Write for Wine: It's Wine O'Clock Somewhere!

Wow in the barrel means it’s going to be amazing in the bottle.  We call it the “Wow Factor.”

And that’s exactly what we experienced recently when barrel-tasting with John Bigelow, winemaker and co-owner of JM Cellars in Woodinville.

On a recent visit, John poured us two wines from the barrel – a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, full of melon and citrus, and a robust Syrah from Boushey Vineyard, already a rich red color and bursting with flavors. We will be first in line when the Sauv Blanc is released next year. But our patience is required for the Syrah, which has another year before release.

We also were in for a special treat – John went to his wine library and opened a bottle of 2000 Columbia Valley Cuvee, his first vintage of the classic Bordeaux blend that is now known as Longevity.

To say the 2000 Cuvee is drinking nicely would be an understatement. Words do not describe how smooth this wine was on the palate. We definitely would have purchased some bottles for special occasions, but we were tasting from the last bottle.

Thanks so much, John, for sharing the exceptional experience.

Meanwhile, the 2012 harvest is set to be a record production for JM Cellars. John literally beamed when he told us about  the beauty of this year’s grapes.

But if you’re looking for wine to taste now – for your holiday table or to take to parties during the festive  season — look no further than JM Cellars. Here are some of our favorites from the lineup:

• 2010 Bramble Bump Red, a perfect cool-weather wine to enjoy on a crisp fall afternoon or on a winter evening by the fire
• 2011 Bramble Bump White, for the white wine drinker on your list – a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauv Blanc and Semillion; this wine sells out quickly, so we bought some to save for summer
• 2010 Longevity, a classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot (Wine Spectator gave the 07 vintage 94 points)
• 2009 Margaret’s Vineyard Estate Red, a Cab-based Bordeaux blend

In addition to the wine tasting experience, we were delighted to see John back in shoes after more than eight months in a cast. In March, a filled-to-the-brim 60-gallon barrel of wine fell on his left foot and crushed it. John, congratulations on this latest milestone in your recovery.

Cheers!

Virtual tastings and tweet-ups are becoming a weekly occurrence in the wine industry, and one of the best organized in my recent experience was by Wines of Chile.

At this tasting, we explored three styles of wines from four different varietals: Sauvignon Blanc, Carménère (Chile’s signature grape), Pinot Noir (relatively new to Chile) and Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile’s star red grape).

I think many of us who were invited to this event were surprised to discover that Chilean wines are unique and expressive, in addition to offering a low price point.

The tasting, attended by 60 U.S. wine bloggers, was moderated by Master Sommelier and Wines of Chile Educator Fred Dexheimer, who was in the same room as the winemakers. Bloggers watched them live on an online video screen, while tasting from the complimentary bottles shipped to us the previous week. As we experienced the lineup. we could ask questions of the winemakers and comment in a live micro-blogging stream located on the same web page as the video screen; others posted live on Twitter.

And now to the wine …

As regular readers know, we are big fans of Sauvignon Blanc, particularly with prawns or blue cheese on summer evenings relaxing on the deck. Our preference has been Sauv Blancs from Washington (Efeste and JM Cellars) and Napa Valley (Goosecross Cellars), and we are just starting to enjoy this refreshing, zesty wine from New Zealand.

Now, we are adding Sauv Blanc from Chile to our collection. Although these three wines are very different, they all made our list: Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard 2012 ($13), San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard 2011 ($19) and Casa Silva Cool Coast 2011 ($25). We particularly favored the last two because of their grapefruit flavors.

Of the 12 wines that were tasted, other standouts (to us) representing each grape were Morandé Casablanca Valley Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2009 ($18), Koyle Royale 2009 Carménère ($26) and Viña Los Vascos 2009 Le Dix Cabernet Sauvignon ($65).

Here is the full list:

• Viña Casablanca Casablanca Valley Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012
• San Pedro Leyda Valley 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011
• Casa Silva Colchagua Valley Paredones Estate Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2011
• Emiliana Casablanca Valley Novas Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2010
• Cono Sur Casablanca Valley 20 Barrels Pinot Noir 2009
• Morandé Casablanca Valley Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2009
• Concha y Toro Cachapoal Valley Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere 2010
• Carmen Colchagua Valley Alpata Vineyard Gran Reserva Carmenere 2010
• Koyle Royale Alto Colchagua Carmenere
• Viña Ventisquero Maipo Valley Grey Glacier Single Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
• Viña Maquis Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
• Viña Los Vascos Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Colchagua Valley Le Dix Cabernet Sauvignon

Thanks Wines of Chile and Emily Denton for inviting me to this educational and fun event.

