Friday Find, May 17th

Each Friday we highlight a wine from the Northwest that we think is a real "find". By find we might mean that it's a steal, as all of these wines we'll feature weekly are at or under $20. We might also mean, "Hey, you really need to go find this", and it might be a wine that we feel not enough people know about. In any case, with the weekend pending, we're hoping to help you "find" a wine to kickoff the weekend right. We'll tell you a little bit about the wine and try to help you track it down here in the Northwest.

Life is ridiculously short. I mean really. We don't have forever. My daughter turned 2 on Sunday. That was insanely fast. Something like a Ferris Bueller quote.

This can be a paralyzing thought if you allow it to be. Instead, it should be freeing. Not the ridiculous we're all going to die tomorrow so nothing has any meaning kind of freeing. Instead it should be a reminder that we need to do x, y or z more often. Life's too short not too. You should still put money in your 401K though. 

I studied Philosophy in college and graduate school and was particularly drawn to the work of Martin Heidegger. I think though the further away I get from my academics the more caught up in the rat race I get. His concept of Dasein or being in a uniquely human way is an important one to keep in mind. For Heidegger, this Dasein or way of being is one that acknowledges it's not forever and having confronted one's own mortality allows us to better understand the importance of the time, interactions and relationships we have, both with the world and with one another. 

So, without getting too "heady" I mean we should do more of those things we say we'd like to do more often. I don't mean work out, or eat more leafy greens although we should do that too, but I mean just spending the day with friends. Taking a break from the rat race, going to see people in person we haven't seen in a long time and we wish we'd see more often. 

We don't have forever.

This week's Friday Find is a wine we should drink more often, and there's not tons of it out there. Famous in the Loire's Muscadet region is the grape Melon de Bourgogne. My homeboy Jameson Fink wrote an ebook about it for beginners, you can check that out here. The perfect oyster wine, which is another thing you should do more often, eat oysters, Melon is known for it's complexity, owed to it's time on the lees. With this wine the 2010 Roots Melon de Bourgogne from Deux Vert vineyard you get a departure, no lees leads to a lot of crisp lemon zest and apricot aromatics. A fruit forward fresh Friday Find that you should do more often. $18 bones for a change up is a small price to pay. You can find the Roots wines at Wholefoods and at some select small wine shops in Seattle.

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Ump & Coming, Oregon's Umpqua Valley

The Umpqua Valley is probably one of Oregon's least known wine producing regions. Oregon's reputation for wine production has developed largely around the northern climes of the Willamette Valley and it's sweet spot for the cooler climate varietals that do so well in Burgundy, most notably of course, Pinot Noir.

At the state's southern border with California a climatic zone in the Rogue and Applegate valleys sees Oregon producing an array of different wines including Rhone and Bordeaux varietals as well as a concentration on Zinfandel.

Where does that leave the Umpqua Valley? Well, somewhere in the middle. Both geographically and in terms of what it's producing when it comes to the region's wines.

The Umpqua, which includes Oregon's newest AVA, Elkton provides a range that you won't find in either the Willamette or the Southern Oregon AVAs. The climatic variability of the AVA is perhaps best illustrated by the region's two best known quality producers. At the southern tip of the AVA you'll find Abacela, with a focus on Spanish varietals and known for their Tempranillo. At the northern end you'll find Brandborg winery, and winemaker Terry Brandborg in the aforementioned Elkton.

In between, a budding wine region grows.

Anchor Points for the Growth of a Wine Region

Down towards the southern end of the Umpqua is one of Oregon's most visually compelling wineries. The newly expanded Abacela is the culmination of a love story. Earl and Hilda Jones' love affair with Spanish wine, particularly that of Rioja and Ribera del Duero. That pursuit led the Jones' from Dallas. Texas to Oregon, and what they targeted as perhaps the most perfect climate to grow Tempranillo. Earl's pursuit helped in part by perhaps the only person in the region who has had a greater impact on the local wine industry than Earl, his son Greg who's a climatologist at nearby Southern Oregon University.

Abacela has helped to put the Umpqua Valley on the map in recent years. And through the use of geological and climate mapping, Earl made a very scientific decision to land in the dry and hot southern reaches of the Umpqua, where his Tempranillo has taken root.

