Great Episode.
I love WA wines, but I might be biased as I live in Seattle.
Hard to pick one wine, my three favorites would have to be Quilceda Creek Cab, Cayuse Bionic Frog Syrah, and the Owen Roe Cab Franc.

The only time I was never carded for alcohol was when I bought a bottle of Woodward Canyon Merlot as an Xmas gift for mom less than a month after my 21st birthday. That was almost ten years ago so it was probably a mid-90s vintage. Someone mentioned that merlots have a raspberry component so mom and I thought the wine actually had raspberries in it. Knew zero about wine except for this; that wine was delicious.

I’d also have to give props to the Dr. Loosen/Ch. Ste. Michelle collaboration riesling Eroica. I’ve drank two vintages (years are cloudy) but both were rockin’.

QOTD: I’ve tried very few from Wash (that I know of), but there was some inexpensive white from Chateau St. Michelle that impressed me once. I made it a point to remember the maker/label, but not the varietal.

Kerry Rhodes is THE BEST?!?!? Ahem, yes he is great, and one of my favorites (I did draft him as an IDP on my fantasy team this year AND last year), but…. Rhodes is still behind Polamalu, Bob Sanders, Sean Taylor, and — of course — ED REED. I’d have Rhodes tied at fifth best, with Adrian Wilson. Caw! Caw!

Hey, I just noticed your twitter status says “In Maryland.” Does that mean you ship there now, or you’re visiting? If the latter, then Dude, drop on by my place! And if the former, then hayell yeah!!

Hey, I just noticed your twitter status says “In Maryland.” Does that mean you ship there now, or you’re visiting? If the latter, then Dude, drop on by my place! And if the former, then hayell yeah!!

Holy CRAP! KRAUSERS?!? I haven’t seen one of those since I was a kid living in Jersey.

As for Washington wines – I just had my first. Red Diamond 2006 (!!!) Merlot from the Columbia Valley. It smelled like grape jam with strawberries mixed in, and tasted like cinnamon raisin and grape juice. Very fruity, and finally showed me in dramatic fashion how different New World wines can be from Old World (I’ve been drinking lots of red Bordeaux!).

Ciao,
PLOAFMASTER

Columbia Crest 2003 Reserve Merlot, but I have not had many at all.

Interesting segment on Walla Walla. Definitely interested about that “diaper” smell that you got from the Syrah. I smelled that particular bouquet on the nose the other day, but the wine itself was awful….wondering how it could be good.

QOTD: Haven’t tried any, but will before they get too pricey although I am an old world fan, I will try and branch out cause you’ve recommended it.

Isenhower Mourvedre also early 90’s L’ecole 41 Merlot.

QOTD: I can honestly say I have not had a Washington wine, at least that I can remember, better hop on it then.

Nice show Gary…I vote for an all Virginia wines show in the future, there are some very good wines I think need some recognition

QOTD: sounds like a great opportunity for a wine tasting vacation: 3 rivers.

Three of us just went to a Spanish mini-white-wine tasting at Slate Street. The Albarino was the winner. Followed at home by an Ombra red with tortilla soup and cheeses. We’ve been enjoying the Spanish wines we ordered from Wine Library. Each of the Spsnish wines we try is singular and distinct. And the last one poured is always the most memorable.

GAR!

I’ll be there this sunday! Where are your seats? Wanna come tialgate with out huge group for a little bit?

Let me know man, we’d love to have you, bring whoever, we will have food galore and tons of beer!

Kyle THE K MAN

Let me know if you want my cell number or whatever.

owen sullivan wines have been by far the best!!

Greetings from Washington State. Good to see you dedicate a show to our wines because we are inundated with great fruit and great winemakers out here.

QOTD ’04 Abeja Chardonnay. And that’s coming from a guy who drinks much more red wine than white wine.

QOTD: Well it has been a while, but I remember when I first started drinking wine, I used to get Columbia Crest… I have come a long way since that time so I should go back to Washington and try something more unique!
~ Thanks for doing the quadruple header! ~

QOD: No brainer, Cayuse “En Cerise” Syrah 2002…..too bad it’s impossible to get Cayuse nowadays…..
2nd choice, McCrea 2002 Boushey Vineyard Syrah….if any vayniacs come across Syrah from Dick Boushey’s vineyard….buy buy buy…..

