Washington state's flavorful wines may surprise you.Byline: Simply Wine by Roger Rutan For The Register-Guard I REALIZE THAT some of you will be upset with me for reviewing wine from that state just north of us. Especially you Duck fans. But I call 'em as I taste 'em, and the wines I tried from Washington were well made and very good examples of the grape varieties This is a list of varieties of cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a Table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). Single species grapes While some of the grapes in this section are hybrids, they are hybridized within a single species (for example, on the label. It's the climate Certain grape varieties need a drier climate to fully mature before harvest. These grape types include cabernet sauvignon Cab·er·net Sauvignon n. 1. A variety of black grape used to make red wine, notably in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. 2. A dry red wine made from this grape. [French. , merlot and cabernet franc Cabernet Franc is one of the major varieties of red wine grape in Bordeaux. It is mostly grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but is also vinified alone, particularly in Chinon in the Loire. . Consider the best wines made from these grape varieties and where the grapes were grown: Bordeaux, France; Australia; and the dry regions of California. The wines I have tried from Washington's Columbia and Yakima valleys have achieved many of the flavor characteristics of wines from these more well-known regions. In Oregon, where we have a generally wetter climate, pinot noir thrives as king of the reds. The exception is red wines made from grapes grown in the drier regions of Southern Oregon This article is about the southern region of the U.S. state of Oregon. For the University, see Southern Oregon University. Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. . The fact is, any one grape-growing and wine-producing region of the world does not produce the best of every grape variety. So get over it - Washington wineries will make certain wines that are better than some of its counterparts from Oregon. The wineries Washington wineries have experienced ownership consolidation much like what has happened in California. Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest, for example, are under the same ownership. The same goes for Columbia Winery Columbia Winery is a Washington state winery located in Woodinville, Washington. The winery is currently owned by Constellation Brands. The winery was founded in 1964 as Associated Vinters by several former professors at the University of Washington. and Covey Run. What these mega vino-mergers have done is consolidate marketing efforts, not winemaking. In most cases, the winemakers of each individual winery win·er·y n. pl. win·er·ies An establishment at which wine is made. Noun 1. winery - distillery where wine is made wine maker are responsible for creating a wine of unique character carrying that label. Each of the wines I tasted reflected a distinct flavor profile that stood on its own. I hate to generalize, but here it goes: Washington wines, to me, are more in the Bordeaux style - dry, more acidic, complex and lighter than their California counterparts. As you will see from my tasting notes, there are many lesser-known wineries that make some darn good wine. I didn't touch the surface of all the possibilities of fuller-bodied reds from Washington. Tasting time Once again, I have made the sacrifice to sort through many, many wines to come up with a few recommendations. What a guy. And this is the time of year to shop. Many wineries are offering special prices for the holidays, and the wines are stacked up at your local retailer. Grab your No. 2 pencil and yellow pad - it's tasting time! Bookwalter Red Table Wine, Lot No. 11, Columbia Valley This article refers to the valley in British Columbia. For the United States wine appellation, see Columbia Valley AVA The Columbia Valley is a valley made by the Columbia River between the town of Golden and the Canal Flats. . Made from multiple vintages, this wine is a blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese. The aroma has hints of oak and tobacco. This is a big, powerful wine. The tannins tannins, n.pl polyphenolic phytochemicals whose name derives from their use in tanning animal skins. Used as astringents, antioxidants, and styptics; treats burns, relieves diarrhea. and acidity are nicely balanced but not yet fully matured, signifying that some age would be in order. The flavors are oak and black cherry black cherry, n See wild cherry. black cherry prunusserotina. . $11.50. 1999 Snoqualmie Vineyards Syrah, Columbia Valley. A very easy-to-drink wine that has flavors of fresh plums and spicy black pepper black pepper or pepper Perennial, woody climbing vine (Piper nigrum) of the family Piperaceae, native to India; also, the hotly pungent spice made from its berries. . This medium-bodied wine has a bright character that lingers in your mouth with a pleasant finish. $10.50. 1999 Columbia Winery Syrah, Columbia Valley. This medium-bodied wine is typical of its counterparts from Washington. Give it a few minutes to breathe, yielding a wine that has a great feel in your mouth with soft fig and grape flavors. $12. 1998 Columbia Crest Merlot, Columbia Valley. You see Columbia Crest wines all over the place - from premium wine shops to grocery stores. Well folks, I think they are consistently good values, regardless of the grape variety. This merlot is medium-bodied and shows its age with grace. The cherry and spice flavors are very tasty. $9.99. 2000 Covey Run Lemberger, Yakima Valley. Jokes about stinky cheese relate to Limburger! I found this wine to have unique licorice licorice (lĭk`ərĭs, –rĭsh), name for a European plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) of the family Leguminosae (pulse family) and for the sweet substance obtained from the root. and herbal flavors. Serve it lightly chilled and you have a taste winner and a great entry to a "guess this wine" contest! $5.59. 1998 Snoqualmie Vineyards Cabernet Merlot. Hey, I like this one a lot! It is 57 percent cabernet, 47 percent merlot and just plain tasty. I get rosemary and sage on the taste buds taste buds taste npl → Geschmacksknospen pl , with great balance. $9.60. 1999 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley. So I set out to taste all of these exotic and lesser-known Washington wines, and I still like Columbia Crest! It's everywhere, and on sale, so it couldn't be that good, right? Not the case. The chocolate nose is followed by smooth and tasty fig flavors with a touch of oak. For $7.99, this is an excellent value. 1998 Sagelands Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley. The color is fantastic and the feel in your mouth is that of a bigger wine. Lots of tannin tannin, tannic acid, or gallotannic acid, astringent vegetable product found in a wide variety of plants. Sources include the bark of oak, hemlock, chestnut, and mangrove; the leaves of certain sumacs; and plant galls. and acidity in perfect balance. A mouthful of flavor. $13.50. 1999 Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon. Another wine that exceeded my expectations. The dark, ruby red color leads to nice black cherry and plum flavors. I enjoyed the silky feel in my mouth and the aromas of chocolate and nutmeg were inviting. $10.99. After all is said and done, my humble opinion is that Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Columbia Crest and Covey Run do a fine job with most of the wines they produce. Now it's your turn to do the tasting!Trivial pursuits Name one Oregon winery that makes a wine with grapes from Del Rio Del Rio (rē`ō), city (1990 pop. 30,705), seat of Val Verde co., W Tex., on the Rio Grande opposite Ciudad Acuña, Mexico; founded 1868, inc. 1911. Vineyards located in beautiful Gold Hill. Write to Roger Rutan at Simply Wine, The Register-Guard, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440; or send e-mail to rgfeatures@guardnet.com. |
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