Spring Release Weekend in Walla Walla Plus More Rosés

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 09 May 2017

The weekend of May 5-7 was Spring Release Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley. I had already tasted many of the wines being poured that weekend, so my focus was on wineries that are open only for special events. Here's a recap of the weekend.

On the morning of Friday the 5th, I went out on Mill Creek Road to Abeja, an iconic winery and inn. There, with husband and wife winemakers, Amy Alvarez-Wampfler and David Wampfler, a tasty Mourvèdre Rose (see below) and the 2016 Viognier and 2014 Cabernet (both to be reviewed in the June issue) were poured. On the way back, I stopped at àMaurice for two gorgeous 2016 Viogniers (July) and at Walla Walla Vintners for a knockout 2014 Sagemoor Cabernet (also July). In the afternoon, I went to The Walls to taste the new Spring releases, including the 2016 "Cruel Summer" Rosé (see below).

Saturday morning was kicked off with a visit to JJ and Kelly Menozzi's Aluvé winery to taste a lovely 2016 Sangiovese Rosé (see below) and the inaugural estate vineyard 2015 Chardonnay and 2014 Cabenet (July issue). Then I went on to the Leonetti Spring Release event where I tasted the new 2015 Merlot, 2014 Sangiovese and 2014 Cabernet (to be in the June issue). In the afternoon, I went to Aryn Morell's full line up of his own wines (Alleromb and Morell-Peña) and those from other wineries where he is consulting winemaker (Ardor, Gard, Tenor, Matthews, Mulan Road and Morell-Lawrence). A report will be in the July issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

Sunday morning, I stopped at Rasa Vineyards to the south on Powerline Road where the 2015 Grenache, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot were previewed, along with the 2014 "For the Love of the Game" Cabernet Sauvignon, all to be reviewed in July. 

More Rosé Wines

During Spring Release, and before and after, I tasted some more Rosé wines in addition to those listed in the April 24 Blog (scroll down below).

2016 Aluvé Sangiovese Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ($22) - This is a real charmer, with a light pink color and lovely aromas and flavors of strawberries, cherries and melon. Destemmed and crushed prior to press, it shows nice extraction and depth of flavor. 18.5/20 points. To be reviewed in July.

2016 Forgeron Cellars Rosé of Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley ($20) - Another charmer, this shows a light pink color and appealing aromas and flavors of strawberry, cherry and watermelon, with fresh fruits dancing on the palate, followed by a dry finish. 18+/20 points. To be reviewed July.

2016 The Walls "Cruel Summer" Rosé Wine, Columbia Gorge ($22) - With an added "secret ingredient" inspired by the Rosés of Southwest France, this shows a salmon color and seductive, floral and fruit aromas and alluring, nicely extracted flavors. 18.5/20 points. A full review to be in the June issue.

2016 Abeja "Beekeeper's" Mourvèdre Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ($28)- Salmon colored, this shows intriguing aromas of raspberry, cherry, rhubarb and pomegranate, with scents of cherry, orange blossoms and hibiscus, and notes of grape skin, tangerine, pomegranate seeds and Provençal herbs and spices on the finish. For those preferring a drier style of Rosé. 18.5/20 points.

2016 Amavi Cellars Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ($24) - Produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, this shows a pale salmon color and engaging aromas of strawberry, cherry, rhubarb and tangerine with fresh, lively flavors and rain-misted gravel. 18.5/20 points. To be in the June issue.

2016 Mansion Creek Cellars "Vino Rosado" Rose Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($21) - This in an unique blend of Sangiovese and Pinot Noir with a bit of Souzão. It shows a light peach-pink color and intriguing aromas of cherries, melon, nectarine, with fresh, lively flavors, followed by a bright, juicy yet dry finish. 18.5/20 points. Full review to be in July.

Fine Wine Values from France

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 01 May 2017

French wines were my first love ever since my explorations in the summer of 1968 and in the following years when I owned Esquin Wine Merchants. Sadly, the great wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux have become costly, ones reserved for extra special occasions. But there are still fine values to be had from France. Here are my recommendations from recent tastings.

Maconnais and Beaujolais

Southern Burgundy is a good source of fine, affordable wines. The whites of the Maconnais (the birthplace of Chardonnay is in the town of the same name) and the Gamay reds of the Beaujolais offer a lot for their modest prices. The "Villages" wines make nice everyday wines, and the "Crus" of Beaujolais (Fleurie, Morgon, Moulin à Vent and others) are fine wines and great values.

2015 Louis Jadot Macon Villages, Chardonnay ($12.99 at Safeway) - Medium greenish gold colored, this wine possesses fresh aromas of apple, peach, citrus, apple blossoms and acacia flowers. The flavors are pure and natural, unencumbered by oak, and accompanied by notes of peach stone, grape skin and Maconnais slate, followed by a crisp, lemon zest accented finish. 18/20 points.

