Gordon Brothers 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley

Posted by Keith Wallace on Mar 28, 2013 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

Columbia Valley Merlot Review

Back in the day when I sold wines for a living, I was a huge fan of Gordon Brothers. They released their first wines in the early eighties to critical acclaim. The winery hit hard times in the early part of this century and quality fell off noticeably.

With this wine, it’s clear they have righted the ship. Sourced from their estate vineyard, this is an excellent example of why Columbia Valley reds should be on everyone’s radar. The nose is redolent of cigar box, crème de cassis, and figs. The palate is rich and rewarding with bitter chocolate and licorice on the attach and easing into rosemary and bing cherry.

Cougar Crest 2006 Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 24, 2013 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

The origin of this winery was 50 acres and a booth at the local airport. No, it wasn’t a grand or impressive start. What it did have, and continues to posses, is un-hyped awesomeness to a degree of ridiculousness.

The wine is like authentic mincemeat pie in a glass: sweetened bambi with a smokey boozey crust. This is a complex wine with layers of ripeness and spice and bacony goodness and a throw-down of black fruit. Not for the timid, just right for the adventurous boozehound.

Under Corked

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 6, 2012 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

Those sweet sweet bastards at the Wine School just finished up another stellar night. I you weren’t there, you missed a great First Friday. Your loss, but at least I can give you a peak  the wine list. These are the six wines you need to buy right now. All are priced around $15, and effing delicious.

1.      Thorn-Clarke 2011 Mount Crawford Riesling, Eden Valley, (AUS)

No sweet Riesling here.  South Australia’s Eden Valley offers a style that is bone dry, steely, mineral driven with bitter lime and racy acidity.

2.      Apex Ascent 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley (WAS)

A rarity, for sure.  We’re used to Bordeaux red varietals from this central Washington region, but not often do we see crisp whites such as this.  With Ripe citrus fruits and blossoms, this is a clean, lean wine that’s simply refreshing.

3.      Framingham 2008 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, (NZ)

Marlborough, on New Zealand’s South island is The Burgundy of the south.  World class pinot noir such as this can be had at a fraction of the price of it’s northerly cousin.  Kirsch cherry, cinnamon, and earth make this a nuanced beauty.

4.      Mantellassi 2009 Morellino di Scansano, Tuscany (IT)

Still the same sangiovese grape as chianti, but this coastal region to the west, called the maremma, makes for a much riper juicier wine. Expect raspberry, cherry preserves, cedar and tar.

5.      L’Ecole No. 41 2006 Merlot, Columbia Valley, (WAS)

Merlot in this rustic, powerful style is what the Columbia valley is staking its current reputation on.  Chocolate, sweet spice, chewy tannins and tobacco.

6.       Avalon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, (CA)

Cab is king in napa and Avalon makes cabernet sauvignon its sole specialty.  Depth and concentration with blackberry, nutmeg, and a cool, earthy mineralty.  This is a leaner, subtler version of the norm with lower alcohol and a finer line of acidity to keep the wine’s composure.

Hogue 2006 “Genesis” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 2, 2011 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

I have been impressed by this line for a few years now. It’s an excellent product when priced at $15, but in PA it usually costs more. Fortunately, this is in the Chairman Selection program once again. The best cabernet you can purchase for under $10

A Month of Riesling

Posted by Keith Wallace on Dec 31, 2010 in News | 1 comment

One of our Advanced students just spent a month drinking nothing but Riesling. I thought that was really cool, so I asked him to write about it.

———-

One man’s journey to the light side,

and back.

By Tim Foley

Several years ago, rose wines began a new  era of respectability.  This was because many American wine lovers who had spent time in France knew that the French, particularly in the south of France, loved , no, revered rose (dry rose) as THE wine to drink in the summer.  Indeed, every French refrigerator in Provence had at least a 6 L. bag-in-box in its’ innards.

Riesling seems to be experiencing just such a resurgence.  Gone are the days when the only Riesling available were sickening sweet syrups in annoyingly packaged bottles.  Also, gone are the days when the only Riesling available was from Germany, or to a lesser extent, France, particularly the Alsace.  Indeed, there  has been literally an explosion of Riesling from the new world, from dry to sweet, to  eiswein, , and much of it quite good.  I should note here that the new world winemakers are responding to the world market, while the traditional Riesling makers are , well, following traditions.  Centuries-old traditions.  But for the lovers of dry Riesling, take heart.  Some of the Riesling coming out of Germany is a new style, as a new generation  of  weinguts  take over.

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