The Taste of Wahluke Slope

Columbia Crest
2001 Reserve Syrah

Grapes for the Reserve Syrah program are harvested predominantly from the vineyards located within the Yakima Valley (aromatics) - our oldest Syrah vineyard site, the Horse Heaven Hills (balance and complexity), and the Wahluke Slope (texture and body). Winemaker Ray Einberger was able to pull the best from these vineyards to blend into this intense and exotic wine, creating both harmony and deep varietal expression. "The wine is a deep purple color with aromatics of white pepper, rose petal, cocoa and raspberries.  A perfect balance of subtle earth, coffee and chocolate are joined by raspberry-blueberry lushness on the palate.  This Cote Rotie-style Syrah features a small amount of Viognier which contributes an interesting apple-pear character to the long, lingering finish."  Ray Einberger, Winemaker

L'Ecole N^o 41
2002 Fries Vineyard Semillon
Wahluke Slope

This wine is always rich and creamy, and this vintage shows marvelous apricot and pear flavors, with floral notes.  The fruity-yet-firm palate is packed with flavor and finishes with vanilla and fig with a touch of citrus.  The grapes for this wine were whole-cluster pressed, then allowed to settle in the tank.  The juice was then racked off and was barrel-fermented in new and one-year-old French oak barrels.  The wine was given eight months barrel age with extended lees contact.

Snoqualmie Vineyards
2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark, rich, and concentrated with red currant fruit bursting on the palate, with slight mocha and tobacco notes. Luscious tannins and an elegant complexity carry through the long, elegant finish. Grapes are from established, 21-year old vines grown on the Wahluke Slope, one of the warmest areas in the state. Vineyards are hand-pruned and grapes are hand-picked for the Reserve bottling. Harvest is less than 3 tons per acre.

The Taste of Horse Heaven Hills

Chateau Ste Michelle
2000 Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Vineyard
Columbia Valley - Horse Heaven Hills

This is another great vintage for the Horse Heaven Vineyard.  The forward aromas are focused on lime, grapefruit zest and pear.  Barrel fermented adds a subtle spicy oak note and rounds out the texture of the rich wine.  The bright acidity of this cool vintage gives the wine an appealing crispness and long. fresh aftertaste.

Sagelands Winery
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Corners
$13.00 per bottle

Sagelands sources their grapes from key growing regions of Washington's Columbia Valley appellation, regions they call the "Four Corners" which are comprised of Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, the Walla Walla appellation and Rattlesnake Hills.  Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) is a blended with small amounts of the other four traditional Bordeaux varietals... Merlot (6%), to soften tannins and add complexity and fruitiness, Cabernet Franc (6%), to add a floral and herbal touch, Malbec (0.5%), for fragrance and dark color, and Petit Verdot (0.5%) for a hint of blueberry.  The wine wine reveals an intense nose of Bing cherry aroma, and a delicate touch of sweet vanilla and caramel.  On the palate, this wine shows bright cherry flavors, round tannins and a touch of cocoa powder on the lingering finish.  Great balance between fruit, acidity and tannins means this wine is not only enjoyable today, but will also improve with a few years of aging. 

Northwest Palate - Vintage Values-Highly Recommended
"Juicy on the palate, with forward flavors of black currant and clean barrel toast. Well balanced and opulent.  Excellent Value."

Thurston Wolfe Winery
2002 Washington Zinfandel

Thurston Wolfe's second vintage using Zephyr Ridge Vineyard as the featured source of our Washington State Zinfandel.  Zephyr Ridge is located 15 miles east of Canoe Ridge Vineyard near the town of Paterson, WA.  Two clones of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah were planted there exclusively for Thurston Wolfe.  Following16 month’s barrel aging and light filtration, this 2002 vintage wine was bottled in March, 2004. The resulting blend is 90% Zinfandel and 10% Petite Sirah.  Rich and full-bodied, this wine is a classical Zinfandel, packed with bramble, black pepper and oak aromas. 450 cases produced.

Woodward Canyon
2000 "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Champoux Vineyard
$67.50  [Order Online]

Woodward Canyon is part of a consortium of Washington producers that share ownership of Champoux Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in Columbia Valley, planted in the early 1970s.  This 2000 "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich and powerful successor to all past "Old Vines" cabernets. Flavors of ripe black fruits and cassis married with spicy oak and vanilla explode in the mouth! The color is dark purple and the flavor is concentrated and rich; the texture is soft yet firm. This red wine will benefit greatly from additional cellaring and with proper storage, should last fifteen years or more.

Zefina Winery
2001 Serience Red
100% Alder Ridge
$29.95  [Order Online]

Enticing aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, and plum intertwined with beautiful oak, tobacco, and soft spice characteristics. The rich mouth feel gives way to a long lingering finish. 100% barrel fermented in 1-3 year old French oak barrels.  Blend: 36% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 14% Mouvedre, 14% Counoise
Cases Produced: 675  Release Date: September 2003

The Taste of the Columbia Gorge

Maryhill Winery
2002 Gewürztraminer
Celilo Vineyard

Maryhill’s third Gewürztraminer exudes a powerful medley of melon fruit. Flavors of crisp Granny Smith apples and Columbia Valley-grown peaches are present, leading to a pleasing, creamy mouth feel. A long, lingering finish will keep you coming back for this sweet and spicy treat. Try with turkey or your favorite spicy Thai food recipe.

