October 10th – 39 Years!
The shops will celebrate 39 years in business on Thursday, October 10th. We thank everyone who has helped us make our success possible. Many thanks to all of you!
Sandrone – Piemonte
Barbara Sandrone visited the shops to showcase new vintages of the family’s classic line, as well as sampling the 2015 Barolo. As is always easy to say, these are truly some of the finest wines of Piemonte. The 2017 Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba comes from vineyards in the villages of Monforte d’Alba— Cascina Pe Mol and Castelletto, and of Novello—Ravera and Rocche—exceptional pedigree for Dolcetto. The Sandrone sites for Barbera d’Alba are also perfect exposures, and the Barbera languishes in the afternoon sun. The 2016 is one of the greatest Barbera d’Alba we have tasted. The 2016 Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba ‘Valmaggiore’ is located in an amphitheater facing the south, with full exposure to the sun. The soil is rich and vigorous, and the ground is soft and sandy, on the extremely steep slopes of the site. Come in and taste these wines on Saturday, October 12th at both shops.
2017 Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba 23.00 19.09VS
2016 Sandrone Barbera d’Alba (Limited) 35.00 29.05VS
2016 Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba ‘Valmaggiore’ 45.00 37.35VS
2018 Ca’Gialla Arneis
Marco Porello is the third generation of his family to produce wines in Roero. The Ca’Gialla property covers 15 hectacre of vineyard in best part of Roero. The 2018 Ca’Gialla Arneis shows hints of white flowers and citrus fruits with a classic note of almond.
2018 Ca’Gialla Arneis Roero 13.00 10.79VS
Saturday October 26th 11AM-5PM free
Trimbach – Ribeauvillé, Alsace
Anne Trimbach will be at the Ravenna shop from 11:30AM-2:00PM
and at the Queen Anne shop from 2:30PM-5PM
Three new single vineyard Pinot Noirs from Erin Noccio of Evesham Wood have just become available. Each of the three wines expresses a different aspect of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Temperance Hill Vineyard sits at high elevation (800-900 feet) way above anything else in the Eola Amity Hills. The Soujeau Vineyard is located on SW exposure of the west Eola Hills (500-680 feet). It is planted to Pommard, Wadenswil, and Dijon 115 in Jory, Nekia, Ritner, and Witzel soils. Situated on a low terrace (300-420 feet), Les Puits Sec Vineyard is east-facing and tightly planted on the eastern side of the Eola-Amity Hills ridge. These three wines are excellent examples of the 2017 vintage, having forward fruit and generous palates.
2017 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ‘Temperance Hill’ 35.00 29.05VS
2017 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ‘Soujeau Vineyard’ 37.00 30.71VS
2017 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ‘Le Puits Sec’ 40.00 33.20VS
Dating back to 1626, the Trimbach family has always focused on a drier style of Alsatian wines. We first featured Trimbach at the shops in 1982. The family vineyard is led by Hubert Trimbach, along with nephews Jean and Pierre, and his daughter Anne, the eldest of the 13th generation. Anne Trimbach will be in the shops on Saturday, October 26th to pour their wines and discuss the harvests and the estate.
2017 Trimbach Pinot Blanc Ribeauvillé 18.00 14.94VS
2016 Trimbach Riesling Ribeauvillé 21.00 17.43VS
2016 Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve Ribeauvillé 22.00 18.26VS
2011 Trimbach Riesling ‘Cuvée Frédéric Emile’ 75.00 62.25VS
2016 Trimbach Pinot Noir Réserve Ribeauvillé 27.00 22.41VS
Taste a selection of these wines on Saturday,
October 26th at both shops from 11AM-5PM
Anne Trimbach will be at the Ravenna shop from 11:30AM-2:00PM
and at the Queen Anne shop from 2:30PM-5PM
The 2017 Delmas Syrah ‘SJR Vineyard’ is a blend of 91.5% Syrah co-fermented with 8.5% Viognier, from their estate fruit in the tiny appellation of the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. The wine is youthful, but shows exceptional complexity, with black plum, white pepper, bacon fat, and black truffle. This is a wine to age 8-10 years for it to show its full potential. Delmas Syrah has become the new “cult”wine of the Walla Walla Valley, and we are honored to have Steve Robertson visit the shops and sample his wines on Saturday, October 5th.
