Watermill Winery is located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley AVA just 10 miles from downtown Walla Walla, Washington. The Brown family, a third generation apple-growing family and the owners of Blue Mountain Cider, founded Watermill in 2005. Rich Funk of Saviah Cellars initially oversaw the winemaking operations until Andrew Brown took over as winemaker in 2007.

Before launching their own winery, grapes grown by the Brown family were used for other prestigious wines from Northstar Winery, Seven Hills Winery, and Saviah Cellars. The Brown family owns some prized land in an area called “The Rocks” by the locals.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste their 2009 Merlot in a blind samples tasting. This is the second time we’ve had this wine. It is coming into its own now and is better than it was upon release. In addition to being an excellent wine, it also delivers serious bang for your buck.

Not only do the Browns produce great fruit and great wines, but they are also some of the nicest people we’ve had the pleasure to meet. If you are in the Walla Walla Valley, be sure to stop by Watermill Winery for a truly memorable visit.

2009 Watermill Winery Merlot (Walla Walla Valley): 100% Merlot. Dark, dense purple in color. Aromatic with black plum, cinnamon, and a touch of earth on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $24

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.

Recently, we had the opportunity to try six of Rasa’s current releases, their fourth vintage of wines, in a blind samples tasting. Well, folks, the Naravane brothers have done it again. The overall quality of their lineup of wines continues to impress. All six wines are excellent! And, we gave the 2010 QED a 5-star Quality rating; it truly is another “Wow!” wine. As far as Wine Peeps’ ratings go, Rasa is in a league of its own. We’ve found a “Wow!” wine (Quality rating of 5 stars) in every release they’ve had so far, which is unprecedented for us: 2007 Principia, 2008 Creative Impulse, 2009 Plus One, and now 2010 QED. Also, the 2008 Vox Populi was the consensus winner in a Tasting Group tasting of Mourvedre from around the world.

Rasa Vineyards offers their wines through their mailing list first. They are also distributed in many 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.

2010 Rasa Vineyards QED (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 79% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 8% Grenache, and 4% Viognier. Dark, dense purple. Gorgeous nose with spice rack, black pepper, and black fruit aromas. Blackberry, black cherry, spice rack, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with great complexity, and a finish that goes on for days. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50

2010 Rasa Vineyards in Order to form a more perfect Union (Columbia Valley, Washington): 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 16% Cabernet Franc. Dark red in color. Very aromatic with black fruit, wild game, and licorice on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95

2010 Rasa Vineyards Plus One Cabernet Sauvignon (Kiona Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): Deep, dark red. Amazing nose with black fruit, wild game, and eucalyptus aromas. Big, bold black fruit and game as well as leather come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $75

2010 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 67.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32.5% Merlot. Deep, dark purplish red. Very aromatic with red and black fruit and smoked meat on the nose. Black currant, black cherry, and smoked meat come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95

2010 Rasa Vineyards Principia Reserve Syrah (Les Collines Vineyard and Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley): 100% Syrah. Dark, dense purple in color. Aromatic with blackberry and earth on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity, and medium to high, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $85

2011 Rasa Vineyards Vox Populi Mourvedre (Monette’s Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley): 100% Mourvedre. Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with black fruit and wild game on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $45

Today marks six years since we started sharing our wine adventures with you here on Wine Peeps. What an exciting six years it has been! We have written 1,236 posts and tasted over 6,000 wines. We have had the pleasure to meet so many wonderful people in the wine industry as well as fellow wine enthusiasts. This past year, we traveled to many wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in Washington and Italy. In addition to those trips, we welcomed the many other opportunities we had to expand our palates and taste wines from all around the world through our tasting dinners, private tastings, samples tastings, trade tastings, and other events.

Thank you so much to all of our readers! We love wine and love sharing that passion with you through this blog. We are humbled that you care to read what we write. In the coming year, we will strive to continue providing you with compelling wine-related content. We hope that you will continue to support us by reading Wine Peeps and telling your friends about it.

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

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2012 Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Marlborough region of New Zealand.

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

Regular readers know that we are big fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the country’s flagship wine. Stoneleigh Vineyards is another producer worth checking out. Located on the northern side of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, Stoneleigh came on the scene in the late 1980’s. The winery gets its name from the abundance of stones that cover the area. The stony soils and slightly warmer climate of the area produces fruit that ripens earlier than other regions of Marlborough. The Stoneleigh vineyard is home to some of the oldest grafted Sauvignon Blanc blocks in Marlborough.

“The 2012 vintage, a naturally low-yielding year, has delivered fruit full of flavour and the Stoneleigh tropical fruit ripeness that we have come to expect. Another classic Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc featuring fantastically ripe fruit displaying tropical notes with an underlying citrus edge. Crisp, vibrant and lively—this is a very pleasing wine.” –Jamie Marfell, Winemaker

2012 Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Very pale straw yellow in color. Aromatic with grapefruit, lime, and tropical fruit on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with racy acidity and a long, refreshing 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 $15.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $17

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and wine-filled 2014!

