Perhaps a little bigger in scope then I first intended, this years celebration of “Washington Wine Month” turned out great with lots of folks coming to the event to taste some pretty good juice from our very own state. I selected wines that I thought well represented the broad scope of wines available. Northwest Totem Cellars, Coyote Canyon, Buty, NXNW, Pacific Rim, Next, O Winery and Genesis. Special thanks to Mike Sharadin, owner of and wine maker for Northwest Totem Cellars and Mike Andrews, owner of Coyote Canyon Winery for making the effort to be at the event. They added a nice personal touch to their wines.
I would also like to thank Karen from Columbia Distributing, Gabriel from Cavatappi Distributing and Jonathan from American N.W. Distributing for helping out and talking with the tasters about the wines at the event. I believe everyone got a better grasp of these wineries.
Everyone seemed enthused about the quality of wines and I think like myself, they were a bit overwhelmed with the amount of wines there were to taste. I now have my work cut out for me as I give you a brief overview of the wines that we poured. I will also interject some of the comments that I heard from those in attendance.
At the Karen’s table (Columbia Distributing) we had five wines…
2008 O Winery Chardonnay (Columbia Valley)… $13.99
I have found this to be an excellent value in Washington chardonnay showing good quality. Notes of creamy peaches and melon on the nose. Balanced on the palate with notes of green apple, honeydew melon and starfruit. Creamy on the mid-palate with a nice dry finish lending it well to seafood or fowl. The perfect chardonnay for the Pacific Northwest fare. 88 points
2007 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling… $12.99
Quintessential Alsace nose on this baby, which is certainly not for everyone. Notes of rubber boot with hints of tropical fruits on the back end. I liked it, but I knew that it might turn some off if they are not used to this sort of bouquet. In the mouth it opened into notes of peaches and apricots. Sweet on the mid-palate with tiny hits of that rubber boot action. This wine starts off sweet and finishes dry with nice red delicious apple notes lingering on the palate. By the looks of the orders, there were not a lot of old world Riesling fans at the tasting. For my part, I thought it was an outstanding effort and unique in style for out state. 89+ points
2008 Genesis Syrah (Columbia Valley)… $12.99
For the price this is a very well made Syrah, representing the potential for Washington wines.
On the nose you get notes of boysenberry, bacon fat and a little char action. Big notes of dark fruits, bacon fat and blueberry hit the palate and wake it up. A nice freshness crosses the palate from start to finish, so although plush, it is not heavy. (Well done!) 89+ points
2008 Next Red Blend (45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 17% Petite Verdot, 2% Merlot)… $14.99
This turned out to be one of the crowd favorites of the evening. A nice brightness on the nose with notes of raspberry vine licorice, cherries and red currant. Fresh tannins on the palate with blackberry and cassis notes up front. Dark fruits and spice that carry over into a somewhat short finish. I loved this too but felt it was just a little thin in the mid-palate and finish. 88 points
2008 NXNW Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley)… $24.99
Past vintages have not impressed but this one takes it to the next level. A little stink action on the nose which was interesting followed by forest floor and black currants. The alcohol showed up just a little but wasn’t off-putting. Sweet tannins with some nice minerality coming through on the palate. Boysenberry and leather notes come out on the mid-palate with hits of mocha and vanilla on the medium finish. This wine will age nicely over the next 5-8 years. What a great effort in Washington cab. This wine showed some nice terrior. Many of the tasters loved this cab. 90 points
Table #2 featured the wines of Coyote Canyon. Mike Andrews, owner and wine maker for the winery along with his tasting room assistant and Jonathan (Jazzman) sales rep for American NW Distributing poured five wines.
2009 Coyote Canyon Viognier (Horse Heaven Hills)… $14.99
Mike Andrews has Viognier dialed in. Every vintage I have tasted has been exceptional. This one was just a little restrained on the nose with some peaches and apricots coming through. Lush on the palate with notes of sweet papaya and banana that carried across the mid-palate into a creamy long finish with hints of sugar cane. This scores high in the delicious category and was just a little too sweet for me on the finish. 88+ points
2006 Coyote Canyon Sangiovese (Horse Heaven Hills)… $17.99
This baby has a ton of character in it. A bouquet of Raspberries, Strawberry, red currants and a little charcoal component. Nice balance on the palate with red currants and strawberry up front and into the mid-palate. The wine really revs up on the finish with sweet tannins and good acidity. Slightly hot on the back end. 14.8% alcohol might have had something to do with that. 88+ points
2008 Coyote Canyon Tres Cruces (Horse Heaven Hills)… $19.99
This one featured Mikes new label which I think is a definite improvement over the last one. This wine got just about everyone’s attention. Very round and intense. A bouquet of vanilla, plum, anise and mocha got your attention right away. Lush up front, sweet tannins with notes of boysenberry, mocha and vanilla that had good balance from start to finish. On the finish there were some interesting charcoal components with a little pepper and spice on the dark fruit notes. Good length. I have to say that more folks talked this wine up then any other at the tasting. 90+ points
2007 Coyote Canyon “Big John” Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills)… $34.99
This is one of the wines the owner Mike Andrews is most proud of. A cab that shows off the wonderful fruit source that he has at Horse Heaven Hills in Columbia Valley.
