If you like wines from Italy, Spain and France, try try these featured Top Wine Picks from our “Washington Vs. The World” series. Below we review 16 Washington State wines crafted in 4 worldly styles: Super Tuscan, Super Rioja, Petit Verdot and Rosé.
SUPER TUSCANS
What You Should Know: In the early 70’s, Chianti-designated wines were of such poor quality that Tuscan winemakers ignored Italian DOC regulations and started experimenting with unofficial Bordeaux varietals to craft superior quality wines. The nickname Super Tuscans loosely refers to Sangiovese, a medium-bodied fruity grape, that’s been souped-up with bolder, fuller-bodied grapes, often Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah.
Brian Carter Cellars 2009 Tuttorosso $34
www.briancartercellars.com
Brian Carter Cellars was the first winery in the state to focus exclusively on a collection of European-style blends and this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is unwavering.
Nose: Generous black cherry, violet, sage and pencil shavings.
Taste: Brooding and beautiful with earthy flavors of dark stone fruit, black currant, tobacco, black olive and savory herbs. Fine-grained tannins linger on the finish.
Walla Walla Vintners 2011 Bello Rosso $35
www.wallawallavintners.com
Founded by Myles Anderson and Gordy Venneri, this venerable Walla Walla winery has a long-standing tradition for producing premium, lush red wines.
Nose: Savory aromas of red and black fruit, dried sage and leather.
Taste: Supple and smooth with dark fruit, black currant, sour cherry, Italian roast coffee and spice with rich tannins on the long finish.
Apex at Alder Ridge 2008 Sangiovese $40
www.alderridge.com
Crafted in an Old World style with mostly Sangiovese blended with Barbera and Cab.
Nose: Black cherry, violet, leather, vanilla and dried Italian herbs.
Taste: Refined and graceful with seamless tart cherry, raspberry, earthen spice and a delicate florality. Smooth tannins round out the lengthy finish.
Long Shadows 2011 Saggi $45
www.longshadows.com
Made in partnership with the Folonari’s, a Tuscan family whose winemaking history dates back centuries.
Nose: Alluring black cherry, mesquite and strawberry.
Taste: Concentrated and dense with black fruit, red currant, roasted herbs, violet and black tea leaves. Suave with refined tannins.
SUPER RIOJAS
What You Should Know: In the Spanish region of Rioja, Tempranillo is the most popular varietal. Much like Chianti’s Sangiovese, Tempranillo tends to be medium-bodied with higher acidity, which is why it’s commonly blended with other grapes to produce a bolder and fuller wine. Equally on par with Spain’s famed Reservas and Gran Reservas, Washington winemakers are creating their own Super Riojas, blending in Grenache, as well as Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cabernet and Malbec.
Salida 2010 Tres Vinos $23
www.salidawine.com
Veteran winemaker Doug McCrea pioneered Rhône varietals in the state and is now focused on Spanish origins.
Nose: Black cherry, sweet plum and leather mix with exotic florals and spice.
Taste: Powerful and graceful, dominated by black fruit and black currant, and shadings of pipe tobacco, anise and lavender.
Gramercy Cellars 2011 ‘Inigo Montoya’ Tempranillo $42
www.gramercycellars.com
Sourced from their estate vineyard in Walla Walla with mostly Tempranillo (90%) and a little Syrah and Grenache.
Nose: Seductive, earthy and smoky, red and black fruit, tobacco and cedar plank.
Taste: With plush tannins and juicy acidity, this beauty will only improve with age. Seamless flavors of red fruit and dark berry, accented with smoke, damp earth, baker’s chocolate and herbal notes that linger.
SYZYGY 2008 Saros $50
www.syzygywines.com
Owner and winemaker Zach Brettler aged this blend of Tempranillo, Malbec and Cabernet for 23 months in French oak for added depth, well-integrated flavors and firm tannins.
Nose: Red and blueberry tart, olive tapenade, leather and cedar box.
Taste: Silky, supple with a stunning mix of red berries, blackberry, blueberry, anise, clove and smoky character. Backed by refined tannins that push on endlessly.
Castillo de Feliciana 2011 Bolsa Negra $56
www.castillodefeliciana.com
The Castillo family pays tribute to their great Aunt Feliciana with this luxe wine.
Nose: Sweet blackberry, violet, leather and savory grilled herbs.
Taste: Muscular and polished with finely meshed structure and well-integrated tannins. Smoldering with bold flavors of blackberry tinged with blue fruit, baker’s chocolate and gamey notes. Full bodied with a lengthy finish.
