We are wrapping up the first five days reviewing Washington wines for Washington Wine Month. As is to be expected, I have discovered many fantastic wines from the great state of Washington. In fact, I haven’t found a bad one yet (although I know it may happen). As difficult as it is to put up my tasting notes for 100 Washington wines, I am excited with what I am finding and having a blast doing it.
As promised, I will start today with two of the Mackey Vineyard wines that I have tasted and finish up with an assortment of others.
2009 Mackey Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain, WA) … $50.
Aromas of red currants, baked earth (Red Mt. BABY!), cassis and red flowers. Round, plush currant notes on the front of the palate with tobacco and licorice notes coming out. Penetrating and concentrated on silky, structured tannins making it quite approachable. Long spicy finish with currant notes lingering. Excellent structure and a nice backbone of minerals make this one of the top cabs I have tasted out of Washington (a close second to Mark Ryan’s Lonely Heart cab). (A)
2011 Mackey Vineyards Riesling Off Dry (Columbia Valley, WA) … $16.99
Apples and pears “pop” on the nose with a backdrop of golden raisins and citrus. Tangerines all over the palate with a little cane sugar hit. A little petrol comes around on the mid-palate flowing into notes of tangerine sorbet, quince and pear on the finish. (B-)
2008 Kyra PSV Red (Purple Sage Vineyards… Columbia Valley, WA) … $17.99
Aromas of currants, red flowers and tomato stem. Notes of cherries and currants with a splash of tomato stem from front to back with some spice coming through on the finish that lingers. Soft tannins with a chalky minerality and a brightness that backs the fruit from start to finish. (C+)
2008 Tertulia Cellars Redd Brand Red (Columbia Valley, WA) ,,, $15.99
Aromas of rusty cherries with a bright edge, joined by notes of red flowers, tobacco and pencil lead. Chalky tannins back currant, cherry and rust notes. Black olive and a hit of tobacco show up on the mid-palate as it leans up on the leaner green bell pepper, clean finish. This is as seriously close to a Bordeaux as you can get without being one. If you lean towards “old world” style reds, you are going to love this one. 50% cabernet sauvignon 30% merlot and a splash of petite verdot, cab franc and malbec. (B+)
Non-Vintage Tertulia Cellars Redd Brand Malbec (Columbia Valley, WA) … $15.99
Very interesting on the nose with aromas of meat marinated in cassis juice with a background of violets, herbs, licorice and vanilla. Sage and black cherry notes hit the front of the palate backed by chalky tannins. There is a little blueberry hit on the mid-palate followed by notes of chocolate and tobacco on a dark brooding finish. I could smell this wine all day, it had so much on the nose, and its good wine to drink. (B+)
Well, that’s it for week 1 of Washington Wine Month. Twenty-five down seventy-five to go. I will start Monday with a recap of the Barnard Griffin wines that were tasted at last nights “Intimate Tasting With The Wine Maker”, featuring Rob Griffin. Rob did an excellent job speaking to the group, and the wines were drinking fantastic. We tasted through eleven wines, so that will be covered on Monday & Tuesday of week two. I will also include some thoughts on the event itself. Have a great weekend. Cheer! Stan The Wine Man
