Friday Sips
Today, Friday November 2, 2012 3:30 – 6:30
3 wines, all utilizing fruit from the Walla Walla Valley
Drop by to sample wines from Woodward Canyon, L’Ecole No. 41 & Foundry Vineyards
2009 WOODWARD CANYON CABERNET SAUVIGNON
'WALLA WALLA'
$35.99 BTL./$431.88 CASE
$35.99 BTL./$431.88 CASE
The idea behind this week’s Friday Sips is to show wines utilizing grapes from the Walla Walla Valley. Contrary to what most folks believe when they visit this growing region, wineries take advantage of the various diverse terroirs throughout all of Eastern Washington, maybe blending in with fruit from Walla Walla Valley or opting to just go with the even more established vineyard sites that hail from regions like Horse Heaven Hills or Red Mountain for example.
Woodward Canyon and Rick Small have to be regarded as one of the founding fathers of this region. The 2009 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is from Woodward Canyon’s estate vineyard (although Rick did sneak in 7% from DuBrul Vineyard) and reveals promiscuously layered aromas and flavors of black cherry, smoke, fennel, cassis and subtle exotic spices which cascade into an full-flavored, yet balanced texture that is chewy, mouthfilling, suave around the edges and gaining more pekoe and nutmeg/vanilla spice on the saturated and long finish. Very tasty now, but it will undoubtedly age well for another decade.
Woodward Canyon and Rick Small have to be regarded as one of the founding fathers of this region. The 2009 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is from Woodward Canyon’s estate vineyard (although Rick did sneak in 7% from DuBrul Vineyard) and reveals promiscuously layered aromas and flavors of black cherry, smoke, fennel, cassis and subtle exotic spices which cascade into an full-flavored, yet balanced texture that is chewy, mouthfilling, suave around the edges and gaining more pekoe and nutmeg/vanilla spice on the saturated and long finish. Very tasty now, but it will undoubtedly age well for another decade.
2008 L'ECOLE NO. 41 APOGEE
"PEPPER BRIDGE VINEYARD"
[reg. $49.99]
$41.99 BTL./$251.94 SIX PACK CASE
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc...In the old world (i.e. Bordeaux) it is traditional to produce the very best wine from a given vineyard site, regardless of which varietal dominates that blend. Since 1993, L'Ecole No. 41 has produced such a vineyard blend from Walla Walla's Pepper Bridge Vineyard called Apogee. The name Apogee is the point in the orbit of the moon that is the greatest distance from the earth; the farthest point or apex, and reflects all that L'Ecole tries to accomplish with the wine, reaching the ultimate in quality. Boldly aromatic, this wine has spicy aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg, earthy hints of sweet tobacco and leather, and smoky dark fruit packed with a chocolate, mint and cherry finish....Along with the following L'Ecole wine, it is one of the great Walla Walla Bordeaux-inspired blends!! Drink through 2025.
Having been in existence since 1983, L'Ecole No 41, led by MIT-educated Marty Clubb is one of the pioneers of the Walla Walla region. Often times we forget just how great these wines really are, but after visiting and spending 3 hours and attending a virtual master's class on Walla Walla geology a few years back with this intense, professorial dude, my appreciation for these wines has definitely grown even more. Yours should, too! These are some of the finest values in Walla Walla, especially given their impeccable quality.
Having been in existence since 1983, L'Ecole No 41, led by MIT-educated Marty Clubb is one of the pioneers of the Walla Walla region. Often times we forget just how great these wines really are, but after visiting and spending 3 hours and attending a virtual master's class on Walla Walla geology a few years back with this intense, professorial dude, my appreciation for these wines has definitely grown even more. Yours should, too! These are some of the finest values in Walla Walla, especially given their impeccable quality.
2006 FOUNDRY VINEYARDS WALLA WALLA RED
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot. Foundry Vineyards is a collaboration between 2 friends who grew up in Walla Walla with a desire to combine wine with art. With limited production, these artisan wines offer fantastic reflections of Walla Walla’s soils as well as being terrific values. The red blend is from the Stonemarker Vineyard in Walla Walla and drinks beautifully. Aromatic X-Mas spice surrounds currant, blueberry, hints of pekoe and black pepper. In the mouth it is stylish, poised and drinking very well at the moment. Plenty of warmth and depth from this particular vintage and the site, it is perfect fodder with slow-roasted beef dishes.
