Washington Wine Guy

Updated Cayuse website offers a plethora of info...

2010-06-21T16:47:00.001-07:00

The gentlemen over at Cayuse (I use that term loosely...except for Trevor, of course!) have redesigned and updated their website. The new site offers info on their philosophy, wines, reviews, geology, vineyards, pics, and even a video. If you get a chance...Check it out!

www.cayusevineyards.com

Seattle: Grenache Blind Tasting

2010-06-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Got together with some friends at Wild Ginger last Saturday night for a tasting of grenache, blind. All of the wine was provided by our generous friend, Steven Maxood, who put on quite a show. We drank a white (grenache blanc) and a rose (of grenache) to wet the ole whistle and then had four flights of the world's best grenache. Very eye opening tasting as every region displayed the ability to make world class grenache, except Australia! This is part 1 of the tasting. I'll post part 2 later today, hopefully.

2008 Tablas Creek Grenache Blanc
Have not had many bottles of grenache blanc. Rhone whites have always been a problem for me as I can never seem to get enough acid for my liking. This bottle, while pretty good, was no exception. Fairly muted on the nose. Slight aromas of ripe Japanese pear and yellow plums. More of the same on the palate with that oily texture you can get from roussanne. More creaminess than lively. Still, an enjoyable wine. 87pts.

2008 Cayuse Edith Rose Grenache
This vintage is much better than the 07 which I found to be almost viognier like. Very pale salmon color with crisp acid. Spiced watermelon and dehydrated strawberries were the main ingredients. This may make my rose rotation if the 09 improves on the 08. 88pts.

Flight One
Wine #1 – Ruby red with a musky and bright cherry nose. Very lush with concentrated fruit. Layers of spicy oak interwoven with fruit and even some tannin left. This wine still has 10 years to go. Damn good start to the tasting. 95pts (My #1 of the flight, groups #1) 1998 Alvaro Palacios L’Ermita Priorat

Wine #2 – Purple with bricking edges. This wine seemed a little tight at first. After a few minutes, some espresso and chocolate notes appeared. First thing I noticed and was surprised by was the tannins. They were still very apparent. Blackberry liqueur and pepper were the main components to me. Lots of structure but the fruit may be fading. 92pts (My #3, groups #2) 1998 Pegau Cuvee da Capo

Wine #3 – This was certainly the most fruit forward of the bunch. Ruby red with sweet dark fruit on the nose with some chocolate. Nice lush texture with some oak still present. A freshness still present. Very close to wine #1 for me. 94pts (My #2, groups #3) 1998 Clos Erasmus

Flight Two (A)
Wine #1 – Wow, this hit me hard. Gorgeous purple with bright red edges. Knockout nose of blood, minerals, and chocolate. Nice core of dark blueberries and raspberries rounded out with meat covered in spice. Healthy dose of cherry liqueur on the finish along with good structure. This wine is hitting its stride. 97pts (My #1 and WOTN, groups #2) 2001 Clos du Caillou Reserve

Wine #2 – Another dynamite wine. Dark and concentrated with hints of spicy oak and roasted fruit. Dark cherries dominate the palate with some coffee and pepper rounding out the edges. Big finish with tight fruit and tannin. This wine seemed to have a feeling of some aristocratic pedigree. 95pts (My #2, groups #1) 2001 Pierre Usseglio & Fils Deux Freres

Sorry for another Cayuse post...What's a guy to do?

2010-05-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Spent an unbelievable day with friends a week or so ago touring and tasting with Christophe and Trevor at Cayuse. Suffice it to say, this was the single best wine experience of my life. Of course there are several reasons I'm obsessed with the wines produced by Christophe...the 3x3 vineyard spacing, the extraction of every morsel of flavor from the grapes, the maniacal fanaticism of his wine making process, the firm belief in estate grapes...but the most important reason I'm obsessed is that the wines just do it for me and do it for me in a big way. The 09's from barrel and the 08's that were recently bottled just reinforced my obsession.

Before we besieged the wine studio for a tasting, Christophe and Trevor took us on an extremely educational tour of the Armada Vineyard, the Horsepower Vineyard, and his new vineyard, Tribe. He explained to us how he started with 10x4 spacing and then moved to 6x4 spacing and how the Horsepower and Tribe vineyards are 3x3. The first wines produced commercially by the Horsepower Vineyard with be this year, 2010. When asked how he thought the wines will turn out (grenache and syrah), he replied, "I don't know, we'll see!" He talked about how important it was to him to always push the envelope. That becoming complacent as a winemaker is something that he wouldn't be able to live with, so he is constantly experimenting. He then went on to tell us about a few acres of land he purchased on a hillside where he is going to plant his next vineyard.

At this time, we had worked up quite a thirst so on to the wines...I forgot to mention that we started with the 08 Edith Grenache Rose. This wine has started to come around for me. I thought the first vintage to be a bit light and creamy but this wine was darker with some nice strawberries and bright acidity. I enjoyed it.

09 Barrel Samples

Impulsivo -- Deep and dark. Already exhibiting bright fruit, smoke, pork, minerals. So primary and is going to be a bruiser.

Widowmaker -- Nice cab flavors of cassis and concentrated black fruit. Definite herbal and mineral nuances in the background. Another winner.

God Only Knows Grenache Barrel #4 -- Christophe's face just lit up when he talked about this wine. He told us this was his favorite barrel and that he was going to bottle it in magnums and keep them for himself! Beautiful red color. Herbs, wild strawberries, huge dose of minerality. Killer wine.

I'm fairly certain we tried another wine but for the life of me, I can't recall it! At this point, Christophe started pulling some 08's that they had just bottled. The concern about bottle shock was immediately laughed out of the building as we made an impressive run through the bottles.

08 En Cerise -- The one syrah that I don't have a ton of experience with (probably only drank 4 or 5 bottles). This exhibited the trademark dark cherry fruit with grilled meat. Balanced and pretty polished. These wines are just getting better.

08 Bionic Frog -- Holy shit. This puppy is surprisingly open for business and it's 24/7. First whiff was of blood and iron. Concentrated dark fruit and wild game meat laced with minerals and stone. Has the potential to rival the 03 and 05 as the best Frog ever.

07 GOK Grenache -- The third vintage of this wine and it keeps getting better. Christophe seems to be most proud of this wine. So delicate but possessing so much intensity. Think of a pot of wild strawberries, cherries, and raspberries with a bouquet garni. Can't wait to receive my 6 of these!

05 Cailloux Neutral Barrel -- My third experience with this wine. You've got to be kidding me. The 2nd time I had this wine I bestowed upon it my first ever 100 points. Maybe I need to adopt Parker's new scoring system and give it 102 points this time as it was that good. Funkdified on the nose with herbs, sour fruit, bacon wrapped pork (double pig, baby!), and that dried pineapple thing that is so intriguing. Layers and layers of syrah goodness on the palate. This is essentially, for me, syrah as its best.

I know I'm missing a couple other wines but my notes can't seem to find them! After this, we had an incredible dinner at the Fat Duck Inn with some tasty vino. I'll try and get some notes up for that as well.

Thanks for turning 40, Darren!!!!!

Cayuse garners top scores again from Wine Spectator

2010-04-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

Harvey Steinman, the Washington wine reviewer for the Wine Spectator, was one of the first reviewers to champion Cayuse way back in the early 2000's. It was actually his review of the 2001 Bionic Frog that got me curious about a frenchman making wine in Walla Walla. Thousands of dollars later, I'm obsessed. Harvey, my wife holds you personally responsible for my unhealthy passion for what she calls, "Just a winery." Just a winery? Who the hell does she think she is? Doesn't she know Christophe makes the most unique wines in the universe? That if it wasn't for Cayuse, I may still be drinking overpriced Cali cab? She is my wife, so apparently I'm supposed to give her a pass. Don't mess with my Cayuse!

Back to the blog post already in progress...Every Wednesday afternoon, the Wine Spectator emails out this "Insider" list of just reviewed wines to their online subscribers. These are usually more well-known wineries or hot wines. Harvey usually publishes his Cayuse reviews sometime in April so I've been sitting on the proverbial pins and needls since April 1st. Yesterday, that day finally came. Six Cayuse wines were included in the report and here were the results (all wines were from the 07 vintage axcept the Armada which was the 06)...

06 Armada -- 97

07 Bionic Frog -- 95

07 Cailloux -- 95

07 En Cerise -- 95

07 En Chamberlin -- 94

07 Widowmaker -- 91

Great scores for yet another terrific vintage of wines from Christophe and the gang. Nice to see the Armada start to get its proper due. While the Frog has long been my favorite Cayuse wine, the 06 Armada practically knocked me on my ass. Here is my tasting note on it...

Splash decanted this beast for about 15 mintues and then poured it back into the bottle. Before pouring it back into the bottle, I decided some sniffs were in order. Boy am I glad my right hand was firmly planted on the counter as the smell of this wine literally almost knocked me on my ass. 100 point nose for me. Stinky animal fur, rare game meat, cabbage, sour pickles, and even a little raspberry. I showed amazing restraint (generally not a word that describes me) and did not pour myself a glass, instead waiting until dinner. After a Donnhoff and an aged CdP, I was salivating as my glass was filled. Ruby red with flecks of purple, the nose continued its display of perfection. More meat, cabbage, fur, and bacon. I finally took a taste and realized this wine possesses some kind of crazed intensity that reminded me of Mike Singletary, eyes wide, circa 1985 and I was the trembling quarterback across the line of scrimmage. Every note and nuance seems to be magnified in this wine. The fruit and game meat, especially. The length leads me to believe this wine will age for years. As good as this wine is now, it needs some time to settle down but when it does--lookout!

If you have never had the opoortunity to taste a wine from Cayuse, what is your problem? Go out and get one, drink it, and report back!!

Dynamite $20 Cali syrah and a WA State right banker...

2010-04-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

2008 Carlisle Sonoma County Syrah
Holy hell, Batman! This is one dark, focused, and intense $19.50 wine. Who doesn't just get giddy when a new pile of Carlisle syrahs land at your doorstep? The only other $19.50 New World wine that can even step onto the mat with this baby is the 07 Carlisle RRV and while that was my QPR of the Year last year, I don't think it's as complex as this wine. This reminded me of a baby James Berry with its tightly focused concentrated fruit, bacon-ness, and touch of heat on the finish. Of course this wine is young and could use a year to integrate the alcohol, but for $19.50, it's perfect to me. Sorry my note isn't more detailed but I was enjoying this too much on a Tuesday night to be bothered! 92pts.

2005 Delille D2
Popped and poured and then left in the glass for about an hour. Deep, dark ruby color with aromas of toasty oak, vanilla, baked plums, cassis, and cream. Much to the delight of my wife and two friends but not for me. The same flavors showed up on the palate with a medium weight and nice plush mouthfeel. This is a very well-made wine and I can certainly see how someone would love it, but at this point, the oak is just too prominent for me. I had a 2002 D2 some months ago that was delicious, but it was just beginning to absorb and balance out the oak. Nice throat coating finish and went well with the beef being served. Give it some time to mellow. 89pts.

2009 Buty Beast Semillon Sphinx

2010-04-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Major disappointment here. Have been a fan of Buty wines sine the 01 vintage and usually enjoy the Beast wines but this was not for me. Hopefully, the Hartebeest cab will make up for it. I'll report back...

2009 Buty Beast Semillon Sphinx
Was excited when I saw this on the store shelf. I'm always on the lookout for good $10-$15 whites for easy summer drinking. This was a nice pale yellow and had initial aromas of pear, baked apple, spice, and toast. I was a bit confused as the one major thing that enticed me to puchase this wine was the blurb that stated this was 100% oak free and I'm not sure that's correct. Creamy and custard-y in the mouth, but not overly so. Nice layers of grapefruit and fig but I just couldn't get past the cream and lack of acid. Maybe 100% semillon is not my thing. I run into the same problem with most viognier, not enough acid for me. The finish had an unpleasant bitterness, so I didn't even finish the bottle. Technically a well-made wine, but not in my wheelhouse. 84pts

Value night...

2010-04-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Decided it was time to get back to my early wine roots with a value wine night. I picked a $9 white (South African chenin blanc) that had been recommended by a friend and a $12 Spanish garnacha. As a general rule, I've found it much more easy to find $10 whites I enjoy than $15 and under reds. The reds in this price range tend to be one dimensional and either too sweet and candied, or oaky and harsh, for my liking. The spanish red certainly lived up to that! I'll keep up the good fight trying to find value reds that rock...

2008 Kanu Chenin Blanc
This was recommended to me by a good friend as a very nice weekday white for $9. He may be wrong when it comes to politics and sports, but he was not wrong about this wine. Nice dose of citrus and stones on the nose. Tart and lively on the palate with saliva inducing acidity, which I dig. This wine just seemed to wake up your taste buds which was the antithesis of the other white I drank this past weekend. Fine South African effort and one that will find its way in my summer lineup. 88pts

2007 Bodegas San Alejandro Garnacha Las Rocas
The red wine component of my self imposed "Saturday Value Wine Night." To be honest, this wine was disappointing. Much too sweet and candied. Reminded me of several 07 cotes-du-rhones that I was geeked to drink but ended up possessing too much sweetness for me. Gorgeous magenta and fairly closed at the outset, but eventually released its candied pop rock flavor that just didn't jive with my taste buds. No real depth or layered personality. Have I mentioned that it was way grandma sweet? 84pts

Oh how the wine world has changed

2010-04-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

I just received my daily wine offer from Garagiste and this one made me do a double take. 2006 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet for $59.99. Wow! That's a $120 wine retail and I imagine that was easily fetched a couple of years ago. Not only was the wine essentially 1/2 off, but Garagiste was allowing orders up to 25 cases. 25 cases? Having a hard time selling that over-priced Cali cab, Beringer?

Something for posterity...

2010-04-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd regale you with a couple pictures of little ole' me ten years apart (okay, really 8 years apart). The first one is me in Italy during the summer of 2000. Bleach blonde hair and drinking out of the bottle...doesn't get any better! The second picture is me at the Cayuse Dinner. Two glasses are always better than one! What do you think 2020 will look like?

Can't forget this puppy...

2010-04-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

The six or seven 07 vintage Cayuse wines I've drank thus far seem to be a bit more restrained with hints of elegance creeping in. I'm diggin' on these!

