Wines Tasted in March

2003 Lake Chelan Winery Stormy Mountain Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nice blend. A bit to heavy on the oak. The oak didn't show itself until about an hour after the wine was open. Decent amount of red fruit flavors and a balanced level of tannins. Would purchase again.

2006 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Valley - Surprising that this wine was so approachable at a young age. Lots of smoke on the nose. Dark fruits on the palate. Finish was a bit short. Would purchase again.

2005 Northwest Totem Cellars Cabernet Franc Qo-Ne USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really cool glass closure on this wine. What I really like about it is that you can bring it back to the winery and they will give you a discount on your next bottle of wne. Nose was somewhat closed on this wine tonight. Did not have the bright aromas that I got when we tasted at the winery. Palate had nice resolved tannins and a good body. Not much fruit to speak of until I paired it with a small bite of chocolate cake. All of a sudden there was a distinct cherry flavor. All in all it was drinking alright tonight, just not exciting. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Summerhill Pyramid Winery Riesling Cipes Brut Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA - Somewhat heavier styled than most sparkling wine. Nice flavors, but did not give up much on the nose. Plesent to drink. Would purchase again.

2002 Chelan Estate Merlot Stillwater Creek Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Blueberry jumps from the decanter. Lots of sediment that needed to be strained off. Oak is starting to come to the forefront of the wine. Tannins are present but still in check. Still fresh and young with a long life ahead of it. Would purchase again.

2005 Winemaker's Loft USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really an oak bomb tonight, but I didn't mind. Lots of dark fruit flavors. Nose was dominated by roasted coffee and vanilla. Drank this while tailgating in a parking lot after snowshoeing. Wind was blowing and the snow was coming down. Needed something big and brutish to come through the weather. Still not my thing on a regular night. Would not purchase again.

2000 Ravenswood Icon USA, California, Sonoma County - Nice. Drier and a little more harsh than the 2001. Would buy the 2001 if I had a choice.

2001 Ravenswood Icon USA, California, Sonoma County - Consistant with previous notes.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape - Decent. Good QPR. A bit steeley. Looking forward to this on a hot day in the summer. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Rulo Syrca USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Something a little funky about this wine. reminds me of a taste from the steel tank at the winery. Wouldn't buy again.

2001 Il Vescovado Chianti Italy, Tuscany, Chianti - Good middle of the week wine. Picked up some vinegar notes by the end of the night.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Simple but tasty. Has the red sour cherry flavor of a pinot noir. Good amount of acidity, but not overdone. Light tannins with a very short finish. Decent mid week wine. Would purchase again.

2006 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - So I just finished a bottle of the Syrah that was opened and double decanted 12 hours ago. Although I still believe that this year's vintage is more delicate than the last, it really grew on me throughout the evening. What really stood out for me is the mouth feel. It was velvety and coated the tongue. The finish sticks with you for quite a while. There are copious amounts of black fruit aromas and flavors. I would agree that the complexity could use a slight kick in the pants. However, I have found with Washington Syrah (CAVEAT - My opinion) that it is best 5+ years from vintage. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Syrca USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Much better than the non Vintage released a couple of years ago. Soft mouthfeel and nicely subdued red fruit flavors. Tannins were soft and balanced. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Little bit of effervessence. Lots of melon and tropical fruit flavors. On the back end the alcohol was a little too present (14%). Would be nice on a really hot day in the summer. Would purchase again.

2006 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Had one more bottle that was opened on Sunday (that means opened and decanted 36 hours before drinking). The black fruits were just singing tonight with a wonderful spicy finish. The tannins were much more prominent tonight and the wine hung on the tongue for a good long time. Excited to see how this develops with some time in the cellar. Would purchase again.

2004 Wapato Point Cellars Red Delicious USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Bright purple in color. Notes of cinnamon and raspberries. Very little tannin and what is there is a bit soft. Fine but uninspiring wine. Would not purchase again.

2006 Fattoria di Petroio Chianti Classico Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico - Bottom half an inch of the wine was sediment. Oak dominated on the nose and palate with just a little bit of dried rose petals. Servicable wine, but nothing that got me excited. Decent mid week wine for the price. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Color was bordering on amber. Very oxidized, hoping that this isn't the end of the life of the rest of my bottles.

