Harvest 2013 Imminent

Around the state, winemakers and vineyard managers are gearing up for this year's grape harvest. In fact, Woodward Canyon harvested its Estate Sauvignon Blanc last Tuesday and Wednesday. Many vineyards will start harvesting right after Labor Day. Weather in Eastern Washington has been consistently seasonable with highs in the low to mid '90's. A thunderstorm on the evening of August 25th had negligible effect. The grapes are ripening quickly and wineries and growers have been posting Facebook pictures of purple colored clusters. Stay tuned!

Waters Sold to Tero Estates

On August 23rd, the sale of the Waters Winery on J.B. George Road to Tero Estates, near Milton-Freewater, was announced. Waters' winemaker, Jamie Brown, will continue to make his winery's wines. This aquisition will greatly expand the Tero/Flying Trout portfolio to inclue Syrahs and Washington whites. Tero co-owner, Mike Tembruell, is pleased to have his beloved Syrahs as well as the Bordeaux varietals of the Windrow Vineyard. I have always been impressed with Waters' wines, so this merger makes for a powerful combination.

The SOB Pinot Gris Tasting

Last Wednesday, August 28th, the Sons of Bacchus convened at Trey Busch's (Sleight of Hand) home for a tasting of international Pinot Gris whites. Fifteen wine were tasted, some from Alsace, some from Oregon and Washington, and some from the Italian Venezia and Alto Adige regions. This time, there was no taste-off of the top wines from each of the flights, so here are the top four, with my notes.

2010 Weinbach Clos de Capcins, Cuvée Ste. Catherine Pinot Gris

This was an opulent classic Alsace Pinot Gris. Medium gold colored, it emited rich aromas of pear, peach, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, anise and scents of lilac and honeysuckle. On the palate, the wine was creamy textured, with touches of mango and squeezed mandarin orange, along with slatey minerals on the lingering finish. 19+/20 points.

2010 Kientzler Pinot Gris d'Alsace

Light gold colored, this offered an intriguing, smoky nose of pear, peach, lilac and wet stone. The palate showed typical Alsace Pinot Gris richness and minerality, along with notes of grape skin, creme fraiche and hazelnuts. Bright, juicy fruit acids gave the wine vibrancy. 18.5/20 points.

2011 Jermann Pinot Grigio, Venezia-Gulia

This wine showed terrrific varietal purity. Pale gold colored, it had a floral nose of pear-apple, grapefruit, lilac and wildflowers. The flavors were fairly direct, all about varietal character and slatey terroir, with a fresh, clean, lively finish. I brought this wine, purchased at Esquin for $29. 18.5/20 points.

2012 Claiborne & Churchill Pinot Gris, Central Coast

This was a surprise winner fron California in the fourth flight. It showed a medium gold color and aromas of pear, peach, anise and hazelnuts. The flavors were ripe, crisp and focused, with touches of waxy fruits, followed by a crisp, minerally finish. 18.5/20 points.

As for the rest, the Washington and Oregon versions were pleasant, uncomplicated wines, along with some ripe Alsatians and fairly direct northern Italian ones.

Afterwards, Erik McLaughlin (Seven Hills Winery) uncorked this phenomenal Alsatian dessert wine:

2000 Zind Humbrecht Herrenweg de Turckheim Pinot Gris, Vendange Tardive

Deep copper hued, this wine had an opulent, seductive bouquet of super ripe pear, peach, apricot and papaya, with scents of roasted nuts, orange peel and oriental perfumes. The flavors were rich and sweet, yet never cloying, retaining vibrant fruit acids. The back revealed sensations of spiced spiced orange peel, creme brulée and toasted nuts, with the acids continuing to impart grip through the lingering, decadent finish. 20/20 points.