Event Review: RESERVE

Guest post by Juli Crompe.

Woodinville is home to almost 100 wineries, and one of the biggest weekends of the year to highlight them is Passport to Woodinville, happening this weekend (April 20-21st, 2013).
This year, they started a new tradition, a kickoff event to Passport of sorts, called RESERVE.

RESERVE was held at Columbia Winery and highlighted all 90+ point rated wines and limited bottlings. The list of wines available at this event was quite impressive, and I definitely found some new gems!

A sampling of the wines that impressed me...

2007 Brian Carter Cellars Solesce from Yakima Valley, $60 a bottle, 92 Points from Wine Enthusiast.

2009 Covington Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Klipsun Vineyard, Red Mountain, $60 a bottle, 92 Points from Wine Spectator. This, to me, is THE perfect Cab right now. It is drinking SO well; clean, smooth...amazing.

2008 Glen Fiona Syrah from Columbia Valley, $18 a bottle, 91 Points from Wine Spectator. For the price, this is a great value!

2012 Ross Andrew Meadow Rose from Columbia Valley, $14 a bottle, Limited Bottling. It is no secret that I am not a fan of roses, but this wine is quite delicious. Major blueberry notes fill your palate, a bit on the sweeter side but delicious for a summer evening, and a great price.

2011 Obelisco Estate Rose from Red Mountain, $35 a bottle, Limited Bottling. Surprise, surprise...I found TWO roses I like (and I actually found another...see the notes below!). This is the first rose for Obelisco and it is really smooth and easy to sip.

While the food was quite limited, these by far were the best food there! A new venture between a few great Seattle area restaurateurs including Joshua Henderson of Skillet, Hollywood Tavern is being transformed into THE burger destination in the Seattle area. If "The Hollywood Cheseburger" is any indication, it certainly will be worth the drive. The burger was moist, and the perfect balance with a bit of pickles, relish, cheese, carmelized onions, sauce and a great bun! Can't wait for them to open in Woodinville soon!

So far, the advertising for the new burger space looks like this. So excited for the opening!

More of my favorite wines that I really enjoyed...

2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen Eroica (Riesling) from Columbia Valley, $22 a bottle, 93 Points from Wine & Spirits. A sweet, smooth and well balanced riesling!
2012 Gard Vintners Grand Klasse Rose from Lawrence Vineyards/Columbia Valley, $25 a bottle, Limited Bottling. Yet ANOTHER delicious rose!
2008 Kestrel Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon from Kestrel View Estates, Yakima Valley, $60 a bottle, 92 Points from Wine Enthusiast. Smooth and really well balanced.
Food: The Twisted Cafe is also a new addition to Woodinville, serving a Cuban pork with congri which was pretty good! I'm excited to check them out soon.

The wine list was quite long for this event so I didn't want to go on and on about all the great wines (a lot of them are great...that's the point of the event!), but I think this event will only continue to get better and better in the coming years.

And so we're at that time again that I'm saying: "Add it to the not-to-miss event list!"

- Juli

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle must

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

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in. We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility. On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well. Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Who are you

William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Search This Blog