Tasting Notes Digest
Updated 01/23/2009

"Here's to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit,
the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship,
and the gate of pleasant folly."
...French toast

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Introduction

    Whether you are new to the world of Pacific Northwest wines or a seasoned veteran, you will find our "Tasting Notes" pages a valuable tool for learning more about recently released Oregon, Washington, Idaho and BC wines.  Wine writer, judge and and wine-country traveler Chuck Hill provides the reviews you find on these pages.

     Just click on the varietal of your choice below.  If  you find a wine review that peaks your interest, contact a wine shops or the winery itself.  For contact information, browse our wine shop lists by state, or by wine regions, using the "Wine Shops and Regional Tasting Rooms" links on each wine-region page.

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Reviews of Pacific Northwest Red Wines

Pinot Noir

Amity Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Sunnyside Vineyard
$32.00

Many of the tasters raised a cheer when this wine was unveiled.  Myron Redford was one of the pioneers of growing Pinot Noir in Oregon, and his wines carry a certain trademark elegance that experienced Pinot lovers can easily identify.  A light but complex aroma carries dusty spice, rose and orange blossom with light cherry and berry in the background.  The wine offers cherry and berry flavors and delicate hints of cedar and smoke. Gentle tannins assure a great food pairing, even with delicately prepared salmon. (7/08 CH)

Chehalem
2006 Pinot Noir
Corral Creek Vineyard
$44.00

Winemaker Harry Peterson-Nedry claims that the fruit from the 2006 vintage is the best he has ever seen from selected vineyards. His single-vineyard wine from Corral Creek is a blockbuster Pinot Noir with an elegant nose of red fruits, orange blossom, cherry cola, spicy oak and a variety of other appealing olfactory impressions. The palate is ripe with earthy/meaty notes over rich red fruit flavors. Grilled salmon over charcoal will bring out the best in this big wine. (6/08 CH)

Duck Pond Cellars
2006 Pinot Noir
St. Jory Vineyard
$30.00

This tempting single-vineyard Pinot Noir was another favorite with our judges.   "A big wine, complex, ripe flavors" were accurate descriptors as the group took in the richness of this beauty. Bold aromas of black cherry, earth and toasty oak lead to a rich and chewy palate finishing with notes of cocoa and vanilla. For this one, grill your salmon over charcoal to give some added complexity to the fish. (6/08 CH)

Elk Cove
2006 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$29.00

Tucked away in the foothills of Oregon's Coast Range, Elk Cove is one of the state's pioneer wineries and a great place to visit on your next wine tour. Winemaker Adam Campbell (son of the founding family, Joe and Pat Campbell) crafted this Willamette Valley bottling from select vineyard sites planted to Dijon and Pommard clone Pinot. The nose is of strawberry, light cherry and earthy spice with notes of leather and vanilla. The palate is generous in flavor, superb in structure and a great complement to the flavors of Copper River salmon. (6/08 CH)

Erath Winery
2006 Pinot Noir
Oregon
$19.00

Crafted by veteran Oregon winemaker Gary Horner, this enticing Pinot Noir is sourced from several northern Willamette Vineyards including the Erath Estate. Aromas of black cherry, orange and baking spice lead to a palate of ripe cherry, plum and light anise notes. A clean fruity finish has just enough tannin to pair with rich salmon from the grill. (6/08 CH)

Firesteed
2007 Pinot Noir Rosé
Oregon
$14.00

For those of you who aren't up to rich and ripe Pinot Noir with your expensive fish preparations, Firesteed offers you a delightful alternative in their inaugural Pinot Noir Rosé. From the beautiful pink hue, to the nose of strawberries and ripe citrus, to the crisp and flavorful cherry/berry palate, this wine is a winner for both sipping with light hors d'oeuvres or pairing with your full meal of salmon, spring asparagus and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. (6/08 CH)

Firesteed
2006 Pinot Noir
Oregon
$17.00

Kudos to owner Howard Rossbach and his winemaking/grape-growing team! This outstanding - and affordable - Pinot Noir offers berry, earth and vanilla on the nose and appealing cherry, berry and toast on the palate.  A reasonably low alcohol content (13.4%) makes this a perfect Pinot for salmon. (6/08 CH)