2006 Eagle Haven Madeleine Angevine/Siegerrebe USA, Washington, Puget Sound - Opened this up for family to pair with corned beef. I didn't get any, but it was finished off quickly so I am going to assume they liked it.

1975 Château Mouton-Baron-Philippe France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac - Bottle was DOA. The color was burnt orange with a lot of acetic acid on the nose. Almost no flavor to speak of. Oh well.

2004 Camaraderie Cellars Grace USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Deep purple color. Nose was a little heavy on the stewed fruits. There was also a fair bit of oak and vanilla. Good balanced acidity on the palate, but the finish was clipped and too tart. Have really enjoyed previous vintages of this wine, but it wasn't really doing much for me tonight. Would not purchase again.

2008 Auclair Sauvignon Blanc Artz Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Drank this over two nights. Should not be served too cold as it totally closes up the nose. Aromas of lemon curd and just a hint of grassiness when the wine warmed up. Really refreshing acidity on the front of the palate. Flavors of key lime and grapefruit. Very good QPR. Would purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington - Infanticide. Bought a bottle on the day it was released to retailers. Have enjoyed rob's wine in the past and wanted to see if this was another vintage to purchase multiple bottles of. First two hours in the decanter this was very disjointed and had a sharp alcoholic edge even though the wine comes in at 13.3%. After four hours the wine softened some (still massive but not the edge from the beginning). Paired with a rare flank steak, the steak really brought out all the good points of the wine. Smells of raspberry jam and balsamic reduction. Think that there is lots of potential here, but I would wait at least a month before even trying this as it seems that there is a lot of bottle shock from just being bottled and shipped. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Warre Porto King's Tawny Portugal, Douro, Porto - Easy drinking. Very light color, smell and taste. Uncomplicated. If it was put in front of me I'd drink it, but would not purchase again.

2005 Nefarious Cellars Riesling Antoine Creek USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Paired with corned beef. Matched perfectly with the saltiness of the meat. Just a hint of sweetness, but the wine is definitely a dry style. Lots of floral aromas and tropical/citrus hints. Wonderful wine at a great price. Would purchase again.

2005 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Fruit is starting to pop out. Wine is settling down and smoothing out. Lots of sweet fruit and plenty of spice. Good vintage. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Need to decant to blow off the bottle funk. Average bottle of wine. Good for hot day in summer. Does not give up much in the nose or palate.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Going to have to go out and find more of this. Lots of sweet dark fruit and a good dose of oak. Tannins are up front and bite right out of the bottle, but settle down after about an hour. Paired perfectly with a medium steak. Nose of tobacco and oak. Would purchase again.

2007 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc ASecondThought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Nice bottle of wine. Didn't really pay attention to it, butit drank easy. Would purchase again.

2003 Gallagher U Brew Malbec Chile - Got better with time out of the bottle.

2005 ÀMaurice Cellars Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Color is greenish yellow. Nose has a good amount of oak, but it is not overpowering. Also a note of lemon meringue. Crisp acidity on the mouthfeel. More flavors of vanilla and oak. Bit of green apple on the finish. Wine has a nice medium length finish. Would purchase again.

2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Took to dinner tonight to share with friends that are moving away. Decanted, but almost no sediment. Let sit in the decanter for about 30 minutes before diving in. Wine has amazing potential. Nose was somewhat closed, but still getting bits of blackberries and violets. Not sure how Alex got the velvet into the bottle but that is how it felt caressing your tongue. Massive weight on the mouthfeel. Good tannic structure on the backend without being overly puckering. Finish holds on for a good while. Tonight this wine was all about the mouthfeel. Just amazingly smoothe. Would purchase again.

2004 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Found this gem at a local wine bar and since I am reluctant to dive into my own stash, thought that I would see how the wine is coming along. Consistent with prior tastings. HUGE nose. Not as much on the bloody meat tonight, but there is this wonderful stink (don't know how else to describe it) that just pours out of the glass. On the palate it is herbal and earthy. Finish lasts a while. Really just can't get enough of this wine. Would purchase again.

