A great collection of whites and stellar representation of reds for this Pacific Northwest wine class.
 
Kudos, 2010 Riesling, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $12
With flavors of apricot, apple, pear and peach, this wine is rich and opulent with a touch of sweetness. Light bodied, crisp, well balanced by mouth watering acidity and a long finish.
 
Corvallis Wine Company, 2010 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $15
A crisp, medium bodied, mouthful of peaches and pears followed with a hint of vanilla. Balanced between full ripeness and austerity, it provides ample acidity and a soft texture.
 
Kestral Vintners, 2009 Old Vines Estate Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, Washington - $15
90 points Wine Spectator, "Vibrant, with apple, pear, quince and lime flower character, which sails easily into an expressive finish."  100% Kestrel View Estate Old Vine Chardonnay.
A powerful and particularly well balanced Chardonnay.  The wine boasts a rich mineral element, is full bodied, and bursting with green apple, vanilla, melon, citrus blossoms, lemon, and toast.  The minerality reminds me of warm rain on cement. The juice was racked to French oak barrels where it was aged on the yeast sediment for fourteen months, where it underwent the process of Sur Lie.
 
Kudos, 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $20
Abounding with black cherry and raspberry fruit followed by complex white pepper, elegant spice and rose petal aromas, this single vineyard Pinot Noir is intense and vibrant.
 
Cardwell Hill Cellars, 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $30
91 points Wine Spectator, "Silky and refined, this plays out its flavors of red cherry, wild berry and guava on a graceful frame, with a hint of caramel, remaining soft and elegant through the finish."
Cardwell Hill Cellars is a family owned, certified sustainable, Oregon boutique winery producing over 6,000 cases per year. Thanks to our cool climate on the western side of the Willamette Valley, this Pinot Noir has a bracing backbone of acidity. Note the low alcohol. Cardwell Hill Cellars wines are known for balanced alcohol and acidity due to the coolness of our vineyard site. This garnet red Pinot Noir has an elegant nose of black cherry, ripe raspberry and a little blueberry and currant. There is a note of cloves and cardamom from the Dijon clones. The mouth has bright raspberry and cherry flavors showing good acid. The soft finish has a bit of spice which fades into raspberry. A combination of new and used Seguin Moreau barrels were used for 10 months of aging. The wine was racked from the lees.
 
Winderlea Vinyard & Winery, 2007 Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $50
91 points Wine Advocate, "Aromas of cedar, spice box, blackberry, and plum lead to a dense, savory, structured wine with a sense of elegance."
The 2007 estate pinot noir, formerly Goldschmidt, was allowed to ferment in new Taransaud wood fermenters. The remaining fruit was fermented in stainless steel and macro bins. In addition to being fermented in wooden tanks, the estate was barrel aged in French oak barrels for 9 months prior to being bottle. The wine shows a beautiful garnet color, concentrated red and black fruit, concentrated, cherry, and spice, a full mouth feel and an elegant finish. The Estate will benefit from 1-2 years of additional bottle aging and we believe has an 8-10 year aging potential.
 
Gordon Brothers, 2007 Estate Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington - $23
89 points Wine Spectator, “Smooth and focused, with green and black olive overtones to the cherry and spice flavors, lingering on the savory finish."
Another classic Washington State Merlot from this superb boutique producer. Featuring rich aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, spice and rose petal, balanced with lush creamy oak on the smooth finish. As the wine is swirled in the glass, aromas of cedar, raspberry and blackberry, cinnamon and leather rise to caress the nose. The palate is rewarded with ripe, red fruit dusted with cocoa powder and cinnamon. The mid-palate is generous, yet focused fruit, leading to lingering fine grain tannins. After pressing the wines were aged in a mix of French and American Oak barrels for nine months. Prior to bottling 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah were blended in. The Cabernet added length to the overall finish and the Syrah elevated the already amazing Merlot fruit characters.
 
Stevens Winery, 2008 Stevens424, Red Wine Bordeaux Blend, Yakima Valley, Washington - $35
91 points Wine Advocate, "...aromas of balsam wood, tobacco, earth, herbs, sage and thyme, cassis, and black currant. This is followed by a layered, spicy, full flavored wine with good volume and intensity." Concentrated, Cherry, Licorice, Medium-bodied
The Stevens424 is our Signature wine. We strive to create a Bordeaux blend that has balance, elegance, and finesse. Once again, the blend is heavy handed with Cabernet Franc 39%, and Cabernet Sauvignon 36%, adding earth and fruit, while the Merlot 17%, Malbec 7%, and Petit Verdot 3%, team together to add layers of complexity and subtle power. This is the one wine that all four of our Vineyards, Dineen, Dubrul, Meek, and Sheridan, play a role in. The wine was aged in 50% new and 50% once used French oak for 20 months. Only 525 cases produced.
 
Cadence Winery, 2008 Ciel du Cheval, Red Blend, Red Mountain Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington - $50
91 points Wine Advocate, "The 2008 Ciel du Cheval is a blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 12% Merlot. Herbs, spices, violets, minerals, and black fruits compose the bouquet of this structured offering."
Probably the most unusual bend we’ve ever assembled for Ciel, but all to outstanding effect. This vintage is as dark, brooding, and structured as any Ciel to date. The nose shows deep layers of dark fruit and spice. The palate is atypically big for Ciel, with waves of black cherry, blueberry and plums crashing on bedrock style tannins. This is a large scaled wine, but the acidity brought by the Franc and Petit Verdot keep the flavors in check, preventing Ciel from becoming cloying or thick. This is truly a wine for mid to long term cellaring, or a couple of hours in the decanter.  Steve Tanzer remarks that Ciel “is lightly medicinal in a Cheval Blanc way.” This family owned winery in Seattle owns its own vineyards located in Red Mountain, Washington State’s smallest viticultural appellation. Appropriately, Cadence specializes in bold red blends and is recognized as one of the, Top 10 Urban Wineries In America.