Day 2 in Woodinville

My buddy Dave and I got up to Woodinville a little before lunch time to try out some wines around town. We stopped at Efeste, J. Bookwalter, Mark Ryan, Ross Andrew, & Cougar Crest before heading back to Seattle. It was a lot of fun being up there on a Friday afternoon - there weren't crowds, the weather was beautiful and everyone we met was incredibly nice.

This was recommended to me from Dave Butner of Kaella Winery. I was very happy to have stopped there as they offered up some really beautiful wines.

• 2010 Efeste Sauvignon Blanc Feral Evergreen Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Intensely grassy, this also has a lot of white florals and lush grapefruit. This teeters on the edge of becoming a bit too grassy for me...as I feel some Sauvignon is becoming, but there's a nice balance and nice white florals that kept me slightly distracted from the amount of grass on the palate.

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• 2010 Efeste Riesling Evergreen Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A very modern style of Riesling with a touch of sweetness. The nose has some lanolin, crushed rocks and some herbal tones. Palate was a bit lush for me, but what saves it is its acidity. This reminded me a German Spatlese in terms of style.

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• 2008 Efeste Syrah Ceidleigh 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Very nice syrah with grilled meats, clove and black fruit on the nose. Palate was medium-weight with some nice olive, meat and black fruit flavors. Finishes nicely with some violets and a touch of acidity.

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• 2007 Efeste Final-Final 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Toasty nose with some coffee and black fruit. Thought the palate had nice balance with rich black fruit, some espresso, and sweet cassis. A touch too modern for me.

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• 2008 Efeste Cabernet Sauvignon Big Papa 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Modern styled Cabernet with bold cigar, cranberry, sweet cherry and olive on the nose. Palate was dense with brooding black fruit and blueberry tones. Came across a bit sweet to me...borderline cocktail wine.

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After lunch, we stopped at J. Bookwalter. This was the first time I had tried any of their wines and overall, I wasn't too impressed.

• 2010 J. Bookwalter Couplet Conner Lee Vineyard 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This had some fresh herbs, a touch of honey and a good amount of citrus. Seemed a bit simple to me.

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• 2010 J. Bookwalter Riesling Anecdote 84 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  2.1% residual sugar and you could taste every last drop of it. The sweetness got away a bit from the winemaker here as it was a clunky Riesling with some tropical fruit and grassy, herbal notes.

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• NV J. Bookwalter Red Wine Subplot #25 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Thought this was their most interesting wine. A non-vintage selection of grapes going back to the 2006 vintage. The nose had nice sour and red cherry tones with cloves, subtle blueberry and blackberry tones. Palate was medium-weight and had some espresso, cigar, red fruit and florals.

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• 2008 J. Bookwalter Merlot Foreshadow 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Jammy fruits with red berries, blueberries and blackberries. Palate had milk chocolate, plums, red florals and spices. The finish was a bit hot for me...all-in-all a bit disjointed.

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• 2008 J. Bookwalter Cabernet Sauvignon Foreshadow 84 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Much like the Foreshadow Merlot, this was a jammy modern style Cabernet. Nose featured dense black fruit, incredible amounts of toast and aromas of blueberry cream. Palate was again showing a fair amount of heat. Not really my style of wine.

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• 2009 J. Bookwalter Syrah Antagonist Elephant Mountain Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  This was popped and poured at the tasting room. Incredibly dense nose of blackberries, blueberries and smoke. Palate had a nice smokey mineral component with some ultra-dense black fruit - finish was a touch hot.

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Immediately next door from J. Bookwalter is Mark Ryan. Incredibly modern style of winemaking that is not in my comfort zone. Great people there and it was fun to taste some of his wines that I can't find in the East.

• 2009 Mark Ryan Viognier Columbia Valley 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Nice color with subtle honey on the nose and a heaping of white florals. The palate was medium-weight and was packed with dense white florals...finish was a touch hot.

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• 2009 Mark Ryan The Dissident 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Incredibly dense black fruit, lots of spices and nice violet tones. Sadly, the wine was just too hot on the finish...it was hard for me to get around that.

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• 2009 Mark Ryan Syrah Wild Eyed Red Mountain 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  At this point I was getting more adjusted to this type of syrah with its dense blueberry and blackberry tones. What makes these hard for me is the almost nonexistent acid. I am not looking for wines that taste like blackberry cocktails...and without a stronger structure, that's what's happening here.

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• 2009 Mark Ryan Syrah Lost Soul Les Vignes de Marcoux 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  A bit more restrained than the Wild Eyed Syrah, but still not bringing the elegance or complexity that I'm looking for in high-end wines.

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• 2008 Mark Ryan Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  I've had this cuvee before and feel it's one of his more restrained, elegant efforts. It still has the massive dark fruit, but there's a bit more emphasis on the florals and acid.

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• 2008 Mark Ryan Dead Horse 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  This was my first time trying his Dead Horse bottling and I think it was one of his better ones. Didn't have the jammy fruit the Wild Eyed and Lost Soul syrah's had, but a subtle meatiness and spice component that added a bit more complexity.

