Welcome,
|
| Request Activation |
I've spoken to a half-dozen winemaker in the past two days and asked each how the grapes were looking. I heard a lot of long sighs followed by concerns about when - or if - the grapes would ever ripen in the Northwest.
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ operating profit rose 30 percent to $14.8 million in the second quarter, according to a securities filing by its Connecticut-based parent company, UST.
This week: Phelps Creek Gewurztraminer, three large NW wineries sold, Riesling judging brings out best, new issue of Wine Press Northwest, Taste Washington Spokane, Wine Knows blog.
---------------------------------------------------------
June 10, 2008
Vol. 9, No. 24
Wine Press Northwest's Wine of the Week is an independent opinion based on double- and single-blind tastings.
---------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
If you enjoy wine and want to keep up on what’s hot (and what’s not), subscribe to Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences. Berger covers information on the world of wine with commentary, news, wine reviews and insights you’ll find nowhere else. It is delivered each Thursday to your e-mail in-box.
Download a sample copy today at:
http://www.vintageexperiences.com
---------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Creek Vineyards 2006 Oak Ridge Vineyard Gewurztraminer
Appellation: Columbia Gorge
On the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge appellation, Celilo Vineyard tends to get much of the ink. But we’re also seeing a number of wineries producing single-vineyard bottlings from Oak Ridge Vineyard, especially for its yummy Gewurztraminer. This wine opens with aromas of minerals, apples, oranges, cardamom, apricots and honeysuckle, followed by bright, impressive flavors of rosewater, oranges, limes and sweet lemons. It has all the acidity one could hope for in this variety. Rated “Outstanding” by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
Price: $16.
Cases produced: 152 cases. Order directly from the winery or look for this in specialty wine shops.
Food matches: This has great balance to go with roasted turkey, grilled chicken or pasta tossed with olive oil.
Phelps Creek Vineyards, 1850 Country Club Road, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-2607, http://www.phelpscreekvineyards.com
---------------------------------------------------------
-- Sineann 2006 Pinot Noir, Oregon
-- Chateau Ste. Michelle 2006 Eroica Riesling Ice Wine, Horse Heaven Hills
---------------------------------------------------------
-- Waterbrook Winery 2005 Merlot-Cab, Columbia Valley, $12
-- San Juan Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $15
---------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
Celebrating 20 Years in Corvallis, 10 Years online!
http://www.avalonwine.com Avalon Wine 201 SW 2nd Street Corvallis OR 97333 541-752-7418 store@avalonwine.com
We've revamped our website - check us out:
-Wine of the Week with Tasting Notes & 15% Off - -New Wine Releases, Wines and tasting Notes Weekly- -Ten Hottest Under $20 Northwest Wines Page- -New Wine Club- "Insider's Pinot noir Club"-
BIG NEWS- 15% OFF ALL CLUB WINES FOR MEMBERS
---> This month's selections include (take 15% off regular listed price): Et Fille Palmer Creek 06 $32; Beaux Freres Willamette Valley 06 $50; Antica Terra 06 $46; ROCO Willamette Valley 06 $40; Black Cap 06 $47; Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills 06 $35; Chateau Rollat Edouard 04 $65; Boudreaux Cab 05 $52; Guardian Cellars Gun Metal Red 04 $37; Chateau Rollat Sophie 05 $30; Sineann Cold Creek Cab 06 $48
Call Amy Paul, our Wine Club manager, for more info. 541-752-7418
---------------------------------------------------------
Phelps Creek Vineyard was first planted in 1989 with Pinot Noir, then added to in 1991 with Dijon clone Chardonnay. Today, the estate vineyard near Hood River, Ore., totals 15 acres.
The winery also purchases grapes from Oak Ridge and Celilo vineyards, which are across the Columbia River on the Washington side.
The wines are made by Rich Cushman of Viento fame, which means some terrific grapes are in good hands.
---------------------------------------------------------
Constellation, the world’s largest wine company, announced this morning that it has sold several wineries to a new company called Ascentia Wine Estates.
Included in the sale were three of the Northwest’s largest producers: Columbia Winery, Covey Run and Ste. Chapelle. Corus Brands sold the wineries to Constellation in 2001.
