Skip to main content

2009 Covey Run Merlot a Best Buy of the Year!

Found it on sale @ $5.59 buy it while you can.


This week I found the 2009 Covey Run Merlot on sale at the local Richland Safeway for the low, low price of $5.59. The price is low, the quality of the wine is not. There’s a lot of 2005, 2006 and 2007 Covey Run Merlot in town, this was the first 2009 Covey Run red wine I have found locally. On the neck of the screw cap are the words, “Best Value”, which it is. At $5.59 I’d call it a terrific value. My advice is to pass on the older vintages of Covey Run Merlot, but don’t pass on the 2009 Covey Run Merlot.

Covey Run was a Zillah, Washington winery, founded in 1982. I recall visiting the Covey Run Winery when it was called Quail Ridge. But that was over 20 years ago and times have changed. On the back of the bottle, it says the wine was cellared and bottled in Richland, Washington. But, according to their web site, their contact address is in Woodinville, Washington (that's across the lake from Seattle). The winery has changed hands a few times. Their current winemaker is Kate Michaud, and Kate has crafted a very good, extremely affordable wine for us to enjoy.

My review is actually from a second bottle of Covey Run Merlot. The first bottle disappeared so fast, I had to buy another bottle for this review. I’ve enjoyed this bottle over the last three days. On day one, the nose was very closed, by day two I was noticing blackberry and root beer, on day three the wine is still amiable; still dry, a bit subdued, but agreeable. This is a medium body wine, and as I mentioned, easy to drink. This 2009 Covey Run Merlot is dry with medium tannins, and grippy enough for a steak (which made my teeth squeak, I like that) and there’s enough acidity to say "boy howdy". With a little air, the satisfying dark fruit and Coffee finish put a smile on my face. I enjoyed this wine; it certainly is my favorite Covey Run red wine in a long time. Thank you Kate, this wine is recommended!

At this price and this quality, you’ll get some great mileage from this Merlot. This is a wine for everyone, for any day and perfect for dinner and friends. If you are unfamiliar with Washington Merlot, this is my suggested introduction for you (and a great option for you Pinot drinkers). There’s plenty of life in this wine, so you should be able to enjoy this vintage over the next 4 years.

For all the interesting historical details about Covey Run, visit MikeL's guide to WA Wineries here.

Covey Run Website: http://www.coveyrun.com

Cheers!

Popular posts from this blog

Three Albariños and Several Food Pairings | Taste Rías Baixas

As promised, more reviews of  Albariño wines from Rías Baixas.  My previous post ( My Favorite White Wines this Summer are from DO Rias Baixas ), I emphasized more traditional food pairings, grilled shrimp, Ceviche, and watermelon. This time, I wanted to try some different pairings to see how well Albariño wines would match. I love seafood, but I was curious about the flexibility of this variety. My test pairings began with a series of mini quiche I made at home, spinach, hamburger, tomato, dill and steak. Following are my tastings notes on the wines and the food pairing results. Results were mixed. Map of DO Rías Baixas and sub-zones. While twelve grape varieties are permitted in DO Rías Baixas, the white Albariño grape represents 96% of all plantings. Albariño refreshes as a drinking wine and appeals to diverse cuisine. Albariño from Galicia delivers for me on many levels. Bright acidity, refreshing citrus flavors and that compelling salinity which in...

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...

Wine 101 - Tasting Room Etiquette

Be nice to your wine hostess and ask her questions about the wine and winery. Part of an ongoing series on visiting Washington wine country. Are you going wine tasting?  Here's what you need to know when visiting a winery tasting room. 1. Wine Tasting is not Drinking Going wine tasting it is about tasting wine, not drinking. Some people you bump into at the wineries are going for volume - bad form. 2. Tasting Fee Many wineries do have a tasting room fee of about $5. Be prepared to pay to taste - be thankful if the winery you visit has no tasting fee (some wineries discount the tasting fee from your purchase - bonus). A modest tasting fee does help defray the cost of pouring wine - it also helps to discourage those out just for a buzz. Ask questions and enjoy. 3. Ask Questions If you are going to the effort of visiting wine country, then ask questions while you are at the winery. Who made the wine? What is in the bottle? How old is the winery?  Etc. This is ...