Older Washington Wines
Acadia, Portland, OR
Tasted October 5, 2013 by pwillen1 with 456 views
Introduction
We got together for an offline given Mike S. was in town and Eric had just won a bottle of Leonetti on auction (which turned out to be the wine of the night). I was really glad Tim W of Denison could make it given his familiarity with Washington wines.
The Chef is a friend of mine and he pulled out all the stops. Smoked chicken fried chicken skin, blue crab crepinettes, pork face pie, deep fried soft shell crab... and entrees! Service was outstanding and accommodated our geekobnoxious behavior.
Flight 1 - 1. (1 note)
Shane, as is his custom, brought some bubbles. He's created an expectation here (an expectation he brings bubbles and that he's invited to anything and everything). No one complained.
Flight 2 - 2. (1 note)
Just some silliness I picked up for $10.
White
1979 Grgich Hills Chardonnay
USA, California, Napa Valley
Dark yellow color. Oxidative nose showing some quince. Vanilla on the palate, creamy, but then finishes with crisp acidity. I don't believe the acidity was natural, rather added by the winemaker.
Flight 3 - 3, (2 notes)
The older David Lake flight.
Flight 4 - 4, (3 notes)
This was the best flight of the night by far. It included a ringer!
Red
1997 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Cool, iced cola on the nose with some green notes and even a bit of funk that wasn't distracting, rather, incremental. As it evolved, some very black tobacco and some soy, but not sweet at all, just very savory like miso paste. The finish extends beyond expectations where the oak shows again as integrated spice. A big wine, but not over the top, integrated, elegant and complex. WOTN.
Red
2000 Château La Croix du Casse
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
HOLD. some oak initially on the nose. really tight on the palate but showing some classic Bordeaux dirt. This wine could be fantastic in a decade or two.
Flight 5 - 5. (2 notes)
The Merlot flight. I'll contend that no one outside of France can do Merlot as well as Washington. That's a low bar, I know, but still. great sense of place here.
Red
1998 Seven Hills Winery Merlot Reserve
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Lots of juicy, over ripe blackberries on the nose. on the palate, some tar and spice. generally a soft wine that seemed victim of the vintage and a bit out of balance.
Flight 6 - 6. (2 notes)
These 98 cabs were sadly victims of the hot vintage. Age hasn't been kind to the Oregon 98's either.
Flight 7 - 7. (2 notes)
Tim's flight. Tim didn't make these wines, but he was very familiar with the process wince he was there when then were made. So cool to have him talk us through them!
Red
2002 Col Solare
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Loads of black currant on the nose, then tobacco. In the mouth, lead, then sweet tannins and some noticeable alcohol.
Red
2002 Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series Meritage
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Ethiopian espresso on the nose, then sweet red cherries on the palate, some graham cracker, then dark chocolate on the finish. Glad we drank this last of the reds in the lineup.
Flight 8 - 8. (1 note)
Some dessert.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1998 Covey Run Chenin Blanc Late Harvest
USA, Washington
In a cooler vintage I'm sure they would have made an ice wine. As it stands, the nose was exotic. First some Daphne, then white peach marmalade. Given air, the nose evolved to chamomile and chrysanthemum. Reminded me of my grandma's perfume box she kept in her bathroom. On the palate, some nice honey and surprisingly good acid to carry the knock out aromatics. This is no sauternes however.
Closing
I've still got some more of these wines, so I'd love to do it again next year.
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