Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

Woehler on Wine: Columbia Crest's Two Vines

By Bob Woehler, Wine Press Northwest tasting editor

KENNEWICK -- In these tough economic times, folks are more bargain-conscious, so for the foreseeable future I plan to write about wines under $20, preferably under $10.

I'll let other wine columnists write about $50 bottles that score 90 points or more. I think most of my readers want a bargain they can afford every day.

So let's begin with a large selection of great wines for under $6 a bottle!

Columbia Crest is rolling out a new vintage of its inexpensive Two Vines wines that are sure to be recession busters.

The Paterson giant's Two Vines wines can be found almost anywhere this month for under $6 a bottle, and with the purchase of six bottles, for around $5.50.

Two Vines wines are extremely well made varietals and blends that range from delicate whites to charming rosés to robust reds.

Columbia Crest is the Pacific Northwest's largest winery and Two Vines is its largest production, with 600,000 cases nationally.

In the past, consumers were confused by the multiple labels offered by Columbia Crest. Now there is a distinctive new label clearly marked with Two Vines at the bottom.

Columbia Crest has three other labels, Grand Estates, H3 Horse Heaven Hills and Reserves.

A big change on its labels is that "Columbia Valley" has been replaced by "Washington State." That's because many consumers, especially on the East Coast, thought the Columbia Valley was in California. Now that Washington's wines have achieved national acclaim, Columbia Crest thought it made sense to affix "Washington State" prominently.

All of the Two Vines wines are well balanced, tasty and certainly a bargain. Depending on the store, the price range is $5.99 to $7.99.

Here are a few of my favorites:

2006 Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine, Washington State -- I call this my Mediterranean blend as it contains Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Barbera, Mouvedre and Dolcetto, which all trace their origins to southern France or Italy. It's a tasty red that's both robust and smooth with a lingering finish. A pot roast in the crock pot on a winter evening would be a perfect match.

2007 Two Vines Vineyard 10 Rosé, Washington State -- Mostly syrah and offering aromas of fresh cherries and strawberries with lively acidity and a slightly sweet finish. It's a clich é to say it goes with a ham sandwich, but this one really does!

2007 Two Vines Vineyard 10 White, Washington State -- A charming blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and a wee bit of Pinot Blanc, it has delicate orchard aromas and flavors of apples and pears. Match with any kind of crab dish.

2006 Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State -- Blueberries and cherries tickle the palate with soft oak lingering in the background. It would be an interesting match with a cheeseburger.

2007 Two Vines Riesling, Washington State -- Juicy and refreshing with excellent acids. Think of a fruit orchard at harvest time when sipping this. Pair with slightly spicy sushi.

* Contact Bob Woehler at bwoehler@charter.net.

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