27
Aug
2019
- Details
-
Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
April 1, 2019 ... Yes it was April Fool's but there was nothing funny on a bus in Washington State where we were deadly serious about learning what makes Washington wine so damn good and yet at the same time they are having a lot of fun with it.
Kicking our day off at Owen Roe, who had, up to this point, the best rosé of the trip (oh, but wait, the best rosé is still to come). The winery was established in 1999 in Oregon to focus on Pinot Noir, but then 10 years later bought a Washington property to make other reds and whites … but it was the reds that truly impressed including a bottle with a severed hand on it. 
2016 Sinister Hand ... (****+)
2015 Syrah ... (****+)
2016 Yakima Valley Red … (*** ½+)
(click on the above names to read the full review)
Next stop on our journey: Powers Winery. A 71-acre property with vineyards up to 1,000 feet above sea level. Organic since 1988 and certified in 1990 - they produce 1 million bottles a year, though it grows only 8% of what they require.
2016 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ... (*** ½+)
2015 Columbia Valley Syrah … (****)
2014 Reserve Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ... (****+)
(click on the above names to read the full review)
Last stop was for dinner at Woodward Canyon, started by Washington pioneer Rick Small in 1981 (at the time one of the first wineries in Washington State) - after dinner, and the wines tasted below, Rick opened up the door to his cellar to let us try some Washington State history with his 1999 and 1987 Cabernets.
2017 Chardonnay … (*** ½+)
2015 "Artist Series #24" Cabernet Sauvignon ... (*** ½+)
2016 "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon ... (****+)
(click on the above names to read the full review)
15
Aug
2019
- Details
-
Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
I like to wait till I get enough British Columbia wines so I can release them as their own “report” – either I waited too long for this one, or I'm getting to taste more British Columbia wines (which is a good thng) ... here I have 60 BC wines (some I tried during the judging of the All Canadian WIne Championships) that really are worth picking up ...
click on wine name for the full review
Black Sage Vineyard 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Blasted Church 2016 Merlot
CedarCreek 2016 Pinot Noir, Platinum Block 2
CedarCreek 2016 Pinot Noir, Platinum Block 4
CedarCreek 2017 Chardonnay
CedarCreek 2018 Ehrenfelser, Platinum Block 9
CedarCreek 2018 Gewurztraminer
CedarCreek 2018 Pinot Gris
CedarCreek 2018 Riesling
CedarCreek 2018 Sauvignon Blanc
CedarCreek 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Platinum “Border Vista”
Culmina 2018 Gruner Veltliner, Unicus
Deep Roots 2017 Cabernet Franc
Desert Hills 2018 Gamay
Dirty Laundry 2017 Gewurztraminer, Madam’s Vines
Farm Gate Winery 2018 Clarice
Harper’s Trail 2018 Riesling, Pioneer Block
Harper’s Trail 2018 Riesling, Silver Mane Block
Heaven’s Gate 2017 Gamay Noir
Hillside Winery 2018 Gewurztraminer
Joie Farm 2016 Gewurztraminer Reserve, “En Famille”
Joie Farm 2016 Pinot Noir
Joie Farm 2016 Riesling Reserve “En Famille”
Joie Farm 2017 A Noble Blend
Joie Farm 2017 Chardonnay Reserve, “En Famille”
Joie Farm 2018 A Noble Blend
Joie Farm 2018 Brut, Quotidien
Joie Farm 2018 Chardonnay Un-Oaked
Lang Vineyards 2018 Riesling, Farm Reserve
Mission Hill 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Mission Hill 2017 Chardonnay Reserve
Mission Hill 2017 Viognier, Limited Edition Reserve
Mission Hill 2018 Pinot Gris Reserve
Mission Hill 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve
Mission Hill 2018 Viognier, Bluebird Passage
Monte Creek Ranch 2017 Chardonnay
Monte Creek Ranch 2017 Pinot Noir Reserve
Monte Creek Ranch 2018 Riesling
Mt. Boucherie 2017 Chardonnay
Mt. Boucherie 2017 Merlot Icewine
Mt. Boucherie 2017 Merlot Reserve
Mt. Boucherie 2018 Gewurztraminer
Mt. Boucherie 2018 Rose
Orofino Winery 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Passion Pit
Quails’ Gate 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Quails’ Gate 2016 Merlot
Quails’ Gate 2017 Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate 2017 Chardonnay, Stewart Family Reserve
Quails’ Gate 2017 Pinot Noir
Quails’ Gate 2017 Pinot Noir, Stewart Family Reserve
Quails’ Gate 2018 Chenin Blanc
Rollingdale Winery 2016 Cabernet Franc “8 Barrels”
Rust Wine Co. 2016 Merlot
Rust Wine Co. 2017 Zinfandel
Rust Wine Co. 2018 Chardonnay
Rust Wine Co. 2018 Gamay
Spearhead Winery 2017 Pinot Noir Cuvee
Spearhead Winery 2017 Pinot Noir GFV Saddle Block
Volcanic Hills 2018 Gewurztraminer
Volcanic Hills 2018 Gewurztraminer Single Vineyard