2015 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($22.39 at Safeway) - Pouilly-Fuissé is the most prestigious appellation of the Maconnais. This one was partially barrel fermented and aged six months in French oak. It shows a brilliant gold color and lovely aromas of pear, peach and citrus, with scents of pear blossoms, white flowers and white incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with vivid Chardonnay flavors that are accented by peach stone, pear skin and slate minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and light oak on the way to a crisp, faintly honeyed finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages ($10.99 at Safeway) - This Gamay offers a purplish ruby color and attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry,  plum, rosebuds, anise and light spice. The flavors are bright and juicy, with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cola, and dusty earth. The chewy textured back picks up pressed berries, toasted nuts and fraise liqueur, followed by a ripe soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2015 Jean-Ernst Descombes Morgon ($19.99 from wine.com) - The late Jean Descombes' Morgons were among my favorites. The winery is now run by his daughter, Nicole. This vintage presents attractive aromas of raspberry, cherries and currants, with scents of roses,  mulberry and lavender. The flavors are pleasingly ample, yet robust, with notes of licorice, cocoa and minerals. The back picks up pressed berries kirsch and framboise liqueurs, followed by a moderate tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. A Georges Duboeuf selection. 18.5/20 points. 

2015 Domaine des Rosiers Moulin à Vent ($19.99 - wine.com) - Deep purplish colored, this wine emits enticing aromas of wild blackberries, huckleberries and currants, with scents of crushed red roses, sweet tobacco, violets and spiced incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with deep, robust fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The saturation continues on the back with sensations of pressed berries, creme de cassis and graphite, followed by a pleasing sweetish ripe tannin finish. A Duboeuf selection. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Domaine des Quatre Vents Fleurie ($23.99 - wine.com) - Fleurie ("flowery") is one of Beaujolais' most charming wines. This one offers a ruby-crimson color and seductive aromas of fraises de bois, wild cherries, red currants, rose petals, bayberry and violets. The medium bodied flavors, as well, are alluring, with layers of supple yet intense (old vines) red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa powder and granitic minerals. The back reveals sensations of gently pressed fruits, cerise and cassis liqueurs, a touch of nougat, and a dusting of ground charcoal, followed by a lengthy silky tannin finish. This delivers a lot of elegance for the price. A Duboeuf selection. 19/20 points.

2015 Domaine Diochon Moulin à Vent, Cuvée Vieilles Vignes ($23.99 - wine.com) - This is really serious Beaujolais. It exhibits a purplish ruby color and enticing aromas of blackberries, cherries and currants with scents of red roses, mulberries and violets. The robust flavors, as well, are appealing, with notes of licorice, cocoa and minerals. The back picks up kirsch and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a pleasingly juicy finish and soft tannins, lifted by bright fruit acidity. Enjoyable now, but will benefit from 1-5 more years aging. A Kermit Lynch selection. 19/20 points.

 The Côtes du Rhône

The Rhone Valley is another source of fine values. The most prestigious appellations such as Hermitage, Cote Rotie and Chateauneuf du Pape have gotten pricey, upwards of $50 a bottle, but the regional and Villages bottling are quite affordable.

2016 Château de Campuget Costières de Nimes Rosé ($9.99 at Safeway) - This is a surprisingly good Rosé (70% Syrah, 43% Grenache) for the price. From the region west of Avignon, it offers a light pink-copper color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pomegradnate and tangerine with scents of cherry blossoms, summer flowers and spiced white incense. The flavors are somewhat restrained, yet well defined, with notes of grape skin, pomegranate seeds and orange peel, followed by a refreshing, dry finish. 18/20 points. 

2015 M. Chapoutier "Belleruche" Côtes du Rhone ($10.99 at Safeway) - This 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah combination offers a purplish ruby color and engaging aromas of raspberry, blueberry and currant with scents of rosebuds, lavender and dried herbs. The medium bodied flavors are supple, yet vigorous, with cocoa and earth undertones and a rich, fruity, savory finish. 17.5+/20 points.

2014 Clos de Caveau "fruit sauvage" Vacqueyras ($29.99 at Esquin) - Vacqueyras can be called the "poor man's Chateauneuf du Pape." The dominant grape is Grenache with some Syrah and/or Mourvédere. This organically grown one is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, and shows a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of raspberry, plum and black currant, with scents of rosebuds, mulberry, pipe tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with thick, generous red and black fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and Dentelles de Montmriral minerals. The chewy textured back picks up roasted berries and nuts and touches of leather and dried currants, followed by  savory moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2013 Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Vaqueyras ($31.99 at Esquin) - This "Blood of the Rocks" tastes like it is predominately Grenache with some Mourvédre and Syrah. It shows a deep ruby color and intriguing aromas of wild fruits - blackberry, plum and black currants - with scents of rosebuds and garrigue (lavender and herbs) and smoldering incense. The flavors are thick and fleshy, with notes of licorice, dark cocoa, roasted coffee beans and minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts and charcoal, followed by a ripe, chewy tannin finish. A Kermit Lynch selection. 18.5/20 points.

