A few times a month we hope to offer our opinion on some wines that you may or may not be familiar with. The more we drink the more wines we’ll be able to tell you about, so we're going to drink…we're going to drink a lot…and we're going to do it all for you! We hope you find these reviews informative and useful when choosing your next bottle of wine.

Winery: Januik Winery - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2004 Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay
Region: Wahluke Slope
Price: $30.00

From the Industry: Made from one of Washington State's premiere vineyards...the finished wine has great structure, concentration, and classic Chardonnay characteristics-pear and citrus flavors along with a remarkably creamy texture. Layered with hints of vanilla and mineral flavors, the finish is fresh, balanced and lingering.

What We Say: At first whiff you know this is going to be a lush white wine with layered aromas of pear, citrus, vanilla and toasted oak. The smell however is nowhere near the best part. This is a very drinkable wine, slightly sweet, with flavors of big pear, honey and still a little citrus. The sweetness of the flavors are beautifully complemented with a perfect amount of oak enhanced by additional flavors of mineral and hay/straw. Its delectably creamy texture and lingering freshness will keep you drinking for hours, so be prepared to buy multiple bottles if you have to share. A little expensive for a Chardonnay, but still very inviting.

Winery: OS Winery - Seattle, WA
Wine: 2003 BSH (Red Wine)
Region:
Price: $37.00

From the Industry: BSH "Brick Sh!t House" is a huge wine and a graceful one as well. It’s a blend of 70% Cabernet, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc all combining to make this vintage live up to its name. Complex aromatics evolve from the primary black fruit bouquet. Flavors of mocha and spice with herb and licorice overlay a classic Cabernet with big black fruit flavors and a long finish. Very satisfying and beautifully integrated with layers and layers of flavor.

What We Say: As the name alludes to, this is one big wine with an interesting (in a good way) mix of aromas and flavors. It starts with a complex nose (aroma) of big red & black fruit including blackberry, plum, and ripe strawberry, with hints of espresso and cinnamon. How can you not want to take a taste after that? Following suit this dark inky concoction actually comes off tasting lighter than it smells with flavors of dark cherry, ripe strawberry, oak, espresso, caramel and licorice. Solid tannins and big fruit make for a well-balanced wine with a surprisingly nice finish. This complex mixture actually comes off gracefully with a smooth, velvety finish. Imagine an offensive lineman with grace, agility and balance (Go Seahawks!).

Winery: Woodhouse Family Cellars - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2001 Maghie Cellars Merlot
Region: Red Mountain
Price: $28.00

From the Industry: The 2001 Maghie is dark and smooth textured, rich and chocolaty with layers of mouth coating mocha, blackberry and racy wild berry. The soft tannins keep the finish focused, long and intense. Maghie is 100% Red Mountain Merlot.

What We Say: This terrific Red Mountain Merlot begins with a dense aroma of dark cherry, toasted oak, earth, spice and a little mocha. The first taste is a gluttonous collection of berries, including dark cherry, raspberry & strawberry, coated by a rich layer of chocolate. A silky mix of big red fruit and rich spices, balanced by nice soft tannins, create a very drinkable wine with a soft lingering finish. The color may be dark and daunting but the velvety smooth texture makes for one very inviting experience…kind of like that first time you step into a new basement jazz club.

Winery: Mark Ryan Winery- Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2003 Gun Metal (Red Blend)
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $35.00

From the Industry: Opaque wine, huge bouquet of alpine strawberries (!!), toasted espresso, mocha/cocoa, cinnamon, smoke, and licorice, yet a bit more sophisticated and polished than the other red blends from this highly regarded "garagiste". Flavors are of black cherries, blackberries, black currant, coffee, licorice, and herbs. A solidly structured wine with a mouth-filling, lengthy finish. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc from Conner Lee Vineyard.

What We Say: This dark wine packs a punch even before your first drink with bold aromas of deep red strawberry and raspberry. Backed by plenty of dark berries, toasted oak and the spicy aroma mocha, black licorice and cinnamon. At first taste the bold fruit and tannins, which add to the overall power of the wine, may knock you back a step but there is plenty of structure and length making for well-balanced attack. If you have the time you may want to let it decant for an hour, or if you’re into aging this one will benefit from laying down a couple of years…but how can you stand waiting that long to drink it. If you can’t be bothered with doing either then you’re still going to get a great wine with bold flavors of black cherry, big bold strawberry, and a spicy mix of mocha and Jagermeister! This is definitely a big wine with a powerful kick and long finish.

Winery: Gorman Winery - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2003 The Evil Twin (Syrah & Cab Blend)
Region: Red Mountain
Price: $45.00

From the Industry: The Evil Twin 2003 is dynamic in flavor and volume. Nearly opaque in color. Dense and compacted flavors of cassis, black and blueberry, coffee and sweet oak. The texture is luxurious with cool glycerin and a seamless balance. Powerful yet balanced.

What We Say: .
The only thing evil about this wine is it’s dark inky appearance. The nose is full of ripe dark fruit, with hints of toasted oak, peppered bacon, smoke, cocoa and cinnamon…just about everything you need for a rockin’ good camping trip. At first taste you’ll notice how the texture is big but soft, like your old prison cellmate (possible name origin?). Densely concentrated flavors of black currant, raspberry and blackberry will coat the tongue, along with fresh coffee beans and sweet oak. If you’re looking for something to replace your morning coffee this could be it.

