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Wine of the Week
Gilbert Cellars 2023 Left Bank Red
"Gift Wrapped"
Horse Heavens Hills, Washington
$19.99, $17.99 for Wine Club Members
Some people are super crafty and all about creating unique packaging for well chosen gifts. Some people wish they were yet still choose great gifts. I'm guessing that where ever you fall on the spectrum, you don't mind a little help in that department. Here is a fabulous Washington State red that is literally wrapped up in holiday joy. But it's whatâs inside, the crowd favorite Left Bank, that is going to impress. Pair him with holiday roasts or just keep it simple with a serious pizza. He'll make a perfect socially distanced Secret Santa gift or serve as an unhostess gift--âTo: Me, From: Me.â
And the bonus is no additional charge for holiday wrapping because the busy little elves at Gilbert Cellars are on top of things.
Perched high above the Columbia River and kissed by the canyon breeze, Gilbert Vineyard stakes its claim as our premier site for Bordeaux varietals. This blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 2% CarmÊnère comes to life with a fleshy palate of dark fruit and subtle earthy notes. Enjoy with good food, friends, and lively conversation.
Everyone's favorite hostess gift is back! Just type "Holiday-wrapped"
Family owned WA winery taking the gravel road less traveled.
This bottle shows what can come from the longevity and commitment of a 5th generation farming family in the Yakima Valley. Currently things are driven by Charlie Gilbert and his wife Gloria. Charlie left the farm to study at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland and that is where he met Gloria. After pursuing formative experiences in the culinary worldânamely assisting on Food Network programs like Giada at Home and The Pioneer Womanâthey firmly planted themselves back in the Yakima community. One of the smartest things the two did was hire young and upcoming winemaker Justin Neufeld. You may be familiar with Justin's nick name and the wine that shares it: Old Goat. The name Gilbert Goat is a confluence of these two entities. We have been huge supporters of Justin's own label and know that he is one of the young guns to keep an eye on.
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Hannah Green
Madrona Bay Nexus 2021
Yakima Valley, Washington
$24.99, $22.49 for Wine Club Members
Owners James and Pearce Stickney are brothers, sommeliers and founders of Madrona Bay. Their shared obsession with wine runs deep, although they fell into winemaking from other careers: James studied microbiology and statistics at the University of Washington, while Pearce gained leadership experience managing Starbucks stores across Washington. Together, the brothers earned their Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diplomas in 2019 and they have been immersed in the Washington wine industry ever since. True to their science and business backgrounds, Madrona Bay wines reflect both the tension and balance between art and science, a way to translate sunlight, soil, and weather into something worth sharing.
Their Nexux wine is sourced from Knox Road Vineyard (formerly Les Vignes le Tendre) located at the very east end of the Yakima Valley AVA, a mere five miles west of Red Mountain. Madrona Bay has 7.7 acres of vine planted on the site.
The 2021 vintage is a blend of 44% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier. The grapes were co-fermented with 100% whole-cluster fermentation. The wine spent 30 days on the skins in neutral oak barriques, then aged for 26 months on the lees. The resulting wine is a beauty: bright red fruits and spice open the nose, while the palate has loads of tart red raspberry, cherry and an intriguing note of grapefruit character with a long, mouthwatering finish. Only 39 cases were produced.
WeatherEye Hillfighter Red 2021
Red Mountain, Washington
$54.99, $49.49 for Wine Club Members
WeatherEye Vineyards is one of the most exciting new developments in Washington wine. Located at the top of Red Mountain, WeatherEye Vineyard was purchased by Washington State wine advocate Cameron Myhrvold in 2004. Cameron quickly brought on Ryan Johnson to plant the vineyard and hired Todd Alexander to make the wines. The first vintage was 2018, and while the wines are already impressive, the best is unquestionably still to come.
Hillfighter is a second label of the winery, crafted to be a more approachable price point for their wines. The 2022 sees a base of Estate Syrah blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and a splash of Mourvèdre.
