The Tero Estates "Block Party"

On August 11th, Lynn and I attended the Tero Estates "Block Party" at the winery and Windrow Vineyards, west of Milton-Freewater. The event consisted of a walking tour of the vineyard, with stations where a wine from that vineyard block was served along with appetizers prepared by the Walla Walla Community College's culinary school. All the wine-food pairings were spot on.

After assembling at the winery while sipping prosecco, accompanied by smoked salmon and cheeses, we walked to Herb's Block (named for Dr. Herbet Hendricks who planted the original Seven Hills Vineyard, which was split up in 1994). There, winemaker Doug Roskelley talked about the vineyard while guests sampled the 2009 Herb's Block Merlot along with lamb rillettes, preserved cherries and onion jam on crostini.

Next, we walked up a slope to the Plateau Block, planted in 1996 to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, on a bench composed of deep soils, scoured from the hillside. The smoked bacon and chevre on chile blini made a fine pairing with the Tero 2009 Cabernet Franc.

Our next stop was at the edge of the Old Block, planted from 1981 on, composed of loess soil. There, we sampled the 2009 Windrow Red, a co-fermented field blend, composed of the same percentages of grapes as the Windrow Vineyard: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 6% Malbec. This was accompanied by braised short ribs of beef on slices of mushroom polenta.

We then returned to the winery for a dessert of bacon-huckleberry-thyme chocolate macaroons, accompanied by Ashley Trout's 2009 Flying Trout Mary's Block Malbec, while Ashley discussed her wine.

Afterwards, Tero Estates" 2008 Single Block Cabernets were available for tasting: Hill Block (planted 1998), Plateau Block (1996) and Old Block (1981). These will be reviewed in the September issue of the Review of Washington Wines. The 2009 reds are to be reviewed in the October issue. For pictures of this event, see the Review of Washington Wines on Facebook.

The Mark Ryan Winery Tasting Room Opening

On Friday, August 10th, the Mark Ryan Winery held the Grand Opening of of its tasting room on Main Street in downtown Walla Walla. It represents a reversal of the usual scenario of a Walla Walla winery opening a tasting room in Woodinville, in that Mark Ryan already has a facility in Woodinville. It was also the occasion of the release of the winery's 2010 reds. Owner-winemaker Mark Ryan McNeilly was on hand and many guests came: winemakers, growers and other locals and semi-locals (including ourselves). The 2010 reds will be reviewed in the October issue of the Review of Washington Wines. See the Review of Washington Wines Facebook page for pictures.