel and a touch of creaminess. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $18

2011 Viu Manent Secreto Carmenere (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep purplish red. Good fruit with black cherry, spice, and a touch of black pepper on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a long, fresh finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10

2010 Santa Rita Reserva Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale to medium yellow. Nose is a bit tight at first and then apple and pineapple aromas come through and lead to pear and tropical notes on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with lively acidity, a touch of minerality, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2011 Veramonte Ritual Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Nice nose with earth and red fruit aromas. Bright red fruit, spice, and a touch of earth come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, good mouthfeel, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $18

2010 Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Lovely nose with red cherry, spice, earth, and floral aromas and flavors. Medium-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: $20

2011 Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Very aromatic with lime, grapefruit, and fresh cut grass on the nose. More lime and grapefruit come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with screaming tart acidity and a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2012 Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Very pale straw yellow. Beautiful nose with floral and citrus aromas. Lime and Granny Smith apple come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $12.99

2009 Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Pinot Noir. Deep ruby red. Aromatic with candied cherry, raspberry, and plum on the nose. Fruit-forward with candied cherry and spice on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with smooth tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $32

2011 Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep ruby red. Aromatic with red fruit, earth, and spice on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly bitter, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10-$12

2012 Viu Manent Secreto Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Pale straw yellow. Beautiful nose with grapefruit, lime, and grassy aromas. More grapefruit, spice, and a touch of green pepper come through on the palate. Dry and a bit thin on the mid-palate with crisp acidity.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10

2011 Viu Manent Secreto Malbec (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep, purplish red. Aromatic with berry and floral aromas. Black cherry, black raspberry, spice, and floral notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and a medium to long, thin finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $10

2010 Emiliana Novas Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Pinot Noir. Deep ruby red. Nice nose with strawberry, raspberry, and spice aromas. Earth, spice, and red fruit come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a long, slightly bitter finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $19

2009 Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Syrah (Casablanca Valley, Chile): Deep, dark purple. Moderately aromatic with smoke, cedar, and medicinal notes on the nose. Black cherry, smoke, and cedar come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, high tannins, and a medium to long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Suggested Retail Price: $20

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

Salud!

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

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Viticulture is the science and practice of grape culture. Viticulture is practiced consciously by viticulturists, often instinctively by grape-growers or vine-growers. Practices vary enormously around the world….

For still wines, it is arguable that the viticulturist can have a greater impact on wine quality than the winemaker since so many of the factors affecting quality are viticultural. The belief that ‘wine is made in the vineyard not the cellar’ became increasingly widespread during the 1990s.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Viticulture is the study and science of grape growing for the purpose of making wine.