Wine of the Month February 2009

Collectors: 2006 Andrew Will Champoux Red Wine 59.00 Located on beautiful Vashon Island, WA, and named after Owner Chris Camarda’s son and nephew, Andrew Will has a stellar reputation and beautifully crafted wines. Andrew Will Winery was started in 1989. The winery was launched out of a love for wine that Chris had developed while working in the restaurant trade for almost 20 years. The grapes are sourced from the famed Champoux Vineyard located near Patterson. The wine is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, and sees 21 months new French oak. Tasting Notes: Strong fruit and spice on the nose, blending in to a very balanced wine with dark black berry, blueberry, cocoa and nutmeg spice. Hints of mint and smoke weave through a bold yet refined and elegant wine with supple tannins and a lingering finish. 1030 cases produced.

Classic Red: 2005 Barnard Griffin Reserve Barbera 30.00 Against the advice of his professors at U.C. Davis, who determined that Washington had too cool a climate to sustain wine grapes, Rob Griffin came to Washington in April 1977 to become Preston Winery’s first winemaker. He began making his own label in 1983 and served as winemaker at Hogue for seven years. This 100% Barbera completely expresses the unique combination of Washington terroir and the Italian varietal. Sourced entirely from the Gunkel vineyard- Eastern Columbia River Gorge- Tasting Notes: “Attractive, spicy, cinnamon and cloves on the attack complimented by solid acidity and mouth coating orange and lime fruit. Lingering flavors of candied tangerine and cinnamon oil prevail on the finish”. Very limited 504 case production.

Classic White: 2007 Morgan ‘Highlands’ Chardonnay 20.00 From the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, The primary source is the organically farmed Double L Vineyard, which constitutes forty percent of the blend and is the major contributor of complexity and minerality to the wine. There are 6 different Dijon Chardonnay clones (95, 96, 76, 4, 15, and 108), planted densely, with 6×5 spacing at Double L. Additional sources include the Rosella’s, Vinco, Black Mountain, and Lucia Highlands vineyards. The strong Salinas Valley winds lengthen the growing season and produce grapes with crisp, intense flavors. 100% Chardonnay, aged on the lees and 9 months and 35% malolactic fermentation. Tasting Notes: Rich and elegant, with crisp green apple, chestnut, walnut, pineapple, ripe pear, mango, lemon, and a hint of fresh cream minerality and butterscotch. A lasting, intense finish balances this beautiful wine perfectly. Will age nicely.

Select Red: 2006 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 19.00 Mike Januik and Scott Moeller are quite a dynamic team, making well crafted and affordable wines, not to mention award winning. Located in Woodinville, WA, Mike sources from all over the Columbia Valley. Composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and sourcing the grapes from Stillwater Creek, Alder Ridge, and Klipsun Vineyards gives this wine great balance, texture and flavor. Tasting Notes: “Rich and expressive with ripe blackberry, currant and spicy black cherry aromas and flavors. Well-balanced, with plenty of dark fruit flavors lingering across a lengthy, expressive finish.” 3,382 cases produced.

Select White: 2006 Novelty Hill Rousanne 18.00 We recently hosted a Januik and Novelty Hill Winemaker’s dinner. This was the first wine we poured and it quickly went from, “I’m sorry, what did you call that wine” to “May I please have some more?” Traditionally, Rousanne is a blending grape, originally a French Rhone varietal. But get this grape growing in our rich Washington earth, mix in an expert wine maker, and you have a grape begging to stand alone. 100% Rousanne, sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, the juice was aged sur lies for 10 months. Tasting Notes: Crisp minerality, pear and apple flavors, toasty with hints of creaminess and balanced acid, elegant and refined, with a long, spicy finish. Delicious with a creamy cheese. 485 Cases Produced.