I live in Washington and have a local store that specializes in Washington wines and they’ve always got new stuff open to taste. Some of it’s from tiny producers like Va Piano. The Va Piano 2005 Syrah is real barnyard stuff (fresh meat, smoke, pepper, wet wool)–not a blueberry or Dr. Pepper in the neighborhood.

QOTD: Stevens 424 2004 Yakima Valley Red Wine (45% cab, 35% cab franc, 20 merlot). Andrake Cellars ded.reckoning #4 2004 Horse Heaven Hills Syrah. Owen Sullivan BSH (Brick S*** House) Meritage.

I live in Washington and have a local store that specializes in Washington wines and they’ve always got new stuff open to taste. Some of it’s from tiny producers like Va Piano. The Va Piano 2005 Syrah is real barnyard stuff (fresh meat, smoke, pepper, wet wool)–not a blueberry or Dr. Pepper in the neighborhood.

QOTD: Stevens 424 2004 Yakima Valley Red Wine (45% cab, 35% cab franc, 20 merlot). Andrake Cellars ded.reckoning #4 2004 Horse Heaven Hills Syrah. Owen Sullivan BSH (Brick S*** House) Meritage.

qotd: never had one… the wine sections of liquor stores in Oklahoma consist of Yellowtail shiraz and cheap Cali reds…

great to finally see that washington st. show.

QOTD-ive only had one, 2003 columbia valley l’ecole it was quite awesome if i remember correctly.

Washington was not on my wine radar..well, it’s now!

QOTD – Looks like the GV is lofting up a nice little pitch for the drew to smack out of the park like Pujols baby, done. Born and raised in Washington and my list of top Washington wines is thick.

A lot of people talking about the home runs, Leonetti Cellar and Cayuse and Woodward Canon and Ste Michelleâ??s Eroica and Lâ??ecole (not my personal fav) etc etc.

But letâ??s get into some other wineries that I think are under the radar.

Cougar Crest, not seeing a lot of love for Cougar Crest here but the Cab and Reserve Cab are solid. Absolutely frigginâ?? Solid.

Canoe Ridge, for the price, seriously one of the top values hands down. Late Harvest Gewürztraminer is one of the best dessert wines Iâ??ve ever had, only topped by Sauternes.

aMaurice, thatâ??s right. Keep this one up your sleeve GV, Ned and Co will be bringing serious thunder in the years to come. Not even at estate grown fruit yet and already some pretty phenomenal old school style wines.

Amavi, especially their syrahs. Never heard of Amavi? How about Pepperbridge? Yeah, same winemaker with cheaper price point. Amavi makes exceptional syrah. Second to Cayuse in my opinion and for what I like in a syrah.

Patrick M Cellars makes some pretty lame wines, BUT, if you are into Cab Franc, seriously seek this guy out. Ridiculous Cab Francs.

And another little place that isnâ??t getting much press yet but can hold itâ??s own with some solid wines is Di Stefano. Not my favorite WA wine but solid solid stuff coming out of there.

And my all time favorite bottle from WA, sorry Gary, weâ??re not revealing that little secret in a public forum. The drew has a few spades left up his sleeve and Iâ??m 9 months away from the announcement.

K Syrah for sure (several incarnations: all good). And best cheap stuff: House Wine.
This Cheesehead predicts the following score on Sunday: Jets 23, Pats 21.

Great Job! WOOOOO clemson!!!

I work in the wine industry in Oregon so I get exposed to lots of WA juice. My experience is that it seems like everything produced from Ciel du Cheval vineyards is a safe bet to be great. Obviously the best grapes make the best wine. So it’s no coincidence that the best winemakers usually end up securing the best vineyards. It’s a chicken/egg thing. Also, be warned WA grapes can get ridiculously ripe, so the wines can be New Worldish and highly alcoholic. But they can be “profound” too. Woodward Canyon. Novelty Hill. Abeja. Whitman. Andrew Will. Dunham Cellars. All of these (in good years) have been awesome. And that’s the tip of the iceberg.