Valentine's Release Weekend in Woodinville

Yesterday (Saturday, February 13), we drove over to Woodinville to visit a few wineries which were releasing new vintages. It was Valentine's Day weekend, so there was a festive lovers' holiday atmosphere, with some wineries offering red wine and chocolate pairings. Here are some highlights:

Our first stop was at DeLille Cellars where the 2007 Chaleur Estate and Harrison Hill Reds were being released. The Harrison Hill (19.5 points - to be reviewed in the March issue) was a classic, complex, terroir-driven wine. Tasting it alongside the Chaleur Estate (reviewed in February - 19.5 points) revealed two stylistically different wines even though the blend compositions are closely matched. The Chaleur Estate seemed a bit less fruit-driven and a bit more smoky and minerally. Qualitatively, I found the two a tossup.

Then we went to Barrage Cellars which we visited for the first time. There, owner-winemaker Kevin Correll took us through a collection of wines with names like "Trifecta" (100% Merlot from three vineyards) "Outcast" (100% Cabernet Franc) and "Secret Weapon" (100% Boushey Vineyard Syrah). All were striking wines. I will report on them in the April issue.

Next, we went over to William Church where a mobile bottling line was bottling the winery's 2009 Viognier and 2008 Reds. The day's bottling was being offered for immediate "adoption." Customers bought the wines on the spot and took them home for either immediate consumption or to lay away for at least a couple of months to recover from bottle shock. The Viognier was lovely, and the reds highly promising.

After that, we crossed North Woodinville Way to a loop that passed through a townhouse complex down to some more warehouse wineries. At Covington Cellars, we found David and Cindy Lawson who have an attractive tasting room where they do winemaker dinners as well. We tasted some lovely wines which will be reviewed in the next (March) Review issue.

Our last stop of the day was at JM Cellars on "Bramble Bump," a knoll overlooking the Sammamish Valley. The tasting room was hopping, as guests sampled the new 2007 releases. Paige Leighton and the rest of the crew were busy pouring wine and ringing up sales. All four new '07's were exceptional (to be reviewed in March). Also released was the 2008 Bramble Bump Red which, though just bottled, was delicious.

Watch for the March and April issues of the Review of Washington Wines to learn more about these wines!

Winery News: Precept Wine Brands Acquires Corus Estates and Vineyards

On January 1st, Seattle-based Precept Wine Brands acquired Corus Estates and Vineyards. Corus was owned and operated by the Dan Baty family. Dan Baty is co-owner of Precept Brands, so this represents a consolidation that will better coordinate the marketing and distribution of the new entity's products. The newly acquired brands include Alder Ridge, 6 Prong, Zefina as well as other Oregon and Idaho (Sawtooth) brands. As part of this marketing expansion, an Alder Ridge tasting room has been opened in Woodinville to present Horse Heaven Hills AVA wines, including Zefina, produced by winemaker Rob Chowanantiez. The tasting room is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 11 to 6, with extended hours to begin in May.

Note: Back in January, I visited Precept Brands' tasting rooms in Walla Walla: the Waterbrook Winery on Highway 12 and Walla Walla Wine Works on Downtown's Main Street. I found some exceptional values which will be reviewed in the March issue.