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Covey Run Winery
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| Winery Information | |||
Products:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet-Merlot, Merlot, Lemberger, |
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| Creating New Traditions | |||
Covey Run has established itself as a leading winery in Washington State, consistently producing outstanding European varietal wines. After Covey Run introduced its first vintage in 1982, consumers and critics quickly recognized the fine quality of the wines, honoring them with popularity, acclaim and awards. Winemaker Kerry Norton joined Covey Run Winery just before harvest in 1999, bringing with him a decade and a half of Northwestern winemaking experience. A veteran of several highly regarded Oregon wineries, where he developed expertise with Bordeaux-style reds, barrel-fermented whites, and late-harvest dessert wines, Kerry has advanced Covey Run’s reputation for producing superior, fruit-driven Washington State wines, in the process earning the winery national acclaim. |
Covey Run takes pride in offering high-quality wines for everyday enjoyment, as well as those for very special occasion. |
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Featured Covey Run Wines
Our mainline series of wines offers consumers high-quality Washington wines at affordable prices. Lighter in nature, these wines are fermented in stainless steel and oak and are marked by their approachable, fruit-forward character. Four popular Quail Label wines -- Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah -- are now available in convenient 375 ml glass bottles, containing two plus glasses of wine. 2003 Covey Run Syrah Made from grapes grown at vineyards scattered throughout the Yakima and Columbia Valleys, fruit from the cooler sites produce contribute white pepper and herbal notes, while warmer sites give red fruit and berry flavors. The grapes were harvested during the first half of October between 24 and 25 Brix, and tank-fermented using pumpovers to extract the color and tannin from the skins. Some of the lots were co-fermented with Viognier grapes to provide a fruity touch to the blend and add complexity. About 95% of the vintage was aged in French and American oak barrels for about a year.
2003
Covey Run
Sauvignon Blanc
(formerly Fumé Blanc) With zesty aromas and flavors of herbs, gooseberries, fresh lime, and green apple, this is an ideal wine to serve with shellfish and other seafood, pasta with cream sauces, chicken dishes, and spicy foods.
Showcasing plush, vivid fruit flavors balanced by bright natural acidity, with oak accenting rather than dominating the palate, the Winemaker's Collection wines are styled to complement food, with each beautifully accompanying a broad range of contemporary cuisines. They will delight wine lovers keen to savor the marvelous flavors of Washington State.
2002 Winemaker's Collection
Syrah Covey Run's 2002 Winemaker's Collection Syrah was grown in three vineyards in the Yakima Valley - Oasis, Smith and Snipes Canyon. Covey Run prefers to co-ferment a portion of its Syrah with Viognier and sometimes Roussane grape in order to fix the red color of the wine and to contribute a pleasing floral character to the nose. In the barrel, Syrah needs less oak than Cabernet or Merlot. The relatively round, smooth tannins develop nicely without the need for a lot of oak flavor.
2002 Winemaker's Collection
Cabernet Sauvignon In late October of 2002, when this Cabernet was harvested, a Canadian Arctic air mass moved into eastern Washington and created very cold temperatures. A large portion of the grapes that went into this bottling were harvested during freezing temperatures and took several days to warm up enough after crushing before they could ferment. This cold soak created a very fruity, aromatic wine. After fermentation, the wine was put into a mixture of 80% French and 20% American oak barrels for at least 16 months, and then bottle aged for an additional year. Covey Run prefers to use French oak on Cabernet because its more subtle flavors meld well with Cabernet's sometimes aggressive tannins.
Newly introduced in the fall of 2004, this tier of limited-production, luxury wines showcases the best of Covey Run. Chardonnay, Merlot and Covey Run's Semillon Ice Wine are currently feature in this new series of wines. Winemaker Kerry Norton picks and chooses the best grapes, best lots and finest oak with an eye toward producing rich, elegant wines with great intensity of flavor.
2001 Reserve Merlot Packed with classic cherry, raspberry and dark fruit flavors, the 2001 Covey Run Reserve Columbia Valley Merlot is an elegant wine with gentle aromas of leather and tobacco. Intensely dark red-purple in color, its youthful tannin structure shows great potential for cellaring. The grapes were sourced from select vineyards in the Alderdale region (along the Columbia River where it forms the border between Washington and Oregon) for the tannic structure of the wine, and grapes from the warmer, lower end of the Yakima Valley for the ripe fruit qualities. 1,444 cases were produced. 2002 Reserve Chardonnay The 2002 Covey Run Reserve Yakima Valley Chardonnay exhibits rich, ripe fruit and good balancing acidity. The wine has rich, sweet vanilla aromas nestled inside a frame of crisp, creamy lemon zest. The grapes were sourced from some of Washington state’s best Chardonnay growing areas in the Yakima Valley and Columbia River Gorge. Combined, these sites offer warm, sunny days and cool nights that develop pure fruit flavors and retain the natural acidity needed for a balanced wine. The grapes were whole cluster pressed to preserve the natural delicacy of their flavor. 420 cases were produced
2002
Reserve
Semillon Ice Wine
This rich, concentrated wine was made from 100% Semillon grapes that froze
on the vine. The grapes were picked and pressed frozen, grudgingly
yielding a rich, concentrated juice that fermented both in tank and in new
barrels. Intense aromas of pineapple, citrus and vanilla are
balanced by a bracing acidity and lead to a long, lingering finish. The
wine is a complete dessert by itself. It also lends itself to pairing with
other desserts, preferably those less sweet than the wine such as crème
brûlée, sweet potato pie, cream-based pastries or fresh fruit. 15.2%
residual sugar... a true dessert wine. Only
1,340 cases of this intensely rich wine were produced.
 Copyright © 1997- 2006 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. |
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