Up in Elkton, Terry Brandborg at Brandborg Winery is crafting high acid white wines like Riesling and Gewurtztraminer as well as Pinot Noir in the cooler and wetter climate of Elkton. The Umpqua Valley is actually home to the first Pinot Noir planted in Oregon. Richard Somer planted Pinot in 1961 some four to five years before the grape was planted in the Willamette by David Lett. Hill Crest Vineyards however is a fair bit farther south and truthfully, Elkton is probably a much more suitable location for Pinot Noir. Elkton's proximity to the Pacific means the maritime influences keep the air temperatures cool, but it also sees a very dry growing season similar to the Willamette Valley.

Terry landed in Elkton after leaving a successful career as a "garagiste" winemaker in California's Bay Area. He and his wife Sue planted 5 acres of vineyards on a parcel that surrounds their home.

These two established talents serve as reliable anchor points for a region and have demonstrated it's capability for producing fine wine. The development of the region as a whole however is still a work in progress.

Growing a Reputation

The Umpqua Valley has a bit of rugged beauty to it. For those of you mostly used to the verdant green hills of the Willamette wine country, you'll find something similar in Elkton but the rest of the valley is far more arid and all of it is scenic. A culmination of sorts in both the Cascade, Coast and Klamath mountain ranges, as well as beautiful rivers that cut through the valley.

New wineries are cropping up throughout the Valley and vineyard planting is accelerating  For many years the region has been a supplier of Pinot Noir grapes to the larger Willamette Valley wineries particularly in cooler years. This has been particularly true of much of the Pinot grown in the warmer transitional climate zone of the Umpqua where it's a fair bit warmer than Elkton. (Picture a bit more fruit forward Pinot Noir, more California stylistically than Willamette Valley.) If the fruit is good enough for some of the Willamette's big boys it certainly will be good enough for a growing number of Umpqua producers.

In between the Pinot from Elkton and the Tempranillo from the southern end of the AVA there is a good deal of quality Syrah and Grenache, the latter a real potential standout, though it can be a struggle to ripe in cooler vintages.

For the Umpqua Valley part of the challenge is building their own future, and the Southern Oregon Wine Institute, hosted at the local community college is a part of that growth. Capturing local talent and continuing to attract those looking to break out of more established regions in either California or the Willamette Valley. The program at SOWI offers viticulture and enology programs as well as wine marketing certifications. The institute comes with a world class modern production facility and allows for hands on learning and hopefully will stoke the passion of some home grown talent.

The Umpqua also has it's challenges. It's a sparsely populated area, so unlike the Willamette Valley where there is an enormous local market in the Portland metro area, the Umpqua will need to rely heavily on marketing outside of the region to both develop that reputation and frankly, to sell the wines.

It's a big region and you could argue that it's size may make tourism challenging at least a tourism that solely emphasizes wine. The region's outdoor offerings, and scenic beauty make it far more than a one trick pony. Nearby Crater Lake and world class fly fishing as well as what looked from my perspective to be fantastic road and mountain biking options.

There's work to do for the Umpqua Valley, both in terms of raising the overall wine quality and profile, as well as figuring out how to market such a wide ranging region. There are a lot of wineries that are producing hybrids like Baco Noir, some relying on them heavily. And the case being made is that they're popular in the tasting rooms, but they're not necessarily raising the profile of the region, or the winery producing them. Additionally, an emphasis on marketing and packaging could benefit the greater region, where many of the labels tend towards quaint or sentimental.  The region has potential however and people that you find easy to root for both in the wine community and the region in general.


(On a visit I took there, I was hosted by the Umpqua Valley at the C.H. Bailey House, a bed and breakfast just outside of Roseburg, I'm not the kind of guy to use the word cute to describe anything, but for this place I'd make an exception. I also subsequently washed my phone which was loaded with photos so I've pilfered these from the internet.)

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Friday Find, May 10th

Each Friday we highlight a wine from the Northwest that we think is a real "find". By find we might mean that it's a steal, as all of these wines we'll feature weekly are at or under $20. We might also mean, "Hey, you really need to go find this", and it might be a wine that we feel not enough people know about. In any case, with the weekend pending, we're hoping to help you "find" a wine to kickoff the weekend right. We'll tell you a little bit about the wine and try to help you track it down here in the Northwest.

I don't really do celebrities. By that I mean, I don't really care if someone is a celebrity. I see that largely as just a different job that pays better than what I do for a living. There are many jobs that pay better than what I do, I work in the public sector.

