Friday 5/14/2010 Wine Tasting

Wine tasting Tommasi Viticoltori*** at Wicked Cellars****

Tommasi 2008 Pinot Grigio*** Dry with intense flavors.

Tommasi 2008 Soave "Le Volpare"***

Tommasi 2007 Valpolicella Classico Rafael** medium-bodied.

Tommasi 2007 Valpolicella Ripasso Supreriore** Ripasso" Tommasi is the unique result of refermenting Tommasi Valpolicella, Classico Superiore, on the warm dried grape skins from which TOMMASI Amarone has been already pressed.

Tommasi 2005 Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico**** inky garnet in color, full-bodied.

May 2010 Trip to Leavenworth Washington

Munchen Haus
Leavenworth Washington
509.548.1158
http://www.munchenhaus.com/
This is a must stop on every visit. Bratwurst, beer and out side sitting rain, sun and snow!

BIG “BOB” Bratwurst***

Visconti's of Leavenworth****
Leavenworth, Washington
509.548.1213
http://www.viscontis.com/
This was our second visit this year. Our plan was to have two bottles of Col Solare, a 1997 and 1998. We had the 1996 (their last bottle) on our last visit.

A small meat and chesses platter*** with two meats, two cheeses and apples.

Grilled asparagus**** Grilled to perfection with a little crunch.

COL SOLARE Red Table Wine, Columbia Valley 1998*** Still tasting nice. We decided to drink a 1998 rather than the 1998. Saving the 1997 for next time.

Saturday 5/8/2010 “Wings and Wine” Wine Tasting and Light appetizers

This was a Boeing Management Association (BMA) wine tasting event. With Woodinville Wine Country wineries, located at the Flying Heritage Collection, Paine Field, Everett.

The Flying Heritage Collection**** is operated by a non-profit organization committed to educating the public about rare, historic aircraft. Main emphases of the collection are combat aircraft from World War II, including the Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51, P-47, Hellcat, and a Me-109. This year the collection has added the most famous artillery weapon of WWII—the Flax 37.

Airfield Estate Winery
http://airfieldwines.com/
2008 Mustang** 53% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 8% Cinsault, 2% Counoise, 2% Mourvèdre

Alexandria Nicole
http://www.alexandrianicolecellars.com/lexandrianicolecellars.com/
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon****

Anton Ville Winery
http://www.antonvillewinery.com/
2005 Merlot*** Try this with chocolate.

Brian Carter Cellars
http://www.briancartercellars.com/
2006 Tuttorosso** A super-Tuscan style blend.

Chateau Ste Michelle
http://www.ste-michelle.com/
2007 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon***

Columbia Winery
http://www.columbiawinery.com/
2004 Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon***

Covington Cellars
http://www.covingtoncellars.com/
2007 Sangiovese**
2006 Rough House Red***

Cuillin Hills Winery
http://cuillinhills.com/
2007 The Dungeon, Syrah**** wonderfully peppery
2008 Riff-Raff, Red Blend***

Darby Winery
http://darbywinery.com/
2007 Dark Side Syrah***
2008 Purple Haze***

DeLille Cellars and Doyenne
http://www.delillecellars.com/
2007 Doyenne Syrah**** the mouth feel is quite large and though still elegant.

Edmonds Winery
http://www.edmondswinery.com/
2007 Delorious Red**** 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec. Great nose with a long and smooth finish.

EFESTE Wines
http://www.efeste.com/
2007 Final-Final***

2007 Ceidleigh**** made entirely from Red Mountain grapes.

Gifford Hirlinger Winery
http://www.giffordhirlinger.com/
2006 Estate Merlot***
2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon***

JM Cellars
http://www.jmcellars.com/
2007 Tre Fanciulli*** 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Syrah
2007 Bramble Bump Red*** 33% Cabernet Sauvignon; 31% Merlot; 15% Syrah; 13% Mourvedre, 8% Petit Verdot

Matthews Estate Winery
http://www.matthewsestate.com/
2005 Columbia Valley Red Wine**
2006 Columbia Valley Claret**

Northwest Totem Cellars
http://www.nwtotemcellars.com/
2007 Qo-né** a blend of Cab Franc (64.4%), Cabernet Sauvignon (26.2%), Syrah (8.4%) and Petit Verdot (1%)

O Wines
http://www.owines.com/
2007 Red Blend** Their first Red Wine which is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese.

