Fall Release Weekend in Walla Walla

A week ago, November 6-8 was Fall Release Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley. This year, it was a subdued event, unlike previous years,  due to COVID-19. Some small tasting rooms had already shut down for the winter. The ones on Downtown Main Street did a brisk business, but nothing like previous years. I had already done most of my tastings for the December issue of the Review of Washington Wines. We did go to one Winemaker Dinner, at Foundry Vineyards which also featured art works by Hunter Buck. It was catered by the Walla Walla Steak Company and featured cheese plates with a Foundry Vineyards Pét Nat, a 2017 Chardonnay with salad, the new 2017 Artisan Blend with roasted Chicken and 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon with chocolate mousse pie. The two 2017 reds will be reviewed in the January 2021 issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

The Esquin November Hot Sheet

For November, Esquin Wine Merchants (which I owned from 1969 to 1997) featured the Esquin Hot Sheet, a six page listing of super special deals. There were lots of goodies and I ordered twenty of them. Here are some of them.

2019 Ross Andrew Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge, Celilo Vineyard ($12.99 - Regular $20) - This bargain white possesses fresh aromas of pear, peach, melon, jasmine and lemon verbena and bright, juicy flavors and touches of hazelnut and creme fraiche. 18.5/20 points. Full review to be in the December issue.

2019 City Limits "Virginia Street" Roussanne, Columbia Valley ($12.99 - Regular $21) - This white offers attractive aromas of pear-apple, peach, melon, grapefruit, honeysuckle and white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively with notes of pear and grape skins and saline minerals. 18.5/20 points. December issue.

2017 Dunham Cellars "Trutina" Red Wine ($24.99 - Regular $30) - This is a super buy in a blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Reviewed in the May 2020 issue. 18.5/20 points.

The following two wines are Esquin Exclusives. Full reviews to be in the December issue.

2017 Banned Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($10.99) - This packs a lot for the price with rich, ripe aromas and ample yet substantial red fruit flavors that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, coffee and earth followed by a lip-smacking finish. 18/20 points.

2017 Mill & Mine Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($15.99) - This shows more depth than would be expected at this price point. The flavors are robust and generous, with loads of up front dark fruits and a chewy textured back of pressed berries, roasted nuts and toffee. 18.5/20 points.

The Hot Sheet also included lots of great buys in European wines.

2019 Domaine Massaic Viognier, Pays d'Oc ($14.99 - Regular $16) - This bargain priced white from Southwest France offers a light straw-gold color and floral aromas of pear, apricot, orange, melon, pear blossoms, orange flowers, honeysuckle and clover. The flavors are bright and fresh, with notes of grape and pear skins and saline Languedoc minerals. On the back, the wine takes on a Condrieu-like resonance with sensations of poire William liqueur, melon rind and orange peel on the way to a crisp, lightly juiced finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Chante Cigale, Chateauneuf du Pape ($30.99 - Regular $42) - Composed of 65% Grenache,  20% Syrah 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, this offers a deep ruby-crimson color and rich aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, black roses, mulberry, lavender, violets and spiced incense. The red and blue fruit flavors are simultaneously supple and vigorous, intermixed with licorice, cocoa, coffee and mas earth. The back picks up pressed fruits, framboise and kirsch liqueurs, mocha, lanolin and graphite followed by a savory ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2019 Cantina di Negrar Lugana Bianco ($11.99 - Regular $16) - This Veronese 100% Trebbiano shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of white fruits - apple, peach, melon - with scents of apple blossoms, straw and white pepper. The flavors are fresh and lively, with notes of grape skins, peach stones and Lake Garda minerals. The back picks up melon rind and lemon zest, followed by a crisp, faintly savory, nicely fruited dry finish. 18/20 points.

2017 Tenuta Santa Maria "Pragal" Rosso Verona ($14.99 - Regular $22) - This wine is composed of 60% Corvina and 20% each of Merlot and Syrah. It shows a ruby-garnet color and intriguing aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, a bit of fig, crushed roses, mulberry, cigar box, rosemary and sage. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with notes of licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and Lake Garda minerals. On the back, the wine rounds out with sensations of roasted berries, dried cherries, nougat and pencil lead, followed by a sweet-dry moderate tannin and acid finish. 18+/20 points.

2017 La Atalaya del Camino Almansa ($12.99 - Regular $20) - Composed of 85% Garnacha (Grenache) and 15% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) this Castilla-La Mancha wine is a robust yet accessible red. It shows a deep purplish-ruby color and aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, crushed roses, tobacco, Spanish lavender and anise. The flavors are ripe and juicy, yet focused, with notes of licorice, cacao and earth. The back picks up cherry liqueur, plum preserves and white pepper on the way to a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2015 La  Caprilla Ribera del Duero Crianza ($26.99 - Regular $39) - This is a powerful Tempranillo. It displays an opaque ruby-crimson color and intense aromas of black cherry, plum, juniper berry, crushed black roses, black tobacco, Spanish lavender and smoldering incense. The flavors, as well, are dramatic with dark fruits that are infused with licorice root, 80% cacao, chicory coffee and pulverized minerals. The wine intensifies further on the back with sensations of pressed fruits, roasted nuts, lanolin ("legs") and mocha, followed by a lengthy, savory ripe sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. 

More Esquin Hot Sheet Wines Next Week

Our next Blog posting on Thursday, November 19 will have a dozen more wines, including Oregon Pinot Noirs, more French and Italian wines (Barolo, Chianti Classico and others) plus ones from Spain. Watch for it!