Big Price Reductions by Washington Wineries

 

Back on October 14, I wrote about "More Wineries go Into Red Blends," about the increasing number of red wine blends. Now, we are seeing more wineries simply reducing prices on wines they already have rather than creating new wines. This trend seems to be directed both at restaurant by the glass pours and retailer volume sales (I have seen some of these wines stacked up at Esquin). Here are some that have been reduced in price by 20 to 30 percent or more.

 

2008 Olsen Estates Blanc de Coteaux, Yakima Valley ($15 - was $28)

A blend of 70% Roussanne, 23% Viognier and 7% Marsanne, this wine offers a seductive pear-apple, peach and honeysuckle nose. The full-bodied white fruit flavors are intermixed with minerals and grape skin extracts, and underlain with notes of anise seed, graham cracker and toasted almonds, followed by a vigorous citrus and creme brulee laced finish. 18.5/20 points.

 

2008 Ch. Ste. Michelle / Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley ($18 - was $25)

This bottling displays a brilliant gold color and a flinty nose of pear-apple, peach and nectarine, with scents of alpine wildflowers and verbena. The white stone fruit flavors are vibrant, with a steely backbone of grapefruit and pineapple. The steely minerality persists on the lingering, lightly spiced finish. This is a real bargain. 18.5/20 points.

 

2007 Gamache Vintners Boulder Red, Columbia Valley ($15 - was $20)

This blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Malbec, 23% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc shows a deep ruby color and ripe aromas of blackberry, cherry, anise and sage. The red fruit flavors are bright and mouth filling, with undertones of licorice, stony minerals and cola. The lively character continues on the back with a squeeze of blueberry juice on a moderate tannin finish. 18/20 points.

 

2007 Dusted Valley "Stained Tooth" Syrah, Columbia Valley ($18 - was $25)

Deep purple colored, this wine shows unmistakable aromas of blackberries, blueberries, lavender and sage. The flavors are deliciously ripe and chewy, with tones of cocoa powder, licorice and roast coffee, and follow through on the back on the ripe moderate tannin and acid finish. 18+/20 points.

 

2007 Waters Syrah, Columbia Valley ($20 - was $28)

This wine from the Minick vineyard near Prosser offers an intriguing nose of raspberry, huckleberry and mulberry with scents of sandalwood, lavender and brambles. The flavors are ripe and generous, with a sexy texture that makes the wine easy to like, intermixed with tones of silty earth, milk chocolate, coffee grounds and licorice that persist on the back and lead into a ripe, chewy moderately tannic finish. 18.5/20 points.

 

2007 NxNW Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($22 - was $30)

This North by Northwest product is an eleven vineyard blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% each of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. It exhibits a deep garnet color and rich aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, incense and rubbed sage. The flavors are deep and generous, with tones of licorice, mocha, roast coffee and earth, with the dark fruits persisting on the back and leading into a ripe, chewy tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.