Dark Days - Week #4

Not your grandma’s turkey soup!
We had some leftover turkey from Thanksgiving that we froze We had ordered a Mad Hatcher Turkey from Rain Shadow Meats. This was the inspiration for this meal. However, since we made this meal on the darkest day of the year, it required “harvesting” carrots from our yard with the help of a head lamp.
½ onion, chopped (Walla Walla, WA)
½ lb carrots (our yard)
4 oz Chanterelle Mushrooms (western WA)
2 quarts chicken stock (homemade)
3 tablespoons rosemary (our yard)
½ teaspoon salt (Grenada – purchased while on vacation)
½ teaspoon ground pepper (not local)
1 bay leaf (Grenada – purchased while on vacation)
½ lb chopped cooked turkey
Soften the onion, carrots and mushrooms in a Dutch oven, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock, rosemary, salt, pepper, bay leaf, bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the chopped turkey and heat through. Makes 4-6 servings.
Served with a Cranberry Vodka martini. The cranberry simple syrup was made from local cranberries. And the Vodka is from Washington apples made in Woodinville – Soft Tail Spirits.

Dark Days - Week #3

One of our go-to meals. Typically I judge all Italian restaurants by their Carbonara.
You can use bacon, but the guanciale just gives it a greater depth of flavor. Guanciale is very easy to make, just take a pork jowl and salt (and spice) cure it in the fridge for a week and then hang it in a cool (under 60 degrees) location for a month to dry out.
Only make enough of this receipe for the meal as it does not reheat. Should be served immediately.
Fettuccini Carbonara
1 pound fettuccini (home made from Red Mill white and semolina flour, Sky Valley Farm eggs)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (not local)
4 ounces guanciale or slab bacon, cubed or sliced into small strips (cured from Carlton Farms pork jowl)
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped (not local)
2 large eggs (Sky Valley Farm)
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving (not local, but purchased from Calf and Kid, a local cheese shop in Seattle)
Freshly ground black pepper (not local)
1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (we omitted since ours died in our front yard)
Directions
Prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking to ensure that the fettuccini spaghetti will be hot and ready when the sauce is finished; it is very important that the pasta is hot when adding the egg mixture, so that the heat of the pasta cooks the raw eggs in the sauce.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender yet firm (as they say in Italian "al-dente”.") Drain the pasta well, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water to use in the sauce if you wish.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Add the guanciale and saute for about 3 minutes, until it is and the fat is rendered. Toss the garlic into the fat and saute for less than 1 minute to soften.
Add the hot, drained fettuccini to the pan and toss for 2 minutes to coat the strands in the guanciale fat. Beat the eggs and Parmesan together in a mixing bowl, stirring well to prevent lumps. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the egg/cheese mixture into the pasta, whisking quickly until the eggs thicken, but do not scramble (this is done off the heat to ensure this does not happen.) Thin out the sauce with a bit of the reserved pasta water, until it reaches desired consistency. Season the carbonara with several turns of freshly ground black pepper and taste for salt. Mound the fettucini carbonara into warm serving bowls and garnish with chopped parsley. Pass more cheese around the table.
Adapted from Tyler Florence, serves 4-6 people
Served with local bread.

Dark Days - Week #2

For the Dark Days Dinner #2 we decided to incorporate it into a party we were having with a bunch of friends. Again, we were not able to utilize local ingredients for the oil, vinegar, sugar and salt. One thing that struck me as counterproductive as we were shopping for our dinner is that we needed to go to 3 different stores in order to get all of the ingredients local. At what point is the carbon footprint worse by driving around than allowing a couple of items to be shipped from somewhere else? I mean, until more stores carry local goods isn’t the shipping of other goods somewhat of a sunk cost?
By the way…That parsnip was huge.
Enjoy the meal!!!