"The Hillfighter, a âsecond labelâ from WeatherEye, is mostly Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, with 24% Syrah and 7% Tempranillo. I loved how its dried blueberry, worn saddle leather and graphite aromas reminded me of a mature Bordeaux. The wine's flavors of black cherry, lemon zest and salted peanuts are ably backed by fine-grained tannins." "94 Points" The Wine Enthusiast.
âThe 2022 Hillfighter Red Blend opens slowly in the glass yet is worth waiting for, as dried strawberries, cherry wood, incense, white pepper and sage form its inviting bouquet. This is finessed and graceful with silken textures and a medium body, as tart wild berry fruits and violet inner florals echo throughout. The 2022 tapers off spicy and long yet only gently tannic, leaving the palate with a youthful tension and hints of licorice that fade slowly. This is already showing beautifully, but there's no rush. The 2022 is a blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre refined for 22 months in 50% new French oak. Drinking window: 2025-2030. 92 pointsâ Eric Guido, Vinous
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Stefano Brandi
Andrew Will Winery
Chris Camarda established Andrew Will Cellars in 1989, naming the winery in honor of his nephew, Andrew, and son, Will. The latter, once a geologist, now leads as second-generation winemaker back at the Vashon Island facility. Andrew Will focuses on Bordeaux varietals, sourcing fruit from Two Blondes Vineyard (estate vineyard), Champoux Vineyard (partly owned), and Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. The goal is to create wines with a sense of place, expressing each vineyardâs identity.
Patrick Rawn, vineyard manager, tends to Two Blondes, located in Zillah, Washington, and named after Chrisâs late wife, Annie, and their partner in the vineyard and friend, Melody. This 30-acre vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA was planted in 2000, and is currently devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Two Blondes sits at 1150 feet with North to South sun exposure. The soils are a complex mix of Harwood, Burke, and Wiehl series âsilty loams formed in a silty loess eolian mantle over a lime-silica-cemented duripan.
2021 was a particularly warm growing season, but temperatures cooled down in September and October, allowing for extended hang time. The result is a strong vintage that delivered wines with solid ripeness and structure.
Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard Merlot 2021
Yakima Valley, Washington
$34.99, $31.49 for Wine Club Members
The vines of Merlot at Two Blondes Vineyard are on average 18 years old. The grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation, and was aged for 23 months in new French oak (30%) and neutral French oak (70%). After bottling, and spending seven more months in the cellar, the Merlot is released unfined, vegan, and with minimal SO2 added.
âThe 2021 Merlot Two Blondes Vineyard unfolds slowly on the nose, from blackcurrant and blueberry to dark chocolate, sage and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with pure, concentrated flavors that offer Goldilocks ripeness. Itâs structured by grainy tannins and juicy acidity and has a long, floral finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 146 cases were made. Drink Date: 2025-2040. 92+ Points.â Wine Advocate
âRed and black fruits, graphite, chocolate, and hints of leafy tobacco all emerge from the 2021 Merlot Two Blondes Vineyard, a medium-bodied, plump, round, yet elegant 2021 that has ripe, polished tannins and a great finish. 91 Points.â Jeb Dunnuck
This Merlot makes a great match for braised and roasted red meats and game, roasted poultry and duck with cherry sauce, roasted root vegetables and mushrooms, grilled vegetables, lentil and bean casseroles, aged cheeses and soft blue cheeses, and dark chocolate treats and dark-berries desserts.
100% Merlot
Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2021
Yakima Valley, Washington
$34.99, $31.49 for Wine Club Members
The fruit for this 2021 Cabernet Franc comes from 23-year-old vines grown at Two Blondes Vineyard. The grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine was aged for 23 months in a mix of new French oak (20%) and neutral French oak (80%) before bottling and then rested further in the cellar for nine months. It is unfiltered, unfined, and with minimal added sulfites.
