Harvest 2022 Under Way

This year's grape harvest is now well under way. This year's crop is still two to three weeks later than normal due to the cold spring and hot summer. But things are looking hopeful as moderate temperatures in the 80's, easing into the mid 70's are forecast for the next two weeks. And growers and winemakers are happy with what they're bringing in. 

Ste Michelle Wine Estates Realigning 

This week's big news was the announcement that Ste Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) is being realigned into three divisions: Washington, Oregon and California. David Dearie has departed as CEO of SMWE. Toby Whitmoyer will be President of the Washington division. According to Ryan Pennington, VP of communications, "We've got three distinct businesses with three distinct sets of challenges and opportunities." Here, "challenges and opportunities" are the key words. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

For more about this realignment, see Sean Sullivan's northwestwinereport.com. 

A Medley of International Wines

Here are some interesting wines from around the world that we've tasted recently.

French Wines

N.V. Lillet Aperitif Wine ($28 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - Produced in Podensac, south of Bordeaux, from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and fortified to 17% alcohol, this is a delightful wine. It offers a brilliant straw-gold color and aromas of pear, peach, melon, lime, with scents of pear blossoms and meadow flowers. The flavors are brisk and lively, with white fruits that are accented by notes of herbs, ginger, quinine and minerals. The appeal continues on the back with poire William liqueur and lemon custard on the moderately sweet finish. 18.5/20 points.

N.V. Bouvet Rosé Brut "Excellence" ($22.99 - Safeway) - Bouvet is a popular brand of sparkling wine in France. This shows a brilliant copper color, streaming bubbles and aromas of strawberry, cherry, orange, cherry blossoms, and whiffs of orange incense. The flavors are bright and lively, marked by grape skins, cherry stones and alluvial minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with kirsch and Cointreau liqueurs, followed by a crisp true Brut finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Charles Jouget Chinon Rosé ($26 - The Thief) - Produced from Cabernet Franc, this Loire Rosé displays a brilliant copper-tinged pink color and lovely aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, blood orange, pink roses and pink lilac. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with vivid pink fruits that are accented by grape skins and alluvial minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with fraise and kirsch liqueurs and a twist of orange peel, followed by a lingering dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Château de Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé ($23.90 - Foodscape, Walla Walla) - This is a striking Rosé. Flamingo colored, it emits intriguing aromas of wild strawberry, blood orange, persimmon, orange blossoms and orange incense. The flavors, as well, are attention-getting, with mouth filling red and orange fruits that are accented by grape skins, orange peel and stony minerals. The back picks up fraise and Cointreau liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a well extracted dry finish. One of the most interesting Rosés tasted so far this year. 18.5+/20 points.

2020 Delas Côtes du Rhône ($16.99 - Safeway) - From a respected producer, this offers a medium ruby color and ripe aromas of raspberry, cherry, currant, red roses, tobacco, garrigue (lavender and herbs) and whiffs of spiced incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cola, medium roast coffee beans and earth. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, roasted nuts, kirsch and soft charcoal, followed by a moderate tannin and acid finish. 18/20 points.

2020 Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières Lirac ($21.90 - Foodscape) - Lirac is situated across the Rhône River, west of Châteauneuf du Pape. This shows a ruby color and engaging aromas of raspberry, currant, red plum, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa. black tea and minerals. The back reveals pressed fruits, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs and soft charcoal, followed by a supple, acid lifted moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2019 Domaine Notre Dame des Pallierès Gigondas ($31.99 - Esquin) - Composed of 80% Grenache and 10% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah, this displays a deep ruby color and a rich nose of raspberry, brambly currant, plum, crushed roses, pipe tobacco, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors, as well, are attention-getting, with thick, generous red and purple fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and Montmirial earth and minerals On the back, the wine intensifies, with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, mocha and charcoal, followed by s spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Domaine du Terme Gigondas ($32.99 - wine.com) - This South Rhône shows a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of raspberry, blueberry, black currant, crushed roses, pipe tobacco, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are ample yet focused, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and Montmirial minerals. On the back, the wine takes a vigorous turn, with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs and charcoal, followed by a firm yet ripe tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

Italian Wines

2021 Pieropan Soave ($26.99 - Albertson's) - This is an attractive Veronese white, produced from the Garganega and Trebbiano grapes. It displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, Casaba melon, pineapple, lime, apple blossoms elderflowers and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are exquisitely wrought, with notes of pear and peach stones, melon rind and minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with pear and peach liqueurs and touches of almond and lime curd on the finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 La Scola Gavi, "Valentino" ($20.99 - Safeway) - Produced from the Cortese grape in the Piedmont, much Gavi is drunk in Liguria with seafood. This version shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and intriguing aromas of pear, pineapple, melon, citrus, pear blossoms, jasmine and whiffs of wintergreen and yellow incense. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with notes of grape and pear skins and hillside minerals. The resonance continues on the back with pear liqueur, melon rind and lemon zest, followed by s brisk, dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Livio Felluga Friulano, Collio Orientale ($30.99 - wine.com) - This is a striking white from the northeastern corner of Italy. It shows a brilliant gold color and a richly aromatic nose of pear, peach, mango, grapefruit, pear blossoms and hints of wintergreen and butternut. The flavors are simultaneously crisp and viscous, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and minerals. The back picks up pear and peach liqueurs and touches of almond, ginger and grapefruit peel, followed by a crisp, resonant finish. 19/20 points.

Greek Wine

2017 Domaine Karydas Naoussa ($32.99 - wine.com) - Produced from the Xinomavro grape, this red wine exhibits a deep ruby color and intense aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, black roses, Latakia tobacco, Grecian lavender and spiced incense. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with fleshy yet focused red fruits that are intermixed with licorice root, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, nougat and ground charcoal, followed by a supple tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

New Zealand Wines

2021 Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke's Bay ($18 - The Thief) - This offers a light straw color and floral aromas of apple, melon, grapefruit, passion fruit, apple blossoms, meadow flowers and a hint of wintergreen. The flavors are brisk, yet well fruited, with notes of grape skins, melon rind and minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with with apple liqueur and a bit of grassiness, followed by a crisp, juicy finish. 18+/20 points.

2021 Te Mata Gamay Noir, Hawkes Bay ($25 - the Thief) - This is almost a ringer for a Cru Beaujolais. Brick red colored, it emits engaging aromas of strawberry, currant, plum, orange, red roses, mulberry, tobacco and whiffs of incense. The flavors are ripe and round with notes of red licorice, cola, orange pekoe tea and earth. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed fruits, strawberry liqueur, orange peel and toast, followed by a ripe moderate tannin and acid finish. 18.5/20 points.