| Northwest Wine Fan Presents A Taste of Washington By Tim Sinniger |
| A TASTE OF WASHINGTON Wine Review When: Thursday - February 24th, 2005 "The Wine Club" got together for a retrospective Washington tasting. The idea here was to try some of my Washington wines to see how they were aging. The Wine Menu: 2001 Snoqualmie Cabernet Sauvignon - Rosebud Vineyard I found this at Snoqualmie Winery. It is their first vintage and is winery release only. Wine Press Northwest gave it an "Outstanding Award". 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense red current fruit aromas with hints of sweet sage and cocoa. Sweet butterscotch and wood flavors come through on the palate. The wine boasts soft, luscious tannins and dense fruit adds a perception of sweetness on the finish though it is a dry wine. 1998 Chateau Ste Michelle Reserve Merlot Not originally on the menu I decided to throw this one in because I thought it was still drinking nicely. Not that I have drank any of our right bank Bordeaux yet, but I hope it tastes as good as this Merlot from Washington. Soft and plush, with berry and currant that leaves off with fine tannins. We picked up some spice and vanilla on the finish. 2000 Seven Hills Merlot - Seven Hills Vineyard One of the Washington Merlots Dave, Kevin and I bought on Seven Hills Winery's reputation alone, a few years ago. 93 points Wine Spectator, this Merlot has matured and was interesting to try. Mostly Merlot with a small portions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Plump and nicely focused, with delicious currant, blueberry flavors. Fine tannins on the finish. 2000 Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage One from my admitted weakness for all things Ste Michelle. This Bordeaux blend has been made since 1994 and is one of my favorites. 90 points Wine Spectator. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. Firm and finely focused, with lovely, spicy blueberry and currant flavors at the core, pointing nicely through the fine-grained tannins into a long, elegant finish. 1998 Columbia Winery Peninsula A Bordeaux blend that Carolyn and I found at a visit to the winery last summer. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. These Peninsula wines are not usually given out for critic ratings and is Columbia Winery?s prestige release. Deep ruby red, good depth. Attractive smoky hue of ripe berry fruit with notes of cedar-wood, herbs and spice. Palate has sweet fruit. Nice lingering finish. 2002 Cougar Crest Syrah - Estate Walla Walla What can I say...94 points Wine Spectator and of the top 100 wines of 2004. No one has not tasted this one yet, so it was fun to taste a current release for the first time together. Ripe, a really big syrah! Showing bright berries, blackberry, blueberry and spice flavors with a hint of smoke. Glad I have more bottles! A good time was had by all as we enjoyed these wines with light apetizers prepared by Carolyn. The favorites seemed to be the 2001 Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage and the 2002 Cougar Crest Syrah. We are looking forward to another "Guys Night Out!" |
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| Tim Sinniger |