Winery: Whitman Cellars - Walla Walla, WA
Wine: 2003 Syrah
Region: Walla Walla Valley
Price: $28.00

From the Industry: Big, rich, ripe and graceful, with layers and layers of dense blackberry, cherry, plum, game and peppery spice flavors that linger on the long, generous, firm finish. Impressive now, but give it time.

What We Say: If you’re looking for a great, reliable Syrah you’ve come to the right place. At first whiff your nose is instantly filled with ripe red fruit and dark cherries, followed up by roasted almonds, smoked tobacco and spice. The fruit doesn’t stop there however. Take a drink and you’ll be instantly satisfied with an assortment of big ripe blackberry, plum and of course more dark cherry. With a slight vanilla undertone this wine runs smoothly off the tongue, leaving it tingling for more. While this isn’t a knock your socks off Syrah it has a wonderful balance of ripe fruit, firm tannins and solid acidity making it a consistently good drink, consistent like Christmas. Matches perfectly with a medium rare Pepper Corn Filet.

Winery: Barrister Winery - Spokane, WA
Wine: 2003 Cabernet Franc
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $24.00

From the Industry: This Cabernet Franc is ruby in color and has a rich, velvety texture with soft tannins. The wine has a nose of dark cherry and berries wrapped in a blanket of toasted oak. The flavors of black cherry, plum and vanilla cream are smooth on the palate with waves of complex flavors on the long lingering finish. The wine is drinking wonderfully now and will develop more complexity and age gracefully over the next several years.

What We Say: This is a tremendous Cab Franc, dark in color with initial aromas of black cherry, smoked oak and spices. Right out of the bottle it has a juvenile bite, a short visit to the decanter would help, but that quickly diminishes as it softens with exposure to the air. The end result is a seductively rich wine with velvety texture and wonderful smooth tannins. The flavor of black cherry and smoked oak, along with plummy fruit and creamy vanilla, are still present and continue to linger long after the wine is gone. This is definitely a full meat and potatoes kind of red, so pass on the fruit salad and get right to the gravy.

Winery: Stevens Winery - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2004 Stevens Legs Sauvignon Blonc
Region: Yakima Valley
Price: $14.00

From the Industry: Our 2004 Sauvignon Blanc mirrored many of the same qualities that were reflected in the 2003 vintage. Our philosophy remained the same: to create a wine that was ripe and seductive. The weather was on our side and we were lucky enough to end up with fruit that was physiologically as ripe as the year before, but had a lower brix level and higher malic acid content. These two major factors helped to develop greater zing up front and length in the finish. Once again, the wine has no residual sugar and is bone dry which allows it to finish crisp and clean.

What We Say: A great everyday white! Pale gold in color, its nose (smell) is fairly simple with the sweet, subtle presence of cantaloupe and pear. Upon first taste however, several more flavors pop up including hints of citrus, honey and grass, like a dry summer’s lawn. This is a very refreshing dry wine with solid acidity that makes your mouth water and a crisp clean finish. There’s none of that tart grapefruit that you get from many other Sauvignon Blancs, which makes for some very easy drinking…easy like Sunday morning. So easy in fact that we recommend polishing off the bottle in one sitting because this one is not meant to sit around. Serve fairly cold.

Winery: Woodhouse Family Cellars - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Red Mountain
Price: $32.00

From the Industry: The 2001 Dussek is rich and concentrated with ripe black current, black cherry, cocoa and new oak undertones. It starts with a plush texture and firms up. It has a powerful dark berry fruit, dressed in a cloak in the solid tannins of the cedry finish. It is a blend of rose petals and earthen-mushrooms; a subtle yet complex nose, that explodes on the palate with bold, round tannins.

What We Say: A very well balanced red wine with a bold nose (like me) and plenty of dark fruit, including black current & cherry, with a hint of plum. It offers a very smooth drink upfront with a finishing bight (of strong tannins) to keep you interested. Along with the flavor of dark berries and caramel there also seems to be an earthy undertone, which includes mushrooms and black olives. This wine is like Barry White singing his greatest hits in your mouth! Washington Red Mountain Cabernet at its finest.

Winery: Delille Cellars - Woodinville, WA
Wine: 2003 Chaleur Estate Blanc
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon (White Bordeux Blend)
Region: 55% Red Mountain
Price: $29.00

From the Industry: DeLille Cellars’ Bordeaux blended white wine is the best of its type in Washington, if not on the entire West Coast. Broadly fruity yet nuanced with notes of tangerine, citrus and melon, it adds hints of sweet hay, herb and toast to the complex mix. Excellent focus and weave makes for an unusually expressive white wine, which continues to develop new flavors right through the finish.

What We Say: For all non-white wine drinkers, prepare to begin loving whites! This is a tremendously light and refreshing wine with a lasting taste of honey and pears that pleasantly sits on the tongue long after swallowing. Mixed within the fruit you'll find “anything but subtle” amounts of butter and cream, and a hint of Eastern Washington wheat field. Nice acidity that dances on the back of the tongue. Drink this wine with breakfast (seriously, it already tastes like maple syrup on waffles), lunch or dinner!

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