2007 Cayuse Impulsivo
Decanted for an hour...and boy did it need that hour to strut its stuff. Fairly closed at first so we decided to leave it in the decanter for an hour with aggressive swirling about every ten minutes. When it finally decided to reveal itself, boy did it ever in a hurry (kind of like when you get home from a date and you are sitting on the couch chatting with your fine lady, you excuse yourself to the bathroom, return and find her laid out in all her glory on the couch--from zero to shablam in about 30 seconds!). A pleasantly restrained funky nose gave way to ripe fruit, dark chocolate goodness, and noticeable woodsmoke. Much more on the elegant side than the primal side. More ripe fruit on the palate, specifically blackberries and plums, interwoven nicely with polished tannins and dare I say, judicious oak. All the components seemed to be very well harmonized. Much more lush and forward than the carnivorous and savory 06. This wine was a lithe, sexy, sultry, seamless beauty. 95 pts.

I am back!!

2010-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry everyone for the 2 1/2 month sabbatical (I'm sure a collective "phew" spread through the audience as you realized I'm not dead! maybe even some "damns!). I am feeling frisky again and plan on writing much more than just notes on the wines I drink. Maybe even a 'wine thought of the day' may be in order or just musings upon the subject we hold dear. Enough emoting...on to the wines.

2004 Mon Aieul
Splash decanted and then let sit for about an hour. This was easily the least impressive of the MA's I've had, although still a terrific wine. Fairly closed nose but some nice red raspberry, chocolate, and fig notes eventually came out to play. Seems to have some serious structure with robust tannins and a nice dose of acid. Tight, so maybe it just wasn't ready to open as this junction. Palate loaded with herbs de provence, chocolate covered cherries, raspberries, and bits of garrigue. No alcohol on the finish, which was a good thing, but did have some strict tannins. I'd say maybe hold for another 3-5 years. 92 pts.

2007 Carlisle James Berry Vineyard Syrah
Again, splash decanted and let sit for an hour or so. This beast was deep, dark, teeth staining purple. Everything you'd want from a James Berry Vineyard wine. Ripe, concentrated blue and black fruits on the nose followed by hints of heat on the periphery. Major focused dark fruit on the palate. Hefty and in your face as you would expect it to be but very well made with a deft hand by Mr. Officer. Pepper, spice, and a little pork. A finish that lasts minutes with its only detraction being a touch of heat that will easily integrate in a year or so. I know I opened this way too early but in contradiction to James Bond, I'm only going to live once. 94pts.

2007 Cayuse En Chamberlin Syrah
Pleasure is drinking another man's Cayuse! My main man, Rico, was generous enough to bring this by to polish off one Friday night. As usual, it didn't disappoint. A little lighter in color than normal, but no less punch. Tamed down aromas of red cabbage, sour pickles, beef jerky, meat, and even some blackberries and raspberries. Not tamed down in a normal person's sense but tamed down for a typical En Chamberlin syrah. Dare I say a tad more refined than its beastly predecessors? Surprisingly lush in the mouth with layers of concentrated dark fruit and chocolate. The gaminess and savory qualities were pushed toward the edges, which made for a seamless transition to the lip smacking finish. While approachable and fantastic now, this wine will certainly get better with a few years of lay down time. 95pts.

2005 K Vintners Wells Vineyard Syrah
Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad for K Vintners! I seem to have more Jekyll and Hyde wines from Charles and K Vintners than from any other producer. The first bottle I had of this was spectacular, the second was terrible, and now the third was down right tasty. Back to aromas of gingerbread, Chinese 5-spice, huckleberries, and onion skins. More fruit on the palate than on the nose but the cinnamon and herbs keep it in check. A very distinctive wine that most likely won't ever get made again as the vineyard ownership changed hands and Charles didn't release the 06 version. Worth seeking out if you can find it. 93pts.

A wine induced Wednesday night with friends...

2010-01-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

Spent a fun Wednesday night drinking with friends. Thanks to Travis and Mario for hosting as usual and a big thanks to Mike for moving to Australia so when he comes back we get a good excuse to drink damn fine wine on a school night!! These are more a combo of notes and observations versus just technical notes.

1976 Huet Vouvray -- Not sure exactly which bottlling this was. Beautiful golden honey color. A bit too sweet to drink a whole glass for my taste but certainly good for 5 or 6 drinks. Honey, apple, touch of sherry. The oldest white I've ever drank. 87pts.

2007 M. Chapoutier Condrieu Invitare -- We put this up against the Cayuse viognier and it beat it like a red-headed stepchild. Cream, bit of custard, glyceral mouthfeel. Notes of lemon, white flowers, and honey. Not quite enough acid for me to be totally blown away. Easily outclassed the Cayuse. 92pts.

2006 Cayuse Viognier -- Disappointed with this bottle. Kind of harsh with a bit of a bitter aftertaste. I really think these need minimum of 5-7 years to balance out. Disjointed with not much fruit but had more acid than the Condrieu, which I liked. 87pts.

2007 Dageuneau Silex -- This was the shiznit. Easily the best sauvignon blanc I've ever had. Light yellow in color, the nose just bursts of limestone, chalk, citrus. Touch of sweet butter on the palate with freshly cut green grass, unripe pear, fuji apple, and a nice balance of acid to cut the sweet butter. Absolutely loved it! 94pts.

2007 J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese -- Very nice reisling. Golden hued with lively nose of minerals, apples, honey. Just enough acid to keep me interested. Nice bottle. 90pts.

2007 Donnhoff Kabinett -- Not sure which bottling this was. As always, golden and delicious. Used it as my palate cleanser all night. Donnhoff's always seem to wake up my mouth. Not terribly complex but the mix of minerality, acid, and fruit was enough to satiate me. 90pts.

1970 Mouton -- The oldest red wine I've had. Totally cool experience to get to drink this. Dark bricking on the edges with the faintest color red in the middle. Nose of cedar, tobacco, mint. Not much fruit on the palate except bits of cassis and cherries. Loved every sip for the experience. 91pts.

2003 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills -- Not a huge fan of Oregon pinot but the was a standout bottle. Nicely balanced oak with cherries, bit of underbrush, raspberries. Understated but the nose kept me coming back. 90pts.

2005 Lillian Syrah -- Wowza! This baby has settled down and integrated nicely since the last time I drank it over a year ago (and I liked it then). Seamless tannins, oak, and fruit. Big bursting blueberries, bacon, asphalt, blackberries, baking spice. Wish I had more than one left. 95pts.

2007 Saxum James Berry -- Very closed nose. Took forever to coax anything out of it. My first half-glass the wine was just to warm (tannic and harsh) so I put it in the fridge to bring it down to 64-66 degrees. Wow, much better at the cooler temp. This is by far the most understated Saxum I have drank. Fairly balanced tannin and fruit. Certainly not an in your face wine and built for the long haul. Perfectly ripe raspberries and blackberries with nice integration of spices and smoke. Needs time and then will be dynamite. 93pts.

2005 Pavie -- Talk about tannic. Holy shit this was loaded with tannin and acid. Tons of fruit as well but needs minimum 10 years to marry. Structure, structure. With this backbone and concentrated fruit, it just may reach that 100 points given time. 93pts.

1994 Quilceda Creek Cab -- My oldest Quilceda. Kick ass bottle. Now I personally know the difference between pre-2000 Quilceda and post-2000 Quilceda. Nice ruby red color with strong aromas of cedar, tobacco, eucalyptus, chocolate. Balanced tannins, oak , and fruit. Touch creamy on the palate with cassis liqueur. Really nice bottle. 93pts.

2004 Cayuse Armada -- I know this is going to get a "No shit" from the peanut gallery, but it was the wine of the night for me. Medium ruby-purple, it just awakened your taste buds. Most of the funk has blown off (just enough to satisfy my funk love) and what is left is a gorgeous example of syrah. Concentrated, ripe black raspberries, asian spice, and hints of pork cover the inside of your mouth. Thick but with a nice vibrant lift. Really concentrated but not overly so because of a nice rusticity. Cayuse syrah has the stuffing to age well, I think. 96pts.

There were 6 or 7 other red wines that I will add to my notes when I get a chance later today. Great wine and ever better company!

The long awaited non-Cayuse 2009 Top Ten!

2009-12-31T10:07:00.001-08:00

Here it is...the long awaited (by few!) Top Ten wines of 2009 that weren't Cayuse. A couple of these were included on the list not due to their score, but because the excited me or moved me in some way. Enjoy...

10. 2007 Sleight of Hand Chardonnay The Enchantress
Popped and poured. This wine has certainly grown and become more integrated even in the four short months since the last time I drank one. Bright yellow, accented with a slight green hue, this wine begs for you to take a sniff. Once that occurs--you are hit with apples, unripe pears, hints of spicy oak, cinnamon, stones, and citrus. Brighter acidity than I remember, as the weight of the oak has dissipated for the most part leaving behind a fresher palate characterized by lemon/lime, white flowers, steel, and a nice dose of minerality. The freshness continues on the finish as a heathly acidic cut plays well with the baked apple. Sadly, I only have one bottle of this left. Time for Trey to dip into the personal stash! 92pts

9. 2007 Carlisle RRV Syrah
As I stared longingly at this bottle of inky purple goodness, a tear trickled down my cheek as I realized it was my final bottle. Someone once said, "All good things must come to an end." F#@k that person as he had never had a $19.50 bottle of wine this good. I always secretly hope my bottles of Carlisle are crap (well, not really) since everyone and their mother gush about this winery, but alas, they are always freakin' tasty. A tip of my sweaty University of Washington golf cap to you, Mr. Officer. Oh yeah, the wine...Dark and brooding purple, accented by ruby edges, this wine gets all up in your nostrils and invades your personal space. Smoked bacon, violets, berry jam, blackberries, pepper, and asian spice announce that you are about to enjoy yourself. Full bodied (not in an 18th century rubenesque sort of way but in a 21st century healthy Jennifer Connelly sort of way) but not overly dense, this wine has a certain lift that's hard to explain. It just simply awakens your taste buds. Bright blue and black fruit fill your mouth to the rim and you actually fight swallowing (insert proverbial wife joke here), but when you do, the sticky tannins and hints of receding oak balance the ripe fruit perfectly and what you are left with is the feeling of pure drinking pleasure. When I was 19, pure drinking pleasure was MGD and Cuervo Gold and now, it's 2007 Carlisle RRV Syrah! 93pts

8. 2006 Saxum Bone Rock JBV
It was cool to bring this as a couple people had never drank a Saxum before, so I figured why not bring out a big gun. Decanted for around two hours, this puppy was rockin' from the get go. Big nose of blackberries, blueberries, jam, meat, and spice. Waves of ripe dark berry fruit in the mouth along with chocolate and even some spicy oak. As usual, everything is seamless so there's no hint of heat or tannin. This was so good now but will get even better with a few years under its belt. 95pts

7. 2007 Reynvaan The Contender Syrah
A contender it is! Nose was a bit muted but coaxed out some blackberries, dark cherry, and even a bit of bacon. The mouthfeel was pure elegance (co-fermented w/ marsanne). A heft again without the weight revealing a lushness I haven't had in such a young wine. Concentrated ripe fruit, stones, smoked pork. This was fantastic. Dale even remarked to our friend, Randy, that is was going to be all downhill from there! 94pts

6. 2004 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Opened about 30 minutes before gulping it down. I was shocked at how blood red this wine is, not blue/purple at all like Quilceda. Buttloads of red fruit on the nose--pomegranate, cassis, and cherries along with camphor, red licorice, and my favorite of all, sweat. That's right, sweat. Not in a SEC 300lb. defensive lineman kind of way but in a Megan Fox kind of way. Lush and smooth in the mouth without ever being fleshy. Loaded with red fruits and raspberry liqueur showing great mouth density but never venturing toward excess weight. This wine was so balanced with lip smacking acidity paired with the red fruit sweetness with no signs of tannin, tartness, or oak. It was so suave and polished that I'm surprised the label isn't in the shape of an Armani tuxedo. Damn good. 95pts

5. 2007 Dauvissat Chablis La Forest
Popped and let sit for 30 mins. This baby possessed such a vibrant yellow color that it furthered my already high expectations. After about 5 minutes of swirling, I think I resigned myself to the fact that I opened this too early (it was fairly open two months ago). It was so tight that my wrist hadn't been this sore since the first time I laid my eyes on the gorgeous Heather Thomas in an episode of the Fall Guy. After tons of coaxing, I finally could distinguish some Meyer Lemon and granite on the nose. Muscular, with enough acid to provide a backbone that would make a T Rex proud, hints of spicy apple, and enough stones to put African blood diamonds out business...this is built for the long haul. This may be the first time that I've felt guilty popping the cork too early but it was so good in February. Still a 92 point wine, with the stuffing to be a 95 pointer in 5-10 years. 92+ pts

4. 2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio Cuvee de Mon Aieul
I have been anticipating this wine for a couple of years now. I can't imagine it could ever have lived up to expectations. It wasn't as accessible as the 2006 out of the gate but has tons more potential. A little darker than I expected with a nose of cherry liqueur, black currants, spice, and garrigue. Never hot but just jam-packed with ripe fruit, glycerine, and tons of chocolate. This wine is just so big but never close to approaching over the top with its sweetness and structure. If you're lucky enough to own multiple bottles, drink one now for the experience, but let the rest sleep for awhile as this is going to only get better. 95+++++pts

3. 2006 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grobes Gewachs Trocken
OMFG. That is all I could say after my first smell of this goldilocked beauty. Sit in my chair, eat my porridge, and sleep in my bed antyime you little vixen. Gorgeous bright straw yellow color that when swirled made you dream of that blonde 20 year old Swede you saw in Nice when you were 18. Immediate aromas of stones, white peaches, Japanese pears, and starfruit syrup keep you bottled up in that dream. Once it hits your lips, concentrated quince, citrus, and minerality pummel your taste buds into submission. The interplay between restrained sweetness and mouth shocking dryness bob and weave over your tongue as deftly as the Champ himself, Muhammad Ali. Layer upon layer of riesling complexity, density, and lusciousness made me furious for only buying 2 bottles of this Teutonic beauty. 94pts

2. 2004 Kongsgaard Syrah Hudson Vineyard
My WOTN! You could just tell from the first smell that this was going to kick ass. Nose of mocha, ripe blue fruit, pepper, funky animal fur (similar to a certain WA State winery whose wines I've occasionally liked ). Huge in the mouth with blueberries and blackberries that had every bit of life squeezed out of them. Lush and silky but radiant and enlivened your taste buds. Century long finish. Ridonkulous. Thanks Steven! 97pts

1. 2005 Saxum Bone Rock JBV
Popped this herculean wine Saturday night to celebrate my Dawgs' Pac-10 Championship. After several bottle of Saxum, one cannot imagine that these wines can get any better or top the previous bottle but that would be wrong. Just plain wrong, my friend. This was a powerhouse from the get go. Resisting my natural urge to pop and pour, I opened this beauty and let it sit for over an hour. Immediate aromas are intoxicating with the likes of black cherry, kirsch, a little gaminess, five spice, tobacco, and a smack of pure blue fruit. Massively dense on the palate but somehow surprisingly seems light on its feet. Gushes of concentrated black raspberries and boysenberries balance out the heat to give you a delectable sweetness without ever losing its laser focused, even scary elegance. Bacon, some smoky oak, and hints of gaminess further harmonize the scale of sweet and savory. A lingering and thought provoking finish leads me to the belief that Saxum is easily one of the top three of four Rhone Rangers in the US. Monumental stuff! 97pts

Top Ten Cayuse Wines of 2009

2009-12-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

I decided to follow end of the year protocol and publish a Top Ten Wines of 2009 list, but when I started to compile my list it was dominated by a certain winery that loves the rocks. I don't mean Joker vs. Batman domination where each guy gets their licks in. I mean USA vs. Germany (you're welcome England) where we kicked their ass twice in 30 years kind of domination. So, I decided to put together two top ten lists...One completely of the best Cayuse wines I drank in 2009 and a second list comprised of the best of the rest...