PETIT VERDOT
What You Should Know: In Bordeaux, Petit Verdot is a classic blending component, used in tiny amounts for its highly concentrated flavor and dark purple inky hue. In Eastern Washington, where the season is long and days are warm, this varietal seems to thrive even more so than in France, where it is difficult to grow. Winemakers here are embracing the grape and these single varietal bottlings show what a truly remarkable solo act it can be.
Olympic Cellars 2009 Boushey Vineyard Petit Verdot $32
www.olympiccellars.com
Only 75 cases of this single-vineyard designate were crafted from this Port Angeles-based female-owned winery.
Nose: Alluring aromas of dark fruit, chai tea and graphite.
Taste: Dense, dark and bold with velvety tannins and Bordeaux-like focus. Savory black plum, blueberry, black fruit and pencil lead. Rich and satisfying.
Tero Estates 2009 Petit Verdot $38
www.teroestates.com
This is Doug Roskelley’s second vintage of this Walla Walla-grown beauty from the site of the original Seven Hills Vineyard, the first commercial vines in the Walla Walla Valley appellation.
Nose: Rich and seductive with smoky aromas of blackberry liqueur, grilled game, lavender, cigar box and leather.
Taste: Voluptuous and refined with black, blue and red berries, sweet and savory anise, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and hazelnuts on a long dry finish.
Gifford Hirlinger 2010 Estate Petit Verdot $38
www.giffordhirlinger.com
Mike Berghan crafts this powerful yet graceful wine using grapes grown on his family’s estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.
Nose: Blackberry, red currant, vanilla bean, tar and savory herb.
Taste: Pure and expressive, with a sublime pillowy uplift hitting the mid-palate. Compact tannins mix with black currant, blueberry, blackberry, dried rose petal, white pepper and grilled notes.
Gorman Winery 2010 The F.O.G. Petit Verdot $80
www.gormanwinery.com
Chris Gorman sourced his Petit Verdot from Kiona Vineyard in the Red Mountain appellation.
Nose: Monstrous aromatics of sweet blackberry, dark fruit, violet and pencil shavings.
Taste: Savory, exotic, and extracted black fruit, violet and fennel. Concentrated tannins and a juicy acidity linger on the long finish.
ROSE WINES
What You Should Know: Actually considered a white wine (or sometimes “blush”), Rosé is made from red grapes, by quickly pulling the skins off the juice shortly after the crushing process. In Provence, Rosé is the most popular wine made, prized for its food-friendly appeal and bone-dry style. Depending on the grape it’s made from (practically any kind can be used), Rosé can take on a variety of flavor profiles that run the gamut from lean to fruity to savory.
Gilbert Cellars 2013 Rosé of Mourvèdre $17
www.gilbertcellars.com
Provencal in style, this Rosé is made with grapes grown on the Gilbert family’s Yakima Valley vineyard.
Nose: Watermelon, citrus, white cherry blossom and lightly toasted pine nuts.
Taste: Dry and vibrant with mouth-watering acidity through the mid-palate. Lean flavors of green apple, rose water and wet stone with a saline-tinged finish.
Lauren Ashton Cellars 2013 Rosé $18
www.laurenashtoncellars.com
A well-built blend of Grenache (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%) from Woodinville winemaker Kit Singh.
Nose: Fresh and floral with watermelon, raspberry, citrus and crème fraîche.
Taste: Steely and crisp with dried cherry, strawberry and raspberry. There’s a juicy citrusy accent on the mineral-laden finish.
DeLille Cellars Doyenne 2012 Rosé $28
www.delillecellars.com
A Bandol-style Rosé blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.
Nose: Generous red berry, apricot, apple blossom and white chiffon cake.
Taste: Lush, yet restrained with dried berries, melon rind, floral tea leaves with honey notes and mineral spice on the long dry finish.
Côte Bonneville 2013 Cabernet Franc Rosé $30
www.cotebonneville.com
Kerry Shiels sourced fruit from her family’s acclaimed Yakima Valley vineyard for this plush and sassy Rosé.
Nose: A rich medley of strawberry, raspberry and cherry complemented with fresh cream, spice and citrus.
Taste: Rich and complex with dried red berry and cherry, melon rind, rose water and blood orange framed with juicy balanced acidity. There’s a salty minerality and fine white pepper on the finish.
By John Vitale