Washington

• Columbia Valley
• Horse Heaven Hills
• Red Mountain
• Wahluke Slope
• Walla Walla
• Yakima Valley

This is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from Washington state.  It is a nice value in Cabernet.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cassis and an ash quality that is interesting.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cassis fruit.  Medium tannins.  Nice finish.  This is a solid, easy drinking wine that will work well with steaks, roasted chicken or all but the lightest foods.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

At a recent tasting of United Ink Wines, this was the runaway crowd favorite.  It is a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington state.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, chocolate and slight black raspberry.  Mice mouthfeel.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, nice black raspberry and black cherries fruit with some chocolate.  Firm tannins on the finish.  This is delicious.  It drinks (easy).  Great on its own, this would be great with a burger or other foods off the grill.  Drink over the next five year

This was a very enjoyable Riesling from Washington state.  The back label talked about dry wine, but this is semi-dry.  Screw capped.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is more about minerality than fruit.  Tight but opens with some air to show some tropical fruits.  On the palate, there is a nice pineapple streak with minerality and yes a bit of sweetness.  Enough acidity to balance this nicely.

My second time trying this wine.  Same overall impressions.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.  Almost black in color, more ruby towards the rim.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries and the burnt rubber smell.  Medium bodied if not a bit thinner.  On the palate, this is a nice quaff.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  No idea on what the pricing will be.  

A fantastic Washington state Syrah.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black pepper, black raspberries with some roasted meats.  Full bodied. Wonderful almost seamless texture.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This will continue to mature for another seven to ten years and drink well for twelve to fifteen after that.  It drinks well on its own and will require bigger flavors (less as it matures).  Spicy foods are a nice match.  

This is 100% Syrah from Washington state.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is boysenberry, black pepper, slight roasted meats and a hint of burnt rubber.  Medium to full bodied.  Delicious.  On the palate, lush black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Also some black pepper.  Very smooth.  Long finish.  This is still young and will no doubt continue to improve for another five to seven years.  It should drink well for ten to fifteen more after that.  Drinks well on its own and will work with bigger foods especially roasts or off the grill.  

This is a bigger wine, but for the K Vintners lineup, it seemed less oversized than usual.  That is neither good nor bad, just a frame of reference.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and slight rubber note.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, nice black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Medium tannins.  Lots of depth.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  This should improve a bit over the next five years and drink well for another seven to ten after that.  Great on its own, this would work well with charcuterie.  

From the folks at Cayuse.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, strawberries, slight earthiness and a hint of floral notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherry and strawberries come thru big time.  A slight dry earthiness underneath.  This is ripe but not over done.  Good finish.  This could use a few years to develop more and should drink well for eight to ten after that.  Nice on its own, with age it will work well with roasted fowl.  

This is apparently a new wine from No Girls that was sent free to those members on the Mailing List.  A Zoom tasting was held for people to try it although a friend brought this bottle to a separate event.  Pop and pour.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.  Almost black in color, more ruby towards the rim.  The nose has that burnt rubber smell so prevalent in many Washington Syrahs.  Also, some slight barnyard, black raspberries and black cherries.  Medium bodied if not a bit thinner.  On the palate, this is a nice quaff.  Somewhat one dimensional with nice black cherry fruit

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, spice and cedar.  On the palate, ripe black raspberry fruit with a slight sour cherry note.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This is a big wine but not over done.  It is just starting to calm down a bit as it enters middle age.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another seven to ten years.  This would work well with Indian food including yellow curries.