Lange Estate Winery
2006 Reserve Pinot Noir
$30.00

Another favorite with the Yuppies, Don and Jesse Lange's Reserve Pinot offers a nose of toasty oak, cherry, raspberry and herbs. The palate is a juicy fruit bowl of ripe cherry, currants and spice. One taster found a curious tomato character, but overall, the wine is a superb foil for the rich flavors of salmon.
 (7/08 CH)

Montinore Estate
2006 Pinot Noir
Parson's Ridge Vineyard
$35.00

The grapes for this wine came from a 25-year-old vineyard block at Montinore Estate. The nose is cherry, mocha and earth with notes of herbs and strawberry.  The medium-bodied palate offers bright cherry and berry flavors over a background of toasty oak and spicy earthiness. A very pleasant companion to wild Alaskan salmon. (7/08 CH)

Patricia Green Cellars
2006 Estate Pinot Noir
Ribbon Ridge AVA
$33.00

The winemaker describes this bottling as dark, brooding and powerful - descriptors not commonly associated with Pinot Noir.  It is dark and brooding, but with a feminine side. Look for aromas and flavors of sweet cherry and plum wrapped in toasty oak, earth and grilled bacon. My style, to be sure, but make sure your salmon is full-flavored and hot from the grill. (7/08 CH)

Ponzi Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$35.00

This Pinot offered a bit of what old timers have come to expect from the best Oregon Pinot Noirs. Aromas of tangy plum and cherry mingle with notes of bacon, tea and tobacco. The rich palate offers flavors of black cherry, plum and currant with notes of coffee and chocolate on the finish.  (7/08 CH)

Rex Hill
2006 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
$28.00

This wine is a classic Oregon Pinot Noir from an outstanding vintage. Look for aromas of cherry, strawberry and cassis with intriguing hints of bacon, mineral and spicy oak. The palate is rich and flavorful without being heavy, and pairs superbly with rich Copper River salmon. (6/08 CH)

Willamette Valley Vineyards
2006 Signature Cuvee Pinot Noir
$50.00

A favorite with many tasters, this wine offers aromas of black cherry, mocha and plum with peppery and floral notes. The palate is complex and balanced with red fruits, cherry and hints of toasty oak. It is a delightful pairing with salmon from the grill. (7/08 CH)

Willamette Valley Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir
Tualatin Estate Vineyard
$35.00

The hits just keep on coming!  Vinted from the Tualatin Estate Vineyard near Forest Grove, the juicy Pinot offers notes of black cherry, cassis and vanilla with hints of spicy oak.  Ample acidity on the palate assures food compatibility, and the finish is soft and velvety.  Great with C.R. sockeye baked with lemon and tarragon. (6/08 CH)

 

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chateau Ste. Michelle
2005 Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
$38.00

Sometimes a wine is almost indescribable in words, but offers the answer to the question, "I'll know quality when I taste it."  This is such a wine.  As the wine breathed, it opened to reveal layers of delicious berry and plum fruit, strata of complex notes of tobacco, cedar, cocoa and spice, and a base of superb structure on the palate in a medium-bodied style.  Serve with medium-rich cheeses and savor the complexity with close friends. (11/08 CH)

Woodward Canyon
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley
$39.00

Showing the best balance and flavor development in a flight of very impressive wines, Rick Small and his winemaking team once again hit the mark. Showing almost unlimited complexity, the nose evolves with black cherry and cassis surrounded by smoky oak, baking spice, tobacco and coffee. The palate is firm with flavors of black cherry, chocolate and vanilla leading to a classic finish that promises a reward for further bottle aging. (11/08 CH)

Leonetti Cellar
2005 Reserve
Walla Walla Valley
$125.00

This reserve wine hails entirely from the winery's Mill Creek Upland Vineyard and is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot and 17% Merlot.  Superb in structure and offering rich, ripe plum, cherry and cassis in flavor and aroma, one appreciates the complexity of spice and herbs mingling with vanilla, cedar and smoky notes of oak.  This special wine needs at least two years further bottle age to even approach its potential. (11/08 CH)

Walla Walla Vintners
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vineyard Select
Walla Walla Valley
$48.00

Winemakers Myles Anderson and Gordy Venneri crafted this special wine with love, then added 10% Petit Verdot to 'provide a wonderful black pepper pizzazz!'   Full bodied and full flavored, look for ripe blackberry and cherry mingling with spicy notes and a barista's dream of complex coffee, cocoa and vanilla.  Myles suggests Steak Diane prepared tableside. (11/08 CH)

Pepper Bridge Winery
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley
$55.00

