2016 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  So far on this long holiday weekend, I've had a chance to put together a piece of furniture (one more to go tomorrow hopefully!), put up all the outdoor Christmas decorations, make a dent in my Christmas shopping (I think all the kids are taken care of now) and finish my grocery shopping, so I feel like I've accomplished something, but there is always more to do.  So, in taking a break, I've decided to open a bottle I recently picked up at Total Wines when I was in Grand Rapids a few weeks ago.  The 2016 Otis Kenyon Merlot, is a classically styled Walla Walla Merlot that has become a favorite of mine.  So, let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, currant and blackberry, with just a hint of mint underneath.  It's the type of nose that brings you back to many of the barrel rooms I've visited in Walla Walla over the years.  Take a sip and you're awash with an unexpected rush of tart cherry, tarragon and roast venison that transition easily to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a magnificent base for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a terrific example of the sort of Merlot that Walla Walla is capable of producing.  This wine would pair well with a variety of pasta, game such as venison or elk, classic mushroom risotto or a big honkin' steak.  Naturally, I've chosen the latter and am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, big baked potato with sour cream and scallions, and oven roasted leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers! 

2008 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month, that magical day when I raid the cellar to open a bottle that's at least a decade in the making.  So tonight I've decided that since I'm in the mood for Merlot, why not open a bottle from a solid Merlot Maker, Otis Kenyon.  I have other reasons for this choice as since it's supposed to get down near 50 degrees tonight, I also plan to have a fire on the patio, which makes sense given the history of Otis Kenyon.  According to the story I was told in Walla Walla last spring, the Otis Kenyon family patriarch moved to Milton-Freewater to establish his dental practice in the early 1900s.  With a struggling practice, a new dentist moved into town, and somehow James Otis Kenyon decided to burn the competitors office to the ground, resulting in his providing excellent dental care to the guests and guards at a local prison.  So today, as a nod to that story the labels of Otis Kenyon wines contain his silhouette are burned along the edges.  The 2008 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Merlot is 100% Merlot from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards.  So let's get to the wine!

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is chock full of leather, cherry, raspberry and fig with an overlay of floral and juniper notes.  The taste is a perfect balance of old world and new world styling, with a rush of ripe fruit, blueberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some wonderful mineral notes of limestone and basalt midpalate, a marriage of fruit and funk.  The tannins are quite subdued at this point, but still well integrated to provide nice structure to the long, very dry finish, that treats you to a reprise of some floral and cardamom notes right at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a wonderfully structured Merlot that I could easily sip by itself on the patio, or enjoy with a broad range of dishes, from steaks to barbecue to tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Northwest pairing, cedar planked steelhead along with potato puree with chives and steamed sugar snap peas, in a perfect evening for a dinner on the patio.  Cheers!

A Long Weekend in Walla Walla - Part I: The Pre-Party!

Three weeks ago today, I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend in Walla Walla for the Reveal Walla Walla wine auction to help benefit the schools in Walla Walla.  I am so fortunate to be able to spend some time in this fantastic wine region, and occasionally I am able to participate in some wonderful events like Reveal Walla Walla, thanks to my friends in the industry, this time a special thanks goes out to Casey McClellan and Julie Titus from Seven Hills Winery, who were so kind to invite me, I am ever so grateful to them!

The Seven Hills Tasting Room in Walla Walla

I spent a total of three days in town, but since there was a lot of travel involved I'll divide this into three posts, so check for Part II tomorrow and Part III on Monday!  So on with the show!

The Columbia Gorge is one of the most beautiful places on earth!

On this trip rather than flying into Walla Walla I decided to fly Southwest into Portland, mainly because I hate flying out of O'Hare and thankfully Southwest flies from Midway.  But once I arrived in Portland I had a fantastic 4 hour drive through the Columbia Gorge in order to get to Walla Walla.  I actually got off I-84 a bit early and took the scenic route along the river to US 12 before heading into Walla Walla, and although it was a little slower, it was worth it!

This is the Columbia River north of I-84 as you head into Washington.

When I arrived in Walla Walla, just about all the tasting rooms were closed, so I checked into my hotel and had dinner at the Saint and the Sinner (it used to be the Ox and Cart) and they had some wonderful halibut tacos!

Halibut tacos at the Saint & the Sinner, very yummy!

The next day I had the chance to visit a number of tasting rooms including Mark Ryan (I just got a case of wine delivered from them!) and enjoy some lunch at Graze, they do such awesome salads and sandwiches, I highly recommend them!

Had the banh mi sandwich and lemongrass salad at Graze

Then it was off to Pepper Bridge Winery for the winemaker dinner, which was just a wonderful event all around.  It was somewhat dreary weather with some rain showers, but even with gray skies, it's amazing how beautiful Walla Walla is!

The view from Pepper Bridge Winery, even with the clouds it was gorgeous!

We had the chance to meet with many of the wine makers that would be participating in the auction the following day.  Many brought wonderful library selections to taste and it was such fun to talk with the folks that put so much of themselves into the bottles we enjoy every day.

So many wonderful wines to try!

Some of the highlights for me in the reserve tasting were: Doubleback's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (just singing at this point!), Dusted Valley's 2008 V.R. Special Cabernet Sauvignon, L'Ecole No. 41's 2007 Perigee (I have a few bottles left of this beautiful blend), Leonetti's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Otis Kenyon's 2008 Merlot (I have one bottle in my cellar!), Pepper Bridge's 2007 Reserve Red Blend, Reininger's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seven Hills' 2010 Merlot (I think I have a few bottles of this one, so good!) and Sleight of Hand's 2010 Funkadelic Syrah (this was a sure standout for the Syrah fans!).

Dinner amid the tanks!

And of course there was some wonderful food as well, served family style so we all had the chance to talk and get to know one another.

The nicoise salad, baby beets, fingerling potatoes and quail egg, YUM!

And did I mention the food?  So much delicious food and wine, it's a wonder I made it home...eventually!

 Main course was a sous vide prime tri tip, glazed carrots and horseradish potato pave.

The next day would be the big day of course.  As we wake up early (like 9:00) and get to taste the lots of wine that would be the subject of the auction and meet all the wine makers.  Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow and Part III on Monday to see the conclusion of my fabulous weekend in Walla Walla!