Wines Tasted in May

1999 Erath Pinot Noir Reserve USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Very nice bottle of wine. Paired well with the Kahlua pork. Would purchase again.

2002 Isenhower Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Lab Cab USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Very nice table wine. Tannins are starting to integrate and the wine was smooth after about an hour in the decanter. Would purchase again.

2003 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford - Nice smooth tannins with a good amount of fruit. Glad that this was on sale, would not have paid the normal retail price.

1998 Pio Cesare Barolo Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo - Very nice. Lots of floral notes and a bit of tar. Finish lasted a good 20 seconds.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Very enjoyable bottle of wine. Tend to go to this rather than Chardonnay. Did not dissapoint tonight. Just enough oak without being over the top. Smoothe finish with a nice amount of acidity. Would purchase again.

2005 Northwest Totem Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Seems a bit more tannic tonight than when I first tried this wine. Still very fruit forward and I would say that it is more of a near term drinker. Solid bottle of wine, but it wasn't bringing any wow factor tonight. Would purchase again.

2002 Frog's Leap Zinfandel USA, California, Napa Valley - Drank from magnum. Very nice wine. Plenty of heavy fruit with a touch of heat(spicy). Brought out the flavors of the tomatoes and pancetta in dinner. Imagine that this wine could go for a few more years in the cellar, but it is drinking so well why wait? Would definitely purchase again.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - A bit more tannic than other vintages that I have had. Settled down a little after about an hour. Would decant next time. Is not as in your face jammy. Nice mid week drinking wine. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew France, Rhône - Tasted more like juice than wine. Didn't have that typical bottle funk that I am accustomed to in home made wines. Left some in the bottle to see how it tastes tomorrow.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Consistent notes from prior bottles. Bright color and a good dose of acidity. Fresh fruit flavors and a bit of foral aromas. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens Syrah Black Tongue USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Right after popping the cork this was a disjointed alcoholic beast. Left it in bottle for two hours and revisited. Still a very big wine, I like my syrah with a couple more years of age on it. There was an aroma that smelled like your rolling on the floor with your face close to the carpet. Smokey with a bit too much oak on the palate. Will wait another year before trying another one. Based on other tastes of this wine I would purchase it again.

2003 Portteus Rattlesnake Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - WIth a lot of air due to swirling the glass a very nice aroma came through. Can't identify what it was, but it was good. Had a nice smooth taste. Would purchase again.

2002 SYZYGY Red Wine Walla Walla Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Very green right out of the bottle. Was worried that I had opened this much too soon. Mellowed some with air. Picked up blackberry and eucaliptus. Will wait at least one more year before I open the other bottle. Would not purchase again, other better wines out there for the price point.

2005 Northwest Cellars USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - good dose of oak. But has the nice dilicate tropical flavors from the viognier. Paired nicely with the chicken and buttered rice. Was chopping some fruit later in the evening and the wine did not go well with pineapple. Would purchase again.

2004 Toad Hollow Cabernet Sauvignon Concinnity USA, California - Really enjoyable bottle of wine. Just a hint of fruit on the front palate that turns more subdued with some more earthy elements on the back end. Nose worried me right off the bat with a heavy oak smell. But it turned good and funky with a few minutes of swirling in the glass. Would purchase again.

2004 Silver Lake Cabernet-Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Competent wine. Maybe a bit too much oak. Prominent aroma and flavors of vanilla. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Not much of a nose on this wine tonight. However, the flavors were singing and the wine had a good amount of acidity to balance out the fruit on the front of the tongue. Would purchase again.

2005 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - Decanted for three hours. Mouthfeel of cocoa powder. Nice minty dark fruit aromas with a bit of dark bitter chocolate on the palate. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Brought to Sam And Gena's for a BBQ. Didn't get to taste any tonight as I was on beer duty.

2005 Nefarious Cellars Gewürztraminer Antoine Creek USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Much more subtle than I remember from the tasting at the winery. A faint hint of green apple on the palate but not much nose to speak of. Paired nicely with chili rubbed pork chops. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Lightning in a bottle. The 2004 vintage of this wine has naver failed to deliver. Wish I could have picked up 10 cases and made it my weekly go to wine. Everything is in perfect harmony. Big nose of spice, oak and dark fruit. Tannins are present but play an accompanying role. Ample amounts of sweet fruit meld with the cedar and tobacco on the tongue. Finish stays with you well after the bottle is gone. If I could fine more of this vintage, I'd buy every last bit of it. Wow!

2004 Wapato Point Cellars Red Delicious USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Feels a bit like they are trying to compete with the "cute critter" category out of Australia. Very fruit forward with little acid or tannin. I am sure that the wine was fermented dry, but it almost seems a bit sweet. Still getting the raspberries and cinnamon. Not worth the price, would not purchase again.

2003 JM Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nose started out somewhat closed. After about a half an hour it opened up with some stemmy qualities. There was a bit of tart fruit on the palate. The wine was alright, but nothing really popped for me. I'd be willing to pay up to $20 for this, but unfortunately was much more. Just not a good QPR. Would not purchase again.

