Washington state is becoming an increasingly more important player in the US domestic wine market. At a recent lunch featuring the wines of this state, I got to taste through some of the diverse offerings of Washington's wine growing regions.
First up was this Siegerrebe from Lopez Island, part of the San Juan island group in the Puget Sound.
Siegerrebe, a grape variety first crossed in Germany about a century ago, is a crossing of Madeline Angevine and Gewürztraminer. It's a grape that can withstand a wet climate, and is one of a few varieties that does well in the San Juan Islands.
These grapes were certified organic, and the wine had a highly aromatic nose, similar to Gewürztraminer. The sulfur levels were uncomfortably high for my tastes, but other than that the wine was well balanced and sound.
Siegerrebe, a grape variety first crossed in Germany about a century ago, is a crossing of Madeline Angevine and Gewürztraminer. It's a grape that can withstand a wet climate, and is one of a few varieties that does well in the San Juan Islands.
These grapes were certified organic, and the wine had a highly aromatic nose, similar to Gewürztraminer. The sulfur levels were uncomfortably high for my tastes, but other than that the wine was well balanced and sound.
Woodward Canyon's 2012 Washington State chardonnay
Woodward Canyon is based in the Walla Walla Valley.
The wine is labeled as a "Washington State" wine, and it's a blend of chardonnay from two vineyards in two AVAs. This chardonnay was lovely! Well balanced and a good, trustworthy bottle to look for.
The wine is labeled as a "Washington State" wine, and it's a blend of chardonnay from two vineyards in two AVAs. This chardonnay was lovely! Well balanced and a good, trustworthy bottle to look for.
Tamarack Cellars 2009 merlot was drinking smooth and rich. This is truly a representation of the greater Columbia Valley-- the wine is a blend of several vineyards in many subregions of Columbia Valley (Tapteil Vineyard-Red Mountain; Weinbau Vineyard-Wahluke Slope; DuBrul Vineyard-Rattlesnake Hills; Ciel du Cheval Vineyard-Red Mountain; Seven Hills Vineyard-Walla Walla; Dionysus Vineyard- Columbia Valley; Alder Ridge Vineyard- Horse Heaven Hills) and there are a few other grape varietals in there too, in small amounts (92% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Syrah).
Then it was on to one of the grapes the Washington state does so well: syrah. I've been enchanted by Cayuse and Syncline in the past and I was very much looking forward to trying this one from Ross Andrew Winery.
Ross Andrew gets this fruit from Boushey Vineyard, a high elevation vineyard in Yakima and Columbia Valley AVAs. The area has a large diurnal temperature swing, and that in combination with the loam soil over basalt help to compose a highly interesting syrah.
Ross Andrew gets this fruit from Boushey Vineyard, a high elevation vineyard in Yakima and Columbia Valley AVAs. The area has a large diurnal temperature swing, and that in combination with the loam soil over basalt help to compose a highly interesting syrah.
The lunch ended with Eroica's 'Single Berry Select,' (that's pretty much an English translation of Trockenbeerenauslese). It's a TBA style wine that's a collaboration between Chateau Ste Michelle and Dr. Loosen. The wine is everything that you'd expect from a collaboration between these two producers.
"Eroica" is the name of Beethoven's third symphony-- a work originally dedicated to Napoleon, but Beethoven revoked the dedication after being dismayed when Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
"Eroica" is the name of Beethoven's third symphony-- a work originally dedicated to Napoleon, but Beethoven revoked the dedication after being dismayed when Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
It's really fascinating to watch the wines that are coming out of Washington State. The region produces such a wide variety of wines and styles; Im truly impressed by the Rhone-style reds and concentrated rieslings. The soil here contains some of the most incredible geology in the world!
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