Caterina Winery in downtown Spokane has stepped it up a notch by releasing two red wines packed with flavor.
Formerly known as Steven Thomas Livingstone Winery, Caterina is in a former Carnation Dairy at 905 N. Washington St., two blocks from Spokane's Riverfront Park.
Caterina is one of the few wineries in the state in a downtown metropolitan area. The proximity to downtown Spokane means they sell a good percentage of their wines from the tasting room, which features an array of wine-oriented items, some snacks and a picnic area.
The winery is owned by Lyn Tangen and a family trust she manages. The winemaker is Michael Scott, an Englishman who says he learned from the ground up by first pouring wine in another Spokane winery's tasting room on weekends about 20 years ago.
Today he's the winemaker and says he has a French assistant learning the ropes from him. "Usually it's the other way around," Scott said with a chuckle.
Scott says he's an absolute Washington fruit chauvinist.
Many of the grapes for Caterina wines come from the Wahluke Slope area and from Willard farms near Prosser in the Yakima Valley. He's also working on getting some Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley grapes.
The grapes are crushed at Washington Hills Sunnyside Winery and moved by tanker truck to Spokane. "It's sort of ironic because the Sunnyside winery is an old Carnation dairy and so are we," Scott said.
The two new reserve-style merlot and cabernet sauvignon wines that show such great promise are from the Willard Vineyard.
1998 merlot Willard Family Vineyard, $28 - Great oak beginning leading to rich berry aromas and flavors. Jammy and delicious.
1998 cabernet sauvignon Willard Family Vineyard, $28 - Lush, dark fruit, cherries, supple with a long finish. A big, flavorful wine.
2000 viognier Willard Family Vineyard, $20 - Aromatic and spicy beginning a bit of rosemary with citrus. Crisp finish.
1999 chardonnay Washington, $12 - Smooth with nice, buttery oak components. Full bodied and bright fruit.
1999 Cabernet dela Rosa, $10 - A rose made from cabernet sauvignon. Crisp finish with nice, fruity cranberry flavors, great with turkey. Serve slightly chilled.
1998 Rosso red table wine, $15 - Made of 55 percent cabernet and 45 percent merlot. A pleasant red with a bit of sweet feel on the palate. Very fruity, great with pasta.
1998 late-harvest riesling, $15 - Flavors and smells of apples and ripe pears, residual sugar at 7 percent. A sweet, satisfying, crisp finish.
New releases
Hogue Cellars 1999 vineyard selection syrah, Columbia Valley, $18 - Rich fruit with a mellow finish. Flavors of cherries, berries and a touch of mint.
Hyatt 1998 merlot, Yakima Valley, $12 - Outstanding red showing off berries, currants, cedar with chocolate bits. Big, rich with nice tannins for aging. A best buy.
Cayuse 1999 syrah Walla Walla Valley, $35 - An outstanding smoky syrah, dark fruity flavors, full bodied with chocolate and a nice vanilla aftertaste.
Barnard Griffin 2000 chardonnay, $11 - Lemon and citrus flavors, nice oak aromas and a smooth, crisp finish.
Columbia Winery 1997 Milestone merlot, Red Willows Vineyard, $24 - From a premier Yakima Valley vineyard showing strong fruit and herbal characteristics. Pretty aromas with a nice berry finish.
Columbia 1998 chardonnay, Wyckoff Vineyard, Yakima Valley, $19 - A big, butterscotch-flavored, rich, outstanding chardonnay. Long citrus and tropical fruit, good oak with a nice balance between the two.
Columbia Winery 1999 Otis Vineyard chardonnay, $24 - Easy drinking with nice varietal flavors and characteristics.
Ste. Chapelle 2000 dry riesling, Idaho, $6 - Dry, fruity and tasty, an outstanding riesling. Delicate flavors of peaches and apples with tremendous balance. A best buy.
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