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 5, 2007

ScottB
Great show Gary! I have a bottle of the 2004 Doyenne in the cellar. Not sure if I’m quite as excited about opening it after the diaper comments.

QOTD: I have about 10 other bottles of various WA wines in the cellar, any of which could become my favorite (Cayuse en Chamberlin, K Ovide, DeLille Chaleur & Harrison Hill). Of the ones I’ve actually tried, I like the 2004 DeLille D2 (which has become very hard to find) and some of the red blends from Cadence.
September 5, 2007

Tina Smith
I’ve got to try the Delile and L’Ecole. Right down my “new world” alley! Still working my way through Oregon wines and just beginning to dabble in Washington. I’ve got my work cut out for me…
September 5, 2007

rascoagogo
QOTD: Chateau Ste. Michelle delivers, esp for the price.

You said the Cab-Franc is primed for vegetals, but N. Americans push it into fruits. If the “natural” state of a wine is one way, how do they make it into something totally different? Maybe you’ll be covering something along this line of questioning with the Vayniac wine process?
September 5, 2007

Shir-Az
Me thinks Gary has been smokin a little of the whacky tobaccy…..Kerry Rhodes best safety in the NFL?!?!?!? Get real Vaynerchuk. No way Rhodes is better than Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Bob Sanders, or Brian Dawkins.
September 5, 2007

Steve J
Now I have to go in the basement and find my tasting notes from the 80s Washington Winery trips!
September 5, 2007

Steve J
My favorite Washington State wine?

Probably a Columbia Winery Red Willow Vineyard Cab/Meritage from like 1978 or 79.

I haven’t kept up lately with the big stuff from WA. The Otis Vineyard sutff back then was damn good, too.
September 5, 2007

Lawrence Leichtman
I’m not sure I could get past a wine with baby poop smell to it so i doubt I would enjoy that wine in any which way.
My favorite WA wine is Quelcida Creek almost any vintage. Their list isn’t too tough to get on and the prices are still reasonable. I did have a blend that was a cooperative project with an Italian winery and Chateau St. Michelle that was Cab and Sangiovese that was absolutely delicious but they only sell it at the winery and I’m not sure they still produce it.
September 5, 2007

JasonH
Great Episode! I’m actually heading out to Walla Walla this weekend!!

QOTD: 2002 Basel Cellars Syrah – Trey Busch (winemaker) Rules!!! His new project Sleight of Hand should be great as well.

Gary,

Here’s a show suggestion – taste the three Long Shadows wines you have at WL. Shows the power and quality of Washington fruit when big time winemakers from around the world are willing to come and put their stamp on the region.

http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=33251
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=33253
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=33252

Keep up the great work!
September 5, 2007

David
Great show. Crazy nose on that last wine.

Patriots 31, Jets 17

QOTD: Haven’t had too many higher end Washington State wines, but my favorite in recent memory that I had a restaurant was the L’Ecole 41 Syrah, 2004 I think.
September 5, 2007

Lurkerdog
QOTD: Don’t have a favorite yet. Perhaps it will be the Syrah. I think I will give it a sniffy sniff etc…
September 5, 2007

wayno da wino
Yo Gary!!
Thanx for bringin’ DA THUNDER, as usual!!!
A vast quantity of treasures in Washington
to bo sought & enjoyed! Dat Poop/Fart Bomb
sounds like a “must-try”!!!!!
walla..walla..walla..walla..walla..walla..

QOTD: i looooove da Semillon from L’Ecole 41!!
September 5, 2007

Karl B.
QOTD – I stay away from Washington wines because it seems the cooler climates leave a stronger anise type flavor in the red wines that I do not enjoy. I prefer the hotter climates of Napa and Bordeaux.

The Jets will not defeat the Patriots this year, period. Pats: 34 Jets: 13

Karl B.
September 5, 2007

eduardo amaral
QOTD: Have not had the chance to taste lots of it. I do like some of Hogue as well as Ste Michelle, and Columbia Crest… But L’Ecole 41 still stands at the no. 1, if my memory does not betray me.

