There was a lot going on during Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend in Walla Walla December 2-4. Wineries were decorated with festive lights, and barrel rooms opened up for tasting the 2010’s and 2009’s. See last week’s posting for my notes on the 2010’s that I tasted. Here’s a report on other happenings.

The Second Annual Marcus Whitman Hotel Winemakers Dinner

On Friday, December 2, Locati Cellars, Don Carlo Vineyards, Tero Estates and Flying Trout had their second winemaker dinner at the Marcus Whitman. There were eight courses, matched to eight wines, two from each winery. And the winemakers spoke about their wines. It was a fabulous evening with perfect wine and food pairings and lots of camaraderie. Here is the menu and the wine pairings.

Baby Arugula and Warm Brie

Fresh cranberry orange vinagrette, Spiced pecan

2010 Locati Cellars Rose, Walla Walla Valley

Pan Seared Diver Scallop

Washington apple and Golden raisin marmalade

2009 Don Carlo Chardonnay, Walla Walla Valley

Dungeness Lump Crab Tortellini Carbonara

House-made bacon, Parmesan Reggiano, sweet peas

2007 Locati Cellars Innovation Red, Columbia Valley

Brandied Cherry Stuffed Breast of Pheasant

Toasted wild rice, stone fruit Mostarda, choke cherry jus

2009 Flying Trout Mary’s Block Malbec, Windrow Vineyard

Crispy Skin Muscovy Duck Breast

Carmelized maple duck jus. Sweet corn polenta cake

2009 Don Carlo Cabernet Franc

Braised Upper Dry Creek Lamb Beggar’s Purse

Yukon potato puree, roasted root vegetables

2008 Tero Estates Windrow Blend, Windrow Vineyard

Roasted Eye of Buffalo Rib Eye

Savory Crater Lake blue cheese bread pudding, sauce Perigourdine

2007 Tero Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Windrow Vineyard

German Chocolate Cake

Coconut pecan frosting, chocolate whipped cream, Malibu rum Ganache, Vanilla ice cream

2009 Flying Trout Cutthroat Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills

Barrel Tasting 2009’s

Some wineries sampled 2009’s that weekend. Here are my notes, with preliminary scores (these could go up upon release and after some bottle age).

2009 Corvus Estate Petit Verdot, Red Mountain

Dark purple colored, this emits an intoxicating nose of wild blackberry, cherry and cassis, with perfumes of attar of roses and violets. The dark fruit flavors are thick and saturated, redolent of dried berries, mocha, chocolate and licorice, with a finish that goes on and on. 19/20 points.

2009 Corvus Estate “Wild Ferment” Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain

With wild yeast, this wine took five months to ferment. It shows a deep garnet color and an exotic nose of wild raspberries, cassis, sandalwood and dried roses. The flavors are thick and chewy, interwoven with licorice, chocolate, Red Mountain scorched earth and minerals. The back reveals notes of toasted bread, mocha, cinnamon bark and coffee bean on a lasting finish. 19+/20 points.

2009 Rasa Vineyards “Limelight” Petit Verdot (Futures: $45)

Purplish colored, this shows terrific aromas of wild berries, cherries, cassis, rosebuds, sandalwood and incense. The flavors are deliciously deep and vivid, with full throttle dark fruits whose saturation continues on the back and into a long finish. 19/20 points.

2009 Rasa Vineyards “Occam’s Razor” Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard Block 10 (Futures: $48)

This displays a deep purplish color and an intense nose of blackberry, blueberry and plum, with scents of lavender, violets and a hint of mint. The flavors are thickly saturated and structured, intermixed with licorice, chocolate, French roast, and silty loess minerals. The concentration continues on the back with squeezed berries and mocha on the chewy tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2009 Rasa Vineyards “Doctrina Perpetua” Syrah, Columbia Valley, Bacchus Vineyard, Block 5 (Futures: $48)

Opaque purplish colored, this offers a lovely nose of raspberry, blueberry, cassis, lavender, jasmine, attar of rose, violets and incense. The thick and velvety dark fruits are wrapped around a firm core, mixed with licorice, cocoa powder, French roast and mocha. The back turns thick and juicy, with notes of crème brulée, orange peel, and a cascade of blueberry juice, culminating in a satiny tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2009 Rasa Vineyards “Plus One” Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Kiona Vineyard (Futures: $65)

Deep ruby colored, this exhibits a classic Cabernet nose of blackberry, cherry, cassis, matchstick, sandalwood, dried roses and rubbed sage. Tightly structured, yet with a finely woven tapestry of red and dark fruits, intermixed with licorice, dark chocolate, Red Mountain earth and minerals. The back picks up notes of roasted berries and chestnuts, with touches of mocha, cinnamon bark and orange peel, followed by a fleshy, silky, lightly spiced ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2009 Rasa Vineyards “Perfect Union” Red Blend, Columbia Valley (Futures: $75)

A combination of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 23% Cab Franc from the DuBrul, Kiona, Dionysus and Weinbau vineyards, this forms a striking union. It displays a deep garnet color and a seductive nose of wild raspberries, blueberries, plums, and black currants, with scents of attar of rose, cigar box, sandalwood and smoldering incense. The fruits are mouth encompassing, accented by licorice, cocoa powder, mocha and French roast. The back picks up orange peel, roasted berries and nuts and sweet oak on a lingering sweet-dry tannin finish. A candidate for 20/20 points. 19.5+/20 points.

Cadaretta opens a Tasting Room in Downtown Walla Walla

The Cadaretta winery, located in the Artifex winemaking facility, opened its new tasting room on East Main Street on Saturday, December 3. It is a cozy room, with chairs and tables, and is decorated with large photographs of the early days of the Middleton family (owners of Cadaretta) logging operations, including one of the timber ship, Cadaretta, the winery’s namesake. On opening day, winemaker Brian Rudin poured the winery’s current releases. This makes a welcome addition to the downtown tasting room scene.

 

 

Next Week: The Annual Listing of the Top Wines of 2011

December 30: Predictions for 2012 and Wineries to Watch