10. 2006 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah
New World, overhyped, love it or hate it, lightning rod syrah...oh, how I've missed you. Typical Cailloux aromas of freshly cracked peppercorns, blue fruit, minerals, flowers, and something I've never noticed before from this vineyard, black tea. As with most bottles of Cayuse, I could sit and smell it for hours and be content but with my friend Rico present, I needed to imbibe prematurely or else risk him bogarting the entire bottle. I know most of you consider me a blind promoter or shill for Cayuse but there just aren't many wines that can wake up your mouth the way these can. Immediate taste of ripe macerated blackberries followed by tart cherries, pepperoncini, pork, and spiciness fill you mouth. Kind of get that sweet vs. savory thing going on that chefs love. No tannins and no oak allow the densly packed fruit to take you to that faraway place we all enjoy...wine nirvana. 94pts

9. 2006 Cayuse Flying Pig
Drank this puppy on NYE after a 2006 Saxum Broken Stones and was blown away with the complexity and uniqueness this displayed. It shouldn't have surprised me as Christophe's bordeaux varietals just keep getting better with each successive vintage as they develop the typical Cayuse personality of being like no other wine on the planet. Darkly red, the initial aroma on this baby flared your nostrils like smelling salts. Dominated by smoke roasted poblano peppers, it felt like I was strolling through an old town Mexican outdoor market. It took some time for the fruit to show up for the party as juicy plums and a bit of almost ripe strawberries made a cameo appearance. Spicy oak enlivened the mid-palate and a lengthy finish with hints of menthol left my homeys and me scrambling to beat the others to the bottle for the last glass. Poblanos, plums, smoke, and menthol...hard to beat in a cab franc! 94 pts

8. 2006 Cayuse Impulsivo
Popped the cork and set aside for about 45 minutes while we drank the Donnhoff. The color out of the bottle was a deep, dark blue accented by blood red edges. Your nose is immediately blasted with the blackest of black cherries, crushed blackberries, olive, woodsmoke, sandalwood, and some sort of rare grilled game meat. The savory qualitites are all Cayuse trademarks and when paired with the ripe fruit, your nose becomes the Valhalla of convergence zones. The palate mirrors the nose as superconcentrated dark fruit fills your mouth eventually yielding to the carnal pleasures of blackened lamb, blood, and a distinctly saline minerality. An impressively heavy finish with Manute Bol like length had my tongue scouring the inside of my mouth for the next hour. 95 pts

7. 2005 Cayuse God Only Knows Grenache
If there ever could be a wine that can overwhelm yet be so restrained and understated, this is that wine. The best analogy I can come up with is this...You have just scored general admission seats to your all-time favorite band's gig (for me that would be Pearl Jam or Alice 'n Chains or Iron Maiden). You camp out a couple days in advance so you'll be one of the first people in and secure your rightful spot in front of the stage. The anticipation from everyone in the arena is palpable--we are about to have our ears drums blown out! The band finally saunters on stage without electric guitars and a huge drum kit but with acoustic guitars and a single drum. They announce tonight will be a special "unplugged" concert. You can tell everyone in the crowd is a bit shocked but once the show begins they are blown away by how powerful, amazing, and moving a stripped down "unplugged" show can be. That's how this wine made me feel.
A gorgeous meduim-dark red out of the bottle. Initial aromas of enriched red fruits, an ever so hint of smoke, rocks, and a floral component that I could never quite pin down. So lush and smooth in the mouth with crushed strawberries, raspberry ganache, and a little tobacco to leaven out the sweetness. All components seemed to be in perfect harmony. I can't mention enough how luxurious yet understated the mouth feel was, simply intriguing. It finishes very strong with some cocoa notes and sweet spice. I think this wine will continue to develop more complex flavors and undertones as it ages. 95 pts

6. 2006 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah
Splash decanted this beast for about 15 mintues and then poured it back into the bottle. Before pouring it back into the bottle I decided some sniffs were in order. Boy am I glad my right hand was firmly planted on the counter as the smell of this wine literally almost knocked me on my ass. 100 point nose for me. Stinky animal fur, rare game meat, cabbage, sour pickles, and even a little raspberry. I showed amazing restraint (generally not a word that describes me) and did not pour myself a glass, instead waiting until dinner. After a Donnhoff and an aged CdP, I was salivating as my glass was filled. Ruby red with flecks of purple, the nose continued its display of perfection. More meat, cabbage, fur, and bacon. I finally took a taste and realized this wine possesses some kind of crazed intensity that reminded me of Mike Singletary, eyes wide, circa 1985 and I was the trembling quarterback across the line of scrimmage. Every note and nuance seems to be magnified in this wine. The fruit and game meat, especially. The length leads me to believe this wine will age for years. As good as this wine is now, it needs some time to settle down but when it does--lookout! 96 pts

5. 2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah
Wow, another over-oaked, over-extracted, manipulated Aussie bomb from Cayuse. Hardly (that was just a quick shout out to the haters!). Hamburgers are to Wimpy as Cayuse En Chamberlin is to me. Except I'll pay you any day of the week not just Tuesday. Pop and pour was the serving style du jour for this beast. The anticipation is palpable as you know exactly what this wine will smell like, but then it delivers an even stronger Mike Tyson Punch-Out styled KO. Immediate aromas of animal fur, blood sausage, pepperoncini, herbs, pulverized black raspberries and blackberries, and a surprise of violets. 100 point nose for me, all the way. Unctuous and dense in the mouth at first, leading the way to huge, extracted (not over, mind you) dark fruit. I felt like Chaka on Land of the Lost sitting around with black cherries and blackberries the size of Drew Carey's head. Luckily, the savory components never let this fruit get out of control as sauvage, rare beef, iron, and stony minerality keep it in check. Everything is in balance. No presence of oak with seamless and plush tannins. As any great wine should, it finishes as it begins with length and an aftertaste that I could chew on for days. This wine was a 5 course-dinner and then some. 97pts

4. 2004 Cayuse En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah
Essentially popped and poured. There was a time when I thought the odd number years of the En Chamberlin were kickin' ass and taking names and now after drinking both the 06 and 04 recently, we seem to have a legitimate fight on our hands. Grimace purple (yes, as in the Mickey D's dude), this wine needs no introducion. The aromas of this wine I've chronicled numerous times in the past so I won't bore you with the details other than to say if you enjoy sticking your nose deep into a pot of provencal stew, then you will certainly love the smell of this wine. When you finally gather the nerve to take a taste, your mouth is reminded why one aspect of being a human is so great--the thirst for blood and meat. You feel like a caveman squating on a boulder digging into a nicely cooked leg of some animal. An Ivy League educated caveman, mind you, as this wine gives you plenty to think about. Not for the wine drinker who just enjoys plush, ripe fruit but for the adventurous wine drinker who searches out both the savory qualities of meat, blood, and vegetables as well as the sweet-tooth satisfying berries. When you finally swallow this beast, then hunt is on for a piece of wood to pick all of the meat out of your teeth as this wine builds a fire and plans on staying the entire night. 97pts

3. 2006 Cayuse Bionic Frog
Ah, the liquid nectar of the gods. One of the true pleasures in this world is drinking someone else's Bionic Frog so you don't have to lessen your own personal stash by one. Thanks Dad, and thanks to the sucker who let this go for $85 at silent auction! Deep purple with ruby red edges, this wine exuded Cayuse class from the get go. Now Cayuse class may be different from the dictionary definition of class, i.e. Sophia Loren or Jackie O. Cayuse class is down and dirty. Intial aromas of crumbled earth, smoked meat, picked fennel, some black raspberry, and a heavy dose of minerality. Christophe's wines are starting to show such a depth of minerality that I now believe we need to add another element to the periodic table--Cayusium--with the symbol Fg for f*@king good. Not quite as intense as the 03 I had recently, but maybe a touch more complex. Sweet layers of dark fruit interwoven with briny olives, soy, umami, pepper, and even more minerality. The balance this wine achieves with sweet vs. savory is bordering on genius. No noticeable oak or tannin on the back end allows the finish of brown spices and blueberries to linger on your palate for minutes. Free Bionic Frog rocks. Dad, let's open that 05 this weekend! 97pts

2. 2003 Cayuse Bionic Frog
Sh#t. This was the three D's...dark, dense, and dominating. For me, most of the funk has blown off this wine and a lean, mean fighting machine is left. Tons of iron, blood, soy, and game accented by concentrated blue fruits. Hefty and lengthy finish. So close to perfection. 99pts

1. 2005 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Wallah Wallah Syrah Neutral Barrel
This is when the party really got started. Christophe was generous enough last year to send us a mag of this mythical beauty but decided we needed three mags this year. Thank you! As much as I liked this wine last year, it is in another league this year. The first whiff buckled my knees like a Dwight Gooden curveball circa 1986. It possessed every smell I love. Herbs, seaweed, dried pineapple, roasted berries, rare meat, sausage, blood, soy, violets. I literally sat there and smelled it for an hour. At this point, people were threatening to kick my ass if I didn't finally take a drink. I acquiesced and was blown away. Layers of flavors. Pineapple, smoke, dark fruit/berries, black pepper. Makes you think it's massive but conveys no excess baggage. Seamless and silky tannins along with the layered flavor and aromatics make the finish last for what seems to be hours. Otherworldly. 100pts

Tomorrow I'll post my top ten wines other than Cayuse...

A German, a Frenchie, and two Washingtonians walk into a bar...

2009-12-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

Decided it was high time for a dudes night out with three friends and wine. Remember when you were 25 and dudes night out involved nachos and beer? Now, it involves bistro fare and wine geekery. Can't decide which is better!! On this night, it certainly was the wine guantlet we threw down. Dudes night needs to happen more often.

2007 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
This blonde beauty was opened a full 24 hours in advance for a slow oxy. I always get nervous when my friend Dale tells me he is going to open or decant early. One previous decant too long later and he's still hearing it from me! No need to fret with the Donnhoff, as it was predictably brilliant. I say predictably because every Donnhoff I've drank has been terrific. Golden-hued with aromas of white peaches, honey, crushed rock, and a hint of marjoram. I didn't get any sweat, like Dale, but he once smelled sweat in a candy cane so what does he know! Kind of a sleeper on the palate as the wine initially has trouble delivering, but as it warmed up the flavor bomb was dropped laced with an acidic residue. Orchard fruits galore, chalk, and a healthy dose of minerality. A satisfyingly long, gripping finish had me wondering aloud why I don't drink riesling everyday. A touch dryer and this would have been 95 points easily. 93pts

1998 Pegau Cuvee Laurence
Popped and poured this 11 year old CdP. Ruby red with a slightly purple core. Gorgeous nose of cherry liqueur, underbrush (sous bois for you fancy shmancy boys), herbs, red licorice, and hints of game. Really chocolatey in the mouth. Think chocolate covered cherry liqueur rolled in roasted herbs. Medium in weight with notes of black cherries, asphalt, and coffee as well. A nice underlying structure and minerality give the wine nice length. I can see how some would consider the finish drying, but that didn't bother me. A beautifully aged CdP. 92pts

2006 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard
Splash decanted this beast for about 15 mintues and then poured it back into the bottle. Before pouring it back into the bottle, I decided some sniffs were in order. Boy am I glad my right hand was firmly planted on the counter as the smell of this wine literally almost knocked me on my ass. 100 point nose for me. Stinky animal fur, rare game meat, cabbage, sour pickles, and even a little raspberry. I showed amazing restraint (generally not a word that describes me) and did not pour myself a glass, instead waiting until dinner. After a Donnhoff and an aged CdP, I was salivating as my glass was filled. Ruby red with flecks of purple, the nose continued its display of perfection. More meat, cabbage, fur, and bacon. I finally took a taste and realized this wine possesses some kind of crazed intensity that reminded me of Mike Singletary, eyes wide, circa 1985 and I was the trembling quarterback across the line of scrimmage. Every note and nuance seems to be magnified in this wine. The fruit and game meat, especially. The length leads me to believe this wine will age for years. As good as this wine is now, it needs some time to settle down but when it does--lookout! 96 pts

2007 Reynvaan Syrah In the Rocks Vineyard
Popped and poured. Dark purple exhibiting intoxicating aromas of blue and black fruit, bacon, violets, a smokiness, and an ever so small touch of funk. Some may consider this wine "Cayuse light" but I really think that is doing a disservice to Reynvaan. Yes, Christophe may be their wine consultant and the vineyards are close in proximity to Cayuses' but their wines are distinctly different. Super-concentrated ripe fruit and not as much carnivorality (Did I just add a new world to the Urban Dictionary?), plus a little more elegance. Full bodied with gobs of blackberries, black raspberries, meat, and a lushness that happily coats your mouth. A relatively big wine that basks in its ability to balance itself out with sticky tannins and a nice undercurrent of deftly applied woodsmoke. I can certainly see this wine getting better and that is scary. 94pts

Terrific 07 Cayuse Cailloux!!

2009-12-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

A friend popped our first 07 Cayuse and we were not disappointed. Dark ruby color with initial aromas of cracked pepper (barrel sample last year had this as well), dark blue fruit, a little underbrush, and a nice dose of flowers. Surprised to taste candied/sweet fruit in the first 30 minutes or so. Luckily, this wasn't overpowering and slowly dissipated over time revealing some rare meat, pepper, tart cherries, and a hint of mushroom. Decently long finish leaving blackberries and cherries lingering. A fairly seamless and pleasurable wine possessing no overt oak or tannin. Give it 3 years and it will be dynamite but delicious now, nonetheless. 93pts.

