Seattle Wine Restaurant Awards 2012 "Dessert"

Gorman Winery 2010 Serum 6

Taste of show, in my opion, for best Late Harvest/Dessert Wine was Gorman's 2010 Serum 6 Late Harvest Viognier!

With 33 g/l residual sugar, Serum 6 is one of the sweetest wines ever made in Washington.

Varietal: 100% Viognier (Late Harvest)
Appellation: Yakima Valley
Barrels: Aged 9 months in 100% new French oak, barrel fermented
Brix at Harvest: 50
Residual sugar: 33g/l
Alcohol: 10.2%
Release date: December 2011
Cases made: 48, 375ml
Featured accolade: 93 points, Wine Advocate

Seattle Wine Restaurant Awards 2012 "Roses"

So many great wines to taste at this show! Taste of show Rose, in my opinion, goes to Hedges, Bel Villa Vineyard 100% Rose of Cabernet Franc. Red Mtn. AVA. A dry Rose with great balance
and structure. Hints of unique floral on the after palate. Limited production at 180 cases. Consider pairing with a cheese and fruit plate or poached salmon.

Vinter's Notes:


2011 Independent Producers Rose of Cabernet Franc - Red Mountain AVA - Premiere Class 100% Bel Villa Vineyard fruit (the vines were planted in 1997)

The estate-grown Cabernet Franc grapes for this rose were harvested at full ripeness, and the juice was allowed minimal skin contact, resulting in a wine that is pale, clear salmon colored with flashes of copper and rose gold. Aromas of crushed minerals, lavender, and violet blossoms are punctuated by subtle fragrances of sweet raspberry preserves. Upon entry, zesty acidity awakens the palate and transitions seamlessly to a softly-textured middle where the minerals return, joined by flavors of juicy strawberry and raspberry. The finish is delicate and refreshing, with anise and lavender notes lending complexity to the fruit.

Seattle Wine Restaurant Awards 2012 "Reds"

Seattle Wine Restaurant Awards 2012 was a superb event. Taste of show, in the Red category, in my opinion, goes to K Vintners 2010 K "Milbrandt" Syrah.

Tasting Notes
Full of mineral aromas, giving in to deep flavors - think tobacco, blackberry, earth and cool campfire. Medium bodied yet full flavored with a long firm finish. —Charles Smith

2010 K “Milbrandt” — Wahluke Slope

2004 McCrea Roussanne!

2004 Roussanne A Sleeping Beauty has Been Kissed (by Doug McCrea)

It’s difficult to believe we are releasing a dry white wine that has been in the bottle for 6½ years. But the truth be known, Roussanne has a “dark side” that not many wine lovers realize and possibly only a few wine stewards know.

Historically, our Roussanne is released a few months following bottling and consumed shortly thereafter or almost always within one to two years. Few realize Roussanne’s quirky nature to practically drop dead in the bottle, then to rise like the Phoenix years later.

This is not news in Hermitage, one of the Northern Rhône’s finest appellations, nor in the renowned Southern Rhône’s Châteauneuf du Pape. The phenomenon has been observed for centuries. A few years ago it was a prominent subject of a winemaker’s seminar dedicated to Roussanne, which I attended at Tablas Creek, the sister winery to the legendary Château Beaucastel.

Truthfully, no one knows exactly why the wine exhibits a “dumb phase,” often for many years in bottle, before reappearing with an intense and beautiful bouquet of caramel, cream, roasted nuts and candied apricot.

Not unusual for my sense of curiosity, I had to find out what would happen if I tried it myself! So we allowed about 70 cases to linger in storage until now, a result of experiencing the wine closing down after only about one year in bottle. It was a gamble no doubt, but one that has paid off.
Typically, Roussanne re-emerges like a forgotten treasure in around seven to eight years. Well, that’s where we find ourselves today as 2004 was precisely that long ago. What was once a gamble has turned into a wonderful little jewel, admittedly of which we’re very proud to offer our loyal customers.

To my knowledge, there has never been such a wine from Washington State, one exhibiting the great breed and lineage of Château Beaucastel and planted in the renowned vineyard, Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain.

Written by Doug McCrea.

Seattle Wine Awards - Grand Awards Tasting

One of the Best Wine Tasting Events in Washington State!

Seattle Wine Awards Grand Tasting.

Sunday, July 22, 2012 at

The Rainier Club
820 Fourth Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

Ticket Options:

VIP Entry ($89) 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
General Admission ($65) 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Savor some of the BEST of Washington wines and meet winemakers and taste their award winning wines. Only wines that have won The Seattle Wine Awards are allowed to pour! Artisan Breads, House Cured Salumi and Deli-Meats, Imported and Domestic Cheeses, Savory Pastas, Olive Tapenades and Spreads, and VIP NY Strip and Potatoes au Gratin. Must be 21 years of age.

