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March 13, 2010

Westrey 2007 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley

Pinot gris is a hit and miss variety with me. Unfortunately, the Westrey 2007 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley (13%) was a miss, for it just wasn't my style due to it being a bit too thick and tropical for my taste. In the glass, the Westrey pinot gris was a bright, greenish gold color offering tropical notes of pineapple, papaya, and melon. It was slightly sweet on the palate at first, with nice fruit leading to bright acidity. Overall, it was too viscous and cloying. When it comes to pinot gris, I favor the crisper, mineral approach, with enough fruit...

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Dunham Cellars 2007 Riesling Lewis Estate Vineyard

In the glass, the Dunham Cellars 2007 Riesling Columbia Valley (13.4%) was a clear, golden yellow color providing notes of petrol, wet stone, and a hint of honeysuckle. This Washington riesling lacked enough acidity to balance the residual sugar, which generated a candied, syrupy finish. We paired the Dunham Cellars riesling with chicken cacciatore on the first night and it was consumed alone on the second. It may best to drink this wine with a more spicy dish, such as Asian fare. I purchased this bottle for $26 while visiting the Dunham Cellars tasting room last year. Related Links Dunham...

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Plowbuster 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Plowbuster is a second label from the folks at Carabella. In the glass, the 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (14.5%) was a clear, garnet red delivering pronounced cherry fruit notes along with hints of talc and toast. This Oregon pinot noir offered generous cherry fruit flavors balanced with decent acidity, although it was a bit sweet and cloying on the finish. We paired this wine with a chopped salad that included chicken and salami accompanied by a loaf of rustic bread. The candied nature of the Plowbuster pinot might appeal to some, but it's not my style. I purchased this...

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Patricia Green 2008 Chardonnay Four Winds Vineyard

I have become a big fan of Patricia Green's wines from the Four Winds Vineyard, therefore I was really excited to find her '08 chardonnay available at my local wine store. The Patricia Green 2008 Chardonnay Four Winds Vineyard (12.5%) drinks like a Chablis, which is a style I really like with this variety. In the glass, this Oregon chardonnay was a beautiful, clear golden yellow color providing notes of freshly sliced lemons, wet stone, and hints of stone fruit. This wine was a bit angular at first due to its bright acidity, but the edges were smoothed out over...

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ADEA 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

This is one of half a dozen 2007 pinot noirs I purchased while visiting with Dean and Ann Fisher, owners of ADEA Wine Company, in Gaston last November. I had the pleasure of running into Dean and Ann again last week at the WVWA tasting event in Seattle. In the glass, the ADEA 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.5%) is a clear garnet red offering notes of bright red cherry fruit combined with an enticing earthiness. Flavors of candied cherry were most predominant balanced by good acidity. This wine offered a full mouth feel, primarily due to a bit of...

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March 11, 2010

Thanks for visiting, Willamette Valley wineries!

What a terrific event the Willamette Valley Wineries Association hosted this afternoon for members of the wine media and trade. I was fortunate to be one of several hundred folks who enjoyed sampling some of Oregon's finest wines from over fifty producers. Tonight's sold out consumer tasting event is expected to draw over 450 attendees. Many wineries were represented by owners and/or winemakers themselves, which offered a great opportunity to connect with the people and learn more about how each wine was crafted. Best of all, the WVWA provided each attendee with a tasting booklet detailing who was there...

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March 08, 2010

Now is the Time for Oregon Wine

This Thursday, March 11, the Willamette Valley is coming to Seattle for a tasting event that will showcase more than fifty different wineries from Oregon. The line up of producers attending this first-time event is strong, for there are many of my favorite wineries from the valley pouring a broad selection of their wines. While pinot noir easily comes to mind when thinking of Oregon wine, this state is becoming more and more renowned for the quality of its chardonnay, gamay noir, pinot blanc, and riesling. In fact, when looking for food friendly wines that are enjoyable now or...

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February 28, 2010

Revelations at the Recycle Bin

While putting out the trash and recycling one morning, my neighbor approached, looked down at one of the bins overflowing with empty wine bottles and asked, "who's the boozer in your house?" I was taken aback by the question at first, but then realized the dozens of empties (recycling is collected every 2 weeks) probably looked extreme relative to the average American household. Even with the explanation that my wife and I enjoy a different wine with dinner each night, my inquisitive neighbor looked at me with puritanical suspicion. I started to wonder how he might have reacted had...