Free 2006 Bionic Frog!

2009-11-24T12:37:00.001-08:00

One of the true pleasures in this world is drinking someone else's Bionic Frog so you don't have to lessen your own personal stash by one. Thanks Dad, and thanks to the sucker who let this go for $85 at silent auction! Deep purple with ruby red edges, this wine exuded Cayuse class from the get go. Now Cayuse class may be different from the dictionary definition of class, i.e. Sophia Loren or Jackie O. Cayuse class is down and dirty. Intial aromas of crumbled earth, smoked meat, picked fennel, some black raspberry, and a heavy dose of minerality. Christophe's wines are starting to show such a depth of minerality that I now believe we need to add another element to the periodic table--Cayusium--with the symbol Fg for f*@king good. Not quite as intense as the 03 I had recently, but maybe a touch more complex. Sweet layers of dark fruit interwoven with briny olives, soy, umami, pepper, and even more minerality. The balance this wine achieves with sweet vs. savory is bordering on genius. No noticeable oak or tannin on the back end allows the finish of brown spices and blueberries to linger on your palate for minutes. Free Bionic Frog rocks. Dad, let's open that 05 this weekend! 97pts.

2008 Cayuse and Reynvaan barrel tasting notes...

2009-11-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

Spent about 2 1/2 hours inside "the box" on Saturday and came away impressed as usual. There always seems to be a theme across the board/vintage when doing a Cayuse tasting. The theme for the 08's came straight from Christophe's mouth -- "Iron, Blood, and Liquid Rock!" He was spot on as these wines possessed a level of minerality unparalleled in Washington as well as some nice meaty/blood overtones. I was also surprised at how accessible the wines felt. Usually, the Frog, Widowmaker, and Impulsivo are a little tight and not quite open for business but tasted terrific on this day. On to the wines...

2008 Cayuse Edith Rose -- 100% grenache. Don't seem to be a fan of this until it gets in bottle. Last year it seemed like a light pink viognier but was terrific out of bottle a month ago. Same this year. Some strawberry and metal. Decent acidity. Look forward to drinking oen next summer. 87-89pts.

2008 Cayuse Flying Pig -- 60% cab franc/40% merlot. This wine keeps getting better with each successive vintage. Aromas of poblanos, juicy plums, herbs. Layers of peppers, ripe blackberries, and black cherries with some stout tannins. 93-95 pts.

2008 Cayuse Camaspelo -- 80% cab/20% merlot. This wine always seems to be treated as the red-headed stepchild of the group. While not my favorite Cayuse wine, it always tastes good. Herbal-ly, musky, with some nice red/black fruits. Tannins and alcohol integrated nicely. Very nice. 89-91pts.

2008 Cayuse Cailloux Syrah -- This vineyard probably has improved the most year to year. Big punch in the face of dark ripe fruit, earth, violets, smoky spice. Lush and velvety with balanced layers of earthy goodness and roasted fruit. Pretty damn good. 94-96pts.

2008 Cayuse En Cerise Syrah -- Kind of the surprise of the tasting for me. Not much cherry for me, which I always seem to get. More game meat, blood, and crushed rock. Much more complex than previous vintages. Smoky meat, dark cherries, and some pomegranate. Very impressive. 93-95pts.

2008 Cayuse En Chamberlin Syrah -- The funk is toned down just a bit this year. Leaving behind super-concentrated dark fruit, rare meat, saline, black tea, concrete. Always so good. 94-96pts.

2007 Cayuse Armada Syrah -- There was a palpable buzz going on around the room that this was a stunner. True dat! Powerful and beast-like, this puppy was a punch to your taste buds. Tons of black pepper, seaweed, baking spice, blood, pork, black cherries, coffee, chocolate. So much potential. 96-98pts.

2008 Bionic Frog Syrah -- I was surprised at how approachable this was. Most of the time, the barrel samples of the Frog are fairly tight. Huge ripe fruit, hints of scorched earth, bacon fat, iron, funk, fur, dried blood. Everything to keep a growing boy happy. I think this wine possess greatness. 97-100pts.

2007 Cayuse God Only Knows Grenache -- Continue to be impressed with the femininity and grace of this wine. Pretty, floral aromatics with strawberries, herbs, earth, raspberries, pomegranate, dried oregano. Not a huge wine, but it doesn't need to be. Elegant and satisfying. 93-95pts.

2008 Cayuse Widowmaker -- 100% cab. Much more cab-like than in previous vintages. Gone is most of the herbs but what is left is a powerful, meaty cab. Black currants, smoky plums, black raspberries, ripe tannins, game. Long life ahead. 93-95pts.

2008 Cayuse Impulsivo -- 100% tempranillo. Huge wine. Deep and dark with massive structure. Seemed to have more fruit this year versus the savory components of the 06. Dark raspberries, blackberries, plums with some cabbage and meat. Needs a little time to come together but when it does, lookout! 95-97pts.

We were also lucky enough to venture into the back room with Christophe and sample some 09's that were about 2 weeks old.

2009 Cayuse En Chamberlin Syrah -- Now I know what a monkey's ass smells like. Now I know that I like what a monkey's ass smells like. Guess I'm "that guy!" I can already tell this EC will have the stuff I love.

2009 Cayuse Cailloux Syrah -- Much more tame than the EC. Tasting fairly good as it goes the malo. Hard to say but my glass was empty.

2009 Cayuse Armada Syrah -- Already powerful. Game and earth. Shaping up to be a great vintage.

After Cayuse, we ventured up to my new favorite producer, Reynvaan. I was very impressed with their debut vintage that I tasted first in July, so looking forward to giving the 08's a go. They have added one syrah to their lineup, "The Unnamed Syrah." After drinking it, I think the name should be "Damn Good." They were also pouring the 07's again which was a terrific surprise. If you are not on their list, get on it. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but right freakin' now!

2008 Reynvann Syrah The Unnamed -- Big, powerful, and structured. Ripe concentrated fruit with steely tannins. This may have been a little lightly wound but was still giving off the promise of a damn good wine. I'm going to be a buyer. 92-94pts.

2008 Reynvaan Syrah In the Rocks -- Not quite as big as the Unnamed, this had aromas of white flowers, blackberries, bacon, and just a touch of earth. Concentrated dark fruit in the mouth with firm tannins. Another successful follow-up to the 07's. 92-94pts.

2008 Reynvaan Syrah The Contender -- Wow, is all I can say. Well, I can say a lot of other things but this is a famliy BB! Drop dead gorgoeus nose with violets up the wazoo. This wine possesses such strength and power but is also extremely elegant. Crushed blackberries/raspberries, meat, smoke, umami. A Certain contender for wine of the day. 95-97pts.

2007 Reynvaan Syrah In the Rocks -- This puppy has all grown up since July. I thought this was just a step below The Contender back then, but it has caught up. Smoky fruit, ripe tannins, earth, tad of funk, weighty mouthfeel. Delicious. 94pts.

2007 Reynvaan Syrah The Contender -- Lush, with concentrated dark blue/black fruit. Smoky elegance. Very complex for such a young wine. Can't wait to drink another. 94pts.

2nd Annual Cayuse Dinner...Jimgermanbar in Waitsburg

2009-11-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

First off, I'd like to thank Travis for putting this together. I know it can be a pain dealing with 20 winos Secondly, I'd like to thank the jimgermanbar and its staff for putting together a great menu and providing us with top-notch service. That was a terrific room to hold a wine dinner. Lastly, thanks to everyone who attended. The selection of wines just goes to show the generosity and passion everyone who attended possesses. Freakin' insane wine and company! Lastly #2, a huge thanks to Christophe, Trevor, and the Cayuse gang for supplying us with 3 magnums of the most drop dead wine around. Here is the list of wines one more time along with my notes and thoughts...
The Cayuse offerings:
2005 Camaspelo, 2004 En Chamberlin Syrah, 2006 Cailloux Syrah, 2006 Armada Syrah (x2), 2006 God Only Knows Grenache, 2005 Impulsivo Tempranillo, 2003 Bionic Frog Syrah, 2003 Coccinelle Syrah, 2003 En Cerise Syrah, 2005 Wallah Wallah Cailloux Syrah (Neutral Barrel) 3x Magnum (Gift from Christophe, Thank You!!!)

The Other offerings:
Whites
1999 Joh.Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (Magnum), 2007 Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, 2007 Reynvaan Queens Road White
Champagne
1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Femme de Champagne, NV(?) Louis Roeder Brut Champagne French
2005 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas La Louvée, 1996 Chateau Beaucastel, 1995 Clerc Milon, 1999 Chateau Pavie, 2001 Chateau Ausone, 2004 Chateau Lafite
Napa/Sonoma
1999 Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet Reserve, 2006 Orin Swift Mercury Head Napa Cabernet, 2004 Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Syrah, 2004 Kosta Browne 4-Barrel Pinot
Central CA Coast
2003 Sine Qua Non Omega Pinot Noir (Magnum), 2006 Sine Qua Non Raven Grenache, 2006 Saxum Booker Vineyard,
WA State/Walla Walla
2007 Reynvaan In the Rocks Syrah, 2007 Reynvaan Contender Syrah, 2007 Rasa Vineyards Principia Syrah, 2007 Rasa Vineyards QED Syrah, 2004 Gorman Winery The F.O.G., 2005 Betz La Serene (Magnum), 2007 Idle Hands Syrah (Not yet Released), 2005 K Vintners Ovide, 2004(?) Copain Cailloux Syrah, 2004 Pedestal Merlot (magnum)

The really cool thing about this list is how it eclectic it is. Heavy hitters plus smaller producers equals fun and frivolity! Plus, my first ever 100 point wine...
1999 Joh.Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (Magnum) -- Gorgeous light straw color. I was a little worried to drink this first but the sweetness was kept in check by a nice dose of petrol and minerality. Tasty beverage. 91pts.
2007 Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese -- Every subsequent Donnhoff I drink just solidifies my opinion that I love these *****ers. Golden, with a dense core of honey, apple, and lemon. I used this as my palate cleanser all night as the minerality and acidity were a step above. 94pts.
2007 Reynvaan Queens Road White -- One of my new favorite WA State producers. They didn't make much of this wine at all and I felt priviledged that Matt gave me a bottle to take to this dinner. Rhone whites are usually tough for me as there just never seems to be enough acidity, plus I'm, not a huge fan of oak in my whites. This was a pleasant and balanced blend of marsanne and viognier. Not much oak, if any at all. Nice creaminess from the viognier along with some pear. Nice first effort. 90pts.
2003 Cayuse Bionic Frog -- Sh#t. This was the three D's...dark, dense, and dominating. For me, most of the funk has blown off this wine and a lean, mean fighting machine is left. Tons of iron, blood, soy, and game accented by concentrated blue fruits. Hefty and lengthy finish. So close to perfection. 99pts.
2003 Sine Qua Non Omega Pinot Noir (Magnum) -- As many of you know, I'm not a huge pinot guy but was excited to try SQN's take. More purple than red, this wine was like no other domestic pinot I'd had in that it seemed to have all blue fruit and not much red. Blueberries and blackberries. Tons of oak still left. Needs lots more time, I think. 88pts.
1996 Beaucastel -- This is really my first experience with Beaucastel as the previous three tries all resulted in corked bottles. Definitely has some age with its brick red color. Really liked the nose of hay and fur. Not a ton of fruit left but what was present was pleasing and fun. Looking forward to drinking more. 90pts.
2005 Cayuse Impulsivo -- Another dark beauty from Chrsitophe. Cured meats, superconcentrated dark fruit, woodsmoke. Very good now but in 3-5 years I think it will be outstanding. 93pts.
2006 Cayuse God Only Knows Grenache -- Wow, this was a nice counter to all of the powerful wines. Silky, lush, and feminine with the kind of nose I enjoy --herbs and some underbrush. Tons of strawberries, cherries, and some red twizzler action. Better than the first vintage (2005) which I loved. 96pts.
2004 Kosta Browne Amber Ridge Syrah -- Hefty, new world syrah. Gobs of blue/black fruits interwoven with some nice spice and oak. Pretty darn good. 92pts.
2006 SQN Raven Grenache -- My first SQN grenache. These wines are so freakin' superconcentrated. Massive core of dark fruit. Really big wine. I think it needs a couple years to settle down its alcohol which was hot on the finish. 92pts now but with the potential to get to 95pts.
1999 Pavie -- I was amazed at the color and freshness of this wine. For a 10 year old wine it certainly was deep and dark with no signs of ageing. This will most definitely age gracefully--not like one Pamela Anderson. Plums, black raspberries, smoke and nicely intergrated tannins and oak. Feels like a complete bordeaux, although I don't have a ton of experience. Delicious. Seemed to be a lot of people's WOTN until the Neutral Barrel showed up. 95pts.
1995 Clerc Milon -- Really liked this Paulliac. Certainly aged but with some nice secondary characteristics that the Pavie didn't have. Still had some tannin but just enough fruit to make drinking this a pleasure. 92pts.
2005 Cayuse Cailloux Neutral Barrel -- This is when the party really got started. Christophe was generous enough last year to send us a mag of this mythical beauty but decided we needed three mags this year. Thank you! As much as I liked this wine last year, it is in another league this year. The first whiff buckled my knees like a Dwight Gooden curveball circa 1986. It possessed every smell I love. Herbs, seaweed, dried pineapple, roasted berries, rare meat, sausage, blood, soy, violets. I literally sat there and smelled it for an hour. At this point, people were threatening to kick my ass if I didn't finally take a drink. I acquiesced and was blown away. Layers of flavors. Pineapple, smoke, dark fruit/berries, black pepper. Makes you think it's massive but conveys no excess baggage. Seamless and silky tannins along with the layered flavor and aromatics make the finish last for what seems to be hours. Otherworldly. 100pts.
2001 Chateau Ausone -- Dark ruby red/purple. Gorgeous plums and berries. Nice bit of smoky oak as well. Juicy acidity and coffee. I really liked it and would love to try it 15 years down the road. 95pts.
2004 Kosta Browne 4-Barrel Pinot Noir -- This was my surprise wine of the night. I wasn't really expecting this. The first thing that blew me away with this wine was the tremendously bright fruit. Such pure raspberry and strawberry fruit--lively. It just made my tongue dance inside my mouth. the tannins were firm, but who the hell cared when the fruit was in such attack mode. Are there any other domestic pinots like this? 95pts.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try a lot of the other wines or just simply can't remember as there was a sh#tload of wine. I definitely have things to say About the Reynvaan syrahs but will do that in my Cayuse/Reynvaan Barrel Tasting post. Thanks so much to everyone for a damn fine time!! Until next year...
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Three kickin' wines on a Friday night...