Cheers!

There is no doubt in our minds that some food-and-wine pairings are spectacular, creating a “wow factor.” We have experienced this explosion of flavors at winemakers’ dinners and at many special restaurants.

That being said, we are also strong believers that people should have whatever varieties of wine they want, including for special occasions. Our preference for Thanksgiving happens to be robust red wines – some with a bit of funk, such as 2009 Reynvaan In the Rocks Syrah, and some that are rich and smooth, such as 2009 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, which we experienced for the first time at Taste of Tulalip last weekend.

In addition to those two beauties, here are the wines (in alphabetical order) that we are considering opening this Thanksgiving – all are from Washington unless otherwise noted:

• Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2010 Mr. Big Petite Sirah
• Avennia 2010 Sestina
• Barrage Cellars 2009 Outcast Cabernet Franc
• Burrowing Owl 2009 Cabernet Franc (B.C.)
• Cooper Wine Company 2008 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
• Efeste 2009 Big Papa Cabernet Sauvignon
• Fidelitas 2008 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
• Forgeron 2009 Primitivo
• Gilbert Cellars 2010 Cabernet Franc
• Goosecross Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet (Napa Valley)
• Guardian Cellars 2009 Gun Metal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Hall 2006 Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
• JM Cellars 2009 Margaret’s Vineyard Estate Red
• K&M Wine 2009 Cuvee (Oregon)
• Ken Wright Cellars 2007 Abbott Claim Pinot Noir (Oregon)
• L’Ecole 41 2008 Perigee
• Long Shadows 2007 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon
• Mark Ryan 2009 Dead Horse Red Bordeaux Blend
• Northwest Totem Cellars 2009 Qo-ne’
• Obelisco 2009 Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon
• Plumpjack 2008 CADE  Cuvee Cab (Napa Valley)
• Seven of Hearts Wine 2010 GSM (Oregon)
• Seven of Hearts 2010 Chateaux Figareaux Cabernet Franc (Oregon)
• Tinhorn Creek 2010 Cabernet Franc (B.C.)
• Va Piano 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
• William Church 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
• The Woodhouse Wine Estates 2006 Dussek Cabernet Sauvignon

What’s on your list of Thanksgiving wines?

Cheers!

What a week it’s been. A very busy time. But a wonderful week of wine, at that.

Those who follow Write for Wine on Facebook might have noticed near-daily updates on what’s been in our glass this week.

In case you missed it, here is the list.

• 09 Quarry Butte from Alexandria Nicole Cellars
• 08 Jennifer’s Syrah from William Church Winery
• 09 Outcast Cabernet Franc from Barrage Cellars
• 09  In the Rocks from Reynvaan Family Vineyards

We recommend some of these wines for special occasions and some, well, just because.

Hopefully next week, I’ll have more time to write a longer post about some new wines we’ve tasted recently.

In the meantime, if you’re on Facebook, please stop by the Write for Wine page and say hi. Or like it, if you wish!

Cheers!

In just two weeks, one of the best wine-and-food events in the northwest will be held at the Tulalip Resort – Taste of Tulalip, a weekend extravaganza of excellent wine and delicious food.

A tasting reception and celebratory dinner start the weekend on Friday, Nov. 9, followed by the Grand Taste, which we have attended annually since it was first held four years ago. The good news – there are still tickets available!

What better way to spend a November Saturday afternoon? In addition to experiencing a taste sensation, you’ll probably find some great wines for your Thanksgiving dinner table or for holiday gifts for family and friends.

Grand Taste features pours from 65 Washington wineries, 20 Napa Valley wineries, 20 Oregon wineries, 20 Italian wineries and 20 French wineries, along with multiple food stations by Tulalip Resort‘s award-winning chefs.

