Friday Sips

As mentioned above, Château Figareaux is the chosen name for Seven of Hearts’ Bordeaux varietal line-up. 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot & 18% Cabernet Franc from Stonehenge and Hellsgate Vineyards in the Columbia Valley, this flavorful wine exudes class. Lavish and undervalued, this blend not only has depth and fruit it also has a sneaky backbone for aging. Silky and mouth-filling and one that with 25% new French oak, isn’t an oak festival.

Layered, well-detailed flavors and aromas of cassis, blueberry, smoke, huckleberry and cocoa-powder reveal a lovely texture that fans out nicely from start to finish. Drink now through 2021. 196 cases produced.

Byron Dooley is a NW Rosé Badass!!! Back in May when we did Part 1 from Seven of Hearts we featured Byron’s Pinot Noir Rosé and it was quite a hit. For Part 2 here something completely different. For the first time we're debuting his scrumptious Cabernet Franc Rose. After tasting you'll realize that if you could fill your swimming pool with Cab Franc Rose, your choice would be Chateau Figareaux!!

Made from fruit from Rattlesnake Road Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge, this isn’t bled juice, these are specific grapes pressed off to make this palate-pleasing 12% alcohol pink wine. Perfect for any 90°+ day, everything about it shouts beauty. Pretty aromas of little red cherries, herbs, freshly cut flowers and citrus define the aromas while brisk, mouthwatering red flavors soar on the palate. Pair it with grilled shrimp. A mere 98 cases produced.

Washington’s Rhone-inspired blends are quite in vogue these. 10+ years on, we are learning that the warmer sites handle Grenache and Mourvedre even better than Syrah, thus we are now seeing some terrific blends from these grapes. 35% Grenache, 52% Syrah, 13% Mourvedre from Hellsgate and Avery Vineyards, both warmer sites, yet there is so much style and smoothness within this cuvee.

No new oak on this cuvee which allows the grapes and soil to express themselves handsomely; wild cherry beneath Italian plum, white pepper, dusty earth and a hint of meatiness folds over into a texture that is succulent, mouthfilling and chock full of the same peppery aspects that enhance the aromas. Most excellent stuff with barbecue, it will also age well, too. 329 cases produced.

Unlike Grenache or Syrah, Mourvedre is quite simply, the Darth Vader of Rhone-style grapes. Made from the Hellsgate Vineyard and from the start, has strong varietal character with blueberry, violet, underlying gamey tones, roasted coffee, tea-leaf and slight exotic spice aromas along with a lacy, lavish, rich texture that never goes outside its framework. Even though dark and brooding, the soil and coolness of 2011 gives it lovely minerality and vivacious liveliness needed to cut through the deep fruit. The finish shows relaxed aspects, but ambushes, snaps back then beautifully lingers with ample spice tones. Only 98 cases produced.