Wines paired with the dinner:
Non Vintage Capitelo Sparkling Wine (Willamette Valley, OR)
2009 Maison Bleue Petit Joie Marsanne (Yakima Valley, WA)
2004 Boudreaux Cellars Syrah (Desert Hills Vineyard, WA)
2003 Rulo Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, WA)
Limoncello liquor (brought back from Rome)

Salad
Escarole (6 leaves) (OR)
Fuji Apples (Eastern WA)
4 oz blue cheese (Big Boy Blue- OR)
Onion (Farmer’s Own Organics, Seattle, WA)
Olive oil (not local)
1 tablespoon butter (Tillamook, OR)
1 teaspoon brown sugar (not local)
Place onion along with oil and butter in a heavy pan over low heat and add a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally for about an half an hour then add brown sugar and continue cooking for another half an hour.
Place escarole leaf down on plate. Top with 1/8 inch slices of apple, blue cheese and onion.
Chicken, Sausage & Mushroom Pot Pie
CRUST
2 cups all purpose flour (Red Mill, OR)
¾ teaspoon salt (Bonair)
10 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch cubes (Tillamook, OR)
4 tablespoons (or more) ice water (can only assume it’s local ;-) )
FILLING
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature, divided (Tillamook, OR)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour (Red Mill, OR)
2 tablespoons olive oil (not local)
12 oz mushrooms (1 portabella and several chanterelles – NW Washington)
1 cup finely chopped shallots (about 5) (Farmer’s Own Organics, Seattle)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme (our yard)
1 ¼ lb Italian sausages (about 6) casings removed (Carlton Farms, OR)
2 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (Mad Hatcher Farms, WA)
½ cup Madeira (use a WA red wine in its place – Eastern WA)
2 cups low-salt chicken broth (personally canned using local ingredients)
3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, thickly sliced (Sky River Farms, WA)
1 large egg yolk beaten to blend with one tablespoon water (for glaze) (Sky River Farms, WA)
PREPARATION
CRUST
Blend flour and salt in a processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until coarse meal forms. Add 4 tablespoons water. Using on/off turns, blend until moist clumps form, adding more water by ½ tablespoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
FILLING
Mix 2 tablespoons butter and flour in bowl to smooth paste; set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter with oil in large deep skillet. Add mushrooms, shallots and thyme. Sauté until mushrooms brown, about 8 minutes. Add sausage; sauté until no longer pink, breaking up with spoon, about 7 minutes. Add chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until chicken is no longer pink on outside, about 5 minutes. Add Madeira (wine); boil 2 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Mix in butter-flour paste; simmer until sauce thickens, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to 10-cup round banking dish; top with egg slices (We modified it and put it in “French Onion Soup” bowls to make individual servings)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 13 to 14-inch round. Place atop filling. Trim overhang to 1 inch. Fold overhand under, crimp edge. Brush crust with glaze; cut several slits in crust.
Bake pie until crust is golden, about 45 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes and serve
Taken from bon appétit (December 2008) 6 servings
Roasted Root Vegetables with Honey, Balsamic Vinegar
½ lb medium carrots, peeled and left whole (front yard)
½ lb medium beets, peeled and quartered (OR)
½ lb medium turnips, peeled and halved (OR)
1.2 lb medium parsnips, peeled and left whole (Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA)
3 shallots, unpeeled, but in half through the stem end (Farmer’s Own Organics, Seattle, WA)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (not local)
Salt and ground black pepper (salt Bonair, pepper not local)
½ cup honey (WA)
¼ cup balsamic vinegar (not local)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the vegetables with the olive oil and salt and pepper in a big bowl. Dump them out onto a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 25 minutes. Whisk together the honey and vinegar in a small bowl. Take the vegetables out of the oven, pour the vinegar-honey mixture over, and toss. Return the vegetables to the oven and cook until fork-tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes. The recipe also called for topping the vegetables with 4 oz chilled fresh goat cheese, but we omitted this ingredient.
Taken from Tyler Florence’s Tyler’s Ultimate: 2006 – Serves 4
Pear Cobbler with Cranberry Streusel
Unsalted butter, at room temperature (Tillamook, OR)
Granulated sugar (not local)
4 Bartlett pears (Washington Growers, WA)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (Bonair)
¼ cup brown sugar (not local)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (Red Mill, OR)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (not local)
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (brought back from vacation on Grenada)
STREUSEL TOPPING
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (Tillamook, OR)
½ cup brown sugar (not local)
½ cup all-purpose flour (Red Mill, OR)
½ teaspoon salt (Bonair)
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (Coquille Cranberries, North Bend, OR)