2009-10-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

This was quite a trio of grape juice. The Sleight of Hand Enchantress impressed me with it's minerality and Chablis-ness the first time, but knocked me on the floor this time. Unfortunate that Trey didn't have the opportunity to make more and inexcusable that there will be no 08! The Cayuse En chamberlin was, well, Cayuse. Hands down my favorite producer in the world, universe, galaxy, and beyond. Not a wine for the faint of heart, but for those of us who dig it--not a more interesting or unique wine found anywhere. Batting third was Saxum and it certainly didn't disappoint. Solidified its spot as my second favorite producer and after drinking my first SQN red this past weekend, an equal wine for a third the cashola. On to the notes...

2007 Sleight of Hand Chardonnay The Enchantress
Popped and poured. This wine has certainly grown and become more integrated even in the four short months since the last time I drank one. Bright yellow, accented with a slight green hue, this wine begs for you to take a sniff. Once that occurs--you are hit with apples, unripe pears, hints of spicy oak, cinnamon, stones, and citrus. Brighter acidity than I remember, as the weight of the oak has dissipated for the most part leaving behind a fresher palate characterized by lemon/lime, white flowers, steel, and a nice dose of minerality. The freshness continues on the finish as a heathly acidic cut plays well with the baked apple. Sadly, I only have one bottle of this left. Time for Trey to dip into the personal stash! 92pts.

2004 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard
Essentially popped and poured. There was a time when I thought the odd number years of the En Chamberlin were kickin' ass and taking names and now after drinking both the 06 and 04 recently, we seem to have a legitimate fight on our hands. Grimace purple (yes, as in the Mickey D's dude), this wine needs no introducion. The aromas of this wine I've chronicled numerous times in the past so I won't bore you with the details other than to say if you enjoy sticking your nose deep into a pot of provencal stew, then you will certainly love the smell of this wine. When you finally gather the nerve to take a taste, your mouth is reminded why one aspect of being a human is so great--the thirst for blood and meat. You feel like a caveman squating on a boulder digging into a nicely cooked leg of some animal. An Ivy League educated caveman, mind you, as this wine gives you plenty to think about. Not for the wine drinker who just enjoys plush, ripe fruit but for the adventurous wine drinker who searches out both the savory qualities of meat, blood, and vegetables as well as the sweet-tooth satisfying berries. When you finally swallow this beast, then hunt is on for a piece of wood to pick all of the meat out of your teeth as this wine builds a fire and plans on staying the entire night. 97pts.

2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard
Another winner from Justin at Saxum. Double decanted this as there seems to be much scuttlebutt on whether this is even ready to drink. My second go'round with this wine and it has developed nicely. Typical Saxum profile of very ripe fruit counterbalanced with alcohol and tannin. Much more depth than the bottle I consumed upon release in December. Concentrated fruit, five spice, and some bacon to go along with noticable alcohol (not too much--for me, at least), and seamless tannins. Sorry the notes aren't more detailed but it was the third bottle consumed and my note taking ability had been compromised. 94pts.

3 from the Evergreen State...

2009-09-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

2006 Syzygy Syrah WWV
I can't believe that I don't buy more Syzygy. Everytime one is poured down my gullet it makes me smile. This wine was no exception. I was a little nervous at first as the color was deep, dark purple and that usually means blueberry pie for WA State syrah. Not the case here, as crushed blackberries, currants, and subtle hints of asphalt. Big in the mouth, gushing layers of concentrated dark fruit, acid, and a little bit of sticky tannins. Hefty finish leads me to think this wine will improve with short term cellaring but plenty tasty now, so why wait? Terrific QPR as well. 92pts.

2001 Barons V Cabernet
First vintage of this cab and it seems a bit long in the proverbial tooth. I had enjoyed this upon release four years ago but I was also more tolerant of oak back in the "young" wine consumer days. More red than blue accented with garnet edges, this wine did have some of the typical cab aromas--currants and plums--but also possessed a smell of declining wood. Harsh and astringent on the palate, leaving the decent core of fruit in the dust. The fruit was just no match for the oak and tannin still present. Hopefully, my bottles of the 02, 03, and 04 will fair better. 84pts.

2004 Buty Beast Cabernet of the Stones
Popped and let sit for about an hour. This cab from Buty was made from grapes from Cayuse's Cailloux Vineyard, hence the name "Cabernet of the Stones." Surprisingly medium-bodied with aromas or kirsch liqueur, roasted plums, violets, and herbs de provence. Supple tannins and well integrated oak defer to the simple, but lush fruit as this wine goes down easy. I didn't remember this wine being so elegant and feminine from the previous two bottles comsumed. Time has morphed this wine into a wine drinking pleasure. Tuesday night has never been so good! 92pts.

TN: Two K Vintners and a Frenchie

2009-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I won't delude myself into thinking you care why it has been so long...so...on to the wines!

2004 Chateau Leoville Barton
Was excited to give this wine a go as I've dubbed 2004 my vintage of the century (the only bordeaux vintage I can afford!). Actually thought this was a bit corked/off at first as it gave off a distinct aroma of must. That eventually blew off after ten minutes or so and left plums, mocha, and green pepper in its wake. Definite herbal edge that just didn't quite work for me. Distracted me from the nice tight core of currants and black cherries that were quite good. A slightly harsh, tannic finish led me to believe this wine just needs a few more years to settle in before it reveals its elegance. 89pts.

2005 K Vintners The Deal Syrah
This wine took me a bit by surprise. A friend had effused its virtue to me for 6 months before I gave in and drank one with him. I've always had more hits than misses with K Vintners but the misses always seem to lurk more prominent in your mind. Enough babbling from me, on to the wine. Gorgeous deep ruby purple color dominated by whiffs of blackberries and dark cherries on the nose seemingly daring you to snort it. After some seriously concerted swirling, woodsmoke and a distant minerality could be picked up. The palate mirrors the nose with extracted blackberries taking center stage but reigned in by herbs and a little bit of bacon. No real tannins to speak of, just lush streamlined fruit that left a hefty yet delicious finish. 92 pts.

2006 K Vintners The Boy Grenache
Second great bottle in a row from Charles Smith and K Vintners. Tasty bottle of grenache (94% grenache/6% syrah) made from grapes grown in Cayuse's Armada Vineyard which certainly should do Christophe proud. A touch more red than purple in the glass, the first aromas of cherry liqueur, asphalt, and strawberries fill your nose with anticipation. After about ten minutes, some CdP nuances appear. Roasted fruit, chocolate, even some pork. Sweet and lush in the mouth with berry pie and one of Armada's trademarks, underbrush. This wine was a bit more feminine than masculine with silky tannins and an understated, ripe finish. Terrific bottle of wine. 93 pts.

2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin and 2004 Weinbach Riesling

2009-08-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Took off for the weekend with the wife and two little girls to soak up some sun, lounge by the pool, and play a little golf. Oh yeah, and drink some damn fine juice. We also drank a 2005 K Vintners "The Deal" Syrah but as you can see, I haven't included it in my notes. I will update my post when I have a little extra time to type that puppy up. Cheers!

2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin
Wow, another over-oaked, over-extracted, manipulated Aussie bomb from Cayuse. Hardly (that was just a quick shout out to the haters!). Hamburgers are to Wimpy as Cayuse En Chamberlin is to me. Except I'll pay you any day of the week not just Tuesday. Pop and pour was the serving style du jour for this beast. The anticipation is palpable as you know exactly what this wine will smell like, but then it delivers an even stronger Mike Tyson Punch-Out styled KO. Immediate aromas of animal fur, blood sausage, pepperoncini, herbs, pulverized black raspberries and blackberries, and a surprise of violets. 100 point nose for me, all the way. Unctuous and dense in the mouth at first, leading the way to huge, extracted (not over, mind you) dark fruit. I felt like Chaka on Land of the Lost sitting around with black cherries and blackberries the size of Drew Carey's head. Luckily, the savory components never let this fruit get out of control as sauvage, rare beef, iron, and stony minerality keep it in check. Everything is in balance. No presence of oak with seamless and plush tannins. As any great wine should, it finishes as it begins with length and an aftertaste that I could chew on for days. This wine was a 5 course-dinner and then some. 97pts.

2004 Weinbach Grand Cru Riesling Schlossberg
Golden yellow in color, I couldn't wait for my first swig. This wine was so refreshing, I wanted to freeze it and make Weinbach Otter Pops so the neighborhood kids could have a more high class popsicle option. Quince, honeysuckle (who doesn't love to suckle honey?), peaches, and rocks fill the nose with pleasing aromatics as the acidic grip takes hold of your tongue once swallowed. The crisp apple and pear balance out the acid and the minerality on the finish leaves you thinking Chablis. Dry riesling just continues to impress me. Love it. 92pts.

A tale of two whites: $100 Cali Chard vs. a $7 WA White

2009-08-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

I didn't set out with the intention of comparing these two whites but circumstances seemed to warrant it as I drank them on successive nights. First piece of advice when it's 100 degrees out and the only white wine you have at home is a $100 Cali chard...don't drink it. Second piece of advice is that a $7 white can certainly be better than a $100 white. I can't tell you how excited I was to drink my first Aubert Chardonnay. Unfortunately, that feeling lasted all of about 5 minutes. Conversely, I can't tell you how unenthused I was to drink a Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling that ended up to be refreshing and tasty. On to the notes...

2006 Aubert Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay
I don't know where to begin. The level of excitement for me to try this wine was certainly a 10. I have been looking forward to it for quite some time as Aubert Chardonnay gets lots of love on the board. I opened the bottle and poured myself a glass in my Riedel Chardonnay Extreme (love these glasses by the way). Upon my first whiff, I was deflated to realize this was going to be the quintessential Cali Chard. Oak, butter, popcorn. Mother*****a! It might have been a bit warm so I was going to give it the benefit of the doubt. I threw it into the fridge for 15 minutes and gave it another whirl. A bit better as some apple, pear, and acid showed up. Disappointingly, there was still way too much oak and it was flabby in a Monica Lewinsky kind of way and I actually swallowed. Oaky, buttery, and hot on the finish left me with the taste of wood in my mouth for an hour after I finished the bottle (trying to give it the benefit of the doubt). New World Chard just may not be my thing...pass me a bottle of Chablis. 75pts.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling
I drank this the next night and was pleasantly surprised. I think Roy Hersch mentioned this wine awhile ago and I have to concur that it is the best $7 white I've had. I was scared to drink what CSM may call a dry riesling but it actually was fairly dry. Initial nose of petrol, guava, and ripe pear. The absence of oak was such a relief after my experience the previous night. This wine was crisp and clean with no caffeine. Not quite as dry on the palate as I like in a riesling but no complaints as it was acidic and minerally driven. It actually enlivened the palate as the Aubert killed the palate. A mouth puckering finish left me wondering why we spend so much on trophy wine when blue collar wine can be just as good if not better. 88 pts.
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Walla Walla Day #2

2009-07-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

We somehow managed to get ourselves out of the house at 10am and that was no small feet considering the amount of Tecate we drank the previous night after dinner. Our first stop was one of the birthday boy’s favorite WA wineries, Five Star. So we piled in the cars and headed to the airport.

Five Star – several wines in their portfolio and they were a bit tough to take at 10am, especially if you don’t like wood. Well made wines and varietally correct but nothing that makes you feel like a rocket scientist. On to the wines that I tried:

2008 Kynzie Rose - Interestingly brown color and very tart. Nice taste bud wake-up call at 10am. Most of our group didn’t like it, but I did in a weird way. 87pts.

2007 Sangiovese – Immediate nose of cherry and wood. Good acidity and medium length. While a decent wine, nothing to write home about. 87pts.

2007 Syrah – Deep blue color with initial aromas of blueberries, blackberries, and toasty oak. My favorite of their wines. Medium bodied with good density. Even some pepper. 89pts.

2007 Malbec – Not sure why some wineries feel the need to make single varietal wines like this. $38 and not even close to worth it. Tannic and harsh. Young with not much going on as far as fruit goes. It may come out with some time. 83pts.

2006 Cabernet – Lots of wood for me and as someone who used to be Mr. Oak Tolerant that was disappointing. Some cassis and eucalyptus with good acidity and decent finish. 88pts.

There were four other wines that I didn’t try as I was trying not to get palate fatigue after our first stop!

Next airport stop has always been one of my favorite WW wineries, Syzygy. Say it five times fast…Syzygy, Syzygy, Syzygy, Syzygy, Syzygy. Even hard to type five times fast. Zach was pouring three of his wines. The 2006 Red Wine, 2006 Syrah, and the 2006 Cabernet.

2006 Red Wine – Blend of syrah, cab, malbec, and merlot. Great QPR at $24. Juicy wine with a nice core of cherry, black raspberry, and smoke. Smooth tannins and actually a nice elegant wine for the $. 90pts.

2006 Syrah – Talk about waking up the taste buds. Zingy, with mouth puckering acidity and nice ripe fruit. Big wine with integrated tannins and persists on the tongue. 91pts.

2006 Cabernet – Another great wine at $36. Tight, focused blue and red fruit with herbs and hints of toasty oak. This is one of the cabs that had me thinking of a cab renaissance in WA State. 92pts.

On to probably the most highly thought of Washington winery by the critics that I had never had the pleasure to try. Was looking forward to Spring Valley wines the entire week. While I was disappointed by a couple, the highs were very high.

2006 Muleskinner – 100% merlot. A little too oaky for my taste and merlot is always fighting and uphill battle with me to begin with. Plums, cherries, and blackberries try to accent the tannins and oak but lose the battle. This needs time. 88pts.

2006 Uriah – This mostly merlot and cab franc blend has always scored well from the WS but was a slight disappointment for me. Well made with lots of ripe fruit, oak, acid, and tannin. They just seemed a bit disjointed at this time. A little too much tannin and oak but plenty of fruit and acid to forecast a good future for this wine. Good now, but will get better. 90pts.

2006 Derby – 100% cabernet. This puppy was a beast. Ripe blue fruit with vanilla oak and herbs. Loved this wine. The cabs are bringing it! 93pts.

2006 Nina Lee – 100% syrah. Another monster. Deep, dark, purple with typical syrah flavors of blueberries, blackberries but with an edginess that I couldn’t quite explain. Good amount of acidity. This was very good now but will get a bit more complex with age, I would imagine. 92pts.

2005 Uriah – This was the Uriah I was looking for. Supple and elegant, this baby was loaded with ripe dark fruit, some currants, and a lusciousness that kept on through the finish. Tasty stuff! 93pts.

