So, this is the start of my Washington Wine reviews for the month of August 2013 (Washington Wine Month). Five wines a day for twenty days, totaling 100 wine reviews for the month. I think it is appropriate that I start with one of my local wineries, San Juan Vineyards. I had a chance to taste through the 2010 vintages of their reds and the currant release of the Riesling. Here are my notes from the Moleskine…
2010 San Juan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills, WA) … $24.99
A little perfumed on the nose with notes of tobacco, anise, cherries and cassis. Nice plushness on the palate with intense cherry and currant notes, backed by hits of tobacco. Polished and structured tannins (figure that one out), with a spicy backbone. This wine strikes a nice balance of fruit and acidity, being intense without being fruit-forward. There is a nice leather hit on the white pepper, spice driven finish. I love the fact that wine maker Chris Primus allowed the quality fruit to express itself without oak getting in the way. (A-)
2010 San Juan Vineyards Cabernet Franc (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $24.99
Veggie notes come through on the nose along with perfumed red flowers, black licorice and a back-drop of currants. Intense notes of dark currants and blackberries on the front of the palate with a nice backbone of acidity. There is a spicy element that comes into play on the mid-palate that flows into the finish followed by notes of currants, spice, tobacco, chocolate and subtle herbaceous elements. This is just another “star” cab franc from wine maker Chris Primus. (A)
2010 San Juan Vineyards Merlot (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $24.99
Subtle cedar note aromas come through along with notes of currants, cassis, vanilla, tobacco and red flowers. Smooth and rich currant and cassis notes dominate the front of the palate. Spice comes through on the mid-palate and intensifies into a long finish of tobacco, licorice and currants with a little leather thrown in. Nice balance of acidity and minerality backed by polished, structured tannins. This baby will be a beauty in the next two to four years. (A-)
2010 San Juan Vineyards Cab-Merlot (Horse Heaven Hills, WA) … $13.99
Aromas of black licorice, with hits of cinnamon and currants. A very nice warm spice element on the nose with a back-drop of red flowers and wet wood. Very bright fruit up front, with notes of cassis and currants with a backbone of black licorice. The acidity dominates on the palate leading into a tobacco, cassis and currant driven finish. The intensity of the brightness is almost over-powering. I am going to give this wine a little break and say with a little more time in the bottle, the brightness will probably calm down. Many of the reds from San Juan Vineyards improve quite a bit over a two-year period. (B-)
2012 San Juan Vineyards Riesling (Les Vignes De Marcoux, Yakima Valley, WA) … $10.99
Aromas of apples and white flowers with a sugar/peach juice hit. Sweet green apples on the front of the palate, with a peach element coming through. Nice bright backbone, balances out the sweetness. Peach and apricot notes hit on the mid-palate with just a touch of creaminess and a hit of petrol. Nice balance of sweet and acid leads into a delicious, bracing finish that lingers. This is not a dry riesling, but I think with the acid, it will appeal to a broad range of riesling fans and it is only 10.9% alcohol. (B+)
I will say it once more (and this will not be the last time), I am proud of our local winery and I really like what wine maker Chris Primus brings to the table. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
