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Biography |
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Home > People
> Mark Elwell |
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Mark Edward Allen Elwell
Contributor, WineSquire.com
Having lived throughout many northern states
from Long Island, New York, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota to Seattle,
Washington, Mark has grown to have a few passions: the great
outdoors, meeting new people and the world of beverages.
Mark's interest for the latter began at K's Beverage House in
Bellevue, WA. What captured Mark were the (always changing) 350
specialty beers at K's. Truly trying to depict each brewery's
style to every new rich flavor that could be produced has turned
his interest into a passion of involvement in the beverage market.
As California wines have always had a spot on Mark's palate,
Mark moved his attention from world-class beers towards wine.
Leaving K's Beverage House in 1991, Mark went to the distributor
side, joining
Western Washington Beverage. In the last ten years Mark has
been a part of the exploding Seattle wine market, which offers
everything from incredible wine values to enjoy with friends, to
the best "In your face reds" the world can produce. His philosophy
on wine is pure enjoyment: "Great Friends, Great Food and Great
Wine-- there's nothing better!"
Mark has sold wine for Western Washington Beverage mainly on
the eastside, from Cottage Lake to Cold Creek, focusing on
Washington's top wine retailers. Over the years Mark has
concentrated on the Grocery chains of QFC, Trader Joe's, Larry's
and Fred Meyer, without ignoring where it all began: K's Beverage
House.
In early 2003 Mark was promoted to On-Premise (Restaurant)
District Manger.
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Personal
Picks |
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Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon “Yellow Label” 2001 (Australia)
$11
An Australian find offering rich ripe fruit flavors. Deep red in
color with plum & berry aromas aged for 14 months to give a
richness and complexity on the finish. This is a lot of wine for
the price.
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Folie A Deux Merlot 1999 (California) $11
This is a cult wine with the meaning of “same fantasy from two
separate people”, and has cherry and currant flavors bursting
through with a well-balanced finish.
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Quatro Merlot Sonoma County 1999 (California) $19
This wine has bright red cherry aromas with lively effervescent
fruit on the nose. Beautiful texture on the mouth with rich bright
berry finishes this complex wine…would be an incredible combination
with prime rib.
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Sky River Mead Semi-Sweet (Washington) $10
A fantastic dry crisp wine with huge honey flavor barreling
through. This is a small winery in Snohomish just east of Monroe,
Washington that has produced three brilliant clean refreshing mead
wines... this being the best seller!
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Arrowood Merlot 1997 (California) $19
Recently purchased by Robert Mondavi, this medium-bodied Merlot
shows the essence of Sonoma with the fruit being forward and easy,
pleasing finish on the palate.
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Caymus Conundrum 1999 (California) $24
Impress your friends this Thanksgiving with the worlds best turkey
wine that is not Gewurztraminer. The body of a sweet wine with a
precious crisp finish that tends to linger.
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Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (California) $29
From a vintage to rival 1994, this intricate wine is made from 89%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Syrah. It
displays black fruit, currants, chocolate and eucalyptus flavors.
Rounding out this full-bodied wine is the soft, lingering finish. A
great wine for drinking now, cellaring for 2-9 years will make this
wine velvety and luxurious.
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Treana Red Meritage 1997 (California) $33
Winemaker Austin Hope of Liberty School put together this funky
blend of Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese and Petite Syrah. With
this blend comes flavors from across the board: bright cherry and
berry flavors, tea leaves, spicy herbs, sage and a hint of chocolate
linger after swallowed. A blissful and elegant mouthful of wine,
this should be drunk with beef, and could be cellared for five to
six years.
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Farallon Chardonnay 1998 (California) $10
Tropical fruit flavors dominate this coastal wine from the
Sebastiani group. Flavors of mango, citrus, and vanilla spice are
accented by crisp balanced acidity with a touch of oak on the
lingering finish. Great chardonnay at a modest price, this will
drink well for three more years.
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Waterbrook Sauvignon Blanc 1998 (Washington) $8
This Sauvignon Blanc exhibits pretty floral scents, matched with
peaches, apricots, and pear flavors and a crisp finish, make this
wine very refreshing. This wine is perfect for those endless summer
nights!
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Recommended Books |
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Blood
and Wine: The Unauthorized Story of the Gallo Wine Empire
The true story of the beginnings of the Gallo empire. Written
entertainingly for an easy read that puts you right in the early
years after the prohibition. If the Godfather or the Goodfellas
movies entertain you this book is for you. |
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