Yesterday, Sunday evening, I returned from Seattle after a weekend on the West Side. This gave me an opportunity to catch up on the wine scene over there. On Friday, we started off at Rotie Cellars' SODO tasting room for the release of the 2017 whites (to be reviewed in the August issue) and Rosé. There, we found Sean Boyd busy shucking Taylor Farms oysters to go with the new releases. 

On Saturday, we drove over to Woodinville to check up on the Artisan Hill and Warehouse District wineries which are open weekends only. On Artisan Hill, we visited Two Vintners where we tasted two knockout 2015 Syrahs, then Kevin White which had the new 2016 Fraternitie and En Homage and 2015 Dubrul Vineyard Merlot/Cabernet. Then over to Three of Cups for a bargain priced 2016 La Monde Malbec and 2015 L'Astre Syrah and then Callan Cellars - Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rouge and Cabernet, and Finn Hill - 2015 "Vivant" Malbec and 2014 L'abime Syrah. All these wines to be reviewed in the August issue. 

After Artisan Hill, we went over to the Warehouse District on the other side of the Woodinville-Redmond Road. At Savage Grace, I tasted some terrific 2017 reds, a Dineen Vineyard Côt (the Loire Valley name for Malbec) and a Loire-like Copeland Vineyard Cabernet Franc along with a 2015 Red Willow Cabernet and nice 2017 whites. At W.T. Vintners I tasted a 2015 "Gorgeous" Syrah and a Boushey Vineyard Rhone Blend. These to be in the August issue.

The next day, Sunday, Lynn drove on to Whidbey Island and I took Uber to the SODO Urban Works winery complex on First Avenue South, just past Spokane Street. After lunch at Nine Pies Pizza which shares space with Nine Hats Wines, I saw Brian Grasso at Structure Cellars where I tasted a nice 2017 Roussanne, a couple of Syrah and a Malbec to be reviewed August. Then I went over to Latta Wines (Andrew Latta, formerly with K Vintners) where I tasted a tasty 2014 GSM and a a 2014 Upland Vineyard Grenache, also to be reviewed in August.

After SODO Urban Works, I took Uber to the Sea-Tac Airport where I had a glass of 2017 Chateau Bas Cotes de Provence Rosé made from the Counoise grape. Nicely fruited and dry, with a note of tangerine peel, it made a nice refreshment before boarding the flight home.