We were a bit late for our next stop, so we grabbed a ton of salumi, bread, oil, olives, and cheese from Salumiere Cesario and drove to see my favorite guy in the valley, Trey Busch, and do some barrel tasting of his 2008’s. If you haven’t heard of Sleight of Hand Cellars, give them a looksie. Great wines made by one of the nicest and rockinest dudes around. We appreciated the time Trey took to sample us through his 2008’s…especially for putting up with our dumb questions (whomever said there isn’t a dumb questions didn’t hear the ones that were asked of Trey!).

2008 Spellbinder – Barrel sample. Dark red/blue with aromas of black raspberries, plums, sweet smoke. One of the best QPR’s in WA. 88-90pts.

2008 Levitation Syrah – Barrel sample. Huge wine. Brooding purple with ripe blue fruit, hints of oak, smooth tannins. This was already seamless and lush. I think he should bottle it now! 90-92pts.

2008 Archimage – Barrel Sample. Can’t remember exactly, but I think this was predominantly cab franc with some merlot and cab. Correct me if I’m wrong Trey. Nice, elegant, dark. I’ve enjoyed this wine in the past and the 08 will be good as well. 89-91pts.

2008 Cabernet – Barrel Sample. Can’t remember the name of this 100% cab. This was my second favorite wine of the trip next to the Reynvaan Contender. So dark and huge. Oodles of blue fruit, currants, cassis, herbs, toast. Weighty in the mouth without feeling heavy. Everything was monstrous but wonderfully in balance. I think all of us wanted to pool our money together and buy a barrel but it just wouldn’t fit in the trunk. 93-95pts.

We then sauntered over to the patio and ate our lunch while drinking Trey’s 2007 lineup and bombarded him with even more asinine questions. I was having fun until Trey brought up the 0-12 record of my beloved DAWGS. It hurt, but I eventually got over it.

2008 Magician’s Assistant Rose – Best rose I’ve ever had. Nuff said. 91pts.

2007 The Magician Gewurztraminer – Maybe a touch too warm but refreshing nonetheless. Crisp apples, pears, decent acid. Good white for $15. 88pts.

2006 The Spellbinder – Another very good wine for the $. Seamless ripe fruit combined with sandalwood and smooth tannins. Great everyday wine. 89pts.

2007 Levitation Syrah – Much better to me than the 06. Sweet fruit with enough tannin and verve to make your mouth happy. While tasty now, I think another couple years and this wine will blossom. 91pts.

Again, thanks very much Trey!! We had a great time. Let’s do it again…soon!

Trust Cellars was the next stop and if you’ve ever been to Trust and chatted up Steve, you know we had fun. Great wines at great prices.

2008 Rose of Cab Franc – Beautiful rose with an even cooler label. Lots of strawberries, watermelon, spice, verve. Wanted to drink the entire bottle since it was 95 degrees out. 90pts.

2007 Syrah Columbia Valley – Blue fruit interwoven with pepper and bacon. Nice interplay of some new oak, tannin, and ripe fruit. Very good and for $28 a steal. 91pts.

2007 Syrah Walla Walla Valley – Not quite as good as the CV bottling but at $28, well worth it. Nose of blackberries, cassis (11% cab), cedar, and even a hint of game. Round fruit with supple tannins. Not quite as much zing as the CV. 90pts.

We then ventured to Va Piano and tried their Semillon, Bruno’s Blend, Syrah, and Cabernet. They were good wines but I didn’t bother to take our think about notes much as I was virtually shot at this point. I even think we went to one more winery, but I just can’t remember which one. Great trip with terrific company, good food, and outstanding wine!!

Walla Walla Day 1 and dinner with Rulo, Mon Aieul, and Saxum

2009-07-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Spent two days in Walla Walla with friends drinking vino and stuffing our faces. Is a new winery sprouting up every day over there? They are everywhere and most I've never even heard of! My second observation was that there is a great deal of quality cab being made in Walla Walla. Kind of a cab renaissance happening. We didn't get there until 3pm so Day 1 has just 3 wineries and dinner.

Reynvaan Family Vineyards -- I had heard some scuttlebutt about this new winery here, on this board, and wanted to try the wines before plunking down the cash for some. They had just bottled their first vintage in May (two syrahs) made from their "In the Rocks" Vineyard (planted in 2004) which is littered with stones--remind you of a certain Walla Walla winery? Suffice it to say, the wines "rocked!" If you get a chance, take a look at their website and seriously consider ordering as they didn't make much and it's already almost sold out.

2007 Reynvaan In the Rocks Syrah -- Knockout nose of violets, dark blue fruit, pineapple and meat. Thick without being heavy in the mouth giving way to ripe dark fruit, spice, and some savory elements. Very floral on the finish (co-fermented with viognier). This is quality winemaking. 92pts.

2007 Reynvaan The Contender Syrah -- A contender it is! Nose was a bit muted but coaxed out some blackberries, dark cherry, and even a bit of bacon. The mouthfeel was pure elegance (co-fermented w/ marsanne). A heft again without the weight revealing a lushness I haven't had in such a young wine. Concentrated ripe fruit, stones, smoked pork. This was fantastic. Dale even remarked to our friend, Randy, that is was going to be all downhill from there! 94pts.

Next stop was Chateau Rollat. Their downtown tasting room was under construction so it had a nice rustic feel!

2008 Chateau Rollat Rose -- Tasty. Dry with some spicy strawberries although a bit tart. 87 pts

2005 Chateau Rollat Cabernet -- Wow, this was good. Densely packed fruit with herbs and eucalyptus. Nice balance of oak, tannin, ripe fruit, and acid. We were all nodding our heads to this one. 92pts

2005 Chateau Rollat Cabernet Edouard -- You could tell this was a more serious wine but just seemed a bit disjointed at the moment. A little more structure with more restrained fruit. Built for the long haul. 90pts +

We had an early dinner reservation so we had a brief stop at Nicholas Cole. Dale immediately broke his bottle of Rollat Cab on one of their "A Clockwork Orange" chairs so he headed back to Rollat to see if they would replace it. The punk kid pouring wine at NC said he wouldn't so we were excited at the possibility of great customer service at NC. The kid pouring was arrogant and frustrated at us for not hanging on his every word. Not a pleasant experience which was heightened by the fact that the wines weren't all that good, either. I didn't take any notes as they pissed me off but I do remember that their best wine was the GraEagle, their red table wine. Everything else was expensive and pedestrian.

On to dinner at Creektown Cafe where we had a good meal and some fantastic wines --Rulo Viognier, 2007 Mon Aieul, and 2006 Saxum Heartstone.

2007 Rulo Viognier -- From the frist whiff you could tell this didn't see any oak. Nose of apples, unripe pears, citrus. Nice mouthpuckering acidity balanced with that creaminess you can get from viognier. Great white for the price as most Rulo wines are. 89pts.

2007 Usseglio Mon Aieul -- I have been anticipating this wine for a couple of years now. I can't imagine it could ever have lived up to expectations. It wasn't as accessible as the 2006 out of the gate but has tons more potential. A little darker than I expected with a nose of cherry liqueur, black currants, spice, and garrigue. Never hot but just jam-packed with ripe fruit, glycerine, and tons of chocolate. This wine is just so big but never close to approaching over the top with its sweetness and structure. If you're lucky enough to own multiple bottles, drink one now for the experience, but let the rest sleep for awhile as this is going to only get better. 95+++++pts.

2006 Saxum Heartstone -- My first Heartstone and color me impressed. Dark as the Dark Knight, this puppy certainly held its own after the MA. Nice ripe fruit from the grenache, weight and sweetness from the syrah, and all things rustic from the mourvedre. While it doesn't have the depth of a Bone Rock or the playfulness of the Broken Stones, it does possess a little of each quality. Loaded with ripe blue fruit, no evidence of overt tannin. Just a seamless, balanced (I know), concentrated wine. I was worried it needed a decant, but it was ready to roll from the get go. Looking forward to trying the 07! 94pts.

TN's: 98 Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon and 2005 Long Shadows Pedestal

2009-07-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

1998 Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon
Damn, champagne is the shiznit. After our Champagne Offline a few weeks ago, I seriously was jonesing for more vintage champagne but that's like Billy Bob jonesing for Angelina again...not gonna happen, buddy. Luckily, my brother-in-law turned 40 on July 4th and he just happened to have a bottle of 98 Dom! Gorgeous pale yellow color and it just looked light on its feet. Toast, honey, butter, and custard on the nose which precedes the vibrant crisp apples on the palate accented by citrus and pear. This baby is lively and even a bit earthy. If you've got one, pop it. Why wait? 93pts.

2005 Long Shadows Pedestal
Decanted for around an hour. I decided to put aside my irreverence for New World merlot so I could enjoy my brother-in-law's 40th birthday. This wine certainly didn't change my mind. While it was well-made in that international style, it just didn't possess any remarkable components to make it stand out in a crowd. Dark blue with ruby edges, it initially had aromas of blackberry, plum, chocolate, some spice, and vanilla cream oak. The ripe fruit was immediately evident in the mouth but quickly vanished and gave way to a hollow mid-palate followed by oak and a hefty tannic bite. I'm fairly oak-tolerant but this was weaving back and forth between the imaginary line that we winos draw in the sand for oak allowance. All in all, an okay wine for $25 but not in the cards for $50. 89pts.

TN's: 2006 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen GG Trocken and 2006 Cayuse Impulsivo

2009-07-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Had a terrific Friday lunch with Travis Allen at Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue. Some seriously good Greek and Lebanese food. Not bad wines either...

2006 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling GG Trocken
OMFG. That is all I could say after my first smell of this goldilocked beauty. Sit in my chair, eat my porridge, and sleep in my bed anytime you little vixen. Gorgeous bright straw yellow color that when swirled made you dream of that blonde 20 year old Swede you saw in Nice when you were 18. Immediate aromas of stones, white peaches, Japanese pears, and starfruit syrup keep you bottled up in that dream. Once it hits your lips, concentrated quince, citrus, and minerality pummel your taste buds into submission. The interplay between restrained sweetness and mouth shocking dryness bob and weave over your tongue as deftly as the Champ himself, Muhammad Ali. Layer upon layer of riesling complexity, density, and lusciousness made me furious for only buying 2 bottles of this Teutonic beauty. 94pts.

2006 Cayuse Impulsivo
Popped the cork and set aside for about 45 minutes while we drank the Donnhoff. The color out of the bottle was a deep, dark blue accented by blood red edges. Your nose is immediately blasted with the blackest of black cherries, crushed blackberries, olive, woodsmoke, sandalwood, and some sort of rare grilled game meat. The savory qualitites are all Cayuse trademarks and when paired with the ripe fruit, your nose becomes the Valhalla of convergence zones. The palate mirrors the nose as superconcentrated dark fruit fills your mouth eventually yielding to the carnal pleasures of blackened lamb, blood, and a distinctly saline minerality. An impressively heavy finish with Manute Bol like length had my tongue scouring the inside of my mouth for the next hour. 95 pts.

Cayuse dinner from November 2008...

2009-06-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Why should I deprive you of notes and events I wrote and attended before starting this blog? I agree, it would be criminal if I did so here are the notes from a dinner that Trey Busch and I put together for all of the Cayuse freaks out there. I don't need to go into detail about my obsession with Cayuse but let's just say that Cayuse is to me as Mary Jane is to Cheech and Chong...

Cayuse Dinner at Wild Ginger, November 2008

First, I'd like to thank Ole, Shane, and the crew at Wild Ginger. They took care of us with class and consideration--which can be hard to do with the motley crew we had there. If any of you are thinking of putting together a wine event or just want a fun place to eat, the Ginger is the place to go. Second, thanks to Trey for helping me put this damn good time together. Couldn't have got it done without the "Magician!" Thirdly, I'd like to thank Christophe for making the kick ass wines we threw down. Lastly, I'd like to thank every person that took time away from their family or the TV to sit down and drink some wine!

I don't need to go into detail about how we were taken aback at the generousity of Christophe, Trevor, and the Cayuse gang for contributing mags of every vintage of the Frog and a mag of the NB since a couple people have already described it. Did I mention that Christophe brought a mag of each Frog and NB?!! As with Trey, James, and anyone else who took notes, as the night went on the notes became shorter and shorter. Here are my notes and thoughts for the evening--to the best of my drunk-ass ability!

99 Dom -- Biscuit-y, citrus, honey, yeast-y. Decades left for this champagne. I'm afraid Dr. Jay would give it a drinking window out to 2115. 95 pts.

04 viognier -- I have not been a fan of Cayuse's viognier (or viognier at all for that matter) but after drinking the 04 I think it just needs time to mellow out in the bottle. Nose of banana cream pie, apples, touch of vanilla. Coating mouthfeel with hints of acid. 90 pts.

99 Walla Walla Valley Syrah -- Last vintage before completely estate fruit. Nice smokiness with fresh fruit and a little pepper. Doesn't seem to be losing anything. 90pts.

05 God Only Knows Grenache -- the first vintage of this wine and what a kickin' wine it was. Mary Jane, stinky cheese, strawberries, and cherries on the nose. So delicate in the mouth but also possessing a presence. Very feminine and silky. Angelina Jolie comes to mind. 95pts.

01 Cailloux -- 2nd vintage from this vineyard. Australian in style as it still has tons of upfront fruit and a little oak. Dense and dark. Still going strong. Tasty. 91pts.

04 Cailloux -- Deep purple. Nose of minerals, pepper, flowers, smoke. Fresh fruit and spices in the mouth. Damn good. 93pts.

05 Cailloux -- A Knockout. Christophe said co-fermented with 2-3% viognier. Floral on the nose with dark fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, great mouthfeel. 94pts.

05 Cailloux Wallah Wallah Neutral Barrel -- Most people's WOTN and tied for WOTN for me with the 01 BF. So funky that I think it must have been the dedicated drink for the ABA. Herby, stinky, silky, creamy. Also co-fermented with a bit more viognier that gave it a melon-y, pineappleness that was damn intruiging. Hope this gets released at some point. 97pts.

02 En Chamberlin -- Didn't have any notes written for this wine and I think it got lost in the shuffle for me.

03 En Chamberlin -- Muted nose but finally coaxed out some raspberries and cabbage. Lots of fruit in the mouth and a good finish. 92pts.

04 En Chamberlin -- Now we are talking funk, pickles, sour cherries, meat, bacon. Cayuse baby! 95pts.

05 En Chamberlin -- Closed a little bit. Not as expressive and explosive as the 05 I had a couple months back. More fruit than funk. Good but not as good as the 04. 92pts.