2017 Delmas Syrah ‘SJR Vineyard’ Walla Walla Valley 69.95 net
Véronique Drouhin’s tasting notes describe this wine perfectly, “Our 2016 Cuvée Laurène is intensely aromatic and complex on the nose. Aromas include dried flowers, violet, spices, blueberry, and touch of orange blossom. The palate is captivating, displaying great concentration, with refined texture. It is beautifully balanced, with a long aftertaste. I envision it will age very well over the next 15 years.” We are taking pre-orders at a special price.
2016 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir ‘Laurène’ Dundee Hills (Pre-order) 59.95 net
Paitin – Piemonte
The history of the Paitin estate dates to 1796, when Benedetto Elia purchased the farm, vineyards, and wine cellar from Luigi Pelissero. Today the property covers 17 hectare. Sori’Paitin is a treasured portion of the Serraboella Cru, a particularly steep hill facing south-southwest in Neive. Deep, powerful wines are made that age gracefully. Come in and meet Giovanni Pasquero Elia and taste his wines on Saturday, October 19th at both shops.
2018 Paitin Roero Arneis ‘Elisa’ 18.00 14.94VS
2017 Paitin Barbera d’Alba ‘Serra’ 17.00 14.11VS
2015 Paitin Barbera d’Alba Superiore ‘Compolive’ 27.00 22.41VS
2016 Paitin Langhe Nebbiolo ‘Starda’ 19.00 15.77VS
2014 Paitin Barbaresco ‘Sori’Paitin’ 48.00 39.84VS
Taste these wines on Saturday,
October 19th at both shops from 11AM-5PM
Giovanni Pasquero Elia will be
at the Ravenna shop from 11:30AM-2:00PM
and at the Queen Anne shop from 2:30PM-5PM
2018 Domaine des Bérioles
The 2018 Domaine des Bérioles is 100% Trésailler of which only 30 hectare exist in the world. The majority are in the village of Saint Pourçain where Domaine des Bérioles is located. A dry white, it is crisp and delicious when served with shellfish.
2018 Domaine des Bérioles ‘Trésaille’ Val de Loire 22.00 18.26VS
2018 Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône
The 2018 Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône has an aroma of blueberry, truffle, fennel, and wild raspberry. It is 100% Syrah grown in Vinsobres, and the region benefits from a cool wind called ‘Pontias’, keeping heat down, creating this wine’s special freshness.
2018 Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Gagliole Chianti ‘Rubiolo’
The 2017 Gagliole Chianti Classico ‘Rubiolo’ is made from Sangiovese, of which 70% was matured in oak, and 30% in stainless steel. The wine is smooth, fruit-rich, and delicious, with supple, well-balanced tannins and is a remarkable value.
2017 Gagliole Chianti Classico ‘Rubiolo’ Castellina in Chianti 22.00 18.26VS
2017 Betz Family Reds
Very limited amounts of the 2017 Betz Family Rhône style reds are now available. Let us know what you would like.
2017 Betz Family Red ‘Bésoleil’Columbia Valley (Limited) 50.00 41.50VS
2017 Betz Family Syrah ‘La Serenne’Yakima Valley (Limited) 65.00 53.95VS
2017 Betz Family Syrah ‘La Côte Rousse’ Red Mountain (limited) 65.00 53.95VS
2012 Graham Beck Brut Zero
The absence of dosage allows the 2012 Graham Beck Brut Zero’s terroir to shine through. This uniquely minerally style is made only in exceptional vintages— a Tête de Cuvée—perfect for pairing with seafood.