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February 27, 2010

I am back!

After a wonderful week in Maui (not long enough) and then another week getting caught up at work (not short enough), I am back online and eager to post on topics related to Oregon and Washington wine. In the meantime, comments are back on (much to the delight of spammers) and I welcome your thoughts, experiences, and opinions on anything posted to date. Much to share in the days and weeks ahead...stay tuned....

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February 13, 2010

A brief respite from posting and comments...

I am going to be stepping away over the next week or so, turning off the printing press and comments as well. You can expect me back here in the last week of February, sharing my experiences with Oregon and Washington. Thanks for your patience while I am away....

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Evening Land Celebration 2008 Gamay Noir Eola-Amity Hills

The more Oregon Gamay noir I experience, the bigger fan I become for this wonderful variety. The Evening Land Celebration 2008 Gamay Noir Eola-Amity Hills (13.2%) has raised my level of appreciation further. In the glass, the Celebration '08 Gamay noir was a deep, purple and garnet color, offering nice floral notes of red fruit along with earth and spice, specifically hints of pepper and curry. This wine delivered terrific acidity, with a lot of tannins, which tended to dampen the fruit flavors a bit. We paired this organic/biodynamic wine (uncertified) with an Italian lasagna-like dish. It was a...

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Vin de Lac "Lehm" 2007 Dry Riesling Lake Chelan

In the glass, the Vin de Lac "Lehm" 2007 Dry Riesling Lake Chelan (13.7%) was a pale straw color offering muted scents of wet stone and minerals. This Lake Chelan riesling was incredibly dry, to the point of being sour on the finish. It had terrific acidity, but lacked enough fruit flavors to balance the minerality. We paired the Vin de Lac dry riesling with chicken yakisoba. At $20, I found this wine to be a bit pricey relative to its quality. To each his or her own, but the stone dry style of this riesling was not my...

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Evening Land Celebration 2008 "Les Gamines" Eola-Amity Hills

Wow, this blend of 60% gamay noir and 40% pinot noir is a wonderfully intriguing wine for $26. And it is one of my favorites thus far amongst 2008 Oregon wines tasted. In the glass, the Evening Land Celebration 2008 "Les Gamines" Eola-Amity Hills (13.4%) was a clear, garnet red, delivering perfumed notes of red fruit with a dusty earthiness. There were layers of scents to this wine from the strawberry and cherry fruit to an intriguing, earthy minerality. The bright acidity and predominant tannins in the mouth suggest this uncertified organic/biodynamic wine will age well, yet it still...

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February 09, 2010

Wine enthusiast? Passionate Consumer? Start Blogging!

If you are a passionate consumer with an enthusiasm for Washington or Oregon wine, then there is no better time to start blogging than right now. Why now? First, we need more consumers blogging about Pacific Northwest wine, sharing their experiences while generating needed exposure for our region's bounty. There will always be room for one more voice that can offer an additional perspective on all things associated with Oregon and Washington wine. Second, there is no better opportunity to learn more about wine blogging than at this year's Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla during the weekend of June...

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February 07, 2010

Connections: Oregon Vines and Family Roots

For anyone who has been following my posts these last couple of years, it should be readily apparent that I am biased toward Oregon wine. That said, this bias may not exist for reasons solely associated with my subjective taste preferences. In the last year, I have come to realize my personal journey with wine, especially that comprised of Oregon fruit, may be just as much about my past as it is about my palate. While I am a Texan by birth and an Okie by childhood, both branches of my family tree have firm roots in the state...

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February 06, 2010

Vin de Lac 2008 Vie! Viognier Lake Chelan

A clear straw color in the glass, the Vin de Lac 2008 Viognier Lake Chelan (14.3%) offered citrus fruit and wet stone notes to the nose. Crisp acidity with a pleasing minerality in the beginning but then followed by a bit of heat to the back of the throat on the finish. While it showed promise, the higher alcohol relative to other Lake Chelan 2008 viogniers I have tried recently would prompt me to pass on another bottle of the Vin de Luc Vie! ($18). Related Links Wine Press Northwest Review Vin de Lac Site...

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Pacific Rim 2008 Sweet Riesling Columbia Valley

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Pacific Rim 2008 Sweet Riesling Columbia Valley (8.5%) was a clear, yellow-green gold color with pronounced petrol on the nose followed by tropical fruit, especially pineapple. This Washington riesling was pleasantly sweet with enough acidity to provide a terrific balance. Flavors of pineapple, peach, and minerals were evident in this medium full wine. I really enjoyed the Pacific Rim sweet riesling and at $10 this is a wine to have often with spicy Asian fare or on its own. Related Links Pacific Rim...