06 En Chamberlin -- Now we are talking, the sequel. Young but so funky and powerful. Blackberries, blueberries, sour cabbage, herbs, smoke, beef. Long finish. 95pts.

00 En Cerise -- First vintage from this vineyard. Again, a little Australian in style as with the 01 Caiiloux and the 99 WWV. Easy to drink and delicious but not with a ton of depth. 90pts.

02 En Cerise -- Roasted fruits, smoke, spices, jam. Very integrated bottle. 91pts.02 Coccinelle -- Have always been a fan of this vineyard. Lots of red fruits and smoky oak. Good acid that gave it a nice freshness. 90pts.

01 Flying Pig -- First vintage of the famous Right Banker. Definite Cayuse funk and herbs. Veggies, sweetness, minerals, good cab franc. 92pts.

03 Impulsivo -- Wow. What a blockbuster. Muscular, meaty, earthy, chocolate, dark fruits. Super long finish. Best tempranillo in US. 95pts.

04 Impulsivo -- Coffee, meats, vanilla, smoked oak. Not quite as good as the 03. 92pts.

05 Impulsivo -- Red and black fruits on the nose with a distinct smokiness. Another powerful tempranillo. 93pts.

04 Widowmaker --Corked. One of the bottles I brought :(

00 Bionic Frog -- Still kickin' for sure. Ruby red with spice, smoke, soy sauce, cherries, and some pepper. 92pts.

01 Bionic Frog -- Tied for my WOTN. This wine was in a perfect place. So seamless and smooth. Big nose of funk, stinky cheese, blackberries, toast, campfire. So polished in the mouth and so fresh --great acid. Integrated tannins and alcohol. My mouth just popped evertime I took a drink. So f'in good. 97pts.

02 Bionic Frog -- Kind of got lost in the shuffle as it was sandwiched between my two favorite Frogs. Good nose of blackberries and blueberries with hints of smoke. Very good wine but just didn't have the depth of the 01 and 03. 92 pts.

03 Bionic Frog -- Sour cherries, pickles, garbage (in a very good way), beef, blood, bacon, pork. Long way to go. Concentrated fruit. So close to the 01. 95 pts.

04 Bionic Frog -- Cinnamon, minerals, more soy, blackberries, black olives. Great fruit and depth. 94 pts.

05 Bionic Frog -- Looks like the odd years of the Frog are the shiznit. Blockbuster of a wine. Just leaps out in the glass begging to be drunk. Big aromas of bacon, beef meatiness, pepper, chocolate. Dark black fruits in the mouths. Extracted and concentrated. So tasty. 95 pts.

The wines that made the most impression on me were the Neutral Barrel, 01 Frog, 03 Frog, 05 Frog, 04 En Chamberlin, 06 En Chamberlin, 03 Impulsivo, 01 Flying pig, GOK Grenache, and the 05 Cailloux. I think the consensus of the group after this tasting was that Christophe needs to be discussed in the same circles as the best winemakers in the world. Christophe also finished the night off by buying three mags of champagne for the crowd. What a night!

A damn fine WA State Cabernet

2009-06-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how fortunate wine life can be sometimes. It never fails to happen at least once a year. You are innocently combing your cellar for a specific bottle (this day it was a 2004 Cadence Ciel du Cheval) and you suddenly come across a bottle that you forgot you had. This bottle for me was the 2004 Boudreaux Cellars Cab. I bought this bottle about 2 years ago after seeing Gary V rave about it on Winelibrary TV. I had seen Rob Newsom's wine around town but $50 is a lot to plunk down for a wine you know nothing about. Luckily, I came across that review and decided to take the plunge. Freakin' fantastic wine. I'm on the lookout for more as we speak!

2004 Boudreaux Cellas Cabernet Sauvignon
Opened about 30 minutes before gulping it down. I was shocked at how blood red this wine is, not blue/purple at all like Quilceda. Buttloads of red fruit on the nose--pomegranate, cassis, and cherries along with camphor, red licorice, and my favorite of all, sweat. That's right, sweat. Not in a SEC 300lb. defensive lineman kind of way but in a Megan Fox just ran the treadmill and broke a sweat kind of way. Lush and smooth in the mouth without ever being fleshy. Loaded with red fruits and raspberry liqueur showing great mouth density but never venturing toward excess weight. This wine was so balanced with lip smacking acidity paired with the red fruit sweetness with no signs of tannin, tartness, or oak. It was so suave and polished that I'm surprised the label isn't in the shape of an Armani tuxedo. Damn good. 95pts.

TN's: Two from Sleight of Hand

2009-06-09T11:10:00.001-07:00

In honor of owner/winemaker Trey Busch, I've decided to rename these two wines after Pearl Jam songs as he is a big fan (understatement of the century). The rose I will dub "Glorified G" as I felt like a stone cold pimp strolling the neighborhood with my 1 1/2 year old daughter, Kate, drinking it out of a stemless showing the neighbors my Riedel "O" face. The chardonnay I'll rename "Alive" as that's the effect it had on my mouth, no New World chardonnay creamed butter here.

2008 Sleight of Hand "Glorified G" Cab Franc Rose
Another winner winner chicken dinner from Trey. I'd call him the "King of Rose" but I'm afraid any self-respecting winemaker may take that as a backhanded compliment. Sorry Trey! Served virtually ice cold at the outset. Ruby red color with aromas of spice, red fruits, a little watermelon, and baked rhubard. Sharp and tart at first, it eventually gives way to strawberry coulis and spiced watermelon. A Full mouthfeel, bright acidity, and lip smacking finish deliver another first rate rose from SofH. My mother, who is never impressed with rose, thought this was spectacular and actually wanted to Rock, Paper, Scissor for the last glass. Paper beats rock, mom! 90pts

2007 Sleight of Hand "Alive" Chardonnay
After my buddy Travis came back from Walla Walla saying the best wine he had tasted was a chardonnay, let's just say I was skeptical. After he told me it was made by Trey at SofH, I was certainly intrigued. Intrigued enough to buy three bottles. No need for an AMC gift card as New World-y buttered popcorn is not on the menu. Nice yellow hue followed by a nose of granite, green apple, crushed pear, and hints of spicy oak. I think the nose would hold its own again some PC's from Chablis. A subtle acidic punch from some lemon flavors gives way to a mouthful of more apples, pears, and baking spice and a full finish. I love the Old World feel this chardonnay possesses and with some more time, I think some more complexity will certainly develop. I can't wait. 90pts

Kick ass night of food and wine...

2009-05-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Spent Sunday night drinking some fine juice at a going away party for a friend whose ditching the goold ole USA for the land of Crocodile Dundee. Anytime this crew gets together, nothing is sacred, and that certainly was the case this night. Seems that big, dense, extracted Cali Cabs were on the menu but a Napa Syrah took the WOTN for me. It was so similar on the nose to Cayuse that if served blind, I would have shouted, "Another great Cayuse nose!" Great night, great food, and terrific company...

2007 SQN Stars and Stripes Rose -- Unlike any Rose I've ever had. A very dark color that if you just took a glance, might mistake for a lighter colored red. Took a whiff and had to laugh because the first thing that came to mind was that it smelled like grape juice (no sh#t, Sherlock, it is made from grapes) which seemed ironic. Dry, with a bit of heat, very interesting. A thinking man's Rose. 90pts.

1995 Kirchmayr Gruner Veltliner Solist -- Honey colored with and aged sweetness of apples and pears. Reminded me of a 1997 Cuvee Freddie I had a couple months back but not quite as complex. 88pts.

2004 Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese -- Liquid gold, baby! Golden straw with a nose of stones, honey, and apples. Surprisingly dry in the mouth with a core of sweetness without ever thinking of stepping over the line into cloying. Just cleanses the palate with minerality wrapped by ripe pears. Intense and mouth coating. Loved it. 93pts.

2002 Shafer Hillside Select Cab -- Beast. Punch to the face of ripe, extracted, concentrated dark fruit. Cassis liqueur, graphite, palate staining blackberry fruit. Dense but balanced with a brightness and luxuriousness that doesn't quit. Thanks Travis! 96pts.

2003 Benjamin Romeo Rioja La Vina De Andres Romeo -- Muscular, spicy oak, ripe blue fruit, Old World aromatics. This was just a huge wine that seems to need some more time to integrate. Tons of potential. 91+pts.

2004 Kongsgaard Syrah Hudson Vineyard -- My WOTN! You could just tell from the first smell that this was going to kick ass. Nose of mocha, ripe blue fruit, pepper, funky animal fur (similar to a certain WA State winery whose wines I've occasionally liked ). Huge in the mouth with blueberries and blackberries that had every bit of life squeezed out of them. Lush and silky but radiant and enlivened your taste buds. Century long finish. Ridonkulous. Thanks Steven! 97pts.

2004 Cayuse Widowmaker Cab -- The first reaction from everyone after their first sip was a nodding of the head and a this is good (reminded me of the scene in Pulp Fiction when Quinten Tarantino gives Harvey Keitel that cup of coffee). Lots of herbs, spicy oak, and just a hint of bell pepper on the nose. Handfulls of plums, currants, and pomegranates that balanced out the earthiness. Medium bodied with a nice interplay of savory vs. sweet. Chewy finish. 93 pts.

2002 Chateau Mouton Rothschild -- Old World nose of a little underbrush, #2 lead pencil, and oak spices. Nice solid core of currants, cassis, and black raspberries that allows a seamless transition to integrated tannins. This wine just exudes class --I thought of Sophia Loren while another thought of Catherine Deneuve. Drinking well now. Again, thanks Steven! 92pts.

2006 Maybach Materium Cab -- Big and ripe with gobs of blackberries, currants, blueberries, tobacco, cocoa. Full-bodied, dense, and powerpacked with oak and tannin. You wouldn't think it could be balanced but the extracted fruit, tannin, and oak compose a freakin' good wine with even a little hint of elegance and good length. 94pts.

2003 St. Clement Prometheus Cab -- Smoky oak, dark berries, cigar. A little more tannin than I was expecting. All the stuffing for a very good wine but just needs a bit more time for all of the components to integrate. 90+pts.

N.V. Pedro Ximenez Solera 1927 -- Copper color with nose of nuts, caramel, raisins. Only took two drinks but was tasty nonetheless. Tim kept getting an anise flavor that seemed to be lurking in the background. Nice finish to a great night.

There were two wines that I didn't get a chance to try--a 1999 Jean Luc Columbo Hermitage and a 2003 Friends of Devin Syrah. There is a tragic stroy behind the Devin Syrah so if you see it around...give it a whirl.

TN: 2005 Soos Creek Artist Series #5

2009-05-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Decided to go old school this past Saturday night for my father's 62 birthday. I've enjoyed past vintages of this wine and have a vertical from 01-06 that I'm going to pop for dinner some night. David Larson has been making wine for 20 years under the Soos Creek label (only about 5 minutes from where I grew up in Kent). He has been sourcing fruit from Washington's best vineyards for years and that's one reason his wines age effortlessly. If you see one of his wines around town, pick one up--you won't be disappointed.

Essentially a pop and pour (although I left my glass alone for the first 15 minutes). Initial aromas of red currants, plums, tobacco, and some sweet oak. Medium-bodied and ripe polished berry fruit in the mouth with a real nice smokiness that gives way to a vibrant acidity. Noticable depth and well rounded tannins lead to a smooth, long finish. I know this isn't one of my more exciting notes but the wine was just a great example of an elegant, well made Washington bordeaux blend (49% cab, 42% cab franc, 9% merlot). Nothing to make it "pop" but also no flaws...just darn good. 92 pts.

TN: 2007 Vincent Dauvissat Chablis La Forest

2009-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Popped and let sit for 30 mins. This baby possessed such a vibrant yellow color that it furthered my already high expectations. After about 5 minutes of swirling, I think I resigned myself to the fact that I opened this too early (it was fairly open two months ago). It was so tight that my wrist hadn't been this sore since the first time I laid my eyes on the gorgeous Heather Thomas in an episode of the Fall Guy. After tons of coaxing, I finally could distinguish some Meyer Lemon and granite on the nose. Muscular, with enough acid to provide a backbone that would make a T Rex proud, hints of spicy apple, and enough stones to put African blood diamonds out business...this is built for the long haul. This may be the first time that I've felt guilty popping the cork too early but it was so good in February. Still a 92 point wine, with the stuffing to be a 95 pointer in 5-10 years. 92+ pts.

Night of Zind-Humbrecht, Kutch, Switchback Ridge, Cayuse, Saxum

2009-05-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

Dudes,Sorry I'm tardy with my notes and comments. Work and family seem to get in the way of all the fun! Travis and Mario, thanks for hosting and putting out a kick ass spread of cheese, meats, salad, and hospitality. I'm definitely glad I hadn't eaten beforehand. Fun to meet a couple of new Seattle wine guys --Tim and Tom -- and always good to see Tom Lee, who is a beacon of wine reason amongst all of our wine blabbering! On to the notes...

2005 Francois Villard Condrieu Le Grand Vallon -- Served blind. Creamy roundness with a spiced baked apple tart note and dried pineapple. A lush white and once it was revealed, it made sense that it was viognier. I liked it alot. 92pts.

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer -- Dale is a big fan of ZH so I'm lucky to get to drink his bottles. This was another winner. Nice deep copper color with a nose of passion fruit, stones, along with honey. Dense in the mouth with a geat lush texture balanced by tropical fruits, minerals, and acid. Not as spicy as I was expecting but very good with Mario's spicy shrimp nonetheless. 92pts.

2006 Kutch RRV -- I am on the waiting list for this so was excited to finally try one. As with most pinot for me, it had a knockout nose but disappointed in the mouth. Nose of cola, stewed strawberries, and even a little underbrush. Medium bodied with a thin mid-palate did me in. Just not much going on for me. 87pts.

2005 Galardi Terra Di Lavoro -- This was thrown in and served blind. Strong nose of vanilla oak, baking spices, and dark fruit. Strongly tannic and acidic, this baby needs years to integrate all its parts. When that happens, it will be a very special wine. 90 pts. now with potential to be in the 93pt range.

2004 Switchback Ridge Merlot -- Not a big drinker of merlot but have heard good things about all of SR's wines. Very pleasantly surprised with this wine --thanks Tom Lee. Creamy nose of vanilla, dark fruits, and mocha. Filled with spicy plums, currants, and toasty oak all in balance. Delicious. 91pts.

