On June 8th, Lynn and I drove over to Seattle from Walla Walla. Below are the noteworthy wine related activities we did.

After getting medical appointments over with, we had dinner at Assaggio on Thursday. The restaurant is owned by Mauro Golmarvi, our former neighbor in West Seattle and our current neighbor in Walla Walla (across Graybill Pond). The dinner was delicious, Ling cod, cooked to perfection accompanied by our favorite Italian white, the 2020 Antinori Bolgheri Vermentino (see the 10 May Blog posting below for a review).

On Friday, we drove over to Woodinville to visit three wineries. At JM Cellars on Bramble Bump, I tasted some fine new releases with owner-winemaker John Bigelow. We loved the 2021 Cinsault Rosé and 2019 Syrah. At Efeste, we had another fine Rosé from the Oldfield Estate Vineyard. The "Big Papa" Cabernet was brawny as usual. DeLille Cellars had a gorgeous 2021 Roussanne and a striking combination of 70% Malbec. These and other wines to be reviewed in the July issue of the Review of Washington Wines, on line June 24.

That evening, we had dinner with Lakeside School classmates Don F lynn and Dave Whitridge, a delicious bouillibase with some Rosés I brought. The next day, we had a Class of 1962 60th Reunion lunch with 14 other classmates at the Seattle Yacht Club. Salmon was served and I provided a Grenache themed selection of wines which were happily enjoyed.

That Saturday afternoon, we stopped by Esquin Wine & Spirits tp pick up some wines including some new 2021 Rosés and 2019 Rhone wines. There was a Burgundy tasting and we picked up a 2019 Macon-Venze and a 2018 Nuitin-Beaunoy Bourgogn Rouge, Cote d'Or. These will be reviewed in next week's Review Blog. 

On Sunday, on our way back to Walla Walla, we stopped in Prosser to visit the Thurston Wolfe Winery with Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman. The wines were terrific values, all $30 or less and scoring 18.5/20 and 19/20 points. Especially noteworthy were the 2020 "GSM" Blend of Grenache, Syrah and Malbec and the 2020 McKinley Springs Malbec. We had lunch at Wine O'clock were we had a well extracted 2021 Rosé and a tasty 2018 Dolcetto which went nicely with our pear and bacon pizza. No visit to Prosser is complete without a meal at this restaurant. 

Wine Deal of the Week

Starting with this posting, each week's Blog will feature an exceptional value which is not to be missed, especially if you like Cabernet Franc.

2020 Paul Buisse Chinon (Regular: $18.99) - I found this Loire Valley Cabernet Franc at the Plaza Way Safeway in Walla Walla. It was sandwiched among the domestic Cabernet Sauvignons and I purchased it for $11.49. It shows a purplish ruby color and aromas of raspberry, blueberry, black currant, black roses, tobacco, herb potpourri and stick incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and calcareous minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with pressed fruits, toasted nuts, framboise liqueur and soft charcoal, followed by a moderate tannin and acid finish. 18.5/20 points.