Wine of the Month March 2009

Collectors: 2006 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon 49.00
Woodward Canyon has been practicing sustainable farming practices since before it was fashionable. The Artist Series started in 1992 with the primary goal of showcasing Washington State Cabernet. The label changes every vintage with work from different local, Pacific Northwest artists. This vintage, the artist is Tyrell, and the medium is oil on aluminum. The wine is sourced from the following vineyards: Champoux, Dubrul, Sagemoor, Woodward Canyon Estate and Charbonneau . Aged in predominantly French Bordeaux barrels, with a composition of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah and 1% Merlot. Jim and I both agree this is our favorite vintage yet. Tasting Notes: Aromas of spicy oak and cedar integrated with ripe black fruits and cherry. A sweet, rich mouth feel begins with cassis and ripe black berry leading towards chocolate and mocha. The finish is complex, generous and long. 2472 cases produced.

Classic Red: 2006 Walla Walla Vintners Cuvee 30.00 I’ve said it before, we love these guys. Not only are the wines consistent, but who doesn’t love to drink them? Always balanced and always delicious, they offer a perfect representation of Walla Walla wine. If I had to pick a favorite right now, it would be this Cuvee. Gordy and Miles started making wine at home many years ago, became the eighth bonded winery in Walla Walla, and now plan their first harvest from newly planted estate vineyards in 2010. Eight vineyards from four AVAs make up this glorious blend — Cordon Grove, Dwelley, Frazier Bluff, Killian, Sagemoor, Spring Creek and Weinbau vineyards. It is 38% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Carmenere and 5% each of Malbec and Syrah. Tasting Notes: Elegant and integrated, with aromas of dark berries and cherries, melt away to flavors of lush berry, cocoa, hints of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, and tropical nuances. Mellow tannins and balanced acid make this a great friend to sip alone or enjoy with food.

Classic White: 2005 St. Jean ‘Robert Young’ Chardonnay 26.00 Established in 1973, 2006 marked Margo Van Staaveren’s 27th harvest at Chateau St. Jean. Famous for the Cinq Cepages, we really love the white varietals from Chateau St. Jean as well. The famous Robert Young Vineyard is located in the north central Alexander Valley. The Chardonnay plantings are in alluvial clay soils. The wine sees 15 months in barrel with sur lee aging and no malolactic fermentation. Tasting notes: Toasty, with butterscotch and honeysuckle, hints of nutmeg and smoke, with fleshy components of peach, apricot citrus and honey on the finish.

Select Red: 2006 Tagaris Counoise 19.00 This newer winery is neighbors with Barnard Griffin and Bookwalter in Richland, WA. Winemaker, Frank Roth, worked under the Cellar master at Barnard Griffin, and then moved nest door to Tagaris. 100% Counoise and sourced from the Alice Vineyard located on the Wahluke Slope. This area recently became a Washington AVA , and lies in the center of the Columbia Valley AVA , bounded on the west and southern ends by the Columbia River, on the north by the Saddle Mountains and on the east by federal lands of the Hanford Reach National Monument. Water poor and hot weather are perfect growing conditions for this original Rhone blending varietal. Roth’s goal at Tagaris is to “become the premiere authority for making wine using as little oak as possible so the vibrant fruit flavors of the wine are predominant.” Tasting Notes: Strawberry and blueberry, hints of rhubarb and white pepper, earthy terroir and good acid, bright and lively on the palate. 128 cases produced.

Select White: 2005 Martin Ray “Russian River” Chardonnay 18.00 Martin Ray was a somewhat irascible vintner who pioneered the idea of varietal wines in California. Ray also understood the importance of planting grape varietals in terroir that suites them. Carrying on in that tradition, Bryan Davison, winemaker at Martin Ray believes that nothing should be added nor taken away from the wine, bringing it to us in it’s purest form. 100% Chardonnay harvested from the hills of the Russian River Valley , the wine sees 10 months in French oak and on the lees, giving the wine a rich mouth feel. Tasting Notes: Fresh peaches, apple and vanilla melt into an elegant structure and forming a flawless finish.