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2008
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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2016 (based on 4 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 83 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Fugu Me on 6/17/2020: If you have any of these left, now is the time to drink up. In a great spot on PnP, started to fade after an hour or so. Still can’t believe the qpr on these. (580 views) | | | Tasted by dsgris on 9/18/2015 & rated 87 points: Inky dark purple with black berry jammy nose. Dry, ripe fruit, leather and blackberries, minimal acid, bold fruit and light tannins. Another good cooking wine. (2029 views) | | | Tasted by Kevincrouch on 7/6/2015: Last of these. They never disappointed. (1952 views) | | | Tasted by dsgris on 8/3/2014 & rated 87 points: Dark ruby, soft cherry nose. Dry, slightly tart medium fruit with a little smoky mineral. Cherry with stone fruit tannins, touch of bitter. (2572 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 6/26/2014 & rated 88 points: Last bottle of this delicious red. Notes consistent with previous. Drink up! (2393 views) | | | Tasted by luchavino on 2/24/2014 & rated 88 points: The nose is hefty with black fruit, smoked meats and cracked pepper with some sandalwood and orange peal. The palate is similar with dark fruit, sandal wood and cracked pepper with a finish that is dry with earthy herbal spices.
Drank well over several evenings. (3227 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 8/30/2013 & rated 88 points: Very good red blend, drinks above its discounted price point. Nothing to add to previous notes. (1933 views) | | | Tasted by ob2s on 6/30/2013 & rated 91 points: Many think it is a good daily drinker, but I find this blend to be very well put together. In fact if anyone has 4 or more, I'll pay $15/bottle and I will pay shipping (email you prepaid label), you just provide a box. (2263 views) | | | Tasted by ChrisinCowiche on 6/16/2013: Last bottle. Sorry to see these go. (1876 views) | | | Tasted by celo4life on 5/13/2013 & rated 90 points: Drinking this wine makes me miss Olsen Estates more and more. On the nose, you'll find nice blackberry, black pepper, and dark cherry. On the palate, you get a nice blend of spices, blackberry, raspberry, dark cherry, hints of vanilla, and black pepper. Tannins and acidity are on the medium side of the spectrum. For an every day drinking wine, this is a good pick (1909 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 4/25/2013 & rated 88 points: Previous notes apply. Drinking very well right now. (1305 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 2/1/2013 & rated 88 points: Delicious. Notes completely consistent with previous. In a very good place presently. (1289 views) | | | Tasted by hcnate on 1/20/2013: Wish this was an everlasting supply. Great juice. (1179 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 12/24/2012 & rated 88 points: Very good. Notes consistent with previous. (1204 views) | | | Tasted by luchavino on 12/6/2012 & rated 86 points: The nose shows dusty logan berry, currant and spices. The palate is slightly tart with sour cherry, all spice and a tart cherry bark finish. (967 views) | | | Tasted by luchavino on 12/6/2012 & rated 87 points: The nose shows dusty Logan berry, currant and spices. The palate is tarter with sour cherry all spice and a tart cherry bark finish.
(1021 views) | | | Tasted by ChrisinCowiche on 12/3/2012 & rated 90 points: Past couple of bottles, including one tonight, have been extremely nice. This is maybe a better cold weather wine. Lots of deep dark fruit, but a nice overtone of bright fruit and some oak. I'll be really sad when this one is gone. (1587 views) | | | Tasted by exsmith21 on 11/16/2012: tasty easy drinker (1119 views) | | | Tasted by Fugu Me on 10/26/2012: The Syrah was really punching through in a delightful manner. Kicking myself for not buying more of this. (1403 views) | | | Tasted by Jonnie No Pants on 10/19/2012 & rated 90 points: Very smooth with a bold and robust flavor (1146 views) | | | Tasted by exsmith21 on 10/10/2012: Great value, tasty, not too nuanced. (1129 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 7/27/2012 & rated 88 points: Nice red and black fruit, medium acidity giving a bit of lift, soft tannins. Drinking really well as a PnP or after a night with a bit of air. Really good value. (1397 views) | | | Tasted by Kevincrouch on 7/9/2012: A perfect BBQ wine this one. Full-bodied, delicious and fruity red with mild tannins and little oak. This tastes like a lot of other Rhone varietals coming out of the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley that command higher prices. 88-90 points. (1489 views) | | | Tasted by ob2s on 6/28/2012 & rated 91 points: Great Yakima rhone blend. I wish I had bought more than 6. (1730 views) | | | Tasted by Leomania on 5/29/2012 & rated 89 points: My wife was annoyed with me for drinking more than my share of the previous bottle, so I opened another one. :-)
Same notes apply. (1637 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| 2008 Olsen Estates Red WineWine Data:
Production: 3,000 Cases
Varietal Composition: 70% Syrah, 12% Cinsault, 12% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache, 1% Counoise (100% Estate Grown)
Appellation: Yakima Valley
Aging: 16 Months in French Oak, 55% New (100% Barrel Aged)
Alcohol: 14.2%
pH: 3.78
TA: 6.4 g/L
RS: 0.02%
MA: 0.07 g/L
Cellar Life: Drink now through 2015
Full Pull:
My original tasting notes: “I think by the time this came out of barrel (which, judging from the tech sheet, must have been around April 2010), it was clear that the winery was going out of business (they didn’t crush any grapes in 2010, so we know the decision was made no later than September 2010). I wouldn’t be surprised if the distributor who ended up buying all the remaining Olsen stock asked them to blend everything together into a lower price point, which would be easier to move through the marketplace. I could be right or I could be wrong. Doesn’t really matter, I suppose. What remains, regardless, is a great Rhone blend at a silly price point. This is chock full of character, with deep berry flavors and coffee grounds scattered throughout. Brambly nuance; seamless texture; fine balance: all unheard of at this tariff.”
That original offering also contained the following review from Paul Gregutt: Wine Enthusiast (Paul Gregutt): “[REVIEW TEXT WITHHELD]. 91pts.”
And then the folks at WinePeeps slotted this bottle into one of their blind Wine Tasting Dinners (see a description of those dinners here, and the notes from this particular dinner here). It was bagged up and served blind alongside five other Washington Rhone blends, ranging from $18 to $50, and it was the consensus favorite:
Wine Peeps (Kori Voorhees): “[REVIEW TEXT WITHHELD]. Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5). QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).”Red Blend.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Yakima Valley Wine Yakima Valley |
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