A Day in Seattle

Yesterday, Monday, March 2nd, I flew to Seattle for a day trip occasioned by a wine judging for Seattle Magazine's Washingtion Wine Awards and other activities. Here's my account of the day.

I got up at 4 a.m. and got to the Walla Walla Airport for the 6:05 flight to Seattle which arrived five minutes early. I took a taxi to the Full Pull Wines warehouse in the SODO district (South of Downtown). There, I found Paul Zitarelli (Full Pull owner), the wine judging host, and Yashar Shayan (Impulse Wines), the judging organizer for Seattle Magazine's Washington Wine Awards. Once the other judges arrived, we all proceeded to taste about 100 wines, alternating between whites and reds, finishing at about 12:30. The judging results will be reported in the August issue of Seattle Magazine, with the Red and White Wines of the Year and the best wines in various categories. When that issue is published, I will report on it with my comments.

After the judging, I walked north up First Avenue South to the Pioneer Square district and went to the Little London Plane, a bistro and wine tasting bar on Occidental Avenue South. There C & G Wines, a wholesale distributor, put on a tasting of French wines, mostly from the Loire Valley, along with some Alsace and Languedoc wines. Here are the most noteworthy wines.

2011 Domaine Clos Marie, Pic St. Loup "Glorieuses" - Pic St. Loup is an appellation in the Pays de l'Herault in South France. This Cuvée consists of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. It showed a deep color and intriguing aromas of wild blackberries, blueberries, cassis, lavender, Provençal herbs and incense. The flavors consisted of abundant sweet-dry fruits, followed by notes of burnt leaves, roasted berries and nuts, followed by a savory ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2012 Domaine Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, "Silex" - The late Didier Dagueneau was a legendary producer of intense Sauvignon Blancs. This one showed a medium gold color and rich floral aromas of wildflowers and butternut, with a characteristic "gout sauvage" (from wild yeast fermentation). The flavors were delciously rich and creamy, with notes of minerals and fig, followed by a long vivid finish. 19.5/20 points.

2012 Domaine Roland Schmitt Riesling Grand Cru, "Altenberg de Bergbieten" - This was an exquisite Alsace Riesling, showing a pale gold color and lovely aromas of pear, peach, and wildflowers, with elegant spicy fruits and stony minerals dancing on the palate. 18.5+/20 points.

2012 Domaine Roland Schmitt Gewürztraminer Grand Cru, "Altenberg de Bergbieten" - This showed a light gold color and enticing aromas of pear, peach, honeysuckle, and clover. The flavors were rich, creamy and minerally, but without the gutteral character of many Gewürztraminers, followed by long, spicy faintly honeyed finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2012 Nicolas Joly Savennières, "Roche aux Moines, Clos de la Bergerie" - This Loire appellation is known for its fine dry Chenin Blancs. This one showed a medium gold color and rich aromas of pear, peach, apricot, clover, white lavender and oriental perfumes. The flavors were rich, dry and concentrated, with lots of mineral and extracts, followed by a long hazelnut tinged finish. 19+/20 points.

1998 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon - This is a striking example of aged, botrytis-affected Chenin Blanc. This one showed a medium gold color and a rich, floral nose of pear, spiced peach, apricot. The flavors, as well were rich and concentrated, yet, wth its bracing acidity, was still fresh and vibrant. 19/20 points.

After the C & G tasting, I walked up Yesler Way to the Pioneer Square Station, where I got on the Sound Transit light rail train back to the SeaTac Airport. I got off at the SODO Station and walked over to Esquin Wine & Spirits (which I owned until 1997 when I sold it to Chuck LeFevre) on Fourth and Lander. There, I put in my order for some Burgundies, and wines from the C & G tasting, to be picked up later in the month. Then I got back on the train for the rest of the ride to the airport. After dinner at Anthony's Seaport Restaurant, I boarded the Alaska Airlines evening flight back to Walla Walla. The plane landed on time, and I drove home, arriving about 9:25, ending an evenful day in the big city of Seattle.

 

The Whitehouse Crawford Northern Italian Tasting

On Wednesday, February 25th, the Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant in Walla Walla continued its series of wine tastings with a selection of North Italian wines. Here are the most interesting wines.

The white wines included some nice ones from the Alto Adige, but the most interesting one was from the Piedmont.

2013 Giovannue Almondo Roero Arneis ($19) - Arneis is a dry white from the commune of Roero. This one showed a light greenish gold color and intriguing aromas of apple, wet stone, mountain wildflowers and lemon peel. The flavors were fresh and brisk, with calcarous clay undertones and an invigoriating lemon zest tinged finish. 18+/20 points.

Instead of the typical wines of the Piedmont, Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo, the tasting featured less well known DOC's from the Province of Novara northeast of Torino. Two particularly stood out.

2008 Le Piane Boca ($58) - This is composed of 85% Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina (a Novarese variety). The 2008 showed a brick red color and enticing aromas of wild cherries and red currants, with scents of crushed rose petals, orange peel and orential perfumes. The dark fruit flavors were simultaneously silky and tightly woven, with notes of bittersweet chocolate, Italian roast coffee and volcanic minerals. The back picked up ground roasted nuts and charcoal on the way to a dry, yet agreeable, tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2005 Azienda Sella Lessona, "San Sebastiabi allo Zoppa" ($45) - Also 85% Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina, this showed a deep ruby-garnet color and an alluring nose of dried fruits - cherries, currants, raspberries - crushed roses, burnt bramble bush, violets and incense. The dried fruit flavors spread across the palate, with sandy earth undertones. The back picked up notes of roasted chestnuts and dried orange peel, followed by a lingering, dry, but not overly austere, tannin finish. Just beginning to smooth out. 19/20 points.

From the region of Pavia in Southwestern Lombardy, was this nice, attractively-priced little gem.

2011 Fattoria Cabanon Pinot Nero ($15) - This brick red colored wine showed an unmistakable Pinot Noir nose of red cherries and caiis, with scents of cedar, tobacco and crushed roses. The flavors were medium bodied, yet well delineated, with notes of cocoa, tea and stony minerals, and persisted on the back with pressed fruits and a clean finish. 18+/20 points.

From the Veneto, was this Valpollicella that came on as being more elegant and restrained than is typical of Amarone.

2007 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($60) - Deep garnet colored, this showed lovely aromas of cherries, red currants, anise, crushed roses, orange peel and oriental incense. The flavors mirrored the aromatics with dried fruits that were intermingled with licorice, herbal tea, and basalt and gravel minerals. The dried yet well fruited character continued on the back with notes of roasted nuts, dried grapeskins, and burnt almonds. The lingering, elegant finish gave restraint to the 16.5% alcohol, making for a fine Amarone. 19+/20 points.