In my blog of December 30, 2011, I listed some wines that were reviewed in 2011 to look for as Best Buys. Here are several more that I have picked up in the Seattle area.
2010 Willow Crest Estate Pinot Gris, Yakima Valley ($8.99 at Esquin - Regular $12)
Brilliant greyish gold colored, this wine offers a ripe nose of pear, Crenshaw melon, lilac and honeysuckle. The white fruit flavors are fresh and vibrant, imbued with a stony minerality. The back picks up notes of hazelnuts, grape skin and grapefruit, counterpointed by a touch of creaminess on the finish. 17.5+/20 points.
2009 Willow Crest Estate Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley ($11.99 at Esquin - Regular $15)
This wine displays a brilliant ruby color and an attractive nose of blackberry, cherry, anise and rosebuds. The medium bodied flavors are direct, yet interesting, with notes of earth and minerla, cola, squeezed cherry juice, licorice and milk chocolate. It holds together well through the back and on the quaffably moderate tannin and acid finish. 17.5/20 points.
2010 Northwest Wine Academy Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, Seymour Vineyard ($10.99 at Esquin - Regular $12)
This comes from the enology school of South Seattle Community College. Brilliant gold colored, it offers attractive pear-apple and citrus aromas, with scents of apple blossoms and acacia flowers. The medium bodied flavors are bright and true to variety, accented by notes of Misoula Flood minerals, poached apples and toast on a faintly honeyed, citrus-tinged finish. 18/20 points.
2008 Sagelands Malbec, Wahluke Slope ($8.99 at Esquin - Regular $15)
This is an amazingly goood Malbec for the price. Deep purplish colored, it shows an intense varietal nose of raspberry, blueberry, mulberry, cracked pepper, and even a hint of violets. On the palate, the wine is chock full of red and blue fruit flavors, with notes of licorice, roasted coffee beans, and Wahluke scorched earth. The back picks up touches of mocha, semi-macerated berries and toasted hazelnuts, followed by a chewy, savory moderate tannin finish. This easily beats any Argentina Malbec for under $10. 18/20 points.
2008 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot, Columbia Valley ($23.99 at Esquin - Regular $30)
This wine displays a brilliant ruby color and a typical varietal nose of raspberry, cherry, plum, rosebuds, tobacco and rubbed sage. The dark medium-full bodied flavors are thick and ample, with notes of licorice, chocolate and coffee beans. The back picks up touches of mocha and toast on a silky moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
2009 Pour Me Red Wine Blend, Columbia Valley ($17.99 at Metropolitan Market - Regular $22)
This hononymically named blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc and 28% Merlot was created for Metropolitan Market and is an excellent value. Deep ruby colored, it emits a rich nose of blackberry, cherry, cassis and rose petals, with hints of mint and eucalyptus. The dark fruit flavors are solid and well put together, showing notes of licorice, chocolate and pencil lead, followed by a squeeze of red currant juice, and touches of nougat and dried cherry on a sweet-dry tannin finish. 18/20 points.
2005 Novelty Hill Merlot, Columbia Valley, Stillwater Creek Vineyard ($19.99 at Metropolitan Market - Regular $30)
This is a fine choice in a red that is approaching maturity. It displays a deep garnet color and rich aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis, with scents of dried roses, sandalwood and smoldering incense. On the palate, the flavors are well extracted, with intermixings of chocolate, French roast, earthy minerals and pencil lead. The back reveals a maturing roundness, integrating notes of mocha, semi-dried berries, toasty oak, dried orange peel, and softening tannins, all leading into a long lightly spiced (cardamom, clove) finish. 18.5/20 points.
The following wines come from the State's largest winery. Evidently, economies of scale enable Chateau Ste. Michelle to deliver high quality-price ratios. They can be found at various supermarkets and retailers.
2010 Ch. Ste Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($10.99 on sale - Regular $15)
This is a Chardonnay that overdelivers in terms of price and quality. Brilliant gold colored, it offers an expressive nose of apple, peach, citrus, apple blossoms and acacia flowers. On the palate, the flavor components are in the right places: white fruits, with a hint of tropicality, stony minerals, moderate oak, and a slight creaminess from sur lie barrel aging, all melding together nicely. With this crowd-pleaser, who needs Kendall-Jackson? 18+/20 points.
2009 Ch. Ste. Michelle "Indian Wells" Merlot, Columbia Valley ($15.99 on sale - Regular $20)
Deep ruby colored, this wine displays rich aromas of blackberry, cherry, cassis, black roses, cigar box and spiced incense. The dark fruit flavors are well saturated, imbued with licorice, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and mocha. The back reveals sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, cinnamon bark and pain grillé, followed by a satisfying ripe tannin finish. 18+/20 points.
2009 Ch. Ste. Michelle "Indian Wells" Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($15.99 on sale - Regular $20)
This is a tasty, fruit forward young Cabernet, sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope. It exhibits a purplish color and attractive aromas of blackberry, cherry, cassis, tobacco and dried roses. The flavors are generous, yet focused, with notes of licorice, Swiss chocolate, espresso and earthy minerla. The wine picks up semi-macerated berries, mocha and coffee bean on a plush textured back. Moderate tannins and acids make it approachable, yet would benefit from six months or more aging. 18.5/20 points.
2008 Ch. Ste. Michelle Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, Canoe Ridge Estate ($18.99 on sale - Regular: $23)
Deep ruby colored, this offers enticing aromas of blackberry, mulberry, cherry and cassis, with scents of crushed roses and sandalwood. The flavors are deep and supple, with the minerality of the Horse Heaven Hills terroir, as well as licorice, bittersweet chocolate and cola. The penetration continues on the back with squeezed berry and currant juices, touches of mocha, dried cherries and savory herbs an spices, followed by balanced fruit acids and tannins on the finish. 18.5/20 points.