Wine
Notes added frequently.
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Reviews of Pacific Northwest Red Wines Merlot
Andrake Cellars This Merlot offers blockbuster, forward fruit on both the nose and the palate. BIG plum, ripe cherry and spice in the aroma lead to rich flavors of candied cherry, blueberry and barrel spice. Adding a touch of this wine to a marinade would ensure that your meat from the grill would complement the wine. (7/06 CH)
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars Crafted from very similar grape sources as the Pedestal (see above), Arbor Crest's Merlot offers great complexity and concentration of fruit. It is 100% Merlot in composition and offers distinctly Merlot character: blueberry, cassis, vanilla and chocolate on the nose and flavors of ripe cherry, plum and spicy oak/vanilla on the finish. The palate is firm with tannin and the winery suggests such hearty fare as New York Pepper Steak or beef tenderloin topped with blue cheese or gorgonzola. Bon appetit! (7/06 CH)
Betz Family
Winery Bob and Cathy Betz are crafting superb wines from their tiny Woodinville winery. Bob, the M.W. [Master of Wine] in the family, spent many years at Chateau Ste. Michelle in charge of education, special projects and, in many ways, promotion. The valuable lessons he learned along the way help he and his wife Cathy work together to make wines of nearly perfect structure that offer the best aging potential of any Northwest bottling. This blend of 58% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot is reminiscent of many Grands Crus wines from St. Emilion and Pomerol in France. Look for cherry, cassis tobacco and coffee in the nose. The palate offers black cherry and chocolate with subtle vanilla and creaminess from oak aging. Outstanding with any hearty meal. (7/06 CH)
Bookwalter Winery John Bookwalter's 2004 Merlot is lush and rich, combining power and finesse from ripe fruit and oak aging. The blend is 84% Merlot with 8% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot. The aroma of the wine is bold with plum, cherry, coffee and chocolate, layered with oak spice and hints of herbs from the Malbec. The palate is rich with flavors of ripe cherry, currants and cocoa. This is a big Merlot. Serving grilled foods with some smoky notes will make for a great match with the new French oak flavors of the wine. (7/06 CH)
Foris Coming from the cool vineyards of Southern Oregon, this wine is lean and flavorful, avoiding the high alcohol and excessive over ripeness of many warmer climate bottlings. There is plenty of fruit in aromas of blueberry and candied cherry that mingle with hints of oak, vanilla and herbs. The palate offers ample acidity with spicy berry flavors and a mature finish of light oak and vanilla. This is a good value Merlot to accompany your spring grilling efforts. (7/06 CH)
Hightower Cellars The dedicated couple of Tim and Kelly Hightower craft superb handmade wines at their tiny winery on the northernmost slopes of Red Mountain. While their own vineyard matures, they select grapes from sources on Red Mountain, the Horse Heaven Hills and the Walla Walla Valley. This vintage of Merlot contains 4% Cabernet Franc. The ripe cherry aroma of this wine is complemented by a variety of nuances from citrus, rhubarb-plum, tobacco and spicy cedar. The palate is rich with black cherry, coffee, vanilla and toasty chocolate. The alcohol content of 14.2% is evident on the finish, suggesting a richly marbled steak or hearty pasta as an accompaniment. (7/06 CH)
Isenhower Cellars Brett and Denise Isenhower blended 80% Merlot with 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Syrah to create their most popular restaurant wine. The wine is elegant and polished with aromas of ripe plum, cherry, herbs and spicy notes of oak. On the palate, one appreciates the spicy tang from the Syrah and the length and cassis flavors added by the Cabernet Sauvignon (harvested from Kiona Vineyards on Red Mountain). (7/06 CH)
Latah Creek Wine Cellars How many of you can name the first Washington winemaking job that Mike Conway had before starting his own Spokane winery in 1982? Since not many of you know the answer, I will enlighten you with the information that Mike was the first winemaker for the Hogue Cellars in a joint venture with owner/grower Mike Hogue that saw the birth of both wineries over a two-year period. Latah Creek has made many memorable Merlot wines over the years, and this effort from 2003 is another classic with aromas of cherry and raspberry complemented by hints of spicy oak and earthy notes. The palate is lightly chewy with silky tannins surrounding flavors of light black cherry and vanilla. Another candidate for pouring before and during dinner (or lunch!). (7/06 CH)
