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Wines of Spokane - Highlights June 2006 Combining Taste Washington with several winery visits, Steve and I were able to sample quite a number of delicious Washington wines. Below are some of the highlights.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars This fruit-forward Merlot offers black cherry and plum on the nose with hints of oak. The palate is full-bodied and rich with flavors of ripe cherry and berry, a lip-smacker with foods from the grill.
Barrister Winery This is a big and rich wine offering berry and herbal notes on the nose and silky tannins for a smooth mouth feel and finish.
Barrister Winery The winemakers suggest steak or prime rib to accompany this blockbuster Merlot. Aromas of black cherry, coffee and chocolate lead to a rich palate flavored with dark fruits, cherry and hints of vanilla and cocoa.
Latah Creek Wine Cellars This wine has Spokane in a huckleberry tizzy! I was expecting a jammy fruit wine, but instead it is a light and pleasant, off-dry white wine with just a double hint of huckleberry (some on the nose, some on the palate). Could be the 2006 Hot Tub Wine winner!
Latah Creek Wine Cellars Bright with cherry and cassis aromas, Mike Conway's Sangiovese calls out for summer cuisine. Look for hints of clove, herbs and ripe berry/cherry on the palate.
Lone Canary Winemaker Mike Scott is justifiably famous for this wine. Crisp aromas of gooseberry, citrus, pear and nutmeg lead to a refreshing, tangy palate. An excellent value!
Lone Canary Mike styles his red wines with an eye to "grace and restraint." This Sangiovese offers spicy herbs and cherries on the nose and full spicy black fruits on the palate. Oakiness is not an issue, but there are hints of toast for those that need a bit in their red wines.
Merry Cellars, Pullman Patrick Merry's Viognier comes from the Yakima Valley and the Columbia Gorge, among the state's warmest and coolest growing regions, respectively. It offers citrus and tropical fruits on the nose and stands firm with a clean palate featuring light tropical flavors and ample acidity to make it a great food wine.
Merry Cellars The nose is bright raspberry and smoky oak notes. The palate is rich with flavors of berry and cherry with complex notes from the 10% Cabernet Franc added to the blend. As a side note, barrel samples we tasted predict good things to come from this fledgling operation.
Mountain Dome Winery Winemaker Michael Manz and his apprentice son, Eric, craft this bubbly wonder at their winery in the foothills of Mount Spokane. This is very likely the finest Northwest-produced sparkling wine - rich with strawberry and stone fruit aromas with a crisp palate for food-friendly sipping.
Robert Karl Cellars You'll have to move fast to get some of this recent release. Winemaker Joe Gunselman makes only 100 cases. Mineral and citrus are the predominant descriptors creating a wine that is superbly food friendly but also a refreshing sipper.
Robert Karl Cellars The grapes for this wine (and all Robert Karl wines from now on) come from the Horse Heaven Hills area, specifically McKinley Springs Vineyard. Rebecca Gunselman suggests that the aroma of this wine reminds her of "bacon and earth," to which I add rich black fruits, vanilla and hints of toasty oak. Elegant, but still a great wine with meats from the grill.
Townshend Cellar Aromas of ripe blueberry, cherry and spice lead to a palate rich with black fruits, vanilla and toasty oak.
(Go to Spokane Wine Trippin' story.)
Copyright © 2006 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. |