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Brick House 2008 Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge

Last year, I really enjoyed Doug Tunnell's 2007 Gamay Noir, and ended up buying half a case of this Biodynamic certified wine. Therefore, it was with much anticipation that I tried the Brick House 2008 Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge (13.5%), a natural wine that while different in some ways from the '07, it is one I will definitely stock up on. The '08 Brick House Gamay Noir ($24) was a clear, garnet red in the glass, offering perfumed notes of strawberry and cherry fruit, dusty spice, and earth. In the mouth, this Oregon gamay delivered a nice silky texture, with...

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Patricia Green 2008 Pinot Noir Balcombe Vineyard

In the glass, the Patricia Green 2008 Pinot Noir Balcombe Vineyard Dundee Hills (13%) was a deep garnet red, delivering strong notes of earth following by black fruit. In the mouth, this was a well balanced Oregon pinot, a bit funky on the first night and then a tad sweet and concentrated on the second. We paired the Patricia Green Balcombe ($32) with grilled trout that was served with a mango/avocado salsa and farro. The next dinner we matched it was grilled lamb loin chops, roasted broccolini, and white beans. This pinot offered a nice compliment to both meals, which...

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January 31, 2010

Disclosing Wine Ingredients: Arguments For (Part 2)

A little over a week ago, I published a commentary that focused on the more commonly raised arguments against disclosing wine ingredients. In this second post of a two part series, I wanted to highlight the reasons why wineries should voluntarily disclose any and all additives used in the production of their wine. First and foremost, all consumers deserve to know what's included in the wines they drink. We have just as much a right to know what's in our wine, as we are entitled to know what's in any food item or non-alcoholic beverage. It's time for wine...

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January 27, 2010

Scott Paul 2007 La Paulée Pinot Noir

In the glass, the Scott Paul 2007 La Paulée Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (13.1%) was a beautiful ruby red color, with notes of strawberry fruit, a subtle earthiness, and hints of spice. The red berry fruit flavors continued on the palate with strawberry and raspberry being most predominant, combined with well balanced acidity and a delicious finish. This is a terrific expression of Oregon pinot noir, sourced from four leading vineyards in four different sub-appellations in the Willamette Valley. Like all Scott Paul pinots, it's naturally fermented, with no cultured yeasts or additives used in the winemaking process. For anyone...

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January 25, 2010

Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Pinot Gris Lake Chelan

The Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Pinot Gris Lake Chelan (13.1%) was a clear, straw color in the glass, delivering notes of ripe melon, wet stone, and a bit of citris. In the mouth, this pinot gris offered muted fruit flavors, nice acidity, but a flat finish. We paired the Benson Estate pinot gris ($18) with various meals, including chicken teriyaki and braised beef short ribs, but it just didn't meet the bar for us. I'd pass on buying another bottle of this wine - pinot gris is a tough sell relative to more flavorful varieties. Related Links A Visit...

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Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Viognier Lake Chelan

In the glass, the Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Viognier Lake Chelan (14.0%) was a light yellow-green straw color with hints of lemon, minerals, and tropical fruit. This Washington viognier offered a clean, crisp mouthfeel, although the alcohol created a bit of a burn on the finish. I really liked the minerality, bright acidity, and stonefruit flavors in this Lake Chelan wine. At $19, this wine offers a good quality-to-price ratio. In fact, after enjoying this and another Lake Chelan vigonier, I am starting to prefer the fruit from this region of our state, specifically for its acidity and minerality....

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Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Chardonnay Lake Chelan

This Washington chardonnay offered a pleasant surprise, primarily due to it tasting like a crisp Chablis. The Benson Vineyards Estate 2008 Chardonnay Lake Chelan (14.5%) was a clear golden yellow in the glass, providing scents of pear and wet stone to the nose. This steel fermented wine was sharp on the palate, but in a good way, for there are far too many Washington chardonnays that are cloying, viscous, and vanilla for my taste. I really liked the minerality and acidity in this wine, although the alcohol showed a bit of heat on the back of the throat. It...