Leonetti Cellar Any hope of scoring a bottle or two of this spectacular Merlot was dashed when The Wine Advocate awarded the wine a score of 94 points earlier this spring. The street price has ballooned to $90-$100 per bottle, and there is none to be found anyway. The combined winemaking team of Gary Figgins and his son Chris is showing that consensus is a powerful ally. Recent Leonetti wines have shown restraint in use of oak and refinement in blending the outstanding lots of wine from Walla Walla and Columbia Valley vineyards. The wine offers bright aromas of cherry and plum with floral notes and complex nuances of spicy oak. The palate is broad with flavors of ripe black cherry and plum with a finish of black fruits, vanilla and hints of oak. (7/06 CH)
Maryhill Winery Winemaker John Haw crafted this Merlot from grapes grown at the winery's estate vineyard overlooking the Columbia Gorge. The aroma is of smoky plum and cherry with notes of earth and barrel toast. The palate is light and bright with spicy cherry flavors and a lingering finish of berry and oak. A very sipable red wine that will travel well from aperitif to entrée. (7/06 CH)
Nelms
Road Woodward Canyon winemaker Rick Small crafts this second label wine for early consumption and it is a beauty! A blend of 76% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Syrah, the wine offers ripe cherry, spice and toasty oak on the nose, along with hints of chocolate, coffee and tobacco. The palate is juicy with rich plum and cherry flavors leading to a finish of cherry and spicy oak. (7/06 CH)
Northstar This elegant Merlot from the Walla Walla Valley shows a feminine side to the varietal that demands lighter fare on the table. Complex aromas of blueberry, cherry and vanilla are complemented by cedary oak notes and hints of cinnamon and coffee. The palate is elegant with black fruits dominating and silky tannins on the mouthfeel. I would serve a main course of veal or poultry to give the wine an opportunity to show its style and character. (7/06 CH)
Pedestal French winemaker Michel Rolland teamed up with Washington State wine pioneer Allen Shoup (former president of Chateau Ste. Michelle) to produce this limited release. The blend also reminds the taster of Bordeaux - 75% Merlot, 15% Cab. Sauv., 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Grapes were sourced from several corners of the Columbia Valley - Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, Dionysus near the Tri-Cities, Conner Lee on the Royal Slope (south of Moses Lake), and some grapes from Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain. An almost impeccable Washington State vintage allowed Rolland to craft a superb wine featuring aromas of cassis, blueberry, spicy oak and chocolate. The palate is rich with ripe flavors of cherry and plum - one might say "juicy." Though perhaps not as ageworthy as Clos de Betz, it is a stunning wine to accompany your next celebration, or one three to five years hence. (7/06 CH)
Preston Premium Wines This longtime Washington winemaking family scores a hit with this rich and hearty Merlot offering. A nice balance of fruit and oak in the aroma features ripe cherry, leather, spice and cedar. The palate is lush, but firm with ample acidity for further aging or to accompany your finest red meat efforts from the grill. A very good value! (7/06 CH)
Snoqualmie Vineyards Winemaker Joy Andersen crafts some of the best value wines on the west coast. Her 2003 Reserve Merlot is outstanding and deserves a great following. Look for aromas of ripe cherry and spicy oak mingling with vanilla, coffee and chocolate along with delightful hints of citrus. The palate is rich black cherry with nuances of herbs and cola finishing with berry and vanilla. (7/06 CH)
Walla Walla Vintners
Winemakers Myles Anderson and Gordon Venneri really hit a home run with
this superb Merlot. If you missed out on the Leonetti and want to try
a wine that offers truly great value, order some of WWV's tasty
offering. This wine is blended from 88% Merlot, 9% Cab. Franc and just
3% Cab. Sauv. These guys are masters at handling both Merlot and
Cabernet Franc and have found just the right vineyard sources to make a
complex, mouthfilling wine. The aroma of spicy black cherry is
surrounded by seductive notes of chocolate and spicy oak. The palate
adds blackberry and plum to the fruit bowl and hints of coffee and
leather to the finish. This writer detects much less oak in this
bottling than in previous Merlots from WWV. Keep it up fellas.
