Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

Woehler on Wine: Olsen Estates Winery

PROSSER -- In these troubled economic times it's refreshing to see a winery trim a couple of dollars off the cost of a bottle of wine.

That's exactly what Dick and son Martin Olsen have done at Olsen Estates Winery at the burgeoning Vintners Village in north Prosser just off exit 80 of Interstate 82.

They decided to lower the price of their already under-$20 line of Olsen Hills wines.

I visited the Vintners Village on Saturday during the height of the Red Wine and Chocolate weekend, and the place was packed. It's neat to have an area where folks can park their cars at one winery and walk to a half-dozen other wineries nearby.

Olsen Hills Riesling and Pinot Gris fell from $16 to $14 and their Merlot and Syrah dipped to $19.

Many wineries these days have a second tier of wines at bargain prices, and the quality really doesn't drop off much.

That's the case with the Olsen Hills line, which is only available at the winery.

Olsen Hills 2007 Riesling, Yakima Valley, $14 -- Delightful orchard and floral aromas drift up from the glass followed by honey, peaches and spice with good acids. Match with a pineapple and cucumber salad with a bit of curry and chili pepper.

Olsen Hills 2007 Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley, $14 -- Fresh and tasty elements of honeydew melons, apricots and some orange-lemon juice. Goes with a perfectly poached moist wild caught salmon fillet.

Olsen Hills 2007 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $16 -- Blend of stainless steel and oak barrel fermentation offers some soft tropical and apple aromas and flavor with a hint of oak. Best as an appetizer wine with some soft cheeses and crackers.

Olsen Hills 2006 Merlot, Yakima Valley, $19 -- Spice, oak and chocolate yield to smooth blueberry flavors. Great with grilled lamb chops that are nice and pink in the middle.

Olsen Hills 2006 Syrah, Yakima Valley, $19 -- Bacon, game meat and ripe bing cherries with a hint of smokiness are the hallmark of this bold Syrah. Try a New York strip pepper steak.

*Bob Woehler has been writing about Northwest wines since 1978. Check out his past columns at www.winepressnw.com/woehler.