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Pacific Rim 2008 Gewürztraminer

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Pacific Rim 2008 Gewürztraminer (12%) was a pretty golden yellow, delivering vibrant tropical fruit notes, with ripe melon being most predominant. Flavors of mango and pineapple combined with a terrific balance between sweet (1.7% RS) and acid (TA .76). We enjoyed this Pacific Northwest wine (83% Washington fruit and 17% Oregon) on its own and with spicy Asian food. It's a terrific rendition of gewürztraminer, without the cloying, viscosity and pina colada flavors of many of its peers. What a delicious wine...

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January 21, 2010

Disclosing Wine Ingredients: Arguments Against (Part 1)

Recently, I have engaged in a debate on the merits of disclosing wine ingredients and have come away surprised at the arguments that have been made against my stance. While the counterpoints are numerous, I have yet to hear an argument against disclosure that holds any water, one that might make me take pause and rethink my stance on this important topic. In the first of a two part series, I thought it would be useful to summarize the arguments I have heard thus far and why each of these suffers in terms of its power of persuasion. In...

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January 18, 2010

Nefarious Cellars 2008 Viognier Lake Chelan

In the glass, the Nefarious Cellars 2008 Viognier Defiance Vineyard (13.6%) was a clear light golden yellow color, delivering hints of pineapple and melon with a bit of wet stone and minerality. In the mouth, this estate viognier was a bit fizzy, which didn't distract from enjoying the delicious fruit flavors and crisp acidity. I especially liked the minerality and texture in this Lake Chelan wine. We paired the Nefarious with a winter squash ravioli topped with a mushroom sauce and a butter leaf lettuce salad with chunks of Breton ham and mozzarella dressed in olive oil and white wine...

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January 15, 2010

Adelsheim 2008 Auxerrois Ribbon Springs Vineyard

I can't believe it's taken me almost two years to open another bottle of this terrific white wine from Oregon, comprised of fruit you just don't see very often amongst New World wines. The Adelsheim 2008 Auxerrois Ribbon Springs Vineyard Ribbon Ridge AVA (13.2%) was a clear, light yellowish green color in the glass, offering muted mineral, wet stone notes and very subtle scents of fruit (the label suggested Asian pear, which is spot on). Even after letting the auxerrois warm up a bit, the scents remained understated. In the mouth, the Adelsheim auxerrois delivered well balanced acidity and what...

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The Eyrie Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

After enjoying their delicious 2006 estate pinot noir, I was even more excited to open their 2007, a vintage that I find much more to my liking. In the glass, The Eyrie Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills (13.5%) was a clear, garnet red delivering an incredible combination of strawberry and raspberry fruit along with notes of earth and forest floor. This estate grown pinot noir was well structured and balanced, with delicious cherry fruit, great acidity, silky texture, and a long captivating finish. We paired The Eyrie Vineyards pinot noir with a roasted pork tenderloin, cooked medium rare,...

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January 13, 2010

Pacific Rim 2007 Riesling Solstice Vineyard

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. Yet another terrific Washington riesling from Pacific Rim, the 2007 Solstice Vineyard (13.5%) from Yakima Valley. In the glass, this wine was a golden straw color with scents of petrol, wet stone, minerals, combined with hints of honeysuckle and citrus. The Pacific Rim 2007 Riesling Solstice Vineyard Yakima Valley offered a clean, crisp mouthfeel with a wonderful balance between the acidity and residual sugar (1.7%). I was pleasantly surprised that this wine did not taste sweeter due to its level of sugar. We paired this Pacific Rim...

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January 11, 2010

Wine blogger/tweeter, who do you represent?

Having worked in online media and services these last 15 years, I have come to know the good, the bad, and the ugly in this space, especially with that involving the latest marketing tactic: social media. In the years ahead, consumers are going to have to be much more discerning in terms of who they trust to influence their perspective on wine, let alone their purchase decisions. An increasing number of folks are launching blogs, creating link bait, spamming blog comments, and tweeting up a storm while never revealing their affiliation with the wine trade. Their sole intent is to...

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January 08, 2010

Reflections and Resolutions

Before getting too far into January, it's time to pause, reflect back on the year that was, and look forward to the year that will be. There was a lot I learned in 2009 about wine, both in terms of experiencing it as a consumer and covering it as a blogger. And with 2010 ahead, there are new learnings to seek, which will most likely lead me, and this blog, down paths not traveled before. What I Learned in 2009 Writing is hard; writing about wine is even harder - after blogging for almost 3 years now, I have...