I don't necessarily understand or appreciate this idea that there are magazines dedicated to people who do different jobs than most of us and are largely better looking than the average American. Movie and television personalities whom, based upon there ability to act are somehow fawned over. The same holds true for athletes, and now people who are famous for nothing except being on a reality show, at most. 

I have varying theories as to why our culture idolizes celebrities. I think mostly it has to do with the fact that we think they're better than we are. Otherwise why would they get to live such "glamorous" lives? And ultimately we're not happy with who we turned out to be. There is an entire industry, built upon the entertainment industry that wants us to believe just that. If we only buy a certain pair of jeans or a particular car we'll be more like Brad Pitt, or Gwyneth Paltrow or some other celebrity. I don't really know who is "hot" right now. I'm out of touch.

It is to this end that you'll never find me asking someone for their autograph, or taking a photo of /with them. I think there are probably exceptions I'd make if I felt a particular connection with someone. A professional cyclist, or Hines Ward perhaps. But largely, I don't really care all that much. 

On Sunday of this past week I was at the airport in Pittsburgh flying home to Seattle with my soon to be two year old daughter. It was just the two of us. We were sitting on the floor trying to eat a sandwich and people kept stepping right over us, and were nearly standing on me. This went on for about 15 minutes. When the smoke cleared it was clearer why. (There was no real smoke mind you.) 

An older guy was sitting in one of the chairs, waiting on his flight to LA, it was Martin Sheen. After everyone went back to their seats and things had calmed down, he looked at my daughter and said "How old is your little girl?" This began a conversation between the two of us that lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. We talked about my kid, his four kids and what I did for a living. I asked him what brought him to Pittsburgh and he told my daughter, though I'm not sure she cared, that she had the same birthday as one of his boys. "That Estevez guy." At the end of the conversation we simply left on our separate flights, but I was impressed with this guy. I thought he was a good actor, though I've never seen the West Wing, actually the only thing that comes to mind for me is Apocalypse Now. But I appreciated how much he spoke to me, just like a regular guy, how nice he was to my kid a lot  more than any of that other stuff. Most people I know who meet celebrities typically tell you what jerks they are in person. In the case of Martin Sheen, nothing could be further from the truth.

Today's Friday Find is an under-appreciated wine here in the Northwest, but really, worldwide. Grüner Veltliner. Maybe it's because of the umlaut. Or maybe it's because rather than in the renowned vineyards of France where many of the most "glamorous" wines find their origin, Gruner comes from places like Austria and Slovakia. But make no mistake, Gruner sings with food and it's fruit forward palate and zesty acidity makes it fun to drink along. The 2012 Estate Grüner Veltliner from Raptor Ridge comes from their Tuscowallame Vineyard. It's loaded up with citrus notes of lemon zest and lime and along with a touch of stoniness it brings in great acidity. You can order direct from Raptor Ridge here, and at $20 it's a nice way to bring your friends around to a few new, not so celebrity wines. 

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Washington Wine Icon: Red Willow Vineyard

In 1973 Mike Sauer planted Cabernet Sauvignon in a little three acre plot that would become Red Willow Vineyard. What grew there, in addition to the wine grapes, was a world class reputation on the western edge of the Yakima Valley and a substantial piece of Washington wine history. While the Yakima Valley celebrates its 30th year, Mike Sauer has been working that parcel of land for about 40 years.

There is no vineyard in Washington state that is so readily identifiable, and so visually iconic as Red Willow. Atop a bluff sits a beautiful and stoic stone chapel erected to honor  the memory of a family friend, Monsignor Mulcahy. The chapel was created from stones that were uncovered in the cultivation and expansion of the vineyard.

The hallowed ground on the western limits of the Yakima Valley has seen the growth of the reputation of Red Willow over the years, supported by the work ethic of Mike Sauer and his son Jonathan. David Lake's 1979 vintage was his first in Washington, it was then that he began his relationship with Mike; the two of them would go on to make history. In 1981 Lake would make the state's first vineyard designate wines, from Otis, Sagemoor and Red Willow vineyards. Lake recognized very early the quality of the site the Sauers planted and farmed.

In 1984 Lake approached Mike about the possibility of growing Syrah, and the two of them went on to plant the first Syrah in the state of Washington. What has become perhaps the state's signature wine grape got its roots both literally and figuratively at Red Willow in 1986.

