2017 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick Red Wine

Happy Thursday!  This day started on several sour notes as my coffee maker decided to cease functioning half way through the brew cycle, so I started the day with only a half a pot of coffee.  Then when I pulled out of the garage at 7:30 to go buy a new one, I realized I had a screw in my back tire and it was completely flat.  Add changing a tire into the mix and this was set to be an awful day until now!  It's supper time and I have a nice dinner coming and a nice bottle of wine opened.  The 2017 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (93%), Syrah (5%) and Malbec (2%) all from the Spring Valley Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washtington.  So, let's see how this wine is making up for my sad start!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from such a Cabernet heavy blend.  Take a whiff and you are immersed in strawberry and raspberry aromas, with a bit of floral notes and some spicy undercurrents.  One sip and you are thrown into wonderland, bright red fruit intermingled with and acidity that has you first thinking of sweet tarts and then as you progress, you find yourself surrounded by wooded forest notes of cedar and peat, before the sturdy tannins usher in the very tight dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it has the earthy Bordeaux-esque character that I so love about Walla Walla wines.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty venison stew, thick steaks or mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a prime, dry-aged bone-in ribeye grilled rare along with some grilled leeks and hatch chiles, wild mushroom farro and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2016 Spring Valley Uriah

Happy Sunday! It's a holiday weekend and I am in full relaxation mode!  I just spent the afternoon trimming some branches and then it was off to the patio for some Limoncello martinis before dinner.  So, for the wine tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that was from a favorite producer in Walla Walla, but was just delivered from Wines Till Sold Out today!  The Uriah is a blend of Merlot (59%), Cabernet Franc (39%) Petit Verdor (1%) and Malbec (1%) from the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges as you might expect from a Merlot dominant blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and a bit of Bordeaux funk over the top.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of black plum, cherry and blackberry that transition to to some warm notes of backing spice and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a good backbone for the velvety, long dry finish that lingers on your palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great example of a right bank style Bordeaux blend that is being produced in the Walla Walla Valley today.  This wine would pair well with steak, lamb, braised short ribs or a wonderful mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine on the patio with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye along with some gilled asparagus and garlic scapes and some grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2014 Spring Valley Vineyard "Muleskinner" Merlot

So I keep reading in different places that this is Merlot month or something like that, so I figured since I'm always late to the party it might be good to open one of these wines of the month.  So tonight I've opened up a bottle that's been in my cellar for a year or two, the 2014 Spring Valley Vineyard "Muleskinner" Merlot. This particular wine is 100% Merlot from the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA.  2014 was a somewhat warmer vintage, but not as warm as the following two vintages, so let's see how this wine tastes.

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is very inviting, with aromas of leather and ripe black fruit, blackberry jam, plum and currant over a hint of dusty limestone.  The taste is rich, ripe and wonderfully smooth, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, black cherry, plum and current that transitions to some notes of green herbs and minerals midpalate. The tannins are quite subdued, leading to a lush, ripe and velvety dry finish that just beckons you to take another sip.

A little pre-cooked image tonight!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's really a wonderful example of a quality Merlot with some nice aging potential.  This wine would be great with hard cheeses, steak, chops or barbecue, but tonight I am totally going Fred Flintstone and enjoying this wine with a big bone-in, USDA Prime ribeye that was on sale at Costco today, along with some grilled asparagus and corn on the cob.  It's been really hot out the past two days, so it seems appropriate to have a mid-summer dinner tonight, cheers!