2004 Chandler Reach Vineyards Corella USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Took a bottle with us camping. Paired with italian sausage sandwiches. It was about 50 degrees outside so the wine was a little cold, but it warmed up a bit by the fire. Nose was a bit muted. Nice amount of spice on the palate. Would purchase again.

2004 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Champoux Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Needs an hour in the decanter to really show it's best features. Bit of a tobacco element on the nose. Nice dark fruit flavors, though not one dominates. Really nicely balanced wine. Really cool mouthfeel. Fine grained tannins that makes it feel like there is powdered sugar in the wine. Would purchase again.

2000 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Very nice table wine. Wouldn't necessarily have it for a special occasion, but would open it up when friends came over. Great bargain. Would purchase again.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Don't know what is wrong with this but it is undrinkable.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Don't know what's wrong with this, but has become undrinkable.

2005 Stevens Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Popped and poured. Really could have benefited with an hour in the decanter. Nose started out a bit hot with alcohol and oak. Just a hint of nail polish that blew off with 15 minutes in the glass. Palate was disjointed to start and then exploded a while later with blackberries. towards the end of the bottle I was getting a smell that reminded me of freshly shucked corn. Good wine overall, just let it breathe a bit before drinking. Would purchase again.

2004 Barnard Griffin Chardonnay Reserve USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Orange peel, oak and acidity. Pale yellow color. Vibrant nose and nice mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2003 Canon de Sol Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Oh I love Syrah with a few years of age on them. This wine had a huge nose of freshly roasted coffee and mushrooms. More flavors of coffee, oak and sour cherries. Mouthfeel on this wine was silky, but the finish didn't last terribly long. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Still going strong. Lots of tobacco and spice notes. Fruit flavors are starting to settle down into the background. Still good amount of acidity and tannic grip. Would purchase again.

2004 Crutcher Cellars Syrah USA, Washington - Had this to top off a night of beer drinking with some buddies. Oak was the dominant aroma and flavor, with just a bit of fruit in the background. Finish was shortish, but pleasant. At the price point and with enough alcohol already in the system, this was a very servicable wine. Would purchase again.

2003 Ross Andrew Winery Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Ooohhhh that's good. Lots of oak right up front, but with a good dose of swirling the other elements took over. Coffee and chocolate aromas with tons of dark dark fruits on the palate. Tannins were nice and balanced. Decent length finish. Would purchase again.

2000 Beringer Vineyards Alluvium USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley - Wonderful. Strong notes of blueberry and blackberry. Would love to purchase cases of this.

1986 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley - This was three wines in 45 minutes. Had the somellier decant this right when dinner arrived. There was almost no sediment and probably could have not been decanted. right out of the gate this wine seemed much younger than 21 years. Good dark color with a slight bricking around the rim. Huge sweet fruit with tannins in check. After 15 minutes the sweetness faded and the menthol and tobacco came out. really dried out over the next 15 minutes. Then it started to come back around with more of a rounded feel on the palate. Really enjoyed. Would pick up another bottle if I could find it.

2006 Columbia Crest Pinot Grigio Grand Estates USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Paired with Dungeness crab gumbo. Wine and food had just the right mariage of spice and sweet. Good clean fruit flavors on the wine combined with a balanced but palate cleansing acidity. Just a hint of residual sugar in the background. Will try this combo again I am sure. Would purchase again.

2006 Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc Grand Estates USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Paired with Dungeness crab gumbo. Not the ideal pairing. The wine seemed to work against the dish, rather than complimenting it. On it's own the wine had notes of hay and good acidity. Would purchase again.

2006 Columbia Crest Riesling Grand Estates USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Paired with Dungeness crab gumbo. Too sweet for the dish, which was on the mild side. Lots of apple notes. Palate didn't have enough acidity to balance out the sugar. There are better options out there for the price point. Would not purchase again.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Spicy and jammy. Good.

2004 Wapato Point Cellars Red Delicious USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Much tastier than the last few times I have had this. Still a huge oak nose. Bit of chocolate on the palate. Nice finish with tannins in check.

Non Vintage Tefft Cellars Cabernet-Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Brought to parent's "Memorial Day" party. Good wine for a large group. Would purchase again.

2003 Stevens Syrah Black Tongue USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Starting to mellow out nicely. Did not decant, but would probably decant for an hour first next time. Teeth staining black. Thick mouthfeel. Big fruit bomb. Would purchase again.

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County - Consistent chardonnay. Nice balance between butter, acid and oak. Would purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - very good. Heavier version of PN. Decanted for about an hour prior to dinner. Would purchase again.

2003 Portteus Rattlesnake Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Smoothing out. Didn't need any time after opening before it was ready to drink. Still can't identify the aroma and flavor, but it is good none the less. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Lots of leather tonight. May be an off bottle? All I am getting from this is old baseball glove. No fruit aromas or flavors. Just not doing it for me tonight.