Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Collovray et Terrier

Wine: Pouilly Fuisse “Plenitude de Bonte”

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Appellation: Maconnais

Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay

Aging: Barrel fermented 30% new French Oak

Climate: Continental micro-climate

Alcohol: 13 %

Winemaker: Christian Collovray & Jean-Luc Terrier

Production: n/a

Bottle Value: +/-$30 USD

Where: Walla Walla When: June 23, 2010         With whom: Tasting Group: Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house

Perspective: Full bodied with sweet caramel apple aromas and well defined minerality.  Definitely a new world style of Pouilly-Fuisse-starting to wonder if all Pouilly-Fuisse is now new world-with concentrated flavors of honey, citrus and tropical fruits.  Very enjoyable wine for an afternoon with a fresh baguette and bloomy rind cheeses like Pierre-Robert, Delice d’Bourgogne and L’Edel de Cleron.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Brilliant pale golden core and pale yellow rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of baked apple pie, honey and chalkboard.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol.  Medium body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, green apple, pineapple, mango, mature oak and chalky mineral.  Balance – Unctuous. Refreshing acidity, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and supple viscosity.  Overall Impression – warm climate ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.

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Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Maison Henri Boillot

Wine: Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Pitangeret

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Appellation: Cote du Beaune

Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay

Aging: 50 % new French Oak

Climate: Continental micro-climate

Alcohol: 13.5 %

Winemaker: Henri Boillot

Production: n/a

Bottle Value: $40 USD

Where: Walla Walla   When: June 23, 2010         With whom: Tasting Group:  Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house

Perspective: Out of six wines we tasted blind in the tasting group this was my favorite.  Great balance, concentration, and lively acidity.  This wine hit all the right spots with toasty oak and vanilla, citrus blossom and stony/chalky minerality.  This is exactly what you would want out of a $40 bottle of white Burgundy.  Showing great at the moment with the potential to hold for the next 5-8 years.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear brilliant clarity. Yellow/green core and pale yellow rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty new oak, vanilla, citrus, stony mineral and floral blossom.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol.  Medium body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, white peach, and chalky mineral.  Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, generous alcohol with well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and creamy viscosity.  Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and well structured. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 5-8 years.

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Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Le Vieux Donjon

Wine: Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Country: France

Region: Southern Rhone

Appellation: Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Varietal Composition: 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault

Aging: 2 years new French Oak

Climate: Mediterranean

Alcohol: 14.5 %

Winemaker: Lucien Michel

Production: 5,000 Cases

Bottle Value: $65 USD 750ml / $37 USD 375ml

Where: Walla Walla When: June 21, 2010         With whom: Myself

Perspective: This half bottle was a gift from Nicole for putting together a cheese and antipasto platter for a baby shower she was hosting for her friend, “Thank you Nicole!” The first time I tried this was with Peter on New Year’s Eve after tasting through numerous other bottles of wine and champagne so I think, scratch that, I know I was a little too buzzed to capture its true essence.  I remember it being extremely tight with grainy tannins and I knew that it was too young to drink.  Now, almost six months later, it seems to have come around a bit more with fruit expression and aromas.  (Remember this is a half-bottle so it may vary from a normal 750ml)  Lots of grassy dark chocolate and plum on the nose initially, then after some air you start to get those barnyard bretty aromas that I love in CNDP.  On the palate the wine is still very lean and showing mostly new oak characteristics like lead pencil and toasty vanilla.  If you dig deep you can pick up hints of ripe strawberry, black cherry and baked plum.  Great acidity and tannins on this wine will allow it to cellar very well for the next 10-15 years, possibly longer depending on how you like them. Need to compare a 750ml bottle to these notes and see if they differ.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale ruby rim, deep purple highlights.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of dark chocolate, lavender, plum, tobacco, barnyard, and sweet new oak spices.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium body.  Medium intense flavors of black cherry, wild strawberry, dark chocolate, oily mineral and plum,   Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, well integrated tannins, warm alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – clay textured tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – Stemmy/refreshing ripeness, well defined freshness with great structure. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 10-15 years.

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Vintage: 2008

Producer/Winery: Maison Bleue

Wine: “Le Montagnette” Grenache

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Appellation: Horse Heaven Hills: Alder Ridge Vineyard

Varietal Composition: 85 % Grenache, 15% Syrah

Aging: 10 months in 3 year old French Oak

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 15.4 %

Winemaker: John Martinez

Production: 303 Cases

Bottle Value: $25 USD

Where: Walla Walla When: June 18, 2010         With whom: Myself

Perspective: This is one of the most elegant Grenache based wines I have discovered out of Washington State.  Velvety plum, strawberry and raspberry with complex mineral and hints of spicy vanilla-must have used some nice old barrels-make this wine incredibly easy to drink.  Be careful, though it does not feel like it is 15.4 % it is! Enjoyed a nice block of Cabrales blue cheese from Spain with it, which was a match made in heaven.  This is truly a wine to look out for.  I will post more notes on some of Maison Bleue’s other wines which are proving to be very atypical for this region.  Be sure to drink this wine at cellar temperature (55 degrees) it makes a world of difference.  Check him out www.mbwinery.com.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale rim with highlights of purple in the halo.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of wet stones, plum, strawberry, kirsch, white pepper and sweet spices.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of red cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and plum,   Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, supple tannin, generous alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – supple tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and elegant. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.

