Washington State Wine Tasting

Washington State Wine Tasting – Episode #307

September 4, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk sure has been yapping a whole lot about Washington State and today he does a little tasting on 4 wines from the wonderful North West!

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Comments on this episode(235) Leave a comment ›

“As a lifelong Washington resident, Im glad to see the wines bringing s…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“first comment. live in seattle love the washington wines. love the sh…” by David
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder RidgeWashington Cabernet Franc
2004 L’ecole 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia ValleyWashington Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Pepper Bridge MerlotWashington Merlot
2004 Delille Doyenne SyrahWashington Syrah

235 Responses

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September 4, 2007

Frank B
Great show Gary. Love Wash. State wines. Favorite so far has been Cayuse 02 syrah. Also liked K , Rennniger, Dunham, Leonetti, Rulo and many others.
September 4, 2007

Kevin
Gary, if you get a moment while chillaxin’, check this post out. You’ve inspired a fantastic dish, and for that, I am indebted. http://kevinkossowan.blogspot.com/2007/09/saut-of-game-veal-with-cassis-and.html

QOTD: I’ve had one Washington Pinot Noir of relatively respectable pedigree that in a blind tasting was called out as the new world ‘wtf’. I dubbed it ‘Guns N Roses’- as it smelled and tasted of gunpowder and fake flowers. And shoes melted on a fire pit.
September 4, 2007

Piper
QOTD: I have to cheat a little, but it’s Blacksmiths ‘04 Lemberger (it’s a Maine winery but they’re using Washington grapes.) A little dry, great fruit, mmm mmm good.
September 4, 2007

RieslingRon
Gary, I agree Washington wines ROCK. Earlier I enjoyed an 02 Chat. St. Michelle Merlot with steak……..great.

QOTD: Eroica Riesling
September 4, 2007

mas
I’ve always liked the L’ecole No. 41 Cabs – both Walla Walla and Columbia Valley. I might look for that Pepper Bridge as well – you’ve got me intrigued. When you find such obvious Brett notes in a wine like the Delille, however, I worry about long-term stability – will that wine just be a total Brett bomb in 4 or 5 yrs??

Good show – thanks Gary …

QOTD: tied between a 2001 Leonetti Sangiovese Walla Walla, and a 1999 Cadence Ciel du Cheval.
September 4, 2007

sam
gary, what do yu do with hose open wine bottles afte your done? nd could you do an episode on fruit wines, or mead? i tink hat may appeal to pl like e wo make wine at home.
September 4, 2007

JonE
Are giving props to Washington out of a little climate fear?? Tell the truth man, no doubt Washington makes stellar stuff but are just peeking real far into the future? Only out of love and respect G-Man, this true nerd debating here.

QOTD: Loved the last Reininger Syrah I had. But I’m really waiting on my 02′ L’Ecole Walla Walla Cab, I think that’ll fantastic.
September 4, 2007

Mike
GREAT episode … I have been waiting for a WA wine show. I am not sure why … but I kinda’ want to try the Delille just to see if I smell the baby poop or fart!

QOTD: Tough question … I started with WA wines so I have had many favorites. L’Ecole is definitely up there … several years ago Canoe Ridge had an awesome red table wine for around $14 … it is hard to go wrong with the Chateau Ste. Michelle wines. But … how about this boutique wine??? Blackwood Canyon Vineyards out of Benton City WA. Why is this my favorite? Because I happened to walk in for a tasting on a day when the owner was walking around doing barrel tastings. He decided that – instead of a run-of-the-mill tasting – I should just walk around with him and barrel taste!!! Great wine and a lot of fun … we even sampled fresh Blue Cheese while sampling the wines!
September 4, 2007

Samantha H.
So excited you did a show on Washington wines – I live in Washington and can find these guys on the shelf. Now if I could only afford them!

QOTD: Chateau Ste Michelle 2001 Johannesburg Riesling – it was the first wine I really liked and got me started on trying other wines!
September 4, 2007

Tommy Vernieri
I haven’t tried enough Washington wines. Best I can recall (meaning, entered into CellarTracker) is the Chateau Ste. Michelle 2006 Riesling.
September 4, 2007

Ken B.
Gary,

Good show I don’t have much experience with Washington state wines, I need to broaden my vistas in that regard.

QOTD: I have had Chat. Ste Michelle Merlot which I liked.

Have a good trip!
September 4, 2007

Joseph Rones
Smells like shit and tastes like shit. Who would have thought of such a great marketing hook?
September 4, 2007

Dave Canada
Ahhhh the first fart reference!!!
QOTD – Gotta be Columbia Crest…..;)
September 4, 2007

ScoTT from Salt Lake
QOTD: One year ago I shared a bottle of Delille’s Chaleuer Estate 1994 and it rawked my sawks! I also tried a several Barrel Samples from Basel Cellars 2005 vintage and I can not wait until they are released; amazing!
September 4, 2007

Jeff O
Great episode. I have to try some of the better made Cabs and Merlots, I’ve been a little turned off by the not so well made versions but I think it’s time to give them a try again. I especialy want to try some traditional Cab Franc’s, they sound really interesting.

QOTD: Never had one, waiting for my wallet to fill up a little more…
September 4, 2007

BK
Gary, great ep. Thanks for doing a show on WA state wines. I have always enjoyed them as they seem to have a flavor profile all their own.
September 4, 2007

Elliot Essman
Favorite Washington wine: L’Ecole No. 41 Semillon.
September 4, 2007

firstcrush
Bummer, always looking for good Cab Franc.
September 4, 2007

Norcal
QOTD: actually, it was a Doyenne Syrah! The poop totally blows off (I noticed it too at first).
September 4, 2007

tinhorn
Favorite Washington wine is 92 Quilceda creek cabernet sauvignon. Great show Gary keep it up boy!!!!!!
September 4, 2007

Kopi Luwak
A long time lurker (LTL)in Oregon. To be honest, GV, it your unabashed fart analogy that finally brought me out of lurkdom. QotD: Beaudreaux Cab Sav. I decanted it for three days (THREE DAYS!)before it really opened up- but when it did, holy man, what a wine.
September 4, 2007

Greg B.
Big G, Nice one. A friend just moved up to the Seattle area so I’m looking forward to visit him and do some tasting up there.

QOTD: I have not tasted a lot of Washington Wines, but I just picked up a 2000 Leonetti Merlot and I’m getting the feeling that she’ll be bringing the Thunder.
September 4, 2007

Talley
Gary, thanks for doing a Washington wine episode! I’m in Seattle, so it’s great to see some wines that I can find at my local wine shop.

Regarding the burnt match smell on the Pepper Bridge: I think I heard recently that sulfur dioxide (which is what gives burnt matches their smell) is used when bottling wine to aid in the aging process. I know very little about how that works, or why it’s used . . . but is it possible (or likely) that the burnt match smell on the nose of the Pepper Bridge is a result of SO2 addition by the winery at bottling? Would that then be considered a flaw or an “overuse” of SO2?

QOTD: The L’Ecole 41 Syrah 2004 really pleased me. I look forward to trying their cab now as well.
September 4, 2007

Eric S.
QOD: Haven’t had too many Washington wines, but I remember a 1999 Andrew Will Merlot that I really enjoyed. I remember that it had some barnyard POOP on the nose as well!
September 4, 2007

randyb
Nice show Gary. Washington state does produce some winners.

QOTD: CSM Dr. Loosen Riesling 2006 is probably my favorite wine out of Washington that I have had recently. I have also had a couple of outstanding syrahs over the past few years, one was a Cayuse and the other was this limited distribution Duck Pond syrah which was a real surprise given the average quality of their everyday stuff.