STAN’S RED & WHITE PICK FOR MARCH 2011… WASHINGTON WINE MONTH.

Picking a wine of the month can be a difficult task for any wine writer, but it becomes even more difficult when it is for Washington Wine Month. I am sure all readers know that every wine critic is limited to the wines that they are presented with over the period of a month or two. There is no way that we can taste everything available out there. Some wine critics/writers have the privilege of having samples mailed to there front door. In my case, I have to ask for certain samples or some are dropped off at the store for me to try. Since I do not have the creds to demand a huge amount of wine, I have to settle for what I can get or buy for myself. Getting a lot of samples, or only a few does not make it easier to pick a wine to represent our great state of Washington.
Washington is making more and more headlines each year for the quality of wines it produces. I myself am quite proud of the product that the wineries are putting on the market. One of the criteria I use is affordability, since I would like as many folks as possible to be able to try the wine I recommend. I could go with a Cayuse, Buty, Cote Bonneville, Quilceeda Creek, Leonetti, Woodward Canyon, Dellile Cellars, Mark Ryan Winery or …. you know where I am going with this. I however will pass up these obviously stellar efforts to find a wine that almost anyone can afford.
My choice for white wine of the month is a very unlikely choice. I have tasted this wine in the past and have not been impressed. However, this current vintage stands alone as an outstanding Pinot Gris.

2009 NW Vine Project Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon) … $9.99

There is a nice creaminess on the nose of this wine (If that is possible) with notes of honied peaches and red delicious apple. Notes of peaches, banana, papaya come through on the palate with a nice weight on the mid-palate. Very creamy and smooth going seamlessly from start to finish with some nice sweet lemon notes on a pleasing finish. 91+ points

The red wine of the month is actually one that I have liked over the past couple of vintages and it is an over-achiever.

2009 Charles & Charles Red (Columbia Valley, Washington) …$9.99

Wine maker Charles Smith of K Vintners fame and Charles Bieler of Three Bandits collaborated on this project to create a really nice blend. This vintage is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Syrah. When it comes to anything with syrah in it, Charles Smith has it dialed in. This blend is quite a mouthful for only ten bucks. Plush on the palate with layered flavors of boysenberry, plum, coffee and mocha. Smooth tannins and good structure with a lingering finish. A seriously good value that is made to drink now but will hold for a couple of years.

I worried over the choices for a long time, and I believe that these two wines are an excellent representation of Washington wines and the states potential. I encourage you to give them a try and see if you agree. I would love for you to comment on my blog and let me know your opinion, it means a lot to me. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man.