½ cup heavy cream, beaten to soft peaks (Fresh Breeze Organic, Lynden, WA)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish. Dust the dish with granulated sugar; tapping out any excess.
Peel the pears and cut then in half through the stem end. Use a melon baller to scoop out the cores. Put the pear halves in a large bowl, sprinkle with the vanilla, and toss. Then sprinkle over the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg and toss so that the pears are really well coated with the flavorings. Set the pears in a single layer; cored side down, in the prepared baking dish.
Now make the topping. In the same bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, flour and salt and mash it all together with your fingers. Toss in the cranberries. Crumble the topping mixture over the pears in the baking dish and bake until the topping is nice and crunchy and browned and the pears are very tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.
Taken from Tyler Florence’s Tyler’s Ultimate: 2006 – Serves 4

Dark Days - Week #1

As we get into our first Dark Days meal, we find that this is going to be more difficult than first imagined. As we perused the vegetable aisle at our local "local" grocery store, the fall/winter vegetables that we figured would be from around here ended up not...So we had to improvise (have a feeling this is going to be a theme over the next 4 months).

Meal #1

Cauliflower-Apple Soup with Apple Cider Reduction
Baked Chicken
Washington Viognier/Roussanne

1 Cup apple cider (Hood River, OR)
2 tsp Olive Oil (Exempted - Tried to find local oil - Failed)
2 Cups chopped onion (Washington)
2 tsp Madras curry powder (Exempted)
1 tsp chopped garlic (Washington)
6 Cups Cauliflower florets (Willamette Valley, OR - Had to purchase frozen as all of the fresh cauliflower is from California)
5 Cups chicken broth (homemade stock from mad hatcher chickens and local root vegetables that we canned earlier in the year)
1 gala apple - peeled, cored and chopped (Washington)
1/3 Cup Half and Half (Kent, WA)
2 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice (Exempted)
3/4 tsp Salt (Bonaire, Caribbean - I know this isn't local, but we picked this up when we were on vacation so it feels more local than the stuff we'd get at the grocery store)
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper (Exempted)

1. Bring the apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook until cider is reduced to 1/4 cup (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature.
2. Heat oil in a large Dutch over over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; saute 3 minutes. Add curry powder and garlic to pan; saute 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add cauliflower, broth and apple, bringing to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until cauliflower is very tender.
3. Remove pan from heat; cool 5 minutes. Place half of cauliflower mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining cauliflower mixture. Return to pot. Stir in half and half; cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until throughly heated (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in juice, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Ladle about 1 cup soup into each of 8 bowls; drizzle each serving with 1-1/2 teaspoons cider reduction. Garnish with coarsely ground pepper, if desired. Yield: 8 servings. (Recipe taken from CookingLight: December 2008).

Preheat oven to 375. Place chicken breasts in a oven proof container. Sprinkle with turmeric, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Bake for appropriately 35 minutes.

Paired the meal with a Darby Winery 2009 "le Deuce" Columbia Valley Viognier/Roussanne

Dark Days Challenge

From Dec 1st through April 15th, we will be detailing one meal a week that is completely local (*see below for caveats).

Our personal definition of local is one gas tank away, so roughly 400 miles. From Seattle the north boundary is Kamloops, BC, to the east is the Montana border and South all the way down to Roseburg, OR.

Some items that we will be using that are not local are dried herbs and spices that don't come from our garden.

Where appropriate, we will utilize items that we have picked up throughout our travels. Since it came home with us, there really isn't any incremental environmental impact from transport.

Feel free to comment if you have any questions on the meals we post.

Enjoy!

Wines Tasted in April

2004 Vin du Lac Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Wife loves this wine, I find it very pleasant. Low tannin level with a balanced amount of acidity. Notes of dried raspberries and potpouri. Paired well with the feta and sun dried tomatoes that were stuffed in the chicken breast. For the price I expect a bit more wow factor. I guess that my wife loves it so much that can count for the wow factor for someone. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Perfect bottle of wine for when you just need to grab something out of the cellar. Nose of cherry, cranberry and spicy oak. More red fruit flavors on the palate. Finish was short but clean. Would purchase again.

2000 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Always a great value wine. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut France, Champagne The more I have other champagnes, the less this inspires me. Bit of yeast and toasty aromas. Palate was very flat and lifeless. For the price I think that it is time to start passing on this and purchase other sparklers.

1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Vintage Reserve USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros Extremely dry. The fruit is fading a bit on this, but tastes very good. Need to drink the rest over the next six months.

