For those of you following the two initiatives regarding the privatization of Washington liquor sales, be prepared for a noisy battle for the next two months. There is big money pouring into this fight on both sides, so I thought it would be a good time to talk about who is funding each camp. The names of the organizations buying political ads are meaningless, they always sound like noble causes. To really know what the fuss is all about, you need to know who is paying the bills and why. It is then up to you to choose the side that is best aligned with your own interests.

It's almost football season and we thought we could start things off with the big one: Washington versus Oregon! With the big brooding reds and complex whites of Washington, and the racy, zippy whites and sexy smooth reds from Oregon, we're not sure who will win! Please join Andy Campbell as he referees the match between various Washington wines he chooses, and Alan Hanish of Lange Winery, the premier Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris producer from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Who do you think will win?

Tasting is from 3-6 pm. Hope to see you at Pete's Bellevue this Saturday!

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Kyle MacLachlan pours his wine at Dunham

We love stopping at Dunham for many reasons on the Saturday of Spring Release weekend: pet the dogs, drink the great wine, meet nice people, and shamelessly gorge ourselves on fresh parmesan-laced pasta to innoculate our bodies against the alcohol attack. This year we had the added treat of meeting Yakima native and thespian Kyle MacLachlan and drinking his wine.

Château Lynch Bages Pauillac 2006
This château dates back to 1691. Even though it was classified as a fifth growth, it is considered a “super second’ and sells at a higher price. Jean Michel Cazes is considered an icon in the wine business for improving the quality of this property and wine everywhere else as well. I had met him in Seattle in 1993. Even though he had stepped down as president, in September 2009, I asked if he was in the winery. He was in and graciously came downstairs and chatted with us for a few minutes. His son George Charles now runs the operation. The wine is made from about 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is always fragrant and is well balanced with excellent fruit and a lingering finish. Oak barrels are utilized but the wine is always harmoniously integrated. With decanting, this can be consumed early but the château has a proven track record for long cellaring. Recommended retail price is around $97.00.

Anchor Drive

Walla Walla’s Spring Barrel Tasting weekend is May 1-2, and the women of Delta Gamma at Whitman College again are conducting their annual fundraiser,Anchor Drive. It’s a designated driving service for weekend wine tasting trips and is the group’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds directly benefit the Delta Gamma national philanthropy, Service for Sight and the local United Blind of Walla Walla by installing audible crosswalks for the visually impaired.

A newly filed initiative seeks to by-pass the legislature

It seems that most every year one bill or another is introduced in the Washington legislature with the aim of getting the state out of the retail liquor business. Despite the merits of the bills, they always get killed somewhere in the political machinery by legislators beholden to the primary enemies of privatization. You may be surprised to learn that the liquor board itself is NOT one of the primary enemies of privatization.

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