ROB GRIFFIN LIGHTS IT UP AT THE GRANGE!

The stage was set for Rob Griffin to educate the audience on his wines and nuances of the wine world and educate he did. The only thing I wish I could have done was order up some warm weather so that Rob could have enjoyed his brief stay on the island better. Man was it cold and windy! Weather aside, Rob Griffin was a delight and he had the rapt attention of those who came to be a part of the “Intimate Tasting With The Wine Maker” held Thursday, April 14 at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor.


I have long been a huge fan of the wines from Barnard Griffin. From the retail standpoint, the Tulip Label series represents one of the best values in wine that you will find out of Washington State. They not only are inexpensive, they are fabulous wines to drink, from the fume blanc to the cabernet sauvignon. Barnard Griffin also produces outstanding reserve wines that are also very reasonably priced. As Rob pointed out, Bill Gates served both the Barnard Griffin Tulip Label Chardonnay and the Barnard Griffin Reserve Merlot at one of his parties and if it is good enough for one of the wealthiest men in the world, maybe we should give it a shot. Good point!


That was just one of the interesting anecdotes Rob threw in as we enjoyed his wines and took notes. Here are a few of the notes I took regarding the wines we tasted, and my scores.


2009 Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington) …

The element I find most appealing in good sauvignon blanc is bracing acidity with excellent fruit to back it up. I like the white to cut across my palate like a razor blade. It is true that not all consumers like this style, but that is what I am wild about. This sauvignon blanc strikes a nice balance between high acidity and a nice softer approach. On the nose there are subtle hits of green apple, white flowers and grapefruit. With a nice roundness to it. This wine actually had a bouquet that jumped from the glass. On the palate there is good acidity although it is not bracing, it is still acceptable. Notes of Golden Delicious Apple, grapefruit, some minerality and tiny hits of honied lemon on the finish. The finish was a little sweeter then I normally prefer but hardly sweet by most standards. I think a lot of folks are going to like this white, which will match up nicely with shellfish, salads and fowl. For the price it is an excellent value 88 points


2009 Barnard Griffin Viognier…

This wine is slightly restrained on the nose which is unusual for viognier. Slight aromas of apple and white flowers. However, the wine does not let you down on the palate. Very delicate with wonderful flavors of mandarin orange, white flowers, and apple that flow across the palate with elegance into a delicious finish. 89 points


2009 Barnard Griffin Rousanne…

What a beautiful wine! Some versions of this varietal can show weight and viscosity. Not so with this one. Aromas white flowers and tropical fruits. On the palate this wine was lighter then expected but it delivered. Notes of apple and pear with some white flower components. Hints of tangerine came through on the back of the mid-palate and a clean lasting finish. I could see this wine matching up with a variety of seafood dishes from clams to crab. 90 points


2010 Rose of Sangiovese…

Really good rose should be, in my humble opinion both dry and flavorful. This rose fit the bill in both categories. Notes of strawberry, cherry and rhubarb penetrate the palate with a bracing acidity that cuts through to a finish that lingers. This is an award winning rose that should be a staple on the deck this summer. 91 points



Non-Vintage (nv) Barnard Griffin Cab-Merlot

This has been a staple red at the winery for a long time. Year in and year out this red has been a top seller at the store I work at. By making it a non-vintage, Rob explained to us that it allows him flexibility in using a variety of vintages available to achieve the blend he desires. I have noticed many times on the label that the biggest variation is the amount of cabernet franc he uses.

Notes of blackberry, vanilla and spice come through on the nose. Silky smooth on the palate with notes of mocha, blackberry, cherry and herbal components. The tannins are soft, but the wine has good structure and will hold up to such foods as grilled meats, stews or hamburgers. 90 points


2009 Barnard Griffin Tulip Label Syrah

As we all know, syrah is taking quite a hit in the market these days. This is sad to see because syrah is such a wonderful and diverse red. Some are soft and fruity, others show a load of bacon-fat and smoke, and then there are the Barnard Griffin versions that have some muscle and acidity to them.