Syncline Wine Cellars
2001 Celilo Vineyard Pinot Noir

This wine shows the beautiful perfume for which Celilo Vineyard has become justifiably famous.  The nose opens with hints of forest floor and mushrooms, and then leaps forward into strawberries and raspberries.  Flavors lead straight into strawberries with a silky texture.  A surprising wine, beguiling, and introspective. 

Wind River Cellars
2000 Port of Celilo

This traditional port style wine has rich fruit and intense flavors. Produced from the rich, lush, lemberger fruit of Celilo Vineyard.  20.5% Alcohol.

Woodward Canyon
2001 Columbia Valley Chardonnay

This 2001 chardonnay was produced from grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge (44%) and the Columbia Valley (56%) in southeastern Washington State. The grapes were hand picked, sorted, and whole cluster pressed.  Beautiful flavors of ripe pear, peach and nectarine show in this wine, accompanied by the acidity of Granny Smith apples.  Whole cluster pressing gives wonderfully rich fruit, which integrates very nicely with subtle notes of vanilla, cream and toasted hazelnut.  The new oak is noticeable, but does not overwhelm.  This is a delightful follow-up to our very nice 2000 chardonnay. The 2001 is more generous with beautifully balanced and well proportioned fruit. While this wine may be consumed now, it will improve greatly with a year's age in bottle. We recommend consuming this chardonnay over the next two to four years for maximum enjoyment. 

The Taste of Lake Chelan

The Taste of Columbia Cascade

Cave B Estate
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Big, bold, and well balanced describe this deep, flavorful wine. It boasts complex aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and cassis (European black currant). The tannins are beautifully integrated in this classic, old world style red. The great body flavors are certain to pair nicely with your favorite foods. Winner of the 2004 Columbia Cascade Winery Association Quality Assurance Award. Release Date: January 2004. Limited Production: 550 cases.

Okanagan Estate & Vineyard
2001 Merlot

This classic dry Merlot has traditional varietal characteristics with a fresh black cherry and toasted oak nose followed by juicy raspberries, blackberries and plum flavors, with notes of tobacco, leather and sandalwood.  It is well integrated with rich tannins and moderate smoky oak and has a lovely extended finish. 

Ryan Patrick Vineyards
2001 Rock Island Red

The Rock Island project was the first dam to span the Columbia River. With our tasting room in Rock Island, WA, this wine is our tribute and a palate pleaser! Estate grown grapes (52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc) provide hints of peppers while 18 months of French oak aging creates subtle tannins.

Wedge Mountain Winery
2002 Trois Chevaux Rouges

A Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, the 2002 vintage has dark delicate aromas of the Three Red Horses (Trois Chevaux Rouges) together in a leathery, earthy, and truly fruitful way. Winner of a Silver Medal at the 2003 Tri-Cities Wine Festival.

The Taste of Rattlesnake Hills

Caterina
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon DuBrul Vineyard

Located near Outlook, WA, the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards DuBrul Vineyard of the Dubrul Vineyard was planted in 1987 on steep, south-facing slopes.  The vineyard provides maximum sun exposure, yet, because of its altitude, it also allows for warm days and moderate nights  After crush, the fruit for this wine was put through  warm fermentation before being racked at dryness to older French oak barrels to complete its malo-lactic fermentation.  The wine was then moved to new, one- and two-year old barrels where it aged for 20 months.  Deeply aromatic with fragrances of blackberry and blackcurrant and mocha.  Full-bodied and lush with well-expressed flavors of blackcurrant, chocolate and a plummy spice.

Owen Roe
2002 Syrah DuBrul Vineyard

Made with grapes from two vineyards located in the Rattlesnake Hills of the northern Yakima Valley. "These two vineyards are located in a magical area in the Rattlesnake Hills in Northern Yakima Valley. The combination of high elevation, intensive vineyard management, and a small crop yielded superbly balanced fruit. The wine is polished and rich all the while being burly with heady pepper aromas and plenty of structure. A huge Syrah that will reward with a few years of cool cellaring."

Portteus Vineyards
2002 Zinfandel Estate Wine

Aggressive, very spicy, peppery with lots of fruit. A major Seattle retailer stated that this was the best Zinfandel they had tasted from anywhere in a long time.  All grapes estate grown.

Sagelands Vineyard
2001  Merlot

Seven percent of this Merlot is actually Cabernet Sauvignon from Rattlesnake Ridge which enhances the complexity of this Merlot.  The nose shows a great expression of dark cherry and ripe plum, balanced with sweet vanilla, subtle hints of tobacco and roasted coffee beans.  Black licorice flavors lead to a soft, round, lush mid-palate.  This medium-bodied Merlot is beautifully structured with integrated, velvety tannins.  The grand finale is an explosion of juicy raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries, layered with a nice toasty note from the new American oak barrels.  The intensity of the fruit lingers on and on.