Washington State Wine – Episode #177

February 6, 2007

Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary sits down and really gets into Washington State wine. This part of the country is bringing the thunder and many people don’t know how good it really is! Sit back and enjoy this run through Walla Walla and more.

132 Responses

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February 6, 2007

garybee
Great job on the Washington Wines. We’ve been loving them for about 10 years…since first tasting Quilceda Creek. Since most of my family is in Portland, it’s always fun to visit the wineries in Oregon and Washington when we’re there. Walla Walla is a great place and we tasted all the way from there to Seattle (Quilceda Creek being north of Seattle).
We’ve always had the Columbia Crest Grand Estate Cab and Chard as everyday wines. Their reserves are great…and a great value.
February 6, 2007

Karen Lorentz
Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet 2001(?) — I think I may have one bottle left. I think that qualifies.
February 6, 2007

mike m
Three words Walla Walla Vintners, great wines!!
February 6, 2007

Brookhouser
Gary-

Dirty dancing all over your palate…..What does a beautiful cedar wood really look like and how does it dirty dance? Rainbows and Unicorns, paintaballs…..you pulled all of those off the wall comments and put them in your bag….Its like an explosion of analogies put into a little bag:)
February 6, 2007

garyv
WOW chris tasting notes on all wines up already!!!! BRAVO!!!!
http://tv.winelibrary.com/spreadsheet/
February 6, 2007

litser
i wish i could taste this wines!!! american wines are impossible to find here in Venezuela..
loved THE EPISODE anyways…
Gary do the argentine episode u promised me!
THX FOR YOUR DEDICATION!

Lisandro
February 6, 2007

Hugh
Great Episode….I love the cool, calm intro….and i love wash state….the grunge rock scene and wines….some of my favs:

Cadence, Andrew Will, Reininger, Januik, and i’ve one precious bottle of Quilceda Creek 01 Cab…

FYI for the vayniacs….April 14-15 in Seattle…Huge winefest…check out tastewashington.org.

i’ll be there
February 6, 2007

JavaMonkey
QOTD: I’ve had the Reininger Syrah that you tasted (I still have another bottle in my cellar). It’s probably the best bottle of wine I’ve ever had. I’m also a fan of Columbia Crest. Although I try to experiment with new things, Columbia Crest is one of my biggest fallbacks for daily dinner wine.
February 6, 2007

Dominus
QOTD: Well, I know why I respect your palate or better yet, glad it’s close to mine. I was waiting with baited breath how you would rate the L’Ecole 41 and I could not agree more. I see the good reviews and try them but have been unimpressed. On the other hand, I’ve had the Walter Clore Cab and loved it.

Great show. Off to order my “Washington Walla Walla Wine.”

Cheers!

P.S. AFC dominates as did the Colts over the Bears. Go Peyton!
February 6, 2007

Eric
Holy purple teeth Batman!
February 6, 2007

mikep
Great episode Gary. Columbia Crest almost always delivers. I have had an amazing amount of great Washington State wines: Leonetti Merlots, Reserves, and Cabernets, L’Ecole Cabs and Merlots, Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Dunham Cellars (all), Basel Cellars Estate Winery (all), Seven Hills Winery (all), Hedges Mountain, J. Bookwalter(Zelma Long) Cabernet AMAZING, Owen Sullivan, Forgeron Cellars CAbernet and Meritage , Goose Ridge , Townshend, Spring Valley Vineyard, Sandhill Winery, Desert Wind, amongst others. It is an exciting locale, especially Sevem Hills, and Horse Heaven. It’s an area worth exploring. Is it Napa 13 years ago? Hmmmm interesting thought. Can I give my answer in 10 years?
February 6, 2007

Tony S.
Shot in the mouth with a paintball gun, unicorns, darth vader and skittles and garage bands, if I wasn’t already into wine, this would be enough to get me hooked! (Not that I like unicorns.)

I’m glad you did those Cayuse, my company just got a bunch in stock last week and I was curious about them…unfortunately they’re a little out of my price range, plus right after they came in, I’ve been seeing the warehouse guys packing them up to go out. But, it’s good to know.

QOD: “Real” Washington wine…hmmm….I’ve had some Leonetti (I forget the vintage or wether it was Merlot or Cab or whatever, but I remember liking it a lot. Owen Roe is a good one. That’s all that comes to mind and I don’t feel like getting a brain anurism trying to remember if there were more.

Alright…seeing that you were rooting for the Colts, I’m glad you got soaked. I’m happy for Dungy and most of the Colts players, but I hope Peyton catches a bad cold and has to have his throwing arm removed due to his constant coughing. Rex. What the heck?!?!?

OK man…I’ll be better in a day or two.
See you later,
GO BEARS!!!!

T
February 6, 2007

Dmjperc
Phrase of the Day… ” A cream puff exploding in your mouth!” LOL!!!!

Word of the Day… Attack!
February 6, 2007

dabo
After over a month, I’m no longer lurking. Great episode. Looking forward to tasting my first Washington wines.

btw… What’s with the countdown on the board? Days until the Jets kick off the ‘07 season???
February 6, 2007

Badger Ann
QOTD: I’ve tried and enjoyed the under $20 wines (Covey Run Riesling, 14 Hands Merlot). However, I do have a bottle of Andrew Will 2003 Sheridan Vineyard (Red Bordeaux Blend)purchased on recommendation about a month ago. Can’t wait to try it in another year or two!
February 6, 2007

wine - o
Barrister Winery….if you don’t know it, now you do!
February 6, 2007

Dr. Mike
QOTD: Col Solare 03, pretty good, QPR is not that good. L’ecole 41 Cab 03, skip this one too (in addition to the merlot), I guess 03 what not their year. I think I’ll seek out something from Cayuse.
February 6, 2007

flavasauce
Does the wine taste like this?
http://www.threadless.com/product/157/Afternoon_Delight
February 6, 2007

rumpole
Gary,

I am a home winemaker in Washington and familar with the vineyards (I source from Wahluke Slope, Rattlesake Hills, Yakima Valley, and Horse Heaven Hills). Walla Walla is producing some great Syrahs and I enjoy the Walla Walla Cabs. But the best Cabs come from Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, & the Wahluke Slope. In my book, Betz, Cadence, Fielding Hills, Amavi,Cougar Crest, Syncline, and Walter Dacon are producing world class reds. If my grapes are an indication, the 2005 vintage will be the best in 20 years and the 2006 has the potential to get close as a match. Also, keep a look out for some Washington Cab Francs (Barrister Winery) and Malbecs. Good stuff.
February 6, 2007

ronguy
QOTD: Snoqualmie 2000 Merlot Reserve. I liked it alot.
Tasted a lot of pricy junk in Seattle.
SS Chris, You are appreciated. I use the spreadsheet resource all the time.
February 6, 2007

joe
Gary, I think this was your best show EVER. 99 points.

QOTD: I have Cases of Reninger going back to the 2000 vintage!

Joe
February 6, 2007

SoCal
Gary,
Great episode!
Broâ€¦.. the monster taste off was epic!
I have been fending to try some Cayuse but I cant find anyâ€¦

QOTD: Col Solare 2002 (gary have you had this? if so what did you think?)
February 6, 2007

mike m
Gary,
Great show!I have been fortunate to purchase Cayuse wines from the beginning,Christophe’s family owns a Champagne house in France but he decided to make wines in Wash. state,and I for one am happy he did.You need to try the Betz wines,the 04’s have just been released,serious stuff
February 6, 2007

hinrgman
Great

Wines from the USA that aren’t from Califionia
February 6, 2007

WineGodofOregon
Glad you did a Washington show. Love Wash wine.