2013 Spring Valley Vineyards Uriah

Happy Sunday!  Today the weather turned a bit nicer, reaching the mid-50s so I decided to go up on the roof and clean out the gutters!  Who ever said home ownership wasn't glamorous?  Well to make up for that, I've decided to open up a nice bottle of wine to celebrate Washington Wine Month, and what better than the 2013 Spring Valley Vineyards Uriah, which I recently found at Costco.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Franc (34%), Petit Verdot (8%), Malbec (8%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), so let see how this one is drinking!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a nose of leather, black cherry and a hint of mint.  The taste is just lovely, with a rush or ripe fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone and dried herbs midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with soft tannins that form a base for the long, smooth and very dry finish that beckons you for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a wonderful blend with an emphasis on Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, but tonight I'm enjoying this one with my classic marinated New York strip, with baked potato and grilled rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2013 Spring Valley "Derby" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  Well, it's been a long, busy week (have I mentioned July is the busiest travel month of my year?) and with flight cancellations and everything else going on, I could sure use a break.  So tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from Spring Valley Vineyard, the 2013 "Derby" Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Valley Vineyard in Walla Walla.  So when all else fails, open a good bottle of wine and enjoy!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass and plum with just a hint of violet.  The taste is just wonderful, with a good bit of black fruit juxtaposted with some tart green notes up front that washes into soft, earthy mineral notes of basalt and mossy oak midpalate with just a bit of black pepper spice.  The tannins are youthful but nicely integrated for the long, elegant finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking very nicely now, but will likely mature a bit with a few years in the cellar.  This is a nice food wine, perfect for big steaks, roasts or barbecue, but tonight I'm going off script and enjoying this with a bit of chicken Tikka Masala, who says Cabernet isn't for Indian food?  Cheers!

2004 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah

Well, it's supposed to be spring, but it's been snowing here all day!  At least it doesn't seem to be sticking, so hopefully all the latest blooms will survive.  It's also the first Saturday of April, and that means Cellar Saturday!  Today I have a special treat that I recently received from Spring Valley Vineyard, the 2004 Uriah, a blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Franc (31%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Petit Verdot (4%).  So let's see how this wine has developed of the past dozen years!

The wine is a beautiful garnet in the glass, with a slight hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather and mint, with just a bit of black pepper spice.  The taste is just lovely, with a good bit of black licorice and blackberry up front that transitions nicely to some notes of mint and black pepper midpalate.  The finish is lovely, as the still robust tannins provide nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that exhibits some very Bordeaux like qualities.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's mature and drinking marvelously right now (thankfully I ordered two bottles!).  This wine is a great steak wine, as it's depth of flavor and dry finish would perfectly complement a nice big hunk of beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this with an Angus Manhattan cut strip filet, with a baked potato and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2011 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick

So, the last weekend of Washington Wine Month and I've decided to go out with a bang!  Tonight I've opened a bottle I bought in Walla Walla last year, the 2011 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick, named for Frederick Corkrum, the second son of Uriah and Nina Lee, the farmers who came to the Walla Walla Valley in the nineteenth century.  This particular vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Petit Verdot (6%) and Malbec (4%).

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, marionberry, some white floral notes and hints of baking spice and clove, just the type of aromas that signal to your body that you're about to taste something really good!  The taste is just lovely, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, berries, cherry and plum that transitions to a bit of green herb and mineral notes midpalate. The finish is wonderful, as nicely structured tannins support the long and velvety dry finish that reprises some of the subtle floral notes from earlier.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's one of my personal favorites from Walla Walla, and surprisingly available (though somewhat pricey) throughout the country.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with what it begs to be paired with, a rare grilled prime sirloin, with some steamed organic rainbow carrots and a baked potato.  Here's to Washington Wine Month!

2013 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

UIt's time for Sunday dinner, but what wine to serve?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from my latest wine club selection from Spring Valley Vineyards, the 2013 Nina Lee Syrah.  Now a few months ago I reviewed the 2012 vintage (you can see that post here: 2012 Nina Lee Syrah), and this one is a blend of Syrah (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Viognier (4%), all from the Walla Walla Valley appellation.  So let's see how the latest release stacks up.

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, black pepper spice and a bit of green cedar.  The taste is lush, with ample flavors of ripe berries, black cherries and a good bit of spice that transitions nicely to some mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, creating a smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 again, it's just a beautiful example of the varietal that accentuates the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley.  This strikes me as a real four season wine, at home in a blizzard like I'm experiencing now, or a warm summer evening on the patio.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled teriyaki glazed pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli, the fruit and spice just marry perfectly with the richness of pork.  Cheers!