The 2016 Vintage Rosé Roundup

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 24 April 2017

On Friday, April 21, Lynn and I hosted the PAWS (Perfectly Aged Wine Sippers) tasting group for a sampling of Rosés currently available in the Walla Walla Valley. Because when it comes to Rosés preferences depend mostly on personal tastes, participants were not asked to rank wines in order of preference or to score them. The tasting was solely for the purpose of finding one's own favorites.

As a guide to the varied types of Rosé wines tasted, I have compiled a list of the following categories, with brief stylistic descriptions, together with the months in which they were reviewed in the Review of Washington Wines.

Provence Style Rosés

This is the most popular category of Rosés, generally produced from Grenache, Mourvédre, Syrah, Cinsault, and or Counoise, or combinations thereof. Here are the ones we tasted.

2016 Tranche Cellars "Pink Pape" Rose, Yakima Valley, Blackrock Vineyard $20 - (47% Grenache, 27% Counoise, 26% Cinsault) - Pale salmon colored, this was made in a lighter, fresh style, with notes of tangerine, Rainier cherry and light spice. Reviewed May.

2016 Ardor Cellars Rosé, Yakima Valley, Painted Hills Vineyard $19 - (63% Mourvédre, 37% Grenache) - Pink salmon colored, with moderate extraction and hints of white smoke and spice, finishing dry. Reviewed May.

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills, Alder Ridge Vineyard $22 - Medium pink colored, this was the most extracted Rosé in this category. It had attractive notes of raspberry and cherry, with a lively finish. Reviewed May.

2016 Browne Family Vineyards Grenache Rosé, Columbia Valley $18 - Pale pink colored, with notes of strawberry and tangerine, and good structure, this  was the most Provençal-like Rosé tasted. Reviewed April.

2016 Balboa Rosé of Grenache, Walla Walla Valley $20 - Also Provençal-like, this one was pleasingly aromatic and fruited, with a dry, minerals finish. To be reviewed in the June issue.

2016 Gramercy Cellars Olsen Vineyard Rosé, Columbia Valley $25 - (52% Cinsault, 24% Grenache, 24% Syrah) - Pale pink colored, with aromas and flavors of raspberry and tangerine and nicely extracted. The herb and lavender scents give it a Provençal like character. To be reviewed June.

Rhone Style Rosés

These are made with the Syrah grape, sometimes with some white Viognier grapes. 

2016 Waters Rosé, Washington State $18 (60% Syrah, 40% Viognier co-ferment) - Made in a lightly extracted (straight from the press) style, this showed a pale salmon color and attractive fragrance (from the Viognier) along with peach and grape fruits. Reviewed May.

2016 Waters Patina Vineyard Rosé, Walla Walla Valley $22 (100% Syrah) - From LeaAnn Hughes' vineyard, this showed a salmon color and light, yet distinct extracts (again, straight from press) with a bit of spice and Patina gravel. Reviewed May.

 Cabernet Franc Rosés 

These are modeled after the Cabernet Franc Rosés of Bordeaux and the Loire Valley.

2016 Seven Hills Dry Rosé, Columbia Valley $18 (Cabernet Franc with bits of Malbec and Petit Verdot) - In the manner of a Bordeaux "Clairette" (what the Bordelais call Rosé), this pale pink-salmon colored wine offered an amiable lighter style, with touches of cherry and raspberry. Reviewed April.

2016 Sleight of Hand Cellars "Magician's Assistant" Rose of Cabernet Franc, Blackrock Vineyard $18 - This resembles a Loire Rosé with a pale pink color and fresh, lively cherry and raspberry fruits and a dry finish. Reviewed May.

Varietal Rosés

These are wines made from specific varietals or combinations.

2016 College Cellars Rosé of Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, Reed Vineyard $16 - This is made from Pinot Gris grapes given longer hang time on the vines, giving the wine a copper color. This one showed a peach and apricot nose and fruity flavors with moderate extract and acid. Reviewed March. 

2016 Vital Wines Rosé, Walla Walla Valley $18 - (100% Sangiovese, Seven Hills Vineyard) - Here, Ashley Trout has turned out a pale pink colored Rosé with floral scents and fresh, appealing light fruits that finish crisp and dry. Reviewed April.