Columbia was Washington’s first winery dedicated to using European wine grapes when it launched in 1962 as Associated Vintners. It was started by several University of Washington professors, who later hired David Lake and changed the name to Columbia.
Covey Run began in 1982 in Zillah, Wash., as Quail Run, but a lawsuit by a California winery with a similar name forced a quick change. The late Stan Clarke was one of the founders.
Ste. Chapelle is Idaho’s largest and oldest winery, having opened its doors in 1976. It produces more than 150,000 cases of wine with a particular focus on Riesling.
Ascentia also purchased Gary Farrell Winery, Buena Vista Carneros, Atlas Peak, Geyser Peak and XYZin, all significant California brands.
---------------------------------------------------------
In the Summer issue of Wine Press Northwest, we conducted the most comprehensive tasting ever of Northwest Rieslings, with 116 different bottlings.
We quickly saw a trend with the results: Those wineries whose primary focus is Riesling excelled. In fact, five wineries earned multiple “Outstanding” awards from their entries.
The reasons for this remarkable showing would seem obvious: These wineries have been making Riesling for years, so they have favorite vineyard sources locked up - and they know how to handle the fruit when it comes in.
For more details about these top Riesling producers, go to The Wine Knows blog at:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/882
---------------------------------------------------------
The Summer issue of Wine Press Northwest is printing and should be heading to subscribers’ mailboxes later this week.
Here are the highlights:
-- The rise of Precept: how a Seattle company went from zero to 600,000 cases of wine in five years.
-- We tasted 116 Northwest Rieslings to find the best - and we found a lot to like.
-- Leonetti Cellar celebrates its 30th year as one of Washington's iconic wineries.
-- We explore the issues behind the controversies over AgriVino, a self-serve wine-tasting center in Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District.
-- The Palouse region of Washington and Idaho is emerging as a wine-touring destination.
Not a subscriber? It's still just $10 per year. Subscribe online at:
http://www.winepressnw.com/subscribe/
---------------------------------------------------------
Many veterans of Taste Washington Seattle fondly recall the early days of the ever-popular event when it was staged at the historic Paramount Theater. Spokane's version of Taste Washington holds a special charm in large part because of its home - the remarkably renovated Davenport Hotel.
Wine Press Northwest, a long-time sponsor and supporter of Taste Washington Spokane, staffed a booth in the Marie Antoinette Room. This week's Northwest Winecast comes from the Davenport, and where we caught up with Townshend Cellar's Jill Rider, a founding member of the Spokane event's steering committee; Robin Pollard, Washington Wine Commission executive director; and Mike Sharadin, owner/winemaker of Northwest Totem Cellars in Woodinville. Northwest Totem Cellars was among the 100 wineries pouring at the seventh annual Taste Washington Spokane.
You can watch the Northwest Winecast two ways (both free):
On our Web site:
http://www.winepressnw.com/video/vodcast/
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/WinePressNW
---------------------------------------------------------
The Wine Knows, Wine Press Northwest's blog, is getting updated almost daily (and sometimes more than daily). Recent highlights include:
-- How far behind are NW vineyards?
-- Flowering vineyard
-- Vineyard tours by horseback
-- Taste Washington Spokane
-- Riesling judging brings out best in winemakers
-- Constellation sells Columbia, Covey Run, Ste. Chapelle
-- And more.
Be sure to check out the blog daily to read updates on the Northwest wine scene. If you are into RSS feeds, you can easily get blog updates throughout the week.
http://community.winepressnw.com
If you are into RSS feeds, you can easily get blog updates.
The URL for the RSS feed is:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/feed
---------------------------------------------------------
THE GRAPE
Quincy Wine Cellar, Quincy, WA
2 “D” St. SE. Fine wine, select beers, private labels. We ship! Open Mon-Sat.
509-787-5170
THE OREGON PINOT NOIR CLUB
We taste all the pinot noir in Oregon and send you the best. Monthly wine clubs, case discounts, worldwide shipping, honest advice. If you love great pinot noir, call us soon.
800-847-4474
http://www.oregonpinotnoir.com
pinotguy@qwest.net
Print
E-Mail