The nose is heavy on oak with notes of vanilla and blackberry with a little mint action. On the palate this wine shows good weight and balance. Not a lot of “punch” on the front with notes of black currants and chocolate. Stays a bit muted on the mid-palate but watch out. This wine starts to explode on the back of the mid into an incredible finish of dark cherries, black currant and a generous dose of spices that linger with just a touch of tannic grip. This is a smooth seamless cab, and the only flaw I detect ( This is palate preference of course.) is a bit too much oak. Over-all however I think this wine is worth the thirty-five bucks and has good potential to age over the next ten to twelve years. 90+ points
2009 Sweet Louis Late Harvest Viognier/Riesling (Columbia Valley)… $18.99
This was a bonus wine that Mike brought along. As you know, I have trouble rating dessert wines simply because almost all of them are delicious and this one is no exception. Sweet, sweet, sweet with notes of apricots and pear. If you have a sweet tooth and need fix, this baby will do the trick. I liked it because the price is right and it is what it is… a dessert wine. The trick now is to experiment a little and try it with some stinky cheese. WOW! You could also pour this over ice cream if your heart desires. A “Ten” in the delicious factor. 89 points
Table #3 featured the wines of Buty (That’s beauty, not booty). Gabriel from Cavatappi Distributing was responsible for featuring this outstanding winery of Washington. My apologies to Gabriel for spelling his name Gabrielle on the tasting sheet. I am glad he has a sense of humor, at least I think he does, we will find out later. Here are the wines he featured.
2009 Buty Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley)… $24.99
Buty is well known for their whites and the first taste of this was evidence as to why. A bouquet of cut grass, melons and crushed rock/slate. Beautiful on the palate with an acidity that was muted but obvious throughout the experience. Notes of melon, crushed rock, grass and herbs with a kiss of honey. Seamless across the palate with a burning desire to bust out the acid without ever overriding the roundness of the fruit. 65% Semillon, 27% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% muscadelle. 90 points
2009 Buty Chardonnay Conner Lee Vineyard (Columbia Valley)… $35.99
In a country dominated by big bold often over-oaked, buttery chardonnay, it is always a refreshing change of pace to find one done in a more subdued style, closer to the chardonnay of Burgundy. There are a few around and this is one of them. Showing a nose of red apples, fig and graham crackers. On the palate this wine is plush without being fat. Notes of fuji apple and creamy mango this chardonnay has excellent balance and a persistent, pleasing finish. This chard saw a little kiss of oak but it is hardly detectable. I know it’s thirty-six bucks but for all those blowing this same amount of cash on a bottle of Rombauer, this is worth a try. I believe you will be sold! 94 points
2008 Beast (By Buty) Wildebeast Red (Columbia Valley)… $22.99
One of the lower priced wines from Buty this is an excellent value. Interesting nose of seasoned meat, mint and blackberry. I love red wines that have a little seasoned prime rib on the nose. Very layered and complex on the palate with up front notes of blackberry, spice, anise, chocolate and hints of mocha. The wine expands through the mid-palate with some hits of black currants and mixed fruit. The finish is very persistent leaving you with a silky spice mouth-feel that hangs on for some time. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 10% malbec. 91 points
2009 Buty Merlot/Cab Franc Champoux Vineyard (Horse Heaven Hills)… $39.99
This was one of my favorite reds of the night, a feeling shared by most. Next to seasoned prime rib, I am always in anticipation when I get the nose of celery, tomato leaf and bittersweet chocolate that this wine had, which comes from the cab franc. Layered and silky on the palate. Notes of dark fruits and chocolate with hits of spice box that intensify on the explosive mid-palate. Solid tannins that are silky and seductive this wine finishes with a kiss of vanilla and fennel that goes on for a long time. This wine will improve nicely over the next 10-15 years. 64% Merlot & 36% Cabernet franc 94 points
2008 Buty Rediviva Of The Stones Red (Walla Walla)… $51.99
As we have learned in our wine drinking experience, price does not always denote quality and yet it can bring something special to the table. A blend of 79% Syrah & 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, this red is big and plush on the nose with notes of black plum, pencil lead, bacon fat, chocolate and brown sugar. (If you didn’t get all that, don’t worry. I think I was mesmerized by the bouquet of this wine and got carried away). Powerful bright fruit up front with a beam of anise, blueberry and cassis. The mid-palate was lacking a bit and seemed to tail off a bit too much for my taste. The finish has some nice spice and chocolate components with a little charcoal hit, but was a little was a little on the short side. This wine is delicious but lacks just a few important elements, especially for fifty large. 86+ points
At table #4 I would like to introduce you to Mike Sharadin, owner and wine maker at Northwest Totem Cellars. It is no secret that I am jazzed about these wines and I was thrilled that Mike was willing to come up and share them with the tasters.