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This was another producer I had never heard of before Dave Butner told me to check them out. Located immediately next door to Mark Ryan, it was only a short commute to stop in! Very interesting wines and their Boushey Syrah was one of my favorites from the trip.

• 2009 Ross Andrew Winery Pinot Gris Celilo Vineyard 85 Points

  USA, Oregon/Washington, Columbia Gorge

  A very delicate pinot gris that had spring flowers, some melon and white peach on the nose. The palate was light, but lack precision. The notes of melon, herbs and citrus were not harmonious.

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• 2006 Ross Andrew Winery Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 84 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  A very dense, modern wine with plums, blueberry sauce and baking spices on the nose. The palate was equally modern with more pronounced charcoal, cigar, black fruit and spice. A bit too big and clunky for me.

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• 2008 Ross Andrew Winery Cabernet Sauvignon "Glaze" 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Their base level Cabernet had black fruit, spices and lots and lots of charcoal. The palate was fruity and long with unrelenting red and black fruit with lots of spices. Didn't have the acidity to keep the finish in balance...seemed to lack precision.

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• 2008 Ross Andrew Winery Syrah Boushey Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Compared to the other wines being poured in their tasting room, this was in a league of its own and deserves recognition as one of the more unique Washington syrahs. The nose is driven by soil, toast, and a dense meatiness that's comparable to Northern Rhone syrah in its depth and complexity. The palate had blood, sour cherry, crushed rocks and herbs seamlessly blended together. Its mouthfeel was pretty lush and bold - so that's a bit different than many Northern Rhone syrahs, but this is such a unique wine that really made me pay attention.

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Having heard they just opened a tasting room in Woodinville, I had to stop in. I had been in their wine club for a couple years, but recently dropped out after a couple disappointing shipments of club wine. To my surprise, their winemaker Deb Hansen was pouring wine while we were there and we happened to be the only people in the place. Spent almost an hour with her tasting through 12 wines. Some were quite good, others were a bit disappointing. It was great to finally meet her and spend part of the afternoon with her and her husband.

• 2008 Cougar Crest Viognier 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Nice viscosity to the wine with tones of honeysuckle, melons, and white flowers. Mid-palate and finish were a touch short.

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• 2009 Cougar Crest Grenache Rosé 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Another nice example of Rose from Washington state! This had delicate florals with sweet strawberry and light cherry. Mid-palate and finish also featured a vein of minerality that gave the wine verve.

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• 2007 Cougar Crest Dedication Four 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  This had chocolate notes on the nose with some herbs and dried florals. Palate had some darker fruits and a nice spice component.

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• 2006 Cougar Crest Merlot 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  A richer style of Merlot with raspberries, red florals, some milk chocolate and spice on the nose. The palate was a bit spicier with distinct herbal tones and crushed clove. Good amount of ripe red fruit on the palate - not all that much acidity.

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• 2007 Cougar Crest Cabernet Franc 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Continues to be one of my favorite domestic Cabernet Franc cuvees. Great depth on the nose with lots of herbs, peppers, red fruit and dark fruit. Palate had sizzling minerality, red fruit, forest floor tones and subtle (but noticeable) red florals. This got 93 from WS...might be a hair conservative.

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• 2007 Cougar Crest Anniversary Cuvée 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Red fruit on the nose blends cherry and pomegranate with blackberry and spices. The palate is relatively dense and firm with potpourri, black cherry and soil.

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• 2005 Cougar Crest Syrah Stellar Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  I had this a couple weeks ago and my notes for this are basically the same. While talking to winemaker Deb Hansen, she mentioned to me that the vines used here were brought in from Cayuse's Christophe Baron. Interestingly, she mentioned this to me after I made the comment that the animal nature I typically find in Cayuse were lurking underneath the polished red and black fruit here. Very interesting wine that put on another great display.

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• 2006 Cougar Crest Syrah 85 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Another relatively "meh" performance from this wine (especially after the beautiful 2006 Stellar). Found this one to be a touch meatier than the bottle I had a couple weeks ago.

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• 2008 Cougar Crest Estate Syrillo 84 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  This is a blend of Tempranillo and Syrah. Very candied nose of raspberry, mocha, and toasty oak. The palate was dense and modern - with high-toned red fruit and smoke notes. Not really my cup of tea.

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• 2007 Walla Walla River Winery Tempranillo Cougar Hills 83 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Not a very polished wine with dense, robust red fruit, tea, and olive flavors. Strange flavor profile...and the palate seemed a bit disjointed. I've enjoyed a couple other bottles of tempranillo from Walla Walla...but I don't regard this as one of the best.

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• 2008 Walla Walla River Winery Barbera 84 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  I know that there are many serious Barbera's out there...but I always think of them as quintessential "pizza wine". Well, here's another example of a great pizza wine. It had red fruited tones with some spice. Not overly complex, but I imagine this would be popular.

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