2003 Territorial Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Tangy. Paired with sauteed chicken breast with a lime sauce. Nothing memorable about the wine, but it provided a pleasant flavor and aroma. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley It's wine. Starting to get flat, fat and tired. Oak is showing through. Some nose and palate of tropical fruits. Would not purchase this vintage again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Syrah Del Rio Vineyard USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Decanted. There was a chunk of sediment about the size of my pinky finger. Slight heat on the nose with lots of dark fruit aromas. Palate was a bit thin, but the dark fruit flavors made up for the mouthfeel. Finish lasted a good long time. Would purchase again.

2001 Maryhill Fort Rock Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very nice. Started off very spicy, made the italian sausage seem mild. Calmed down over an hour period. Slight hint of oyster in the background (a good thing). Would buy again.

2001 Three Rivers Winery Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really enjoyable wine. The fruit is starting to dry out a bit, but I am still getting blackberries and tart cherries. Smoky with a bit of earth thrown in for good measure. Decanted, but not a bit of sediment. Improved with air over two hours. Really like my syrah with about 5-6 years of age on it. Would purchase this vintage again for short term drinking and younger vintages for long term.

2004 Masquerade Merlot Klipsun Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Just wasn't giving up much tonight. Think that the wine was served a bit too chilled. Color was very deep and dark. Nose had a little bit of cocoa powder. On the palate it was just lifeless. Hope that this wine is not on the downhill.

2006 Hence Cellars Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nose was somewhat closed on this tonight. Not getting the typical diesel notes that I enjoy from this wine. A bit one dimensional and kind of drinking "simple". Not a good representation of what this wine can offer.

2004 Vin du Lac Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Drinking really well right now. Nose had a nice combination of tart fruits, spices and dried flowers. Raspberry and pommegranate on the palate. Finish was short but clean. Would purchase again.

2002 W. B. Bridgman Cellars Viognier Yakima Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Great value. Refreshing, but still somewhat lush. Tropical fruits on the nose. Would purchase again.

2005 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington Unfined and unfiltered, so this wine is cloudy. Not the same depth as the 2004 vintage. Wasn't giving up much. Not to say that the wine was bad, it was just very subdued. Hope that this opens up more with time. Would purchase again to try it in another year.

2002 Château Peyre-Lebade France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Listrac-Médoc Didn't pair well with the brie and prosciutto, made it a bit too bitey. Let it sit for a couple of hours and it got better. Had an odd smell to it that I can only discribe as a combination of mint and Smarties(candy). Had a hard time picking up any fruit on the palate. Definitely much different than the domestic wine I normally drink. Am thinking that this would have been better paired with a hearty meal. Not sure if it is designed to stand alone as an apperetif.

2005 Northwest Totem Cellars Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Just a tannic beast tonight. Hard to get anything out of this. Just bought some new Reidel Bordeaux glasses and wanted to try them out. Felt like the wine jsut got lost in the glass. Front palate was nice and then boom went the tannins. Totally puckered you up. Not showing well tonight. Would not re-purchase based on tonight, but it was much better at the winery.

2004 Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Brought to Easter dinner. Didn't get a taste.

2003 Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi brought to Easter dinner. Didn't get a taste.

2003 Vin du Lac Sauvignon Blanc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Brought to Easter dinner. Didn't get a taste.

2005 Cedergreen Cellars Viola USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought to Easter dinner. Paired with ham and shrimp. Nice fresh flavor. Subdued aromas. Went well with the food, but by itself I think that it would be underwhelming. However, it might be nice on a hot day in summer.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley It was white, it was cold, it had alcohol. That is about all this wine had tonight. Really starting on the downhill slide.

2006 Des Voigne Cellars Sangiovese San Remo Seven Hills Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Nose started off very closed but opened up a little after an hour. Predominant aroma was oak with some red fruits. I was disappointed at first sip as the wine was flat on the front of the palate. However, it really took off in the mid palate and the finish. Lots of sweet fruit and bright tannic structure. Would purchase again.