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January 06, 2010

Chelan Estate 2004 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard

In the glass, the Chelan Estate 2004 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard (12.0%) was a clear, ruby brick red color delivering dusty sour notes to the nose leading to a spicy, funky, woody scent. This Lake Chelan AVA pinot offered good acidity, but was immediately followed by a toasty, sour spice that was off-putting. I had to pass on this wine after a few sips. Purchased at retail for $25. Related Links Wine Peeps Review Chelan Estate Winery Web Page...

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January 05, 2010

Pacific Rim 2008 Organic Riesling Columbia Valley

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. In the glass, the Pacific Rim 2008 Organic Riesling Columbia Valley (10.5%) was a clear, golden straw color offering a signature hint of petrol followed by floral honeysuckle and citrus fruit notes. This off-dry Washington riesling delivered the right amount of acidity to balance the 3.8% residual sugar, with a full, if not slightly viscous, mouth feel. We paired this delicious riesling with a variety of meals over the course of several days. It showed best with a spicy chicken stir fry and yakisoba noodle dish. I...

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January 04, 2010

March 11: The Willamette Valley Visits Seattle

On Thursday, March 11, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm more than 50 wineries from the Willamette Valley will be gathering at Herban Feast south of Safeco Field for a first of its kind tasting event in Seattle. Here's a quick blurb from the Willamette Valley Wineries Association site: Enjoy this unique opportunity to taste the wines of 50 Oregon wineries, both large and small, at Willamette Valley Wineries first tasting in Seattle. Meet the faces behind the wine in a casual and personal setting. Winery owners and winemakers will showcase their current releases including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris,...

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Pacific Rim 2007 Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. Yet another Pacific Rim wine from Washington that is one of my new favorites. This time, the 2007 Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley (13.1%) delivered a pleasant surprise to our meal. In the glass, this Washington chenin blanc was a light golden straw color delivering notes of pear, honeysuckle, and wet stone. In the mouth, I really liked the clean, crisp texture of this wine. And there was a terrific minerality, with well balanced acidity against the 1.2% residual sugar. I was pleasantly surprised how crisp this...

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January 03, 2010

Pacific Rim 2007 Biodynamic Riesling Wallula Vineyard

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. This is a biodynamic Washington riesling that not only tastes good, but makes me feel good drinking it as a result of the approach taken in growing the grapes and making the wine. The Pacific Rim 2007 Biodynamic Riesling Wallula Vineyard Columbia Valley (13%) was a light golden yellow in the glass with hints of petrol leading to floral notes of honeysuckle and lemon blossom all wrapped in a delightful mineral, wet stone component. On the palate, this biodynamic riesling offered crisp acidity (.65% TA) against...

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January 02, 2010

Pacific Rim 2007 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley

Full Disclosure: This wine was provided as a free sample from the producer. The Pacific Rim 2007 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley (12.5%) is a terrific Washington riesling (which benefits from 20% fruit from the Mosel region). And at $10, this a wine to enjoy regularly with a variety of foods, be they spicy, rich or otherwise. In the glass, this Pacific Rim dry riesling was a clear, yellow gold color, offering hints of petrol giving way to stone fruit and citrus floral notes. This wine had a light, crisp mouthfeel with terrific acidity balancing the slight .8% residual sugar....

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Wapato Point Cellars 2008 Pinot Grigio

In the glass, the Wapato Point Cellars 2008 Pinot Grigio Lake Chelan AVA (13.8%) was a clear, yellow golden color, delivering notes of tropical fruit, with hints of coconut, pineapple and melon being most predominant. In the mouth, this Lake Chelan pinot gris was a bit viscous, with good acidity. Unfortunately, the coconut notes were replayed in full form, making this wine taste like a pina colada. It was just too tropical fruity for my taste (maybe from the yeast used?). We paired this wine with pasta and tomato sauce as well as a red leaf lettuce salad dressed...

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January 01, 2010

Connections: Washington Wine Report

When it comes to blogging about the people and places producing wine in Washington state, there is one site that stands out for its focused, in-depth coverage: Sean Sullivan's Washington Wine Report. With his independent blog, Sean's mission is "bringing Washington wine to you and bringing you to Washington wine". Having followed the Washington Wine Report since its launch in June 2007, Sean has clearly fulfilled this mission, at least with this reader. In fact, Sean's success in connecting me to Washington wine is best articulated in a couple of recent posts on his blog. The first piece, Best...

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