Over the years as the wine industry in Washington has grown, Red Willow has stood the test of time, and has even grown in stature. The relationship with Columbia Winery has been a long standing one, many Washington and Oregon winemakers have come to Red Willow for fruit and you'll find Red Willow vineyard designations on some of the finest bottles produced in the Northwest.

Red Willow fruit goes into some of the most sought after wines from Owen Roe, including a Chapel Block Syrah and Cabernet from that block Mike planted in 1973. General Manager Jeff Farell gushes over the Sauers, which is a common thing when talking to winemakers and wineries about working with them. "The Sauer's are a pleasure to work with. Their steadfast character and staunch ethic are reminiscent of a bygone era when a farmer's fiber was not just judged solely by the caliber of the yield.  We are fortunate in that we have had many opportunities to collaborate with, and learn from the Sauer family through the vintages.  Our gratitude, and likewise our relationship, strengthens and deepens, as we continue to focus on the Red Willow Vineyard."

For Avennia winemaker Chris Peterson Red Willow's soils and contours produce fruit that is just about perfect for the nuanced and complex wines he's hoping to craft.  This is owing to the topography and geology of Red Willow, along with how long those vineyard blocks have been around. "The great thing about Red Willow, for us, is that the steep grades and somewhat poor soils tend to create lower yields, giving us great concentration and depth. Also, since the vines are older, we get the varietal typicity and complexity that we are really looking for. In other words, the fruit remains restrained and in balance with the non-fruit complexities—especially sweet Bordeaux herbs in the Cabernet, and an espresso powder or mocha note in the Merlot. "

For the Washington and the Yakima Valley it's one of the industry's long standing gems. A combination of the right people, and a specific place. What began with what Mike Sauer called his "youthful idealism and enthusiasm shared by a relatively small group of industry members" has become important and iconic. The interesting thing is that this is just the beginning, as Jonathan Sauer said "Yakima Valley may be the oldest appellation in the State, but in many ways it seems that we are only beginning to discover our potential." 

Eight Bells 2010 Clonal Block Syrah. Red Willow Vineyard. Absolutely stunning wine aromatically, lots of gamy notes, black plum, dried violets and smoke, the flavor profile is classic with tangy black cherry and a tapestry of savory herbs and meaty flavors. The wine is full bodied and richly textured. The wine is a balance between elegant and masculine with it's floral aromas and balance and depth of flavor and full mouthfeel. Fantastic. $32

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Friday Find, April 26th

Each Friday we highlight a wine from the Northwest that we think is a real "find". By find we might mean that it's a steal, as all of these wines we'll feature weekly are at or under $20. We might also mean, "Hey, you really need to go find this", and it might be a wine that we feel not enough people know about. In any case, with the weekend pending, we're hoping to help you "find" a wine to kickoff the weekend right. We'll tell you a little bit about the wine and try to help you track it down here in the Northwest.

What makes a good story? Drama? Action? An unforeseen plot twist?

I had a college professor who once told me that there were only X number of original plot lines, and they were all told by Shakespeare, everything since has been a redux. You can argue that even Shakespeare's yarns were re-tellings of ancient Greek tragedies told by  Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.

As most folks know, the modern Shakespeare is Steven Seagal. He has woven those tales of betrayal, folly, adversity and glory into a modern day tapestry of ass whooping, bone breaking and poorly timed quips. None the less, it's hard to argue with his genius.  Just for safety's sake.

I used to think I knew what made a good story until I became a father. My daughter's current favorite story is the book Bee Wigged. It's a tale about a bee named Jerry, he's enormous, so large that it really is off putting. Frankly, it freaks people out. Jerry wanders around dejected until he finds a wig lying on the sidewalk. 

The wig changes Jerry's life. He becomes the most popular "boy" in town, until a windy day leaves him exposed. I won't ruin the end for you but frankly, I never saw this stroke of genius coming, and I'm sure it won't be long before it's co-opted by Steven Seagal and turned into a movie where Jerry is actually a paunchy middle-aged, pony-tailed guy who goes around seeking vengeance for something. And people are going to get hurt.

