Welcome,
|
| Request Activation |
It has long been rumored that the few rows of vines at the entrance to Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Wash., were required so the winery could be called a "chateau."
PROSSER -- Construction is expected to start soon on the next phase of what backers say will be the state's premier educational and promotional center for Washington's wines and food products.
Red Mountain's two newest wineries - Tapteil and Sandhill - are joining 13 other members of the Columbia Valley Winery Association for the group's annual Classic Wine and Cars event this weekend.
The 15 wineries will be pouring vintage wines and showing off vintage vehicles from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Besides Sandhill and Tapteil, the others taking part are Terra Blanca, Seth Ryan, Preston, Oakwood, Kiona, Hedges, Gordon Brothers, Columbia Crest, Claar, Caon de Sol, Bookwalter, Barnard Griffin and Badger Mountain/Powers.
Besides being winery owners, Tapteil's Larry Pearson and Sandhill's John Dingethal have several things in common. Both came from the west side of the Cascades after being bitten by the winery bug. They started looking for locations for vineyards and wineries, and each chose Red Mountain. And both still have day jobs working for the government that keep them traveling.
Pearson lives high on Red Mountain at the end of Sunset Road and has a commanding view of the vineyards and Yakima Valley. He works for the state's County Road Administration Board.
Each winery is small and concentrates on two or three wines. They are open for special events such as Classic Wine and Cars and other selected weekends or by appointment. Dingethal's number in Ridgefield is 360-887-5629. Pearson's is 509-588-4460.
And both are making some excellent wines. Those listed below were tasted double blind - without the tasters knowing the variety or label - by Wine Press Northwest magazine's tasting panel, of which this writer is a member.
Sandhill Winery 1999 Merlot, Red Mountain, $20 - Outstanding. Charming oak and coffee aromas. Blueberries and cherry essences. Very smooth with a delightful finish.
Sandhill Winery 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $25 - Also outstanding. Pleasing oak and roasted coffee aromas. Lush flavors of dense cherries and berries with bittersweet chocolate and a hint of licorice.
Ridgefield 2001 Pinot Gris, Red Mountain, $8.50 - Named in honor of Dingethal's hometown, this pinot gris is available only at the winery. Promising aromas of fresh pineapple, orange and apple, but it doesn't deliver a whole lot of character. Nice tartness but could use more fruit.
Tapteil Vineyards 1999 Dry Chenin Blanc, Red Mountain, $8.50 - Some panelists detected what they called a metallic canned pineapple fruit aroma, but others found this wine agreeable with light lemon flavors and nice crispness for sipping.
New releases
These wines were tasted double blind by the Wine Press Northwest magazine panel. A wine must receive a unanimous vote to gain an outstanding rating.
Hogue Cellars 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Selection, Columbia Valley, $18 - Lovely berry aromas along with black olives. Full and rich fruit flavors, including blackberry jam. Nice finish.
Powers Winery 2000 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $16 - Outstanding. Huge, rich berry fruit with inviting aromas of chocolate, cedar and almonds. Luscious components with a middle palate that simply explodes flavors in the mouth.
McCrea Cellars 2000 Elerding Vineyards Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $25 - Outstanding. Big, oaky, full-flavored chardonnay. Rich and beautifully blended oak and fruit. Aromas and flavors of fresh pineapple along with lemon. A bit of flavor akin to a buttery artichoke heart. Good acids and a nice mouth feel.
McCrea Cellars 2000 La Mer, Yakima Valley, $21 - Outstanding. An intriguing blend of chardonnay and viognier. Opens with floral, pear and apple aromas. Great body with wonderful, supple fruit flavors.
Eaton Hills Winery 2000 Konnowak Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley, $12 - Outstanding. A big, fruity, lip-smacking red. Herbal and cedar aromas. Flavors of cherries, cranberries and plums. Lots of delicious stuff here.
Kiona Vineyards Winery 2000 Lemberger, Washington, $10 - A potpourri of aromas of cherry, cedar, plums and meat along with vanilla. Excellent mouth feel with nice berry flavors and smooth tannins.
Kiona Vineyards Winery 2000 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $20 - Outstanding. Complex aromas of coffee, charred oak and toast lead to opulent flavors of dark berries. Chewy, smooth and rich.
Wine Press Northwest is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold conversations online. However, the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to monitor each and every posting.
Since WinePressNW.com does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition, we remind anyone interested in making an online comment that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Wine Press Northwest.
If you find a comment offensive, clicking on exclamation icon will flag the comment for review by the administrators, we are counting on the good judgment of all our readers to help us.
Print
E-Mail