2002 Rex Hill Vineyards Pinot Gris King's Ridge USA, Oregon Nice table wine. Went well with grilled halibut in a dill burre blanc. Flavor really comes out when the wine is not as chilled as typical for a white. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Big fruit aromas as soon as I popped the cork. Nose of cherries, blackberries and pie spices (cinamon and clove). More of the same on the palate. In the beginning the wine had a pretty soft mouthfeel, but after about an hour the tannins started to show up and dry out the wine. Good bottle of wine. Would purchase again.

2006 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington Had a hard time analyzing this wine tonight, but it was good. There was something on the nose that I think was toasted coconut, but just couldn't put my finger on it. There was a little bit of pineapple. Thick mouthfeel. Medium length finish with full flavors. Would purchase again.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Tasty midweek wine. Paired with chicken fried steak and thyme country gravy. Bit of acidity to clean the palate. Bright red color. Would purchase again.

2001 Woodward Canyon Estate Red Wine USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Cherry campfire. Decanted, had a bit of sediment. Nose of cherries and an element that smelled like a campfire the next morning. Still some strong tannins on the backend of the palate. Drinking nicely, but not enough wow factor for the price point. Would not purchase again.

2003 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still a bit too tannic. Melowed out after about an hour in the glass. Will wait another year before I try the next bottle. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Tulip Valley Cabernet-Merlot USA, Washington Brought to Easter dinner. Didn't get to taste.

2006 Hence Cellars Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought to Easter dinner. Didn't get to taste this, but it went quickly so everyone else seemed to enjoy it.

2006 Eagle Haven Madeleine Angevine USA, Washington, Puget Sound Brought to Easter dinner. I didn't get to have any, but my wife said she liked it. Would purchase again.

2003 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Smokey and meaty. Tannins have integrated very nicely. More smoke. Nicely balanced. Would purchase again.

2001 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Two Rivers USA, Oregon/Washington A bit harsh. Didn't mellow over a two day period. Needs heavy food to settle it down. Would not repurchase.

2006 Pomum Cellars A. D. Dunn USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Decanted. Slight haze on the top of the wine, makes me think that there is a high sulfite level. (that's the only thing I have seen to cause the haze on the wine). Color is like a slightly under ripe cherry still on the tree. Initially nose was fairly closed. Was picking up a good amount of oak, some mintyness as well as a very dusty component (think of going into an attic that has been closed up for a while. After a while there was some tart raspberry. Chewy tannins on the palate. Flavors of strawberry and more tart raspberries. The tannins really hang on for a while without being overbearing. Good finish. Would purchase again.

1996 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cuvée Fleur de Champagne France, Champagne Amazing. This bottle of champagne was the best caramel apple tartlet I have ever had. The nose was heavy on yeasty dough. Front of the tongue picked up hints of caramel while the mouthfeel was like heavy whipped cream. Finished with a mouthful of tart green apples. Could get used to really good champagne!!!! Would purchase again for a special occasion.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County This fell off a steep cliff all of a sudden. Guess that the rest of it will be for cooking.

2002 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still going along very nicely. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Pose #11B USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Grassiness is starting to take over the tropical notes. Still very fresh and vibrant. Drink in the near future if you have any more. Would purchase again for near term drinking.

2006 Barrage Cellars Cabernet Franc Secret Weapon Boushey Vineyards USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Popped and poured. Deep red/black core and a bright bubble gum pink rim. Slight bit of oak on the nose as well as dark roasted cocoa. After about two hours the nose closed up and didn't open back up again for the rest of the night. Flavors of rainier cherries, pomegranate and tart cranberries. Weight in the mouth was a little light with a bright tannic structure that tingled on the sides and back of the tongue. Finish didn't last as long as I would have preferred, but had a nice flavor profile. Would purchase again.

2004 Rutherford Hill Zinfandel Vintage Port USA, California, Napa Valley Brought to a tasting. Was concerned that this was going to be way too young, but came across very balanced. Nose of green and white peppercorns. Sweet balck cherry on the palate. Nice mouthfeel (silky) with a consistent flavor profile from the front to the back of the tongue. Good long finish, could see this aging for a while. Would purchase again.

2003 Waterbrook Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Heavy on the minerals. Very acidic, needed food to cut the taste a little bit. Not sure if I would purchase again. Still don't "GET" Washington chardonnay.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Bricco USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Decanted. After one hour there were heady floral aromas and lots of spiciness. Good does of oak, but well integrated into the overall taste. After about two hours the wine started to close down and the taste went somewhat flat. Got more harsh as the evening wore on. Would purchase again if I were going to drink it quickly once the bottle was opened.

