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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: Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon, remembering Robert Mondavi, the big weekend, heavy breathing, in the vineyard with Chris Figgins, Wine Knows blog.
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May 20, 2008
Vol. 9, No. 21
Wine Press Northwest's Wine of the Week is an independent opinion based on double- and single-blind tastings.
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Barnard Griffin Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley
The previous vintage earned a Double Platinum for owner/winemaker Rob Griffin, and this has a similar feel to it. Beautiful oak ushers in hints of cherries, vanilla, chocolate and sarsaparilla. Awaiting is a nice blend of cherries and brambleberries with a juiciness that stretches out into an exploding midpalate of smoooooth boysenberries and wild blackberries, then finishes with rich dark chocolate. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
Price: $17.
Cases produced: 7,000 cases . Look for this in wine shops or groceries or order directly from the winery.
Food matches: Enjoy with roasted or grilled meats, lasagna or pizza.
Barnard Griffin Winery, 878 Tulip Lane, Richland, WA 99352, 509-627-0266, http://www.barnardgriffin.com
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-- Frenchman's Gulch 2005 Ketchum Cuvee, Washington
-- L'Ecole No. 41 2006 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
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-- Indian Creek Winery 2006 Syrah, Snake River Valley, $13
-- Kathken Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $13
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Rob Griffin launched his storied career as a Washington winemaker when he showed up from his native California to work for Preston Premium Wines north of Pasco. In 1983, he and wife Deborah Barnard launched Barnard Griffin as a small-production winery. Meanwhile, Rob took over the winemaking for Hogue Cellars in Prosser, a job he kept until 1991, when it was time to make Barnard Griffin a more serious, full-time endeavor.
Today, Barnard Griffin produces more than 70,000 cases of wine, making it one of the largest family-owned wineries in the state. The wines win more than their share of medals in regional, national and international competitions. And they've taken home a number of Platinums in our year-end best-of-the-best competition.
Interestingly, Barnard Griffin wines are sold primarily in Washington, with just a fourth of them leaving the state.
BG wines are eminently affordable. The whites in the "Tulip" label generally run at $10 and below, and the reds retail for $17 and often can be found closer to $12-$13. The reserves, often available only through the winery, retail in the $30 range. Wine club members get to see wines available no place else.
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As many of you already know, the great Robert Mondavi passed away late last week at the age of 94. He single-handedly did more to raise the profile of the American wine industry than anybody.
I met Mondavi on one occasion, and it was memorable (for me). Read more on The Wine Knows at:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/855
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Pinot Noir lovers have this coming weekend marked on their calendar well in advance, as this is the Willamette Valley Memorial Weekend in Wine Country event in northern Oregon.
Thousands of wine lovers will descend on the Willamette Valley this weekend to take in wines from hundreds of wineries from Portland to Eugene. This is one of two weekends each year in which most Willamette Valley wineries are open to the public (the other is the weekend after Thanksgiving).
For more on this, go to:
http://www.willamettewines.com/
Also this weekend is the spring barrel event for the wineries of the Olympic Peninsula. For more on this event, go to:
http://www.olympicpeninsulawineries.org/
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You might have heard about a Germany company called Eisch, which makes a wine glass that purportedly "breathes," thus allowing a wine to open up much faster than normal, much like a decanter.
Wine Press Northwest columnist Braiden Rex-Johnson has written a column for The Seattle Times about the Eisch glass in the latest issue of Pacific Northwest magazine. I've had some experience with the Eisch, too, which you can read about on The Wine Knows at:
http://community.winepressnw.com/node/858
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A few weeks ago, I got together with Chris Figgins, second-generation winemaker for Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla, Wash. It was a windy day (as you'll be able to tell in the accompanying video), and we talked about a number if subjects as we walked through his family's estate Loess Vineyard.
Check out the interview in this week's Northwest Winecast.
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
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The Wine Knows, Wine Press Northwest's blog, is getting updated almost daily (and sometimes more than daily). Recent highlights include:
-- Cliff Creek moves north
-- Ponzi Wine Bar marks 1st decade
-- Robert Mondavi passes away
-- My Mondavi Moment
-- Bringing the heat
-- Self-serving wine tasting
-- Testing the 'breathable' wine glass
-- Tasting two Charlie wines
-- 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
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THE GRAPE ADVENTURE
Kent Wine Bar & Bottle Shop.
Wine & beer on top, great cuisine,. Lunch & Desserts. Unique Gifts; Wine club. 12930 SE Kent-Kangley Rd. Now open daily!
253-631-8400
http://www.thegrapeadventure.com
CASCADE WINE CO., West Yakima, WA.
5110 Tieton Dr., Ste. 260 in Glenwood Square. Open Mon - Sat: 11-8.
509-972-2811
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