2002 Argyle Brut USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Had this to start a meal with friends. Bubbles were a bit lacking, but that may have had to do with the waiter popping it lwhen opening and having it flow out over the top of the neck. Didn't lose too much of it, but didn't give us much confidence in him. Color was clear with just a hint of golden. Nice yeast on the nose and the palate. There was a bit of sweetness on the palate also. All in all a decent entry level sparkler. Would purchase again.

2000 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Very nice bottle of wine. Nice flavors of black fruit and leather. Heavy scents of tobacco. Would purchase again.

2001 Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros - Dark pommegranate seed color. Nose is hard to describe, getting a lot of smokey notes. Lively on the tongue with cherry cola and a tannic edge. Good amount of acidity, cleans the palate right up. Pleasant bottle, paired well with parmesan crusted pork chop. Could see this hanging on for a few more years, still has a very youthful zip to it. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Wasn't feeling this wine tonight. Seemed flat and lifeless to me. Oak was the prominent note coming through. Would purchase again based on other bottles, but not this one.

2003 Portteus Rattlesnake Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Needs a bit of time out of the bottle to open up. I'd give it at least an hour. Nice dark fruit flavors. Very nice wne, the tannins have integrated and has become smooth. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens Syrah Black Tongue USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Crazy black color. Nose of balckberry, plum and charcoal. Flavors had more of the backberry as well as some oak. The weight in the mouth didn't match what I was expecting, it was actually a bit light. Am looking forward to see how this wine develops over the next few years. Would purchase again.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Still could use about a year or two in the bottle. Was very harsh upon opening. Settled down after an hour in the decanter. At this point it would be better served as a food wine. Would pair with lamb. Lots of green leafy flavors. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Brought to a family dinner to share. consistent notes from last bottle. Picked up another case of this. Wonderful stuff. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Let's start with a caveat - I have a slight head cold. Aroma right after opening the bottle was classic Stevens buttered corn on the cob. This blows off after a minute or two. Got a little bit of blackberry and oak and then my nose shut down for the evening. Flavors really come through. Wine had lots of black cherry and finished with sweet apple (fujis). Finish lasted a while. Would purchase again.

2005 Northwest Totem Cellars Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Drinking well tonight. Good mix of dark fruits, mint and licorice. Finished sweet and it lasted a while. Really enjoyed this. Would purchase again.

2007 Substance Merlot USA, Washington - Very fruity, but not over the top. Good integration of oak. Not too much structure, but wasn't soft either. Good QPR. Would purchase again.

2003 Red Sky Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Decanted, very little sediment. Dark plum color. Nose of freshly popped corn and stewed tomatoes, somewhat reminicent of V8 juice. More veggies on the palate. Very different wine from the last time I had it but it was really working for me. Good medium length finish. Would purchase again.

2005 One True Vine Shiraz Layer Cake Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley - Tasty but flabby. Huge wine with crazy dark color and gobs of sweet fruit. Lots of oak, bits of mint, cherry, vanilla and raspberry. This wine is built as a cocktail wine. Not enough acid to cut through any food. Big and fun, but tends to be a bit flabby on the palate. Would purchase again but only for specific occasions.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Love that they release this late in it's life. The 2001 is still on retail shelves. Wonderful dark fruit aromas and flavors. Dark colar and heady aromas. A bit of oak and mint thrown in for complexity. Terrra blanca is one of my favorite value brands. Great wines for under $20. If I can find some more there will definitely be some more purchases. Paired with brie and salame.

2002 Magnificent Wine Company House Wine USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nice, but a little harsh. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Nice. Dark and brooding. Would purchase again.

2002 Piety Flats Mercantile Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Starting to dry out a little. Faded rather quickly in the glass.

2006 Darby le deuce USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Acidity for days on this wine. Strong aromas of honeysuckle and stone fruit. Best to serve the wine a little warmer than chilled. Found that when it was too chilled that the acidity just dominated. As it warmed up a bit the nose really opened. Paired with a steamed halibut filet and green onion chili sauce. Would purchase again.