10/6/17 The Cellar Door's Friday Sips
FRIDAY SIPS
Andrew Will Red Wines
Today from 1:30 - 6:15 (Note slightly earlier finish time)
Andrew Will Red Wines
Today from 1:30 - 6:15 (Note slightly earlier finish time)
If you are a fan of the finest of Washington or a fan of full textured red wines then you MUST come to this tasting. It is quite a rare occasion when we open wines from Andrew Will and today we are featuring an entire lineup of wines from this legendary producer.
2015 ANDREW WILL CABERNET FRANC
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
Founded in 1989 and named after his son and nephew, Andrew Will's Chris Camarda is a Washington legend who makes extremely age-worthy wines and is on the pedestal of the state’s early influences such as Leonetti, Woodward Canyon and DeLille. A few years back, Chris created the "black label" wines that give a superb experience of what this cat has to offer for a fine price.
One of the renowned specialists of this grape, Chris Camarda makes a prolific version. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc. An ambrosial expression of the varietal, it coats the palate with velvety dark plum, raspberry, Italian herbs and spices and chocolate covered raspberry. What is most notable is that while this is quite a decadent wine, it shows great balance and restraint with polished tannins and brightness that holds your full attention. Beautiful to drink now and through 2025. Try it with braised short ribs with a tangy sauce.
One of the renowned specialists of this grape, Chris Camarda makes a prolific version. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc. An ambrosial expression of the varietal, it coats the palate with velvety dark plum, raspberry, Italian herbs and spices and chocolate covered raspberry. What is most notable is that while this is quite a decadent wine, it shows great balance and restraint with polished tannins and brightness that holds your full attention. Beautiful to drink now and through 2025. Try it with braised short ribs with a tangy sauce.
2015 ANDREW WILL MERLOT
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
It's easy to blame one line in an odious movie on the faltering fortunes of Merlot, but truth be told, it was declining long before "Sideways" hit the big screen. Due in part to over-exposure, over-production and being easy to pronounce, one could justify saying that Merlot at that time was a joke. Fast forward 10 years and we have seen a resurgence of sorts for those who always have made excellent Merlot but never had the means to defend the quality that was always there.
Made from 100% Merlot from Champoux, Ciel du Cheval and Two Blondes Vineyards, this wine epitomizes strength shapeliness and style has quite the complex nose with notes of red and black licorice, roasted coffee, ripe red blueberry, and a hint of peppermint. Texturally revealing superb balance of fruit, earth and spice from a beautiful touch of French oak on the rather lush, balanced and virtuous palate this Merlot is anything but wispy and slight. The finish is poised, very smooth and lingering. A wine that shows very well now and can age nicely for a decade. Enjoy this toothsome Merlot with a pan-seared ribeye, roasted duck or even a spicier dish like jambalaya.
Made from 100% Merlot from Champoux, Ciel du Cheval and Two Blondes Vineyards, this wine epitomizes strength shapeliness and style has quite the complex nose with notes of red and black licorice, roasted coffee, ripe red blueberry, and a hint of peppermint. Texturally revealing superb balance of fruit, earth and spice from a beautiful touch of French oak on the rather lush, balanced and virtuous palate this Merlot is anything but wispy and slight. The finish is poised, very smooth and lingering. A wine that shows very well now and can age nicely for a decade. Enjoy this toothsome Merlot with a pan-seared ribeye, roasted duck or even a spicier dish like jambalaya.
2013 ANDREW WILL CIEL DU CHEVAL
RED MOUNTAIN
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
RED MOUNTAIN
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
Back in 2002 Washington wine revolutionary Chris Camarda flipped the bird to the American practice of labeling his wines by the name of the grape, instead he opted to use the Bordeaux influence and labeled them by vineyard site and blending the grapes. He continues to do this to this day and many others have followed suit. Ciel du Cheval is a well-established, super-quality Red Mountain vineyard site that was initially planted in 1975 and has been quite prominent in the annals of Washington wine history.
Located near Benton City the vines average 27 years old for this 800 case cuvee. Being a warm and torrid site Andrew Will prefers to make this wine sans Cabernet Sauvignon due to the loamy soils on gravel beds to reflect the site as well as its Right Bank influences. 56% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 is, as most of Andrew Will's wines are when they are young, fruit driven but with ripe structure and cut to keep it honed. Blackberry combines nicely with cherry pit, dark chocolate, dried herbs and violet. Well-crafted and stacked, this wine will age very well through 2030+. This is one of Chris’s upper echelon wines. It is fun to show something on this level because we never have the chance to do so. I have two bottles to share today (Friday October 6) and once they are gone....
Located near Benton City the vines average 27 years old for this 800 case cuvee. Being a warm and torrid site Andrew Will prefers to make this wine sans Cabernet Sauvignon due to the loamy soils on gravel beds to reflect the site as well as its Right Bank influences. 56% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 is, as most of Andrew Will's wines are when they are young, fruit driven but with ripe structure and cut to keep it honed. Blackberry combines nicely with cherry pit, dark chocolate, dried herbs and violet. Well-crafted and stacked, this wine will age very well through 2030+. This is one of Chris’s upper echelon wines. It is fun to show something on this level because we never have the chance to do so. I have two bottles to share today (Friday October 6) and once they are gone....
2016 ANDREW WILL
'INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT' RED
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT' RED
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Not as serious as the other reds on this week’s offering, the Involuntary Commitment Red is meant to be a fun and fulfilling wine that should be enjoyed without too much muss or fuss. Even with this statement, it is made by someone who is a bit of a perfectionist so the wine definitely has agility and outperforms its price point.
A blend of Bordeaux varietals, red earth, cassis, tobacco, spice, kisses of blue fruit and violet waft from the glass carrying over to a texture chock full of spiced earth to counter and add complexity to the fruit. Brisk tones hold everything together and shine on the lacy finish. Drink this delicious Washington red over the next 2-4 years.
A blend of Bordeaux varietals, red earth, cassis, tobacco, spice, kisses of blue fruit and violet waft from the glass carrying over to a texture chock full of spiced earth to counter and add complexity to the fruit. Brisk tones hold everything together and shine on the lacy finish. Drink this delicious Washington red over the next 2-4 years.