Or you could get an all-access pass for Saturday, which includes an early entrance to the Grand Taste, plus cooking demonstrations and a magnum party featuring some of the most highly sought-after wines from around the world. Last year, we tasted the amazing Bordeaux, Chateau Margaux, at this magnificent magnum party.

Yes, we will most definitely be there again this year. And we are planning to stay over at the stunning Tulalip Resort again too.

Taste of Tulalip is recognized as one of the top Northwest foodie “happenings” – an explosion of aromas and flavors that kicks off the holiday season in a unique way.

We hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Hundreds, no thousands upon thousands of wines await you, but how do you know which ones you’ll like? Or maybe you know you like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah or Chardonnay, so that narrows your choices … a little bit. But there are still so many to choose from. What to do?

Help is on the way!

Experience A Taste Adventure sampler from TastingRoom.com. The samplers come in a minimum of six 50ml bottles – so you can taste first, before deciding if you want to invest in full-sized bottles that range from $11-$110.

What an amazing idea! TastingRoom.com has partnered with wineries from around the world (including top wineries such as Silver Oak and Duckhorn), so you can try a variety of wines at reasonably low costs - from $22.95 to $39.95 for six mini-bottles, which come in a beautiful box with tasting notes, so it’s a learning experience while you sip.

For example, you can choose between two samplers of wines selected by New Orleans celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse – Emeril’s Everyday Sampler ($32.95) and Emeril’s Holiday Party Sampler ($39.95) to pair on holidays from Thanksgiving to New Years.

Or you may prefer a large number of other samplers including: Gary Vaynerchuk-Wines for Dudes; Several “Taste Adventures (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Reds for Picnics, Australian Gems, Red & White Essentials and many more); Party Packs such as Great Wines for BBQs; plus different samplers showcasing individual wine regions.

We received a free sample of A Taste Adventure – Cabernet Taste-Off, with this description: Over the past 35 years Sonoma County, California has attracted fame and fortune for producing powerful, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignons. In the last decade, though, Washington State has started producing Cabernet Sauvignons that many argue are better structured and better value wines.

The growing conditions in each region are different, so how did these wines stack up?

We’ve been cheerleaders for the Washington wine industry since we moved to Seattle in 1999, and even more so since Write for Wine launched in 2007. So not surprisingly, our palate preferred the Washington state wines over the Sonoma wines – but in some cases, it was a tight race!

Of the six wines, our favorite was a rich and elegant 2008 Gilbert Cellars Wahluke Slope Cab Sauv ($27.95 a bottle) — again, not surprising, since we’ve been fans since we first tasted Gilbert Cellars wines at Sexy Syrah at Salty’s in April, 2008.

An extremely close second was 2008 Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Cab Sauv ($27.95 a bottle), which was also robust and powerful, as our palates prefer.

Our favorites from Sonoma were two we had never tasted before: 2008 Icaria Alexander Valley Cab Sauv ($27.95 a bottle) and 2008 Watkins Family Winery “Nuns Cliff” ($39.95)

We also enjoyed 2007 Cadaretta Columbia Valley ($36.95) and 2008 Dutcher Crossing Taylor Reserve Sonoma (442.95) – so the entire sample was indeed a fun adventure.

You can also order Wines by the Glass, Or “Wine Your Way,” which offers a single 100ml serving, so you can drink a single glass of wine whenever and wherever you want.

And then there’s an unique program called the Taste Explorer Wine Club, where you can taste the wines before choosing which bottles you want in your club shipments.

So many people have asked me over the years about which wines to choose. The answer depends on your palate. The TastingRoom.com helps you decide – in three different ways – samplers, pour sizes and a wine club. We recommend that you give it a whirl. Your palate will thank you.

Cheers!

Carlton is my new favorite area of Oregon wine country to visit – because of the people, the hospitality and the wine that is packed with flavors. As you saw in my previous post, I definitely recommend a trip to Carlton to experience wine country south of Seattle.

In August, I encountered the friendliness of Carlton firsthand, on a sponsored blogger trip to vineyards, wineries, tasting rooms and restaurants. And I was lucky to be welcomed to Lobenhaus Bed & Breakfast for the night.

Simply put, Lobenhaus is beautiful, restful, relaxing and warm. Surrounded by 28 acres of vines, woods and creeks, Lobenhaus is a distinctive three-story lodge – a bed-and-breakfast with fine dining and comfort all rolled into one.

