Nov 5th 2010: Reds from Washington's "Boutique" Wineries

Every time we do a Washington State tasting there seems to be more and more of the “little” wineries available that we have only heard of in the past. I guess it’s another one of the VERY FEW good things about our current economic state. In the past, wines like most of these were sold out at the winery upon release. Like last weeks Pinot tasting when many of you mentioned that you hadn’t heard of a number of the wineries the same may be true this week. For instance, even Washington wine aficionados like Davey and Pauly hadn’t heard of Reynvaan. Surprising in that Christophe Baron of Cayuse fame and one of these two studs faves consults on the farming and winemaking and the wines remind one of those from Cayuse. I’ve been hearing great things about Gramercy for some time but now we can actually buy and taste these beauties and I’m sure you will love their Tempranillo that we’ll be pouring. Guardian, made by Mark Ryans owner/winemaker are just as good for less cash. Helix, a second label for the very talented Chuck Reininger and Charles and Charles from that wacko (meant with love) to the North, Charles Smith from K Vintners, will both please and offer great value. And those of you not familiar with the wines of Fauste Piste need to giddyup and join the ever expanding fan club for these wines. You will find owner/winemaker Jesse Skiles     and his family at our Friday tastings most weeks. I hope he’s here tomorrow so you can ask him how he makes these sensational wines for the $ he asks. These are simply some of the most flavorful, dense, rich and balanced wines to come out of the Northwest………period!!! Jesse makes his wines at David O’Reilley’s  Owen Roe facility in St. Paul Oregon. They have quite a bit in common with the wines of Owen Roe but offer extraordinary value, even better than those of O R! The Syrah (the one we’re pouring this week) and the Viognier are both $20 and, I kid you not, they taste like they should cost at least twice that.

So you can see that I think I’ve done a darned good job on selecting the wines for this tasting and I believe that you will to!

THE LINEUP

08 Charles & Charles, Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah     $11

06 Helix, Pomatia (Cab S, Merlot, Syrah, Cab. F)    $15

09 Fauste Piste, Syrah      $20

08 Guardian, Chalk Line (Cab S, Merlot, Cab F, Syrah)    $25

07 Gramercy Cellars, Tempranillo “Inigo Montoya”    $43

PREMIUM POUR ($5)

08 Reynvaan, Syrah “In the Rocks”     $47

SeeYa,
Sandy