2001 Blankiet Cab -- I don't think I even got to try this. Not sure how I missed it.

2006 Cayuse En Chamberlin -- After Jay Miller's tasting, we were all looking forward to drinking this and it lived up and even surpassed our expectations. 100 point nose with huge amounts of beef stew, fur, funk, pickles, and black fruits. Decadent mouthfeel giving way to layers of dried beef, blood, sour cherries and cabbage, all made tolerable by the copious levels of New World fruit. Gangbuster finish that leaves that wonderful Cayuse taste lingering for mintues. 96 pts.

2006 Saxum Bone Rock -- It was cool to bring this as a couple people had never drank a Saxum before, so I figured why not bring out a big gun. Decanted for around two hours, this puppy was rockin' from the get go. Big nose of blackberries, blueberries, jam, meat, and spice. Waves of ripe dark berry fruit in the mouth along with chocolate and even some spicy oak. As usual, everything is seamless so there's no hint of heat or tannin. This was so good now but will get even better with a few years under its belt. 95pts.

Wish I would have stayed a little later as I found out Travis and Mike opened a Carlisle Zin to cap off the night! By the way, great write up Tim!

Huge news for Washington wine fans!

2009-04-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Looks like Quilceda Creek isn't the only winery that can boast at parties about producing a 100 point wine. Charles Smith Wines, owned and made by "rock star" winemaker Charles Smith of K Vintners fame, has now joined that exclusive company. Paul Gregutt, longtime Seattle Times Wine Guy and the reviewer for the NW in the Wine Enthusiast, has bestowed a lofty 100 point score on the 2006 Royal City Syrah. Here is the link to Paul's review:

http://www.paulgregutt.com/paulgregutt.com/PG.com/Entries/2009/4/27_100_point_wine.html

As someone who has enjoyed several K Vintners wines but wasn't a huge fan of the three highly scored Charles Smith Wines -- the Heart, the Skull, and Old Bones -- it will be interesting to give this wine a shot. He is now allowing people on his mailing list to order it for $80 now, with delivery in the fall. I'm still deciding whether or not to purchase said wine. I do know one thing though...the wine wsill be polarizing, I'm sure. Congrats Charles on the 100!!

TN: 2007 Shane Syrah Valenti Ranch

2009-04-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

Essentially popped and poured. Dark blue-violet out of the bottle, you could tell this puppy was going to be tasty. Heavy aromas of blackberries, meat, smoke, and creamed corn (Dale was the first to offer up this spot on character). Palate dense with copious amounts of blue fruit, blood, smoked meats, rocks, and some lip smacking acidity. A generous finish that lasts a good couple minutes leaves me estatic that I found out about Shane Finley and his hand-crafted juice. Dale immediately signed up for the list at that moment and then promptly ordered three bottles. Run, don't walk to get your hands on this. 94pts.

Not sure if this tasted so good because we had just powered down a corked bottle of 2000 Beaucastel, or if it was just that good. I'll go with the latter and look forward to drinking some more!

Friday lunch with Fevre, Saxum, and Gaja

2009-04-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Had lunch with a couple of homeys on Friday at Bis on Main in Bellevue. Great lunch spot if you are in the area and a very good wine list.

2007 Fevre Champs Royaux
A big fan of the 05 but not as much of the 06 so was interested to see where the 07 fit in. Tasty stuff--just as good as the 05. Laser yellow in color with gravel, lemon peel, and unripe pear on the nose. Very similar charactersitics on the palate--bright acidity, tart green apple, and some decent minerality. Damn zippy! 89pts

2006 Saxum Booker Vineyard
I waited as long as I could before popping one of these babies. Opened immediately upon arrival, it sat for around an hour or so before we dug in. Typical Saxum profile of brooding purple with magenta edges. Nose of violets, raspberry/blueberry hybrid, smoke, and braised meat. Surprisingly well balanced in the mouth with heat and tannin on one side battling it out against sweet fruit on the other. Unlike soccer and hockey when a tie seems very unsatisfying (as in the old saying that a tie is like kissing your sister), this tie is the kind you like and my sister was no where to be found. While this wine will definitely improve with time, it was very accessible right now so don't hesitate to pop one. 93pts

2001 Gaja Barbaresco
Opened from half bottle with little breathe time. It's fun to drink wines back to back that couldn't be more different in styles but thoroughly enjoy each. Brick red color with aromas of underbrush, strawberries, tobacco, minerals, and tar. Very structured with ample acid and tannin with just enough pure fruit and richness to do a decent job of balancing out the wine. A gripping and powerful finish leave me with the thought that this wine has 20 years left, easy. 92pts

TN: 2006 Carlisle Syrah Dry Creek Valley

2009-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

After dubbing the 06 Carlisle Sonoma County Syrah about the best $20 wine you could buy, I decided to give the "over-priced" $27 Dry Creek Valley Syrah a shot. It was damn good. Didn't have the depth of the Sonoma County but still quite a solid QPR at $27. If my wife found out that I actually thought $27 was essentially cheap for a bottle of wine, let's just say I wouldn't be here. Can't wait to give the 07 RRV Syrah a spin!

Deep, dark purple in the glass. It just looks dense and hefty. Oodles (a rarely used scientific term) of blue fruit on the nose with cracked black pepper, blackberry, and spices. Definite high levels of "fruit weight" in the mouth along with ripe blueberries and blackberries. Can also taste a hint of minerality and an acidity that energizes the palate. The only criticism I have for this wine, and it's a small one, is a tad bit heat on the finish which just suggests I may have needed to let it rest for another 6 months...But where is the fun in that. 91pts

TN: 2005 Cayuse God Only Knows Grenache

2009-03-31T09:48:00.001-07:00

If there ever could be a wine that can overwhelm yet be so restrained and understated, this is that wine. The best analogy I can come up with is this...You have just scored general admission seats to your all-time favorite band's gig (for me that would be Pearl Jam or Alice 'n Chains or Iron Maiden). You camp out a couple days in advance so you'll be one of the first people in and secure your rightful spot in front of the stage. The anticipation from everyone in the arena is palpable--we are about to have our ears drums blown out! The band finally saunters on stage without electric guitars and a huge drum kit but with acoustic guitars and a single drum. They announce tonight will be a special "unplugged" concert. You can tell everyone in the crowd is a bit shocked but once the show begins they are blown away by how powerful, amazing, and moving a stripped down "unplugged" show can be. that's how this wine made me feel.

A gorgeous meduim-dark red out of the bottle. Initial aromas of enriched red fruits, an ever so hint of smoke, rocks, and a floral component that I could never quite pin down. So lush and smooth in the mouth with crushed strawberries, raspberry ganache, and a little tobacco to leaven out the sweetness. All components seemed to be in perfect harmony. I can't mention enough how luxurious yet understated the mouth feel was, simply intriguing. It finishes very strong with some cocoa notes and sweet spice. I think this wine will continue to develop more complex flavors and undertones as it ages. 95 pts.

TN: 2003 Gorman Winery Cabernet Sauvignon The Bully

2009-03-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

The 5th bottle of the inaugural vintage of "The Bully" for me and by the far most disappointing. Everything seems kosher on the nose as it exhibits some typical cab-ness...cassis liqueur, hints of spicy oak, and black cherries. It lost me on the palate so fast I thought I was back in Rome drunk on the metro at 2am. For me, there can certainly be good herbaceous (Cayuse Camaspelo as an example) but this went straight to the dark side, my lord. There was so much eucalyptus in my mouth that I felt like Fuzzy the koala wondering if these damn humans were going to feed me anything else. This taste detracted so much from the wine that I (yes, a greedy little wino) couldn't even attempt to finish the bottle. Luckily, my less discriminating friend was there to lap up the rest of the bottle. 84pts.

TN: 2003 Betz Besoleil Grenache

2009-03-25T15:48:00.001-07:00

Popped and poured this Betz version of a CdP (84% Alder Springs grenache and 16% Red Mountain syrah). More red than blue in the glass and more red than blue in the mouth--which is what you'd expect but RM syrah can be powerful. Ripe with aromas of cherries, strawberries, earth, liqueur, and even some herbs. Medium bodied showing a nice plushness from the almost sweet tasting strawberries and rocky minerality. The only knock from me would be a bit of heat on the finish which dissipates rather quickly. Not as animalistic or primal as his 2006 but very well made. 92pts.

TN: 2001 Dunham Syrah Columbia Valley

2009-03-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

Forgot I had this puppy and had a sensational experience with an 03 last week so figured I'd see if this was up for the challenge. It was showing some signs of life slipping away but still had enough chutzpah (not exactly fluent in Yiddish) to satisfy for a Sunday night. Still deep, dark purple wafting up aromas of vanilla oak and blueberry. Surprised by the sneak attack of some tannin but the ripe fruit compensates and balances it out. Not a particularlylong finish but satisfactory nonetheless. Good relaxing sunday night wine. 89ts

TN: 2003 Dunham Syrah Columbia Valley

2009-03-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's a bit ironic that I'm "Washington Wine Guy" yet have neglected to even mention or write a note about a Washington wine (especially considering it's WA Wine Month). Just haven't had a chance to drink one lately until last night. Celebrated a big Husky wine with a very nice bottle of Dunham Syrah. I should have some juicy tidbits about a couple of newcomers in the next day or two, so stay tuned!

Popped and poured this baby and it was cruising from the get go. Deep purple in the glass with aromas of ripe blue fruit, meat, spices, and an ever so slight hint of vanilla oak. This was much more ready and approachable than the bottle I had a couple years ago. Lush on the palate with tangible density, ripe fruit, and smooth acidity. A nice lingering finish left me thirsty for another bottle. 91 pts.

Chablis Offline with friends at Cafe Campagne

2009-03-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who braved the actuality of spending time with me in an enclosed space. Terrific night at Cafe Campagne with great wines, food and company. Everyone brought a bottle of Chablis (Phil and Damon brought two). I'm sure some purists consider us baby killers but what's a non trust fund baby going to do? I'm a fairly new Chablis-head so this was especially a kick ass experience for me to have the opportunity to drink ten or so different Chablis. I came away even more obsessed than I went in. Here are some brief notes:

N.V. Chauvet Champagne Brut -- yeasty, tasty (brief enough?)

N.V. José Michel & Fils Champagne Brut Pinot Meunier -- Travis picked this out. Pear, bright, energetic, pretty good.

2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest-- What a wine to kick off the festivities. Virgin tight but oh so good. Bracing, structured,minerals, citrusy, stone fruits. Will only improve. Can't imagine PC could get much better. Daaaaammmnnnn good.

2006 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest -- A little creamier and rounder than the 07. Nice minerality with a fatness (in a good way) that coats the mouth. Darn good.

2006 Domaine William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots Grand Cru -- Wow, dense with a great mouthfeel. Tart apple, pear, crushed rocks, even a bit nutty. Damn good.

2006 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vignoble de Vaulorent -- A step below the 07 Dauvissat but very good as well. Minerals, stone fruits, decent acid but just a touch light. Good.

2000 Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles -- Very honeyed in color. Definite smell of creamed Sherry and hazelnut. Damon's call of carmelization was a good observation. Round, creamy with good depth. For me, seemed to be at its peak. Good.

2000 Domaine William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnere -- Seemed to have more life than the 2000 Grand Cru. Good verve, minerality, acid. Surprised at how young it tasted. Very good.

2003 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses -- Most everyone was shocked at how good this was. Not that everyone was expecting it to be bad, but with 03 being so hot i think we figured it would be overripe. Not at all. Firm acidity, pear, ripe apple with a hint of creaminess. Pretty good.

2005 Domaine Pinson Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos -- A little toasty. Possessed some oakiness. Tasted kind of like a New World Chard to me. Rich, round, fatty. Good.

2004 Domaine William Fevre Les Clos Grand Cru -- Miles to go for this baby. Just as good as I remembered it from a year ago. Soapstone, iodine, sea salt, lemon peel, and a tasty richness that coats your mouth. So good.

2006 Jean Marc Brocard Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru -- My WOTN. Power packed sucker with nose of exotic stone fruits, oyster shell, minerals, star fruit. Rich and pliant with citrus zest, ripe pear, honey, tart melon. Will continue to get better. So f'ing good.

2006 Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Großes Gewächs Trocken -- Dale and I bought some of these recently so figured it was a good time to try one. Don't remember too much except that it had all the makings of a spatlese on the nose but was very dry on the palate. Loved that. Can't wait to drink more.

2005 Bitouzet-Prieur Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds -- Phil was gracious enough to bring this. A nose that Oregon Pinot could only hope for. I only had one drink of this as two chicks stopped by our table and as I was next to them, I felt obligated to give them my wine. Never make that mistake again! Everyone was diggin' on it and when we found out it was only $45...Red Burg may be worth it after all.

2005 K Vinters Wells Vineyard -- I brought this and was so disappointed. I had been taken aback by this wine a year ago and now it smelled like the back of an airplane in the early 80's -- smoky. So smoky that I couldn't get much fruit from it at all. Not sure it it's done or what.

TN: 2005 Saxum Bone Rock Syrah

2009-03-09T10:28:00.001-07:00

Popped this herculean wine Saturday night to celebrate my Dawgs' Pac-10 Championship. After several bottle of Saxum, one cannot imagine that these wines can get any better or top the previous bottle but that would be wrong. Just plain wrong, my friend. This was a powerhouse from the get go. Resisting my natural urge to pop and pour, I opened this beauty and let it sit for over an hour. Immediate aromas are intoxicating with the likes of black cherry, kirsch, a little gaminess, five spice, tobacco, and a smack of pure blue fruit. Massively dense on the palate but somehow surprisingly seems light on its feet. Gushes of concentrated black raspberries and boysenberries balance out the heat to give you a delectable sweetness without ever losing its laser focused, even scary elegance. Bacon, some smoky oak, and hints of gaminess further harmonize the scale of sweet and savory. A lingering and thought provoking finish leads me to the belief that Saxum is easily one of the top three of four Rhone Rangers in the US. Monumental stuff! 97pts.

TN: 2006 McPrice Myers Grenache L'Ange Rouge

2009-03-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

Popped and poured myself a glass of this tasty little vixen. It immediately reminded me of exactly how it performed the last time I drank this almost a year ago. Kind of tart with a bitter aftertaste, so I decided to let it sit for at least an hour. Talk about a transformation. It went from library schoolmarm to school girl stripper. No more tartness and no more bitter aftertaste, just silky smooth goodness. Loads of strawberries, raspberry liqueur, and ripe cherries. Medium bodied with a tangible amount of weight on the palate, this baby is just Sam Perkins good (Big Smooth to those of us in Seattle). The alcoholic and tannic bite of a finish previously was replaced with a luxuriously sweet finish with this bottle. Just needed some time to settle down. At $32, I'm going to buy more. 93 pts.