(7/06 CH)
Cabernet
Franc
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
A
delightful mouthful of wine, this Cabernet Franc offers the herbal
spiciness of the varietal with raspberry and spicy oak notes. On
the palate you'll find jammy notes of raspberry and currant with
lingering hints of oak and vanilla on the finish. A great bargain from
one of Washington's most prestigious vineyards.
Camaraderie Cellars
Winemaker Don Corson sourced his Cabernet Franc grapes from Fred Artz'
vineyard on Red Mountain and the nearby Chandler Reach Vineyard. The
aromas of tangy raspberry and herb is complemented by hints of herb and
tobacco. The rich palate is classic Cabernet Franc with chewy black
currant, smoky plum, coffee and vanilla. The winemaker suggests serving
salmon with his delicious wine. (11/06 CH)
Colvin Vineyards
Mark
Colvin's wines are known for their complexity and finesse. This Cabernet
Franc is crafted from grapes grown at Chelle den Pleasant Vineyard near
Prosser. The nose is of spicy currant and cherry, earthy herbs and light
hints of tar and toasty oak. The palate offers flavors of black currant,
cherry and vanilla, finishing with notes of spicy oak and dark
chocolate. An elegant roast beef dinner would make a fine pairing.
(11/06 CH)
Dalla Vina
Dalla Vina is one of Oregon's newest labels with the wines crafted by
winemaker Karl Dinger at Owen Roe Winery near Newberg. This wine
leaps out of the glass with huge aromas of ripe currant, spice, vanilla
and notes of herbs, cola and violets. The palate is rich with
flavors of black cherry and black currant with hints of coffee and
toasty oak. The wine demands that you head for the grill and prepare
some fine red meat for accompaniment. (11/06 CH)
Di Stefano Winery
Winemaker Mark Newton named his delicious Cabernet Franc "Sogno,"
Italian for "dream." There are dreamy qualities to this luscious
wine, though my dreams tend to lean toward what might be coming from the
grill to savor at the table (grilled, marinated, butterflied leg of lamb
sound pretty good!). As the wine opens up, look for bright
currant, cherry and floral aromas that lead to notes of smoky vanilla
and oak with hints of coffee and chocolate. The complex palate is
rich with fruit flavors that dance with hints of fresh herbs, dark
chocolate and spicy oak. This is one of Washington's hallmark bottlings
of Cabernet Franc.
Foris Vineyards
Such
an intriguing wine! Rich aromas of black currant and herbs are
wrapped in notes of smoky tobacco and vanilla. The palate is
medium bodied with berry, coffee, chocolate and toasty oak flavors.
Great with rich pasta dishes and a big hit with meaty pizza!
(11/06 CH)
Patrick M. Paul Vineyards
Mike
Paul has been crafting Cabernet Franc as a varietal wine longer than any
other Northwest winemaker. Bringing grape cuttings from California
in 1988, his pioneering Walla Walla Cabernet Franc vineyard has produced
many superb vintages. The aroma of the 2004 vintage offers ripe
black cherry and plum with notes of fresh herbs and spicy oak. The
palate is rich with cassis and coffee flavors with a chewy mouthfeel
inviting an accompanying steak or roast. (11/06 CH)
Pend d'Oreille Winery
Steve and Julie Meyer are the proprietors of Pend d'Oreille winery in
Sandpoint, Idaho. They have a great sense of the balance of good wine
and good living. Their Cabernet Franc offers aromas of raspberry and
black currant with notes of toasty oak, herbs and chocolate. The
palate is rich with chewy black cherry, coffee and toasty oak - a very
nice wine for your fall transition to hearty meals. (11/06 CH)
Spangler Vineyard
Pat
Spangler crafted this hearty wine from grapes grown at Sundown Vineyard.
Aromas of smoky herb, black cherry and tobacco lead to a spicy palate,
offering flavors of red currant, spicy toast and chocolate.
Wines of the Week
from
Chuck Hill Copyrighted © 2003- 2008 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. |
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