2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA, California, Napa Valley Decanted, fair amount of sediment. Still drinking quite nicely. Nose of plum and prune, with just a hint of tomato. On the palate there were ample tannins, some oak and more dark raisinous fruit flavors. Would purchase again.

2005 Cougar Crest Vivace USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Wonderful QPR. Lots of fresh tropical fruit flavors. Nice mouthfeel and good dose of acidity to clean the palate. Will be buying more of this.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Bit of butter on the front end, died on the back palate. Almost at the end of it's life.

2005 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County Was a little worried when I first poured this bottle as there were a bunch of what looked like little shards of glass. I had never seen tartaric crystals in the bottom of a glass. Wine was typical though a bit less oak and vanilla on this vintage. Good mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Drank over two nights. First night was all about the smoke and the oak. Heavy aroma of dark roasted coffee and sweet pipe tobacco. Maybe a little over the top, but i really find the oak pleasing in Kurt's wines. Second night the smoke and oak had settled down quite a bit and the nose took on an unsweetened cocoa and brown butter element. There was more fruit on the palate, though the finish had shortened up considerably. Still very enjoyable, just a completely different wine after 24 hours. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Cantine Collalto Prosecco Piave Italy, Veneto, Piave Great QPR. A really good standard every day sparkler. Crisp and refreshing, with just enough depth to keep it interesting. Would purchase again.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley The bright strawberry pink color of this wine has faded to the color of a melted orange popsicle. Nose is also much more subdued with aromas of rhubarb. Still quite refreshing on the palate with hints of peaches and cranberries. Definitely at the end of it's life. Would purchase future vintages of this.

2002 Benziger Family Winery Port Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Think that the winemaker filtered this port through a filter made of cigar tobacco. Nice element for a little while but it gets old quickly. Not much other smell or flavor other than the cigar. Smooth finish, not a lot of heat given the alcohol level. Would not purchase again.

2001 Il Vescovado Chianti Italy, Tuscany, Chianti Needs an hour in the bottle before it opens up.

2004 Chandler Reach Vineyards Corella USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Really enjoy Washington sangiovese. Paired perfectly with the pizza. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Va Piano Vineyards Bruno's Blend II USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Have to get myself some more of this. Deep dark nose and flavors. The syrah component really shines through. But with the other elements it doesn't need to age quite as long as I typically like my Walla Walla syrah. Would purchase again.

2005 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Consistent with prior bottles. Enjoyed quite a bit tonight. Fruit is settling down and there is a little bot more of the spice this time. Would purchase again.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills Fourth bottle of the night. It was good, would purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Nebbiolo Del Rio Vineyard USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Decanted, not much sediment. Color was very light red with a hint of orange peel. Right out of the bottle there was a huge nose of concord grape jam. After a little while the nose settled on more of a mixed berry fruit roll up aroma along with a bit of sour cherry. More cherries on the palate with strong grippy tannins. Very dry finish. Going to wait another couple of years before I open the last bottle. Would purchase again.

2001 Beaulieu Vineyard Signet Collection Beauzeaux USA, California, Napa Valley Very dark purple and heavy tannins. The tannins overpowered the fruit making the wine somewhat harsh. Did not smooth out even after six hours in the decanter. It was better when I had a piece of steak in my mouth, but there wasn't enough steak to go along with the entire bottle. Would not purchase again.

2000 Château de Cosse France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes Paired with lemon-rosemary brulee. Had a good dose of acid that countered the sweetness. Heavy apricot aromas. Would purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Sangiovese Two Rivers USA, Oregon/Washington Starting to come into it's own. Decanted, needed about a half an hour to open up. Rose petals and earth on the nose. Still a little tannic, but is starting to integrate nicely. Very good Sangiovese. Would purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Bricco USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Consistent with prior notes. Decanted and drank fairly quickly. Very nice. Would purchase again.

2005 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington Really nice crisp Chardonnay. Wine is unfiltered and therefore is cloudy. Nose of oak and spice box. Good dose of acidity. Finish was mouthwatering and was still lingering ten minutes later. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice flavors of cherry and cinnamon. Nose had a bit of oak and vanilla. Went down easy. Would purchase again.

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.