Notes of plum and bright cherry come through on the bouquet. Good strength on the palate with a strong backbone of acidity and well integrated tannins. Notes of plum, anise and hits of blueberry flow across the palate into a finish of good length. This baby screams for lamb, ham or baby back ribs. 89 points


2008 Barnard Griffin Tulip Label Merlot

I thought it would be nice to taste a couple of merlot at this event since it is starting to bounce back from the beating it took from the movie Sideways. There are so many merlot based wines especially out of France that are phenomenal. Anyone ever heard of Cheval-Blanc or Petrus? That being said, the Tulip merlot showed quite nicely. A nose of plum and cherry with hints of spice. Nice and lively on the palate with sweet tannins, cherry and blackberry components and a little kick of spice and oak on the finish. 88 points


2009 Barnard Griffin Reserve Zinfandel

This is a varietal that you do not see a lot of in the state of Washington. For one thing, there has to be a long warm growing season. There are just a couple of sites in this state that can accommodate zin and Rob sources fruit from Maryhill Winery which also produces a zin.

I was impressed with this effort. Aromas of spice, blackberry and cherry come through nicely. On the palate this zin explodes with flavors of blackberry, black raspberry and anise. Vibrant acidity drives the flavors through the palate with a nice peppery hit on the finish. This will be on my table the next time I cook up some lamb and will be by my side at the bbq. This is very limited so if you can get your hands on some do it. 92 points


2008 Barnard Griffin Reserve Malbec

Malbec is a tough play for domestic wineries because it is hard to compete with our boys from down south; Argentina. This is one of the most explosive categories in the wine world right now and there are a ton coming out of the aforementioned country that are very good for next to nothing. Land, labor and fruit are so much less expensive. However, there are wineries that are producing some all-star Malbec and if we want to have them we need to loosen the wallet a bit.

Nice nose on this baby with notes of dark fruit and hints of spice. Full on the palate the juice is laced with blackberry and black currant notes with hits of pepper and spice. Good length on a pleasing finish. It goes for around thirty – plus dollars which isn’t cheap. For less money you could probably get equal quality from Washington State. Good juice, just a little pricey for what you get. 90 points


2007 Barnard Griffin Reserve Merlot

Remember, this is the wine that Bill Gates ordered up for his party. I understand why. This is proof that merlot should not be over-looked. Very expressive on the nose with notes of red flowers, plum and some toasty notes. Very elegant yet powerful on the palate with a smoothness that is enticing. Notes of dark cherry, vanilla and subtle chocolate undertones come through into a pleasing long finish. This wine has the finesse to go with salmon and enough power to compliment lighter beef dishes. 91 points


2007 Barnard Griffin Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Hands down my personal favorite at this tasting event. Beautiful bouquet of blackberry, cherry and black tea notes. Very plush yet structured on the palate with notes of boysenberry, cherry and wonderful chocolate notes that expand on the back of the mid-palate into a lingering finish that leaves you begging for more. This baby is layered and delicious with the strength to age for up to five years. No need for that though since it is so good right now. Pair this gem with some grilled meats or simply enjoy it all by itself. 94 points


2009 Barnard Griffin Reserve Syrah Port

Every time I put together any kind of Barnard Griffin tasting folks ask if I am going to include the syrah port. How can you not like this wine. A ten in the delicious factor. Wonderful nose of dark berries and sweet cream with a hint of toast. Rich and layered on the palate with notes of chocolate, blackberry and hints of blueberry that coat your palate but are not over-the-top. You have to be careful with this baby because it can disappear in a heartbeat. At 18.5% alcohol that could mean trouble. One of the folks at the tasting commented that they normally do not like Port, but they really enjoyed this one. 93 points


Barnard Griffin Winery stands out as a winery that puts out value driven, quality wines. Rob Griffin has the longest tenure as a wine maker in the state of Washington. He is passionate about wine and the wine world and it shows in the quality of his work. It sounds like his daughter is following in his footsteps and that is good news for us.

As always, I like to let everyone know what the crowd favorite was at the event. The rose of sangiovese was by far the most popular wine followed closely by the Tulip Label cab-merlot. In the Reserve line, the zinfandel was the crowd favorite. As noted, for me it was the Reserve Cab.

If you haven’t tried Barnard Griffin wines recently, I encourage you to seek them out. The syrah and zinfandel would be a nice match for your Easter lamb. Or try the rose of sangiovese or merlot with your Easter ham. You will not be disappointed and you will save a boat load of money. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man.

About Stan The Wine Man

I am a blue collar wine guy who has been in the biz for over twenty years. I work at a store in a tourist destination stop. I work hard at finding the best wine for the money. I love the challenge of learning my customer's palate so I can find the best wine for them, whether it is Petrus or white zinfandel. Cheers!
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