Jean-Francois Pellet crafts the outstanding varietals for Pepper Bridge, located in the middle of one of Washington's most famous vineyards.  This Cabernet offers great finesse and complexity showing aromas of blackberry, cherry, mineral, black pepper and mocha.  The palate is seductive with ripe fruit flavors dancing among an array of spicy oak notes.  Improves dramatically with breathing time. (11/08 CH)

Genesis by Hogue Cellars
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
$17.00

Hogue Genesis wines are designed to highlight classical varietal character by selective blending of specific vineyard sites.  This vintage shows a very fruit-forward character with ripe cherry and raspberry aromas edged with herbs, mocha and light smoky toast.  The palate adds hints of tobacco and pepper with excellent acidity to accompany steaks or other carnivore delights. (11/08 CH)

Arbor Crest
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Wahluke Slope
$32.00

If you haven't been to Arbor Crest's historic Cliff House, you should be sure to visit this unique estate when you next visit Spokane.  While there, you will no doubt enjoy great wines like this Cabernet, offering aromas of smoky cherry, plum, herbs and black pepper.  The spicy palate is medium bodied and offers cherry and black fruit flavors to make this an excellent food wine. (11/08 CH)

Brian Carter Cellars
2004 Solesce Bordeaux-style Blend
$58.00

Crafted from the five major Bordeaux varietals (CS, ME, CF, PV, MB) Brian Carter's delicious red blend offers ripe cherry and blackberry aromas with hints of cedar and spice. The palate bursts with fruit flavors neatly contained by moderate tannins and toasty oak. Well balanced in the mouth, the wine calls out for your favorite holiday beef roast dinner.  (12/08 CH)

Adams Bench
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve "V"
$42.00

Tim and Erica Blue make Cabernet and Cabernet blends in their small Woodinville winery under the eye of consultant Chris Camarda (Andrew Will Winery). Their use of 100% new French oak is evident in this powerful wine, but the wood is balanced with intense fruit showing spicy blueberry and cassis aromas mingling with lots of oak nuances. The palate is rich with blueberry, herb and vanilla flavors with a finish of spicy oak and baking spice. New York steaks from the grill will stand up to this exciting and mouthfilling wine. (12/08 CH)

Lone Canary
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Yakima Valley
$20.00

We have long acknowledged winemaker Mike Scott's alchemy with crisp Sauvignon Blanc, but his red-wine prowess deserves credit, too.  The nose on his Cabernet is ripe black cherry and herb with nuances of plum, blackberry and toasty cedar. The palate offers berry and cherry flavors with lingering vanilla and hints of oak. Pick up this very approachable and versatile wine for your holiday entertaining. (12/08 CH)

Washington Hills
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Summit Reserve
$12.00

This value-priced Cabernet offers the quality and bright fruit that make it a terrific holiday selection for giving or drinking.  Aromas of cherry, raspberry and vanilla lead to a gentle palate with berry and cassis flavors and a finish of cedar and mocha.  Serve as a sipper or as an accompaniment to almost any savory holiday fare. (12/08 CH)

Ash Hollow
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley Estate
$32.00

This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet from Ash Hollow Vineyard and 30% from the winery's Lakeshore Vineyard - each site adding unique character and structure to the wine. A veritable gourmet fruit bowl, look for aromas of dried cherry, cassis, anise and plum. The palate adds to these with flavors of coffee, cocoa and tangy tobacco leading to a finish of vanilla and cherry. The winery suggests grilled flank steak with Walla Walla sweet onions. (12/08 CH)

Mercer Estates
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Horse Heaven Hills
$24.00

This relatively new venture of the Hogue and Mercer families features David Forsyth at the winemaking helm. The 95% Cabernet in this blend is sourced from the Andrews Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, while the 5% Merlot portion came from the Desert Wind Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope. Cherry, cocoa and herbs greet your nose with notes of vanilla and cedar. The palate offers flavors of cherry, coffee and cassis with excellent structure and a lingering finish. (12/08 CH)

Hightower Cellars
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
$35.00

Tim and Kelly Hightower are pioneering their own little corner of Red Mountain with a fledgling vineyard, new winery and co-winemaking efforts that are first rate. Their 2005 Cab offers aromas of black cherry, herb and cocoa with notes of baking spice and cedar. The palate is reminiscent of black cherry cola with toasty oak notes and a delightful spicy finish. (12/08 CH)
 

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Last revised: January 23, 2009