What an experience – from the unique passion flowers, which opened their one day of life while I was there, to the wonderful owners and innkeepers, Joe & Shari Lobenstein — I loved every minute of it. The beautiful surroundings, the comfortable bed, the peaceful night, the delicious breakfast – wow.

Lobenhaus is a perfect spot for a weekend getaway from Seattle, or a weeks’ vacation, and central to everything you might want to do in Oregon. In addition to being located near the awesome folks in Carlton, this lovely B&B is also near Dundee, Newberg and McMinnville. Plus it is:

• close to more than 160 wineries
• 1 ½ hour to the Columbia Gorge, waterfalls and Mount Hood area
• 1 hour to the Oregon coast
• 10 minutes to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum & Water Park
• 1 hour to the Portland airport

I plan to go back to Lobenhaus again – with Dave this time – and sit on the porch and sip wine, and wander through the vineyards and enjoy the twinkling stars at night. I’ll even try not to use the wireless that is offered in this peaceful venue.

Please do check it out at the Lobenhaus website or phone Joe and Shari at 503-864-9173 or email them at innkeeper@lobenhaus.com

And now a shout-out to all our wonderful hosts in the Carlton area: Joe and Shari at Lobenhaus Bed & Breakfast, in addition to new friends Lena, Bethany, Lynette, Byron and Ken, plus the Republic of Jam, The Carlton Bakery, The Horse Radish and several wineries - Seven of Hearts Wine, K&M Wine, Ken Wright Cellars,  Noble Pig, Carlton Cellars, Alexana, Carlo & Julian, Luminous Hills and Troon.

Cheers!

Run, don’t walk, to get your tickets to Taste of Tulalip, one of the best wine-and-food events offered in the northwest.

Yes, it’s a month away, but tickets go quickly and this is one experience you do not want to miss.

The weekend extravaganza kicks off with a tasting reception and celebratory dinner on Friday, Nov. 9. The Grand Taste is held the following day, Saturday, Nov. 10, and features pours from 65 Washington wineries, 20 Napa Valley wineries, 20 Oregon wineries, 20 Italian wineries and 20 French wineries, along with multiple food stations by Tulalip Resort‘s award-winning chefs.

Or you could get an all-access pass for Saturday, which includes an early entrance to the Grand Taste, plus cooking demonstrations and our personal favorite, a magnum party featuring some of the most highly sought-after wines from around the world. Last year, we were delighted to see the exquisite Bordeaux queen, Chateau Margaux, on the tasting lineup at this magnificent magnum party.

This is the lineup for Saturday’s All-Access Pass:

• 11:30 AM – He Said, She Said with “Thirsty Girl” Leslie Sbrocco and Sommelier Tommy Thompson
• 12:30 PM – Cooking demonstration with Chef Marcus Samuelsson, a 3-Time James Beard Award Winner, TV personality and author, and a question-and-answer session with Executive Chef Perry Mascitti and emcee Leslie Sbrocco.
• 1:30 PM – Private Magnum Party in mpulse lounge hosted by Seattle wine expert Christopher Chan. You’ll be treated to some of the most elite wines from around the world, selected by Sommelier Tommy Thompson and paired with a menu of Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s appetizers
• 1:30 PM – Early entrance into the Grand Taste
• 4:00 PM – Rock-n-Roll Cooking Challenge judged by Leslie Sbrocco, Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson and Chef Wayne Johnson

Yes, we will most definitely be there again this year.  And we’d love to stay over at the stunning Tulalip Resort again too – what a wonderful hotel and a great way to enhance the weekend even further.

Here are our posts from last year’s Taste of Tulalip:

• Do Not Miss Taste of Tulalip (2011)!
• Tweets from Taste of Tulalip (2011)

We heart Taste of Tulalip, and we hope to see you there!

Cheers!

It’s that time again – our favorite wine event of the year – the annual Harvest Party in the Vines, held by Alexandria Nicole Cellars at their Destiny Ridge Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills in central Washington.

Let me tell you, Ali and Jarrod Boyle know how to throw a party! This is our fourth, and we just keep having more and more fun each year.