2008 NW Totem Cellars Salish White (Columbia Valley)… $10.99
A very pleasing bouquet of red apple skins drizzled with honey, orange peel and peaches. On the palate this wine is quite sweet with notes of sugar cane, apricots, and melon. This wine had a medium to long finish displaying notes of red delicious apple skins sprinkled with a little sugar. A “10” in the delicious factor, this wine borders on “dessert” but doesn’t quite get there. If you are a sweeter Riesling fan this is a “No-Brainer”. 88 points
2007 NW Totem Cellars Longhouse Syrah Elerding Vineyard (Yamika Valley)… $19,99
This is a new addition to his syrah line-up with just a little twist on the blend adding a little (9%) petite verdot. Nice intense nose of boysenberry and cherry. This syrah has a nice earthy edge to it with notes of spice and black plum all over the front of the palate. A nice blackberry soaked bark component on the mid-palate flowing nicely into a long finish of blackberry, plum and a little char aspect. This is a big bang for the buck and twenty dollars. 91 points
2007 NW Totem Cellars Merlot Chandler Reach Vineyard (Yakima Valley)… $21.99
It was the Merlot that sold me on this winery back in the day and it continues to deliver. A wonderful deep nose of spicy cherries, sweet blackberries and a hit of clove. A big hit of blackberries on the front of the palate followed by cedar and red currants with a little cassis. This red has a nice backbone of acidity that will help it age over the next 8-10 years. Excellent balance and a good flow over the palate with just a tiny hit of bitterness on the finish. 90 points
2007 NW Totem Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elerding Vineyard (Yakima Valley)… $35.99
Very classic Northwest cab on the nose. Slightly subdued notes of deep dark cherries , oak, dried flowers and just a hint of minerality. Powerful on the palate with notes of spicy dark berries and hints of brown sugar. Good balance of acidity and fruit that carries across the mid-palate with just hints of toasty oak on the back side. Very persistent finish this wine is structured yet soft and approachable now although it will age nicely over the next 5-10 years. As I was taking the notes for this cab, I noticed that the finish just kept hanging on. A great example of the potential for cab in our great state. 94 points
2007 NW Totem Cellars Late Harvest Viognier (Columbia Valley)… $ 24.99
Yes, another dessert wine at the tasting and it was just as good as the Sweet Louise, although personally I thought is was slightly better for my palate. Very fruit driven on the nose with notes of apricots and orange peel. On the palate this wine has a lot of finesse and balance, with clean finish that is not cloying. Yes, this wine is sweet and delicious with notes of peaches, honey and hints of pineapple and like the other, it is a “10” in the delicious factor. What sets this one apart for me is the clean mouth-feel that it leaves. Personally, I like that aspect in a dessert wine. 92 points
We all had a lot of fun at this tasting and I got a ton of positive feed-back. One taster made an astute observation. She said that in a lot of the tastings, we feature value driven wines, usually under the twenty dollar mark. At this one she noticed a marked difference in the quality level of the ten to fifteen dollar wines and those from Buty or Totem Cellars that were above the thirty dollar mark. She pointed out that is was a good lesson for the palate to see why some wines demand a higher price… They are obviously of higher quality. I agree with her observation and would like to add that I felt Coyote Canyon wines were both of high quality and value driven. As a result, they were the most popular that night at the tasting event. Northwest Totem Cellars was the popular winery in the upper price range for the tasters.
I did not think there was a bad wine in the house and I appreciate the effort everyone made to be there and help out. Next year I will tone it down a bit and keep it to three wineries. Washington wines are fast getting a hold in the wine world and writers and critics alike are sitting up and taking notice. We are all lucky to be living in such a great wine producing state. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man.
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