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Wow, what a day, I finally escaped my life in the restaurant business to do the one thing I love the most: taste new wines and meet a new winemaker.  My god, it’s been since January since I have written a word about wine or even documented a tasting note.  It has been nothing but IPA’s and long days since I started managing Olive Marketplace and Cafe.  I swore to myself that I would never, ever, get back into the restaurant business again unless I owned the place – and if I was ever crazy enough to own a restaurant then I should then commit myself.  Maybe I’ll give myself a mulligan on this one… Anyway, let’s just say it’s good to be back at the keyboard with a glass of wine and something to write about.  My side job writing for the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance led me to Lori and Tim Kennedy, owners of Don Carlo Estate Vineyards.  Tim is the man who originally started “Tim’s Cascade Style Potato Chips” and after selling the company, they purchased a twelve acre parcel of land and planted a vineyard to produce the types of wines they love most.  Lori and Tim are amazing; they have been working like crazy to develop their vineyard which was planted in 2007.  The vineyard is planted with 3.5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, 2 acres of Cabernet Franc and 1 acre of Chardonnay.  The vineyard is located on the site of a former apple orchard which runs northeast in orientation and is set up on a Vertical Trellis System (VSP).  The vines are meticulously pruned to produce concentrated fruit that will spend their days basking in the sun during the day and receiving a reflection of heat from the cobblestones below well into the evening hours.  But do not fear, this wine will not be an over-extracted fruit bomb laced with high alcohol.  Lori believes in keeping the alcohol in check and not letting the fruit over ripen.

I took my friend Spencer along for the vineyard tour and we had lunch with Tim and Lori outside the tasting room.  Spencer grew up in the northwest and was amazed that the founder of Tim’s Cascades was making him lunch.  Me being from the south and east coast had seen the chips only a few times but fed off of his excitement when Tim put down a bowl of freshly fried chips with shaved Parmesan and sea salt.  Wow, those things were delicious.  We opened a bottle of the 2008 Don Carlo Estate Chardonnay which was super clean and crisp with brilliant clarity.  Flavors of apple and pear mixed with hints of tropical fruits and minerals.  Great acidity and just a hint of oak made this wine a great start to our lunch.  Next, we opened the 2007 Merlot and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Both wines proved to be well balanced with perfectly ripened fruit, generous alcohol and supple tannins.  Tim threw a marinated flank steak on the grill and we sat and sipped the wines while eating potato chips – it was pretty cool. Lori is making some nice wines and the prices are great, unlike a lot of the wines in Washington State that are pretty pricey for what they are.  Don Carlo Estate wines all sit between the $20 and $30 dollar mark.  Good wines, new friends, and great chips!!

By the way I am now addicted to Tim’s Cascade Style Wasabi Chips, which are an excellent pairing with Gruner Veltliner.  Enjoy tasting!

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Vintage: 2008

Producer/Winery: Eidos de Padriñán

Wine: Albariño

Country: Spain

Region: Galicia

Appellation: Rias Baixas D.O.

Varietal Composition: 100 % Albariño

Aging: Stainless steel

Climate: Maritime  

Alcohol: 13.3 %

Winemaker: Emilio Vidal

Production: 5000 cases

Bottle Value: $25 USD

Where: Vintage, Walla Walla    When: January 3, 2010         With whom: Greg, Peter, Megan and Dustin

Perspective:  I love the simplicity, elegance and freshness of good Albariño.  This was my first time with this wine and I will repeat the affair several more times in the future.  Clean and fresh with wet limestone, chalk, green apple and lemon zest.  I wish I had shellfish and it was summertime. 

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Pale yellow core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of stony mineral, green apple and lemon zest.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins.  Medium alcohol.  Medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of green apple, lemon, limestone, chalk and tart melon.  Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, supple tannin, light alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – clay textured tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – cool climate ripeness, vivid freshness and elegant. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now.

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Vintage: 2006

Producer/Winery: Long Shadows Vintners Collection

Wine: Pedestal Merlot

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Appellation: Columbia Valley

Varietal Composition: 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

Aging: 22 Months, 100 % French oak, 85% new.