Red Sky Winery
http://www.redskywinery.com/
2005 Red*** Bordeaux blend
2006 Serendipity****

Sparkman Cellars
http://www.sparkmancellars.com/
2007 Stella Mae*** made of Cabernet Sauvignon from Klipsun Vineyards, Merlot from Hedges North Block and Klipsun, and Petit Verdot from Stillwater Creek Vineyard.

William Church Winery
http://www.williamchurchwinery.com/
2007 Sur La Mer**** This classic Bordeaux blend consists of 40% Cabernet, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot. Very well balanced, this was the star of the tasting.
2007 Syrah***
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon***
2007 Malbec***

XSV
http://www.xsvwine.com/index.asp
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon****

Saturday 5/8/2010 Wine Tasting

Wine tasting at Wicked Cellars**** with Scott Southard, owner and winemaker of Southard Winery***. Southard Winery is a new Washington State winery located in Selah, Washington.
http://www.southardwinery.com/

2008 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Viognier*** chewy texture and long finish.

2008 Riesling*** bright and dry with a rich mouthfeel.

2007 Lawrence Vineyard Syrah*** from the Columbia Valley's Royal Slope. Needs some are to open up. My top wine of the tasting.

2007 Whipping Boy*** Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lawrence Vineyard. Janet’s favorite wine.

Friday 5/7/2010 Wine Tasting

Wine tasting at Wicked Cellars**** was hosted by Lars Sorensen of Cascade Trade***. Lars is always on a mission to find the best quality, small production wines that offer loads of flavor and tons of value. This tasting was no exception. While there were no wines with a ‘wow’ factor, they were all drinkable.
http://www.cascadetrade.com/about.html

Enotria Cortese 2008 Mendocino County, California** Cortese is the grape that makes Gavi, and Gavi is a white wine from northern Italy.

Anne Amie Cuvie Amrita 2008 Willamette Valley, Oregon*** It is dry, crisp and fruity consisting of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, a splash of Gewurztraminer and a pinch of Chardonnay.

Coto de Hayas Tinto 2009 Campo de Borja, Spain*** Good value. Old vine Garnacha is blended with Tempranillo, Syrah and a little bit of Cabernet.

Enotria Dolcetto 2007 Mendocino County, California*** Fruity and light on the palate, bring on the summer!

Cortenova Primitivo 2008 Puglia, Italy** Concentrated, dark fruit flavors and spice.

Thorn Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2008 Barossa Valley, Australia*** Jam packed with flavors, my favorite of the tasting.

Saturday 5/1/2010 Wine Tasting

Ward Johnson Winery*** with Charlie Johnson Co-winemaker and Owner at Wicked Cellars****
Ward Johnson is an urban family winery located at the foot of Seattle's Queen Anne Hill.
http://www.wardjohnsonwinery.com/home

Ward Johnson 2008 Counterbalance Chardonnay, Columbia Valley and Sun River Valley**

Ward Johnson 2007 Merlot, Hedges Vineyard, Red Mountain*** food-friendly and medium-bodied.

Ward Johnson 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain*** 10% Cab Franc.

Ward Johnson 2007 Syrah, Red Mountain***

Friday 4/30/2010 Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting at Wicked Cellars**** with Lars Ryssdal from Tranche Cellars***
http://www.tranchecellars.com/tranchecellars.com/

Tranche Cellars 2006 Pinot Gris** Sorry, not into sweet Pinot Gris.

Tranche Cellars 2007 Roussanne/Viognier, Columbia Valley**

Tranche Cellars 2005 Chardonnay**

Tranche Cellars 2005 Barbera, Columbia Valley*** Rather high alcohol, drink at a cool room temperature.

The Tranche Cellars 2005 "Slice of Pape"*** a Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone Blend Style.

Tranche Cellars 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon***