Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
Wine Blogging Wednesday #48: Back to Your Roots
By Kori ~ August 13th, 2008.
This month’s edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday marks the fourth anniversary of the blogosphere’s monthly virtual wine tasting event. Our host is none other than the founder of WBW himself, Lenn Thompson of LENNDEVOURS. In celebration, he has asked us to go back to our wine drinking roots and revisit a wine from our past, something from the beginning of our wine journey, such as the first wine we ever drank, the first wine we really liked, or the first wine to grab our attention.
As soon as I read Lenn’s theme, I knew which wine I would revisit…the Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling. My first real exposure to wine was visiting the nearby wineries in Woodinville with friends during my days at the University of Washington. Ten years ago there were not nearly as many wineries in Washington State. A wine tasting trip to Woodinville generally consisted of two stops, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery, which are located across the street from each other. Of the wines we tasted in those early days, the Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling was my clear favorite. As a wine newbie, I was drawn to this sweet white wine. When my parents came to visit, I took them to the wineries and introduced them to the Cellarmaster’s Riesling as well. They were sold, too.
My, how far we have come. Ten years and thousands of wines later, my preference is for big, bold reds, and I hardly ever drink sweet whites anymore. But thanks to Lenn, I headed for the local grocery store and picked up a bottle of our old favorite. We had this wine with Mom’s wonderful braised chicken breast, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and fruit salad. While the trip down memory lane was a lot of fun, none of us really cared for this wine anymore.
It is fascinating how our tastes and palates change over time. I would encourage you to go back and try a wine from your past just to see how you have changed on your wine journey. If you are fairly new to wine, be sure to remember what you like now so that you can revisit it in five or ten years.
2006 Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling (Columbia Valley): Aromas and flavors of apricot, pear, and honey. Very sweet and smooth but also a bit heavy and syrupy on the palate. A long finish that coats your mouth and lingers, but I wish it wouldn’t.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to Buy: QFC (Seattle), $7.99; Available elsewhere, $7 to $14
Filed under: American Wine, Riesling, Washington State Wine, White Wine, Wine Blogging Wednesday, Wines NOT To Buy (1 & 2 Star), Wines Under $10