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14.7 %

Winemaker: Michel Rolland

Production: 1877 cases

Bottle Value: $60 USD

Where: Vintage, Walla Walla When: January 3, 2010         With whom: Greg, Peter, Dustin and Joel

Perspective: I’d compare this wine to a pseudo hot celebrity that I wouldn’t kick out bed but after an hour or so I would get a little bored with.  It’s definitely a good wine, but I wish it had more complexity and layers. Full delivery on extraction and body.  Balanced flavors of toasty barrel, black cherries, plum and dark chocolate with a smooth supple finish.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep garnet core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty oak and black cherry.

Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) soft/ripe tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of black cherry, vanillin, dark chocolate and plum.  Balance – Dry.  Flabby acidity, supple tannins, generous alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – velvety tannins and fleshy viscosity.  Overall Impression – overripe ripeness, expressive freshness and mellow. Medium length.

Conclusion: Good quality for concentration. Drink now or hold for the next 3 years.

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Vintage: 2006

Producer/Winery: Ladera

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation: Napa Valley

Varietal Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 5% Petite Verdot.

 Aging: 17 months, 100 % French oak.  39% new / 61 % used

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.5%

Winemaker: Karen Culler

Bottle Value: $40 USD

Where: Walla Walla    When: January 1, 2010         With whom: Greg, Peter, Tom, Dustin and Megan

Perspective:  Fun, easy drinking Napa Cabernet with all the right components.  Dark, berry fruits, toasty new oak spices, and fleshy tannins make this wine into something that can be enjoyed any night of the week.  Drink while it’s young and decant for 30 minutes for best results.  If you looking for a cellar wine, Ladera makes a nice Howell Mountain Cabernet that can be stowed away.   

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep garnet core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty oak, blackberry, cassis and plum.

Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) soft/ripe tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of bramble fruit, black cherry, vanillin, and plum.  Balance – Dry.  Refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, generous alcohol and well-defined fruit. Texture – clay-textured tannins and fleshy viscosity.  Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium length.

Conclusion: Good quality for texture and balance. Drink now or hold for the next 3-5 years.

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Vintage: 2005

Producer/Winery: Quinta do Crasto

Wine: Douro Old Vines Reserva

Country: Portugal

Region: Porto

Appellation: Douro

Varietal Composition: Blend of 25-30 different local varieties

Aging: 18 months, 85% French oak, 15 % American oak

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14%

Winemaker: Dominic Morris and Manuel Lobo

Production:  6900 Cases

Bottle Value: $70 USD

Where: Walla Walla    When: January 1, 2010         With whom: Greg, Peter, Tom, Dustin and Megan

Perspective:  A great wine considering that it’s a blend of 25 to 30 different varieties with an average vine age of 70 years old.  For me it felt like a Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional blend.  Very clean and well structured.  Definitely needs decanting to even out the initial tannins.  After it breathes for a bit it’s quite lush and robust with earthy baked black fruits.  Apparently it was #3 on Speculators top 100 last year and received 95 pts.  Definitely a great wine but not sure that an old vine field blend is worth seventy bones.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and rim.  Thick sediment and deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of blackberry, plum, tobacco, and woody spices.

Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) fine-grained tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of dark chocolate, black cherry, vanilla, stony mineral and plum.  Balance – Dry.  Refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, generous alcohol and well-defined fruit. Texture – fine-grained tannins and fleshy viscosity.  Overall Impression – overripe, expressive freshness and well structured. Medium (+) length.

Conclusion: Good quality for texture, concentration and balance. Drink now or hold for the next 5-8 years.

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Vintage: 1998

Producer/Winery: Quintessa

Wine: Proprietary Red

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation: Napa

Varietal Composition: Bordeaux Blend

Aging: New French oak

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.5 %

Winemaker: Aaron Pott

Production:  n/a

Bottle Value: $100-$150 USD

Where: Walla Walla  When: December 31, 2009         With whom: Greg, Tyler, Chelsea, Peter, and Scott

Perspective:  1998 was a difficult vintage in Napa Valley but as always there are wines that pull through and come out drinking pretty well.   At first the wine seemed a bit tired, there was very little fruit, the tannins were powdery and it seemed as if the wine was not going anywhere.  Then after an hour we went back to it and behold it had opened up and was showing some signs of life.  Very pleasant on the palate with developed aromas of tea leaf and forest floor.  Blackberry, plum, dark chocolate and subtle hints of spice linger for bit but soon fade away. Elegant and easy to drink but I do not believe it will develop any more complexity.  Drink it now if you have any tucked away.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) developed aromas of blackberry, forest floor, and brewed tea leaf.

Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium soft/ripe tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intense flavors of dark chocolate, blackberry, and plum.  Balance – Dry.  Thick acidity, rounded/resolved tannins, warm alcohol and meagre fruit. Texture – powdery tannins and supple viscosity.  Overall Impression – baked ripeness, fading in  freshness and mellow. Medium length.

Conclusion: Good quality for texture and balance. Drink now.

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