“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!

Michelle sparkling wines from Washington State launched nationwide this fall. Previously known as Domaine Ste. Michelle, Michelle is a fresh take on their sparkling wines and feature new packaging. Located in Paterson, Washington, Michelle by Domaine Ste. Michelle is the largest producer of sparkling wines in Washington State and one of the largest sparkling wine houses in the United States, producing more than 300,000 cases each year. Michelle has been producing an excellent array of value sparkling wines for over 35 years. Rick Casqueiro has been head winemaker since 1994.

Michelle offers a Brut, Brut Rosé, and Extra Dry sparkling wine. Recently, we had the opportunity to try them in a blind samples tasting. All three sparkling wines offer very good overall quality and deliver the most bang for your buck. While the look is new, we found the same great bubbly we’ve come to know and love.

The new packaging definitely has a feminine flair. According to the winery, the majority of their sales are made to women, which is why they decided to go that direction with their refreshed image. While I understand their rationale, I hope that the new packaging doesn’t hurt their following among men. The Wine Peeps’ favorite continues to be the Brut Rosé. It is excellent and has become our “house” sparkling wine. While Dad (John) and Colby enjoy it as much as Mom (LaGayle) and I do, I think the guys are now less likely to buy it at the store since it has blush hues on a white label and comes in a clear bottle so the pink wine is clearly visible. The previous Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut Rosé bottle was much more subtle.

Too often, people only think of sparkling wines to celebrate special occasions or to ring in the New Year. I absolutely love bubbly and think that it should be enjoyed on a regular basis. Sparkling wines are also very food-friendly. All of the wines from Michelle can regularly be found for under $15 at your local grocery store and are great options to become your “house” sparkling wine that you don’t hesitate to open on a random Tuesday night, just because.

NV Michelle Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 93% Pinot Noir and 7% Pinot Meunier. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Light, pinkish salmon in color. Very aromatic with fresh raspberry, watermelon, and floral notes on the nose. Raspberry, watermelon, and a touch of cranberry and cinnamon come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $8 to $16

NV Michelle Brut Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 63% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Noir, and 18% Pinot Gris. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with white peach, apple, and yeast on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, refreshing 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 $14; Available elsewhere, $8 to $14

NV Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 63% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Noir, and 18% Pinot Gris. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Aromatic with white peach, pear, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Off-dry 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 $14; Available elsewhere, $9 to $16

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley 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

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 their white wines are made in Woodinville, all of their red wines are made at Canoe Ridge Estate in eastern Washington. The majority of fruit for this Syrah was sourced from vineyards on the Wahluke Slope.

“The Columbia Valley Syrah is a soft, jammy Syrah made in an approachable and fruit forward style. Syrah is blended with a touch of Viognier, Mourvedre, and Grenache for layers of flavors. This is an enjoyable, easy-to-enjoy red.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 94% Syrah, 3% Viognier, 2% Mourvedre, and 1% Grenache. Deep purple in color. Nice nose with black fruit and spice aromas. Black cherry, blackberry, spice, and a hint of smoked meat come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp 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: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $15 to $19

It’s that wonderful time of year! The holidays are upon us. The lights and decorations are up, the stores are bustling, and Christmas music fills the air in our cars, homes, and stores. And, soon, the relatives will be coming to town to celebrate.

So, for this challenging wine pairing, we decided to go beyond the traditional ham and try something a little different for a Christmas dinner meal. Deep fried turkey! While turkey is a popular holiday selection, and you still may be stuffed from Thanksgiving, in a few weeks when you sit down for Christmas dinner, this could be a fun splurge. It may not be the healthiest option; but it’s the holidays, so why not? We rounded out the deep fried turkey meal with a Christmas salad of mixed greens tossed with pecans, dried cherries, shaved Parmesan cheese, and Serrano honey balsamic vinegar; a broccoli, rice, and cheese casserole; and spice roasted butternut squash. For a lighter dessert after this heavy meal, we prepared a pumpkin fluff.

Now that our menu was set, our focus turned to the best wines to pair with the meal. We decided to go with a Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine and a Pinot Noir and selected the NV Gruet Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine and the 2009 Andrew Will Pinot Noir. Both wines were very good, but the unanimous choice as the best pairing with the deep fried turkey dinner was the Brut Rosé Sparkling. And, let’s face it; pink bubbly in a Champagne flute looks great on a holiday table as well.

What would you have paired with this meal?  And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for future challenging wine pairings.

Bon Appétit!

NV Gruet Brut Rosé Sparkling (America): Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Medium pink salmon in color. Very aromatic with strawberry, orange peel, and yeast on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $16.89; Available elsewhere, $12 to $17

2009 Andrew Will Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Medium-deep red. Nice nose with red cherry and earthy aromas. More red cherry and earth as well as raspberry and plum come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp 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: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $45; Available elsewhere, $50

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 Sharon Mollerus)