fellow ckc…right there with ya. its always fun when you see good wine at a good price point. even though 20 bones would have to be a big night for me

I’m in the NW and try to keep up. Three newer names worth watching:

Adam’s Bench. Sourcing from great vineyards, bright, smart owners, great consulting winemaker (Chris Camarda, Andrew Will), and producing a solid structured cab and Bordeaux blends.

Reynvaan. Great Syrahs blending with Rhone varietals, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne and working with a great consulting winemaker, Christophe Baron of Cayuse.

And maybe saving the best for last,

Rasa Vineyards. Two brilliant brothers, Pinto and Billo Naravane, one of whom got bachelors and masters degrees from MIT and then went to UC Davis to learn to make wine when technology bored him. He is now running the viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College and making wine with his brother. They are making a limited number of wines but they are all exceptional. Their high end Syrah, Principia (you’ll have to look it up because the meaning is way over my vocabulary), is absolutely stunning, sophisticated, nuanced and focused. I don’t know that I have ever tasted a wine like this and had this reaction: it was simply in a class by itself. Their other wines aren’t shabby either.

Love the show Gary.

Any comment on the fact that you can’t ship wine to Washington state?

Any comment on the fact that local wineries are heavily financing opposition to two propositions in the upcoming elections that would get Wa. state out of the liquor business and allow you to ship here?

Thanks.

Dude,
You are so three years ago. All of us over hear in the so-called hedonistic side of the states have known about Amavi. Your exposure to Washington wines is obviously limited. Like California, Washington has it’s share of extracted wines. However, this is not the norm as you imply. Amavi is just one of a hundreds if not thousands of great examples from Washington. I always appreciate your judgement of a wine, you have a great palate, but not your blanket judgement of a state or country. The 2009 vintage out of Australia is quite promising and there are a lot of gems coming from them this year. There are also a lot of gems from Washington. That being said, you are certainly entitled to your opinion and I respect that… I’m not sure about Mike Sheridan’s wife. (Remember your review of Totem Cellars Late Harvets Viognier?)
The best Washington Cab I have had recently is the Six Prong Cab from the Alder Ridge Vineyards 2007 vintage… fifteen bucks! The most disappointing red I have had recently was not Washington at all, but the Bogle Phantom. It did not deliver for twenty bucks. It lacked acidity and was almost flabby. Very one dimensional. Sorry, had to throw a California wine in there to take some of the heat of Washington. Just saying… Take care, and keep up the good shows!

The Buty Rediviva Cab/Syrah blend is one of my favorites along with Five Stars Cellars’ PV/Cab Franc blend. Both wineries are in small digs out at the Walla Walla airport but they are putting out amazing wine.

The last disappointment I had in a Washington Blend was by William Church that I think was called The Bishop’s Blend.

About time! Been waiting for you to go back to Washington State. Enjoyed the blind tasting and will look for the Amavi wine. I have been leaning towards blends lately and this episode was great.

QOTD; Best wine Columbia Crest Walter Clore 2002. The worst too many to list unfortunately as they keep changing.

QOTD:
Best(recently) – 2009 Maison Bleue Marsanne

Best(ever) – 2003 Rulo Combine ($13 white blend)
Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow!
This was like being on a tropical beach surrounded by fresh cut pineapples. Powerful and refreshing. The level of acidity just cut right through the food. Had this with Spicy chicken breast with salsa verde and feta. Each sip cleaned the food away and gave you full force of the wine. Then you would have the next bite of food and it was like a brand new flavor each time.

Worst – Townshend (they use way too much oak)

I generally enjoy Washington wines – enjoyed the ep.
I like your command to Mott re K-Murph: “Bring her here!”
The Amavi…wasn’t that the tribe in Avatar?
The 2nd place wine: $22 for 87+? Don’t see the value there.

Recently disappointed with Col Solare. Well made but just another California style fruit bomb. Did not taste bad. Was very delicious. Just kinda’ ho hum.

Had a 2001 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard 2 weeks ago and just loved it! Perfectly aged, a real treat! Unfortunately not much of the good juice from WS make it to Germany…

Yet another wine recommendation that I can’t find anywhere in the UK… boo!

QOTD: Hardly had any wines from Washington State

QOTD: I’ve only had the Columbia Crest unwooded Chard from 07 if I remember right. That was pretty good in my opinion.

I just ordered a case of Amavi from you guys. Spoke to Dan Palumbo… best over-the-phone buying experience! He gets it… no oversweet sappy bull$h1t, just a down-to-earth guy that cares about giving good customer service.

Well done Dan! I’m going to be a repeat customer!

QOTD; Amavi syrah would be a top 3 pick, Walla walla is HOT for great cabernet.

good. show

**Intrigued** and now Googling… Thanks!

I think so too. He keeps referring to moments down there, or some less intelligent ladies from state schools down there, at least. Something memorable happened.

or would he? Have you read RJ’s wine blog on that particular maker, another dude, another opinion. Sounds like I should try K syrah. I doubt I could find that.

QOTD: Most disappointing wine from there…
K Vintners Morrison lane 2005 Syrah reminded me in description of the NXNW
Best: It’s a tie between 3
L’Ecole 41 Merlot 2007– had it at the winery, bought 6 bottles, all of which were gone in the first 2 weeks of owning them.
Cougar Crest Cabernet Franc 2007– Crazy delicious, vegital yet not Loire. New World, yet not bubble gummy
Walla Walla River Malbec (second label of Cougar Crest) — For the price (under $12) totally catches you out of left field with some great flavor and yet subtle yet mouthgripping spice.

GV

Loved it, Thank you for Washington Blend wine tasting.
I did watch this episode early yesterday and was hoping to pick up some Amavi,

Well because of your great staff I was able to order it today.

Thank You to the entire wine Library Team for this effort.
I really appreciate it !!!

Sincerely,

I know the 06 Amavi Cab is available on the Alberta Market – about $44 retail for the 06 vintage.

Seattle resident and have a 600 bottle wine cellar. 50% WA, 5% Ore Pino, 20% Cali, and 25% from outside the US. Love my WA wine. Quilceda Creek, Betz, Fielding Hills, Tremor (new), K Vintners are very, very good but my all time fave WA wine is Leonetti. We had a ’05 Cab Reserve for our anniversary this year and my wife said it was the best bottle of wine she has had to date. BTW, Gary, thanks much for Leon Washington (2!! return TD’s this weekend for my Seahawks…).

Another great show, keep those brown bags rolling in, loved the suprise ending I’ll be looking for the Amavi. Couldent help but throw a little Auzzie bashing in there could you?

QOTD: Very little experiance with WA wines, most of them I have tried have been decent, cant think of one that was a 76 or lower. St. Mishelle suprised you a couple weeks ago if I remember correctly.

I was puzzled, and disappointed by my initial exposures to this anda few others in the former Stimson Lane expanded profile some years ago. But both Ste. Michele Estates, and Mr. Antinori’s efforts have a long track record of more (many) hits than misses. So even when a Col Solare or Northstar bum mr out, usually in their price/performance, I know to not write them off, but look forward to the next year’s effort. It generally bounces back in quality, at least. Just a matter of what they can do w/ prices and what market bears, and how they react to that.

Sold lots(!) of J. Bookwalter Cabs, Lot#s, and Riesling , back in Oh. Lots, I thought , were comparable to good years of Waterbrook Melange. I just saw Subplots for the 1st time.