NW Wines Get Better Every Year
By Bob Woehler
NW wines get better every year My hobby is tasting Pacific
Northwest wines, and as hobbies go, it's hard to beat.
So, to pick out a few favorites of the 700 to 800 wines I tasted
in 2001 isn't an easy task. But I'll take a stab at it.
What makes is so difficult is that the wines keep getting better
and better each year.
Some on my list are still available in the marketplace, and some
readers may have one or two of the others tucked away in their wine
cellars.
My favorites in no particular order are:
Columbia Crest 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $25 - A
stunning red, winner of a gold medal at the Tri-Cities Wine Festival
judging and many other accolades in other competitions. Huge fruit,
rich berries with smooth, supple flavors. Great spice and vanilla
overtones introduce this tasty wine.
Hogue Cellars 2000 Johannisberg Riesling Columbia Valley,
$8 - An outstanding riesling and a benchmark for this variety.
Inviting floral aromas followed by classic orange, apple and peach
flavors and a delightful, crisp farewell. Residual sugar is 1.7
percent. Great from start to finish.
Kiona Vineyards Winery 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, $20 -
Rich, fruity cabernet with complex aromas and flavors and a long
finish. Great structure and tannins. Won a gold at the Los Angeles
County Fair.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 1998 Cold Creek Vineyards Chardonnay,
$24 - Nice butterscotch components, good oak and fruit, rich and
excellent balance. Won gold at the Los Angeles County Fair.
Barnard Griffin Winery 1999 Fumé Blanc, $9 - Always a
classic, great balance with delicious tropical fruit flavors and a
flinty, crisp finish. Won gold at the Indiana State Fair.
Cayuse Vineyards 1998 Cobblestone Vineyard Syrah, $35 - A
great syrah from Walla Walla, loaded with plums, black pepper and
blackberries. Rich flavors, great tannins and a smooth finish. Won a
gold at the Oregon State Fair.
DiStefano Winery 1998 Cabernet Franc, $25 - A beautiful,
outstanding red with full fruit flavors and smoky oak aromas. This
wine has a multitude of complex components that are rich and
satisfying.
L'Ecole No. 41 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley -
A cabernet with a great pedigree from old block 1972 Sagemoor
Vineyards and from Klipsun Vineyards. There is a lot of depth, chewy
with complex flavors and a distinctive richness. Suggested price:
$29.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 1999 Chardonnay, $8 - Toasty oak
beginning. Lots of flavors: tropical fruit, apples and spice with a
long, rich finish. (Best buy)
Columbia Crest 1999 Grand Estates Chardonnay, $11 - Great
integration of vanilla oak and ripe fruit makes this a big, buttery
chardonnay with a long, satisfying finish. Voted in top 100 in the
world by Wine Spectator magazine.
Hogue Cellars 1999 Fruit Forward Chardonnay, $9 - Lovely
tropical fruit, including pineapple and coconut, give this wine
great richness, excellent acidity and a smooth finish.
Cañon De Sol 1999 Merlot, $24 - An outstanding first
effort by this new winery. Loaded with fruit, sweet plums and
delicious flavors including mocha, blackberries and big tannins.
Reininger Winery 1999 Syrah, $30 - Won a double gold at
the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition and a
gold at the Northwest Wine Summit at Mount Hood. It is big and
fruity, with flavorful berry jam qualities with a long, lasting
finish.
Tamarack Cellars 1999 Merlot, $28 - It was awarded the
coveted outstanding designation by the Wine Press Northwest magazine
tasting panel for the second vintage in a row. Great fruit, nice
vanilla and spice aromas. The flavors are ripe plums and cherries
with a good mouth feel.
Leonetti Cellar 1997 Sangiovese, $50 - Aromas of tar and
oak. Beautiful mouth feel loaded with cherries and a great tannins
finish. A super Tuscan.
Caterina Winery 1998 Willard Family Vineyard Merlot, $28 -
Great oak beginning leading to rich berry aromas and flavors. Jammy
and delicious.
Preston Premium Wines 2000 Gamay Beaujolais Rosé, $10 -The
epitome of picnic wines. Wonderful raspberry aromas and flavors,
candy fruit middle and good acids at the end. Great with turkey and
ham sandwiches.
Three Rivers Winery 1999 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon,
$40 - An explosive red with smoky, toasty oak, huge blackberry
flavors, well-balanced tannins and a massive fruit farewell. The
greatness of this wine is consistent with the fruit coming from this
classic eastern Columbia Gorge vineyard.
King Estate 2000 Reserve Pinot Gris, $20 - Big citrus and
spicy aromas leading to nice tangerine, tropical fruit flavors.
Solid acids and lingering aftertaste.
Pontin del Roza 2000 Pinot Grigio, $12 - Nice vanilla and
fruit aromas, tropical flavors, well balanced and good acids.
Dunham Cellars 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, $45 - Big,
outstanding toasty oak red, showing off great blackberries and dark
cherries. The flavors go on and on, as does the jammy finish.
L'Ecole No. 41 1999 Merlot, Seven Hills Vineyards, $40 -
An outstanding Merlot with lush cherry vanilla aromas, creamy,
inviting flavors of berries and bittersweet chocolate, huge depth
and a tasty finish.
Jackson-Triggs Vintners 2000 Proprietor's Reserve Riesling Ice
Wine, $33 U.S. - High on the sweet tooth scale, beautiful citrus
aromas, flavors of fruit salads, honey consistency and lingering,
tingling aftertaste.
Powers Winery 1997 Mercer Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, $30 -
Outstanding, sweet oak spice aromas, ripe cherries, plums, mocha in
the French chalky style. Delicious and long on flavors.
Columbia Winery 1998 Red Willow Vineyard Cabernet Franc,
$23 - Outstanding luscious, rich red, old oak and vanilla aromas,
big, bold cherry flavors, great depth of character.
Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2000 Chenin Blanc, $7 U.S. -
Made in the dry fruity style. Loaded with citrus and peaches. This
is a crisp food-friendly wine that is clean and satisfying.
Bob Woehler
has been writing about grapes and wines of the Pacific Northwest
since 1978. His columns appear twice monthly in the Tri-City
Herald in Tri-Cities, Wash. and in Wine
Press Northwest.
Send
e-mail to Bob Woehler
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