Cheers
September 5, 2007

CJS
QOTD: I have been using the Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay (04, 05 and 06 vintages) as a house chard for a while. It is tough to beat the QPR at ~$12. Plus I don’t cringe when Grandma Boehm drops the ice cubes in the glass. For a few more bucks the CSM Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge chards are also great but I wait to find them heavily discounted.
September 5, 2007

Colin
Thanks for spotlighting Washington – which I know very little about.

QOTD = I’m clearly a moron for not looking into Washington…
September 5, 2007

Roland Zahariades
Gary: Favorite Washington wine! Amavi 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla walla. The sister wine of Pepper Bridge. Complex and multi-faceted. Flavors just keep changing! Roland
September 5, 2007

Shorttdogg
QOTD: I’ve only had one wine from Washington and can’t remember the vintage but it was a Chateau St. Michelle Cab Sav. It was back in my CKC days cira 1997 and was one of the first few bottles that really got me into wine. Unfortunately, the LCBO in Ontario Canada does a dreadful job of stocking wines from this area. We get the odd Columbia Crest Grand Estates (at $20 where I understand it’s $6 in the US) and that’s about it.

Great episode.
September 5, 2007

Sassodoro
QOTD: Hard to say about a favorite Washington State wine. I haven’t had nearly as much of it as I would like. Locally (in Chicago), the WA wines seem to be either fairly low end or out of my price range. An inexpensive Syrah I have liked is Snoqualme.

A few years ago, on vacation in Seattle and willing to pay vacation/restaurant prices, the wines were very impressive. We were lucky enough to be in town for a winemaker dinner at Restaurant Zoe featuring DeLille Cellars — 6 courses and 5 wines introduced by DeLille owner/partner Jay Soloff. That was a memorable night. Another memorable evening was spent at Assaggio with an osso bucco and a 2000 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.
September 5, 2007

Kathleen
Good show! I’m now living in Washington and have tried a few of the local wines. So far so good, looking forward to trying Gary’s reccomendations; he is right on the mark with his reviews.
September 5, 2007

Rick "the model" M
Solid episode. Washington in the house.
September 5, 2007

Nick
1. 1998 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauv.
2. 2001 L’ Ecole No. 41 Pepperbridge Vineyard Apogee
3. 2003 K Vinters “The Creator” Walla Walla Valley (I believe a GSM)

No question Washington is my favorite region in North America, and I agree, and fear, that it might become too hot-headed, too full of itself. Still, I think the rocky terrain and soil of Walla Walla is ideal for Syrah and the winemakers there (Charles Smith of K, and Christopher Baron of Cayuse) are making some of the best terroir driven wines in the “New World.” You made it seem like Washington is soooooo “new world” which it very well is headed in that direction, however I still think it is way ahead of anything from California or Oregon as far as being terroir driven and “Old world”-esque. The wines are big in alcohol, much like Aussie Shirazs, but something makes them different (baby diapers for example.) and that difference comes from the excellent rocky terroir.
September 5, 2007

RichG
OK – how did you train your pallet for the POOP! LMAO….

Everyone – take a look at the green guy on the right – and then watch Gary taste and rate the Pepper Mill…You will see that they look just like each other! LMAO Again!!!

Pouring wine back into the Diaper??? UGH! Send it my way before doing that….HAHAHAH

Nice Show Gary!
Rich
September 5, 2007

Kirk W
good episode. I’m a big fan of WA wines. Love Spring Valley Frederick and Uriah, Quilceda Creek, Betz, Leonetti on the high end and enjoy CSM and Columbia Crest on the low end.
September 5, 2007

Jean
QOTD: for everyday drinking Kiona Riesling. For special occasions the Cayuse Caillox Syrah. So Delicious!

Washington State was a great show. When’s Oregon?
September 5, 2007

Jon B.
Great show thanks for the pre tape.The dirty diaper bit had me laughing pretty hard.QOTD I’ve had several wines from washington but can’t say any stand out as a clear cut front runner. However the next trip to the wine store will hopefully produce one, I’ll let you know on cork’d.Thanks Gary and WLTV crew