2012 Graham Beck Brut Zero 1er Cuvée Cape Classique 26.00 21.58VS
2016 Tranche Estate
Four new releases from Tranche Estate vineyards are available. The 2016 Tranche Chardonnay from their ‘Celilo Vineyard’ shows the remarkable nectarine notes from this terroir driven property. The 2016 Tranche Syrah Estate from their Blue Mountain property in the Walla Walla Valley has a sanguine, herb scented aroma, classic for Syrah. The 2016 Tranche Cabernet Franc from Blue Mountain shows hints of Cuban tobacco leaf and dried cherries. The 2016 Tranche Cabernet Sauvignon has powerful notes of cassis and black currant.
2016 Tranche Chardonnay ‘Celilo Vineyard’
Columbia Gorge 45.00 37.35VS 2016 Tranche Syrah ‘Blue Mountain’
Walla Walla Valley 40.00 33.20VS
2016 Tranche Cabernet Franc ‘Blue Mountain’
Walla Walla Valley 40.00 33.20VS
2016 Tranche Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Blue Mountain’
Walla Walla Valley 50.00 41.50VS
2014 Corliss Reds
The 2014 Corliss Red was reviewed by Stephen Tanzer of Vinous, saying the wine has “a dominant red currant flavor complicated by a meaty nuance, and a suggestion of brown sugar, with energizing Cabernet-typical herb and licorice notes emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Very suave, broad, big wine with a serious tannic spine to support extended aging.” (94). He wrote this about the 2014 Corliss Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, “Wonderfully concentrated, fine-grained and light on its feet, conveying terrific intensity and inner-mouth energy to its slightly inky black fruit and mint flavors. Finishes very spicy and long, with tannins saturating the entire palate but not showing any dryness. An outstanding young Washington Cabernet for the cellar.” (95+)
2014 Corliss Red Columbia Valley (Limited) 75.00 62.25VS
2014 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley (Limited) 95.00 78.85VS
2018 Walter Scott Pinot Noir
The 2018 Walter Scott Pinot Noir ‘La Combe Verte’ is composed of fruit from Lewman, Sojourner, Sequitur, and Red Hills Estate, and old vines from Freedom Hill Vineyards— a remarkable value considering the sources. The 2018 vintage in Oregon has yielded some amazing wines.
2018 Walter Scott Pinot Noir ‘La Combe Verte’ Willamette Valley 30.00 24.90VS
2017 Kerloo Red ‘Majestic’
A spicy blend of 74% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, and 5% Syrah, the 2017 Kerloo Red ‘Majestic’ is perfect for serving during Seahawks games with salsa and chips. It also goes well with braised short ribs over hand-made pasta.
2017 Kerloo Red ‘Majestic’ Columbia Valley 25.00 20.75VS
2017 Valenciso Blanco
A blend of Viura and Garnacha Blanca, the 2017 Valenciso Blanco comes from very old, clay-limestone soils in the Rioja Alta. It is aged in Caucasus barrels, making the wine supple without an overpowering oak taste. It is perfect with ling cod in a light batter with lemon and capers.
2017 Valenciso Blanco Rioja 38.00 31.54VS
2018 Li Veli Verdeca
Verdeca is an ancient Apulian grape variety that had almost disappeared but is being revived by the Falvo family. The 2018 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca has aromas of citrus, pear, and white flowers. The wine is balanced with good acidity and a mildy salty aftertaste, making it perfect with Northwest shellfish.
2018 Masseria Li Veli Verdec Salento 20.00 16.60VS
2018 Arnaud Lambert Saumur
Arnaud Lambert is a big part of a revolutionary movement in the appellations of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny. His wines are pristine expressions of the soils. The presence of ‘tuffeau’, a porous, chalky limestone, shows in the fine minerality of his 2018 Arnaud Lambert Saumur Blanc.
2018 Arnaud Lambert Saumur Blanc 17.00 14.11VS