Wine & Food Pairing to be Next Week

Because of the articles below, November's Wine & Food Pairing will be posted a week from now, November 7th. Watch for some interesting combinations.

 

Walla Walla Valley Fall Release Weekend Preview


For those of you who are planning to come to Walla Walla for Fall Release Weekend, here's a preview of what's of particular interest.

Downtown - Otis Kenyon will be releasing a limited production 2008 Petit Verdot (it's first). Trio Vintners will have three 2009 Far Away Vineyard bottlings (see the November issue of the Review) plus a 2009 DenHoed Mourvedre. Tero Estates will be pouring its 2008's (see the October issue) and Flying Trout will have new 2009's and the 2008 Mary's Block Malbec (reviewed November) Sinclair Estates will be featuring new 2009's with music.

West Valley - This will be one of the few times Long Shadows is open (tasting fee, applicable toward purchase). Reininger will have some treats for its visitors.

South Valley - Northstar will be releasing new 2008 Merlots. Saviah will have a 2008 Big Sky and other reds. Va Piano will be releasing its 2009 "Signature Series" Cabernet and Syrah. Castillo de Feliciana will have a new 2009 Tempranillo and 2009 Adentro. Dusted Valley will have new releases including a 2010 Cinsault and a 2009 Petite Sirah.

Airport and East Valley - Buty will be releasing the BEAST. Kontos Cellars will have its 2008 Alatus Red and Merlot. CAVU will have some 2009's and a 2010 Barbera. Walla Walla Vintners has a bevy of new 2009's.

Artifex - This multi-winery facility will have its usual event featuring Cadaretta, Reasons, Lullaby, Tulpen Cellars and others.

These and others are to be reviewed in December and January.

 

Harvest 2011 Winds Down

This year's harvest is now coming close to the end. Last week, some nights got precariously close to freezing in the South Valley as growers stayed up the nights to ward of the cold air. Luckily, today is mostly sunny and some wineries will be picking up the last of their fruit, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemakers I talked to are very happy with what they got this year, fine concentration with higher phenols at lower brix level. Most of them are still busy pressing juice and monitoring fermentation. More later!