Today's Friday Find is a story about a place where you might not expect to find Pinot Noir. Oregon's Umpqua Valley is a large AVA and at it's northernmost point you'll find the new Elkton AVA. Scott Henry has been growing and making wine in the Umpqua for a long time, dating to 1978. The vineyard location for Henry Estate is more towards the middle of the valley, in a somewhat transitional climactic zone. The wines they're producing are largely cooler climate varietals, Pinot Noir and mostly crisp white varieties. At $18 this "Oregon" Pinot is a bit of both "worlds" aromatically it's very fruit forward, almost akin to a California Pinot in terms of the sweet cherry elements, the palate of the wine though brings you back to Oregon. It's a light bodied Pinot Noir with early season blackberry and raspberry flavors, a touch of spice and very prominent acidity. A surprising plot twist. 

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Do the Clothes Make the Man? Northwest Fashion Meets Italian Wine at Blackbird

From Emily Popp:

When was the last time you paired your wine with your outfit? Some of you may do this with an innate sense of culture and style. Others? Not even close. Those who make a conscious effort are few and far between, but fashion and wine pairing is a more seamless match than you might think.

I was welcomed through the doors of Blackbird, a men’s fashion shop in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, with a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio crafted at the estates of Castello di Gabbiano. Winemaker, Federico Cerelli, jumped right into conversation, telling me about his run early that morning, the tour around the US that he would continue on over the next week, and of course, his lifestyle as a Tuscan winemaker.

Small groups and individuals gathered in the shop for the debut of spring’s hottest looks—and a taste of the wines that go with them.

Tailored men’s clothing, in primarily stony hues, hung neatly from racks along the walls. Scarves and ties sat rhythmically on wooden tables. The occasional magnum—decorated with the iconic knight on horseback—became a focal point among the neatly folded jeans and men’s fashion accessories.

Soon the murmuring, meandering crowd amassed behind tables where flights of wine awaited; the show would soon begin! Frederico Cerelli inquired first, of the crowd’s opinion of the music he selected. To his mock-disappointment, not one had heard the particular Italian musician before. He then told us of Castello
di Gabbiano’s historic winery, picturesque castle, and how he fell in love with Tuscany’s signature grape, Sangiovese.

“It’s good, it’s good. Drink, drink!” Cerelli recalls his grandfather’s encouragement. He was just 9 years old at the time—his first glass of Sangiovese in hand. This was the crop of his family’s land, both respected and enjoyed on a daily basis for children and adults alike.

Beyond the rich history, Cerelli aims to cut through the fabric of modern times and craft wines especially for the young and aspiring professional. When he’s not making wine, he travels the world to gain insights from chefs and consumers, asking chefs what types of wine they want to pour, and asking consumers what flavors and profiles they enjoy most. “After all,” he remarks, “I can’t drink all the bottles myself.”

The fashion of the evening took on a similar theme. Outfits were styled for the young professional; that individual who is on the brink of his career and passionate about culture and the luxury of quality materials. Here exhibits the similarities and companionship of fashion and wine. Just like we dress for the occasion, we select wine for the occasion.

Blackbird’s Creative Director, Nicole Miller, shares her tips for selecting outfits and wine for three different types of events that you might find yourself attending this spring.

Take, for example, your backyard barbeque. Gabbiano’s fresh, fruity and dry Pinot Grigio is the perfect sipper for this afternoon affair. In struts Aaron, wearing Foss Tugger Chinos in fir, made from dense 100% Japanese cotton twill, a mahogany belt with a hand-cast buckle and a checked plaid top. Miller tops the outfit with a grey sweater tied on the shoulders for a fashionable and functional solution to Seattle’s chilly spring air.

Now it’s Wednesday; your favorite wine bar awaits. What to swirl and wear? Fill your glass with Gabbiano’s Riserva Chianti. Ripe berry notes and a hint of cocoa will break up the week and take off the edge. Sipping this Sangio, you’ll want to look casually put together. Miller recommends a contrast collared shirt buttoned to the top, blue pants, and a one button notch jacket that is described to exude “humor, inventiveness, rebelliousness, and highly advanced tailoring.” What more you could ask from a Wednesday night?

Finally, let’s talk formals. Some might argue that your choice of wine and fashion are most critically measured at an aristocratic event. In such cases, the reserve wines will do supremely. We were presented with two tastings for the upscale soirée: Bellezza DOCG and Alleanza IGT.

Bellezza is 100% Sangiovese from the finest blocks on the estate vineyard. It displays a statuesque nose of ripe raspberry and berry notes complemented with French oak nuances. It was smooth in mouthfeel with silky tannins, bright acidity and a lasting elegant finish.