2012 Science of Wine in Southern Oregon

2012 Science of Wine Evening of Exploration

Friday, May 4th, 2012

Location & Benefactor:
ScienceWorks Museum 1500 E. Main St. Ashland, OR 97520Time: 6:30 - 9pm

Tickets:
$15-20 (non-members)

Guests choose from The Art and Science of Barrels & Wine with
Phil Burton of Barrel Builders and John Quinones of RoxyAnn Winery,
Wine-Tasting 101 of French Varietals with Ron Stringfield of
Galaxy Wine Distributors and Fermentation Transformation with winemaker
Linda Donovan. Includes paired food and wine reception. Limited seating.

Woodinville Warehouse Third Thursday Wine Walks Return

When: February - October 4:00-8:00 (ticket sales end at
7:00)

Cost: $20 pp CASH ONLY

(a BYOG event - bring your own glass. $5 if you need
a glass)

Please come to the Ticket Tent to get your event wristband.
(ticket
sales end at 7:00)


19495 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072



Just park your car and walk to everything!

Several wineries open their tasting room doors and for $20 you get 15 tasting tickets to use at
the various wineries.

Best White Wine Taste of Show

Walla Walla Trade and Media Tasting Monday March 12th,2012. So many fantastic wines were poured at this event!

Taste of show for white wine, in my opinion, goes to 2010 Cadaretta SBS.

VARIETAL COMPOSITION:
75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon

GRAPE SOURCES: Spring Creek Vineyard,
Frenchman Hills Vineyard (Yakima Valley),
Rosebud Vineyard (Wahluke Slope)

APPELLATION: Columbia Valley
COOPERAGE: Fermented and finished in
temperature-controlled stainless steel

TITRATABLE ACIDITy...pH: 9.6g/L...3.04

ALCOHOL: 14.1% by volume

BOTTLING DATE: March 8, 2011

RELEASE DATE: April, 2011

PRODUCTION: 9,846 bottles, packed 6 x 750ml

WINEMAKER'S comments
The Cadaretta SBS has intense, showy aromatics
that display a purity of fruit, slathered with
a saline minerality. Acids are fresh and racy,
with concentrated aroma and flavor. The wine
highlights the cool-climate flavors of Washington
State. Its style is unique in Washington because
we pick early and limit malolactic fermentation to
focus on the fresh intensity of the grapes. We do
not soften the edges of natural grape acid, which
yields an intense and exciting wine that lights
up the palate. It’s meant to be consumed young,
ideally within 2-3 years of bottling.

Taste of Show Walla Walla Trade and Media Event

The trade and media tasting for Walla Walla wines in Seattle was amazing.

This region shines when it comes to great winemaking!

Superb wines, great people and a wonderful event.

Taste of show for a single red varietal, in my opinion, goes to SYZYGY 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit forward with dark currants and great length on the palate.

Loire Valley Trade and Media Tasting Seattle

The Loire Valley is best known for its definitive expressions of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and its unique Muscadet, all of which represent great value. All wines presented are already available in the marketplace.

Monday May 21st 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Palace Ballroom
2100 5th AveSeattle, WA 98121

Taste Washington Portland

Taste Washington Portland


Taste Washington Portland, in its second year, will return to the Pearl District on
Monday April 23, 2012. Pure Space - 1315 NW Overton, Portland OR 97209
Time: Trade 1:00pm - 4:00pm / Consumer 6:00pm -.9:00pm
Venue: Pure Space - 1315 Northwest Overton Street, Portland, OR 97209
$45.00-$50.00

TASTE WASHINGTON

TasteWashington
Saturday March 31st/ Sunday April 1st Hours (each day):VIP: 1-5pm
General Admission: 2-5pmWeekend Ticket price: Includes entrance both Saturday
and SundayVIP: $150 General Admission: $99One-day Ticket price:VIP: $125
General Admission: $75Ticket prices include all wine and food samples. Century Link Exhibition Center.

TASTE SPOKANE

Taste Spokane 2012

Wishing Star 6th Annual Taste Spokane Friday March 16th, 2012
6pm-10pmNorthern Quest Resort and Casino 100 N Hayford Rd. Airway Heights, WA

Wine Education

Cabernet from California
Tues. March 13th 6:30pm - 8:00pm -$25 Wine World 400 NE 45th Suite
130, Seattle, WA 98125

Wine Education

Wine 101 - Wine Basics for BeginnersTues. March 13th 6:30pm - 8:00pm - $25 - Wine World 400 NE 45th Suite 130 - Seattle, WA 98125

Upcoming Wine Tasting Events - Walla Walla Wine Series Trade and Media Only - Monday March 12th, 2012 11am-2:00pmPublic Tasting - Monday March 12th, 2012 6:00pm-9:00pmSodo Park3200 1st Ave S #100Seattle, WA 98134