2016 Tertulia Cellars Tempranillo Rosé, Walla Walla Valley $18 - From a variety originating in Spain, this showed a pale pink color and floral aromas and notes of cherry and tangerine, finishing dry. Reviewed May.

2016 Saviah Cellars Rosé, Walla Walla Valley $18 - (56% Sangiovese, 44% Barbera) - Light copper-pink colored, with attractive aromas and flavors of strawberry and cherry, with moderate extraction and hints of spice. To be reviewed in the June issue.

A Week in Western Washington

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Written by Rand Sealey

Published: 17 April 2017

On Saturday, April 8, we drove over to the west side of the state for an excursion to celebrate Lynn's birthday. On the trip, we had some memorable meals and wines. Here's what we did.

Saturday, April 8 - We drove over on I-90 and then I-5 to Stanwood, just east of Camano Island. There, we had lunch at Shima Sushi, owned by a man who had a sushi restaurant in Bellevue and then retired to Camano. Excellent, very fresh. In the afternoon, we went to La Conner where we had dinner at the Oyster and Thistle. We had broiled oysters with a Macon-Fuissé.

Sunday, April 9 - From La Conner, we stopped at Edison to check the art scene and had lunch at Slough Food, a sandwich and soup place. Lynn had soup and I a panini, with a nice Rosé from Corsica. In the afternoon, we checked in at the Chuckanut Manor. There, we had a nice, cozy cabin overlooking Samish Bay. Dinner at the Manor consisted of broiled oysters with a tasty 2015 Lemelson Pinot Gris from the Willamette Valley.

Monday, April 10 - That day, we drove up Chuckanut Drive to Fairhaven for soup and panini at the Colophon Cafe with a Barnard-Griffin Sangiovese Rosé. In the evening, we had dinner a couple of miles north of Chuckanut Manor at the historic Oyster Bar. We had a selection of raw oysters and steamed mussels accompanied by a 2015 Domaine Vatan Sancerre (a Sauvignon Blanc from the upper Loire).

Tuesday, April 11 - From Chuckanut Drive, we headed south to Everett where we stopped at the Schack Art Center, followed by lunch at Anthony's at the Marina where we had clam chowder and Cadaretta "SBS" Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon Blend. In the afternoon, we checked in at the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle. For dinner, we went down to Western Avenue to have dinner at Nijo Sushi with Martinis and Cosmopolitans.

Wednesday, April 12 - We had heard buzz about Ethan Stawell's Sitka and Spruce so we decided to give it a try for lunch. It was decidedly different, with an industrial warehouse decor and unconventional dishes. Lynn had grilled parsnips with a Cor Cellars Gewürztraminer-Pinot Gris, and I smoked smelt with a Beaujolais Villages. In the evening, we had dinner at the Sorrento's Dunbar Room. We had steak (after all the seafood, we were ready for red meat) with a Argentina Malbec. 

Thursday, April 13 - This was Lynn's Big Birthday. We had lunch at the Sunset Club with Lynn's brother and some long time friends. Our wines were a nice Languedoc Chardonnay and a tasty Moulin-a-Vent from Beaujolais. The evening was an extra special dinner at Canlis, Seattle's iconic restaurant, now run by the third generation of the Canlis family (we used go when it was run by the first and second generations). We were back to seafood, with the signature Canlis salad, grilled oysters, seared scallops and soufflé, accompanied by a superb, precise 2014 Simon Bize Savigny-les-Beaune Blanc, Premier Cru, Aux Vergelesses.

Friday, April 14 - That day, we went to the Eastside for a visit to the Bellevue Arts Museum and lunch at Blue Sushi, where our meal was accompanied by a fine Hakutsuru Superior Junmai Sake. In the afternoon, we checked into the Baymont Hotel in Kirkland, close to Woodinville. Dinner was at The Tandem Wine Bar in Woodinville, owned and run by bicycle and wine enthusiasts. He had king salmon with a tasty Grenache (75%) dominated Gigondas from the South Rhone Valley.

Saturday, April 15 - In the morning, we drove to Esquin to pick up wines I had ordered (as the former owner, I still get the employee discount). Then we went back to Woodinville to visit wineries. JM Cellars was having its Wine Club Spring Release party. Lunch was at Sushi Connections (we couldn't seem to get enough sushi) followed by winery visits at Adams Bench, DeLille Cellars, Savage Grace, Davenport Cellars and William Church. The wines will be reviewed in the June issue of the Review of Washington Wines. Dinner was at The Commons, a noisy, crowded madhouse of a bar where we had chicken pot pie with The Walls Pinot Noir Rosé.

Sunday, April 16 - We got up early, loaded up our SUV with six cases of wine and our luggage and drove back home to Walla Walla, arriving in time for lunch.

Next Week - Our Annual Rosé Roundup and the May issue of the Review of Washington Wines on Monday, April 24.