Alleanza was crafted in the new world style. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine exhibited bold ripe fruit alongside notes of fresh basil and pepper. This wine is both complex and refined.

Nicole Miller makes her pairing with an icon in mind, “The ultimate to us is this James Bond look.” Beautiful wool and double vented, this suit is the epitome of charm. A classic and clean white button-up is complemented with a modern slim
black tie.

Layers, textures, tradition and impression, Gabbiano and Blackbird’s fashion and wine pairing event demonstrated that fashion and wine have long had a love affair. From barbeques to formal events, the two attend in tandem.

Do you have tips for selecting the right wine for the occasion? The right ensemble? Please do share!

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Soos Creek: 2010 Coming Out Party

Soos, not Seuss. From Lucha Vino:

David Larsen has been making wine commercially at his Soos Creek winery since 1989.  For the first seven years he made a single wine focusing on quality.  In 1996 he released his second wine, Sundance.  Now, with the release of his 2010 vintage David delivers 6 top notch wines for all of us to enjoy.

Soos Creek recently released their 2010s and I was able to attend the release event and you'll find my impressions of the new releases below.

Sundance

This is the Soos Creek everyday wine.  It is the final wine made after all the other blends have been completed.  Don’t let that lead you to believe this is a cut rate wine.  The 2010 follows in the footsteps of preceding vintages and over delivers on the $20 price tag.  This vintage features grapes from Champoux and all the other top vineyards that David works with.  

The blend is 50% Cab, 31% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc. The nose is showing dusty currant and candle wax.  The palate is savory with currants and black cherry that lead to a finish featuring rich espresso bean tartness.

Palisade

The Palisade is merlot focused.  The blend is different each vintage and this year features 89% merlot and 11% cabernet sauvignon. Character of black cherry and smooth light hints of earthy all spice and a touch of bitter cocoa.  This wine is ready to drink right now.

Artist

The Artist is a Cab Franc focused wine.  Each year features a label by a different artist.  David’s son’s art has been featured several times.  The 2010 features a label by American Abstract Expressionist, Herman Cherry

The blend is 49% Cabernet Franc, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot.  The nose shows clean dark cherry and herbal spices that add some lavender and violet notes with some air.  The palate is a bit darker with black cherry and earthy spices leading to a dry pepper spice finish.

Ciel du Cheval

A single vineyard designate wine.  The blend changes with each vintage to achieve the style that David feels best expresses the terroir of the Ciel du Cheval vineyard.  The blend for 2010 is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot.

The nose is showing dark berries with savory light smoky sandalwood character.  The palate is featuring dark berries, clove spices with a touch of menthol on the dry barrel spice finish.

Champoux

This is also a single vineyard designate wine, featuring 100% of the grapes from the Champoux vineyard which is located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.  The blend for 2010 is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Dark currants. earth, candle wax and some funk on the nose with a similar palate that adds in some tannin inspired spices and a dry semi-sweet chocolate finish.

There will not be a 2011 release of the Champoux single vineyard designate from Soos Creek due to major vine losses suffered at Champoux in the winter of 2010.  Grab what you can of the 2010 because the 2012 will be extremely limited.

Commander Comet

The Commander Comet is 100% syrah and the 2010 will be the last vintage for this wine.  David made the difficult decision to discontinue his Syrah in order to focus on new blends and vineyards beginning in 2011.

This Syrah is dark and  smoky with notes of dark cherry, light smoke and cracked pepper on the palate.  The finish includes spices and floral notes.

What's Next?

Look for some new wines from Soos Creek in the coming vintages.  The quality of David’s wines have helped to open doors and gain access to fruit from several other top notch vineyards in the state.  We will probably see another (different) single vineyard designate wine released in the near future.

All of the 2010 Soos Creek releases are drinking well now.  The Sundance and Palisade are the most approachable and ready for immediate enjoyment.  The Ciel, Champoux and Artist are all showing nicely now and show signs that they will continue to improve with time in the cellar.  

The Commander Comet is showing the familiar notes of a hearty Washington State Syrah.  Enjoy it now along with the Sundance and Palisade.  These three Soos Creek wines will help keep you distracted while you let the Ciel du Cheval, Champoux and Artist Series relax in your cellar.

You will not be disappointed, regardless of when you choose to open the 2010 Soos Creek Vintage.  David Larsen has delivered another high quality set of wines that will drink wonderfully for years to come.

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