NEW Releases
Coming Winter, 2012
Nebbiolo Clifton Vineyard Wahluke Slope 2007 $28 Available to Club members February 2012
Waiting and watching a wine develop in barrel for three seasons has taught me a new level of patience. Using the rules for Barolo production as a guide, the vineyard yield was limited to less than 3.5 tons per acre, and the wine was then aged in the cellar for a minimum of three years. This vintage spent 42 months in neutral French Oak barrels before
Malbec Columbia Valley - 2008 $25 Available March 2012
89pts - Wine Advocate, October 2011
Malbec 100%. Aromas on this wine are bold with black cherries and dried berries such a raisins, and a hint of meatiness that adds interest and complexity. On the palate, this year’s Malbec is saturated with black, dark berry and plum flavors supported by some minerality and a bit of meat. The wine is perfectly balanced with a great dose of natural acidity and ends with a long, clean finish.
Coming Spring, 2012
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 New for Chatter Creek
Pinot Gris 2011
White Wines
88 pts - Wine Advocate October 2011
Muscat 100%. This wine is very floral with ripe orange and apple in the nose. Sweet flavors of nectarine, apple, and mixed melons on the palate. A lingering, clean finish is supported by well-balanced acidity. The perfect aperitif.
87 pts - Wine Spectator July 2011
Awarded "Bronze" at 2011 Seattle Wine Awards
Light and lively, the 2010 Pinot Gris is crisp and fruit forward, with a zesty mix of aromas and flavors such as green apple, spice, and pear. Medium-bodied with high acidity, this wine is the perfect accompaniment to most light dishes, although our favorite pairings are sundecks, sailboats and friends.
Viognier Columbia Valley - 2008 $14 Just Released (2/1/2012)
Viognier 100%. Only 40 cases available. The 2008 Viognier has a very floral nose with hints of peach, pear and melon. In the mouth it presents the clean flavors of apple, peach and a hint of lychee in its lingering finish. This wine my favorite with lighter foods and is especially nice with fish.
Viognier Columbia Valley - 2007 $14 SOLD OUT!
Red Wines
87 pts - Wine Advocate October 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon 88%, Merlot 8%, Petit Verdot 2%, Syrah 2%.
A passion for blending shines in this elegant but sturdy Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of violets and black berry, a bouquet of cedar and tobacco. Cassis and blueberry on the palate make this full-bodied wine the ideal accompaniment to most savory beef recipes.
Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley - 2008 $24
87 pts - Wine Advocate October 2011
Cabernet Franc 84%, Cabernet Sauvignon 16%.
On the nose, aromas of blueberry, cranberry, cassis, and peppers. The mouth feel is clean with ripe and youthful pie-cherry and red berry flavors that are unencumbered by oak. The tannins are well managed, and the finish is fruity, velvety and lingers for quite some time.
Blend 105 Columbia Valley - 2007 $22
89 pts - Wine Spectator July 2011
86 pts - Wine Advocate October 2011
Merlot 49%, Cabernet Sauvignon 21%, Syrah 14%, Petit Verdot 10%, Malbec 3%, Cabernet Franc 3%. This wine sparkles with bright, ruby color. The nose, ripe and forward, is an aromatic blend of violets, cassis, and black cherry. A complex palate starts with cassis, then warming to plumy cherry and blueberry fruit. The finish continues the interplay of the fruit and terroir, framed in by notes of toasted almonds and vanilla bean. A wine that boasts of tremendous balance and attentive winemaking.
Malbec Columbia Valley - 2007 $25 SOLD OUT!
90 pts - Wine Advocate, August 2010
Awarded "Silver" at 2010 Seattle Wine Awards
Malbec Columbia Valley - 2008 $25 COMING February 2012
89pts - Wine Advocate, October 2011
Malbec 100%. Aromas on this wine are bold with black cherries and dried berries such a raisins, and a hint of meatiness that adds interest and complexity. On the palate, this year’s Malbec is saturated with black, dark berry and plum flavors supported by some minerality and a bit of meat. The wine is perfectly balanced with a great dose of natural acidity and ends with a long, clean finish.
Chatterneuf-du-Pape Columbia Valley - 2007 $22
Syrah 53%, Grenache 25%, Mourvedre 22%.
Aromas of strawberry, lavender, cocoa, mint and bramble fill the nose. On the palate, dark berries, a bit of bramble and black cherry are complimented by a velvety mouthfeel. A bit of spice is found on the finish where notes of anise and pepper appear. This wine is a knockout with elegance and style. Only 71 cases produced.
Grenache Columbia Valley - 2008
88 pts - Wine Enthusiast (Paul Gregutt)
85 pts - Wine Advocate, August 2010
Grenache 85%, Syrah 10%, Mourvedre 5%.
This year’s Grenache is light ruby in color, very clear and bright. The nose is full of aromas of cranberry, fresh bread and strawberry. Racy acidity in the forward palate combines with the flavors of cranberry, raspberry, peach and a bit of hazelnut, resulting in a well-balanced, classic Grenache.
Syrah, Lonesome Spring Ranch Yakima Valley - 2006 $22,
Syrah 100%. Nine year old vines provide fruit that is more highly concentrated and deeper than previous vintages. The resulting wine shows this with its rich purple color and aromas of blackberry, sage, plum and pan drippings that waft from the glass. A racy acidity helps propel flavors in this richly extracted, well-balanced classic Syrah. Firm tannins hold the experience in balance without being austere and a long finish hangs on until giving way to a silky hint of toasted nuts.
Syrah, Clifton Hill Vineyard Wahluke Slope - 2006 $26
Syrah 95%, Viognier 5%.
The Clifton Hill Syrah is traditionally co-fermented with Viognier to create this complex wine where pinpoint balance is the theme. This year’s vintage is dark ruby in color, with a purple rim. The nose is a savory mix of cedar, orange peel, plum and blackberry. The palate finds a warm, weighty attack full of blackberry, plum, grilled meats, dark chocolate, with an underlying minerality that gives way to a high glycerin -- almost creamy -- mid-palate that unfolds into a lingering, sexy, cocoa and port-like finish.
Barbera Columbia Valley - 2007 $21
Barbera from the 2007 vintage exhibits an attractive ripe aroma of red fruit, currants or blackberries. Crisp Italian plumb and August blackberries dominate the palate. Lingering toasty notes added by nearly 26 months of barrel aging linger in the finish.
Nebbiolo Clifton Vineyard - 2006 $28 SOLD OUT
Waiting and watching a wine develop in barrel for three seasons has taught me a new level of patience.I am very proud of how this wine turned out and have had wait a long time to show it, Using the rules for Barolo production as a guide, the vineyard yield was limited to less than 3.5 tons per acre, and the wine was then aged in the cellar for a minimum of three years. Only 70 cases were produced.