This event is so well planned – from the special hotel rate at the Marriott in Richland, to the party buses to take us on the 45-minute drive to the Estate vineyard, to the amazing “surf and turf” menu created by awesome chef Frank Magana. In addition, there’s live music and harvest hoopla, including a skeet-shooting contest, wine balloon toss, grape stomping, barrel rolling and much more.

And let’s not forget the incredible wines. ANC’s Estate Vineyard, Destiny Ridge, contains 263 acres of planted vines with 23 varietals. Believe me, 23 varietals is huge in Washington state:

White Wines: Crawford Viognier, a2 Pinot Gris, Shepherds Mark southern Rhone white blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Late Harvest Riesling, Cabernet Franc Rosé.

Red Wines: Quarry Butte Red Table Wine, Gravity Merlot, Alderdale Cabernet Sauvignon, a2 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Syrah, Jet Black Syrah.

In addition, wine club members (like us) can also enjoy:

White Wines: Reserve Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne.

Red Wines: Block 17 Syrah, Destiny Bordeaux Blend, Member’s Only, Grenache, Mackay Duck Press Red, Lemberger, Malbec, Rock Star Red, Tempranillo, Mr. Big Petite Syrah, Primativo

We became wine club members in 2007, the same year I started this blog and when ANC first moved to Woodinville. Over the years, Ali and Jarrod became our good friends. But it all began with the wine.

Cheers!

We stopped by the fall release party at one of Woodinville’s newest wineries, Avennia, and became immediate fans of the wines and the owners. We highly recommend you see for yourself what talented winemaker Chris Peterson has created featuring Washington state grapes in the ”old-world style” of French wines.

The words and phrases that came to mind while tasting all five Avennia wines were classic, complex, balanced, structured, true to varietal, and a showcase of the beauty of Washington grapes.

One white, Oliane Sauvignon Blanc, and two Syrahs – 2010 Arnaut and 2010 Parapine - are now available.

They will be followed by the February 2013 release of two 2010 Bordeaux blends, Sestina and Gravura – both are showing such potential now, we know they will have that WOW factor for a number of years.

1. 2011 Oliane Sauvignon Blanc, Avennia’s only white wine,  is true to the classic, crisp and elegant Sauvignon Blanc and perfect on a warm Seattle afternoon. Oliane is bursting with grapefruit aromas and citrus notes, along with that minerality we’ve come to love in good Sauv Blancs.

2. 2010 Arnaut is 100% Syrah from the fabulous Boushey Vineyard. This  flagship Syrah ranked 16 in Seattle Met’s recently released 100 Best Washington Wines.

3. 2010 Parapine Syrah features grapes from Boushey and from Force Majeure’s (formerly Grand Reve) new vineyard on Red Mountain. But this Syrah will be replaced in the 2011 vintage with a Southern Rhone-style wine.

4. 2010 Sestina, the flagship Bordeaux blend, is my favorite: Cabernet Sauvignon (73%), Merlot (18%) and Cab Franc (9%). As mentioned, this complex wine tastes full of potential already, and we can’t wait to try it again in February. I hope we’ll have the patience to cellar some bottles for a few years too!

5. 2010 Gravura offers a closer split of the classic Bordeaux blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) and Merlot (40%), rounding off the edges with 6% Cab Franc.

Interestingly, the $35 Parapine Syrah and the $35 Gravura blend have Seattle restaurants lined up to include on their tasting menus.

Regular readers of this blog know that the people behind the wine are also important to us. Winemaker/partner Chris Peterson and managing partner Marty Taucher are right up there with the finest in Washington’s wine industry.

Chris passionately talked to us about his wines and his wine-making style for about 30 minutes. He was the first graduate of Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program; he spent quality time in all of the major wine regions of France and Italy; and more recently, as assistant winemaker at DeLille Cellars, he helped create some of the state’s finest wines.

During the 2009 harvest at DeLille, Chris met  Marty Taucher, a retired PR and Marketing leader at Microsoft, who has collected wine for 25 years. They shared similar interests and clicked – a close friendship that was obvious the minute we met them.

The following year, they founded Avennia, inspired by the Roman name for the city of Avignon, which signifies the heart of Old World winemaking to both of them. All the names of their wines have significance to Marty and Chris – we encourage you to read about it on the Avennia website.

Cheers!