2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a fun filled day with all sorts of football to watch, and I get to go out to the Elkhart Civic Theater for a performance tonight, so what could be better?  How about a glass of nice wine from the Walla Walla Valley?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah, a pure 100% Syrah from the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard, named after the wife of Frederick Corkrum, the son of the patriarch of Spring Valley, Uriah Corkrum, for whom other Spring Valley wines have been named.

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents some wonderful earthy notes of leather, blackberry and a hint of violet that exudes a certain richness.  The taste is just divine, with some mild ripe fruit up front, blackberry, plum and cassis which transition seamlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and integrated, despite their youth, making for a long, smooth and elegant dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it is drinking so well now and compares well to many more expensive Syrahs I've tried.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with something a bit more Autumnal, a wonderful wasabi marinated grilled pork tenderloin accented with some grilled plums that were from my friends Shani and Karen's tree up in Grand Rapids, where I visited last weekend, along with some green beans and a baked potato.  Yum, the richness of the pork and plums and the spice of the wasabi make for a lovely war of flavors that can only be settled by this wonderful wine.  Cheers!

My final day of tasting in Walla Walla!

On my last full day of wine tasting in Walla Walla, I had the chance to visit a few tasting rooms that I've been to before and one new one.  I started the afternoon at DaMa Wines on Main Street, and though I've tasted there first in 2012 (and loved their '07 Sangiovese), this was a nice tasting with Mary, the Ma of DaMa.  We tried the 2012 Syrah, which I really liked (and bought), as well as the 2010 and 2011 DaMaNation GSM blends, and of course I couldn't make up my mind so I bought one of each.  I also scored a couple bottles of the 2014 Rose of Cabernet Franc before it sold out.  Overall a very fun and delicious tasting.

The fun DaMa tasting room, some really wonderful wines here!

Next I was off to Mark Ryan, which was a new discovery on my last trip to Walla Walla.  Based in Woodinville, they opened a tasting room in Walla Walla about three years ago, and on my last trip in 2013, I fell in love with the Dissident, a classic Bordeaux style blend.  This time I was able to taste the 2013 Dissident, which was outstanding, the 2013 Board Track Racer "the Shift" which was a great blend of mainly Syrah with just a bit of Grenache to smooth things out.  Finally, I tasted the 2012 Numbskull GSM blend, which was a classic blend of Grenache (26%), Syrah (58%) and Mourvedre (16%), and how could I leave without a bottle of each, as well as some Crazy Mary and I managed to snag a couple bottles of the 2014 Rose which is sold out just about everywhere!

This is the front of the Mark Ryan tasting room, with new motorcycle!

After Mark Ryan, I went to a tasting room that was new for me, Spring Valley Vineyard.  I've seen the Uriah and Frederick available at my local wine store, but I was fascinated by the family history presented by their wines, with the flagship wines named after Spring Valley founder Uriah Corkrum and his son Frederick.  They had some really nice blends, including the Uriah, which was a great Merlot dominated blend as well as the Muleskinner, which was a really nice Merlot.  Needless to say, I couldn't escape without buying a half case to bring home!

This is the Maison Bleue tasting room, very French and very comfortable!

The last stop was the Maison Bleue Tasting room, where Mike took me through their fantastic array of wines based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.  We tasted the 2012 Metis, a blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (25%) AND Mourvedre (5%) which was very nice.  Next was the 2012 Bourgeois, a blend of Grenache (90%) and Mourvedre (10%) that I really liked when I reviewed it in June (Click on the Link for that one), but Mike had just opened this bottle and it needed some time to open up.  The last wine we tasted was the 2012 Voyageur Syrah (100%) which was so nice, probably my favorite wine we tasted.

That was my last day of tasting, but fear not, this is not my last post of my trip.  I've saved the best to last, so we can wrap up Washington Wine Month with a blast tomorrow!