âThe 2021 Cabernet Franc Two Blondes Vineyard is bursting with pure scents of blackcurrant liqueur, peppermint patty, graphite, tobacco and lavender. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, savory flavors. Itâs structured by soft, clay-textured tannins and rounded acidity and has a long, layered finish. 465 cases produced. Drink Date: 2025-2035. 91 Points.â Wine Advocate
âAll varietal, the 2021 Cabernet Franc Two Blondes Vineyard offers a darker, smoky style in its red, blue, and black fruits interwoven with spring flowers, spicy wood, and minty herbs. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and nicely balanced, it has ripe tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. 92 Points.â Jeb Dunnuck
This Cabernet Franc pairs beautifully with grilled or smoked red meats and game, herb-roasted or braised poultry and white meats, mushrooms based dishes, legume stews, and aged cheeses.
100% Cabernet Franc
GIFT OUR WINE CLUB
Looking for your next best gift idea?
How about a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription of wine?
This gift has the elements of surprise, education and great taste long after the paper and bows have been swept away.
We offer six clubs:
World Wine Club at $29 per month
Northwest Club at $49 per month
Grand Cru Club at $99 per month
Sake Club $35 per month-one bottle
Natural Club $49 per month
Bubbles Club $99 per month
Each club receives 2 bottles monthly that are hand-selected by Ted and Hannah and accompanied by Hannah's informative tasting notes for each. Membership includes the exclusive 10% shop discount, the opportunity to receive Club Member-Only special offers and one free ticket to all tasting events.
More info
Gift Cards
My father-in-law, Jon, knows what he's going to get for every occasion every timeâWINE! And he's glad of that.
It's the perfect gift for the wine enthusiast or that person who already has everything they need in your life. We went old-school with our cards, hand-pressed and printed.
You have the choice of picking up the card or we will happily mail it for you. You provide the gift recipient's name and mailing address; we'll handle the rest.
Call us or come on in to the shop to purchase a gift card. Not available online.
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Friday Tasting
Niepoort Port & Portuguese Tasting
With Cortney Lease, Martine's Wines
Friday, December 5th, 3-5:30 pm
30 years ago, the Douro was not at all the region we know today. Dirk Niepoort was one of the great visionaries of the Douro, helping it onto a new foundation built around what Dirk refersto as the âknowledge of forefathersâ. "When I arrived in the Douro , Port was the only wine that mattered . But I am a very curious person , so I decided to go see and experiment .â Dirk Niepoort At the age of 20, he tasted a phenomenal simple table wine, made under who knows what conditions.Why would he not be able to also produce such a wine? This is how,in 1990,Niepoort went from being a business only selling Port wines to a company which also produced unfortified Douro DOC wines.
We welcome Courtney from Niepoort to present the wines and share the story of this historic Port House.
The Lineup
Vinho Verde Docil 2023 $19.99
Nat Cool Tinto Drink Me 2021 (1 Ltr) $22.99
Nat Douro Tinto Twisted 2022 $19.99
Niepoort 10 yr Tawny $49.99
Niepoort LBV 2020 $27.99
Niepoort Ruby NV $19.99
Niepoort Colheita 2009 $54.99
Friday, December 5th. 3-5:30 pm. $5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership at each event.
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Upcoming Tastings
Niepoort Port & Portuguese Tasting
Friday, December 5th, 3-5:30 pm
Copinet Champagne Tasting
With William Woodruff-Chloe Imports
Friday, December 12th, 3-5:30 pm
Holiday Wines Tasting
With Ben Reece
Friday, December 19th, 3-5:30 pm
Maisons Marques & Domaine Imports
"Importer of the Year"
With Cheryl Olmstead
Friday, December 27th, 3-5:30 pm
All tastings $5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership at every event.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
December Shop ScheduleâExtended Hours
All month, Monday-Saturday 10-6
Christmas Eve, 10-5
Christmas Day, CLOSED
January 1-12th , CLOSED for shop vacation |
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