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Wine of the Week
Viu Mananet 2022 Malbec
Gran Reserva "Secreto"
Colchagua Valley, Chile
$14.99, $13.49 for Wine Club Members
It is hard to believe another football season is here. The sentiment captures that familiar, bittersweet transition from the long, languid days of summer to the shorter, crisper days of fall. One minute, you're enjoying lazy days by the lake and the next, the unmistakable sound of a game-day broadcast fills the air.
This week we offer a Malbec from Chile that has game-day written all over it. Via Manent is one of the most sought-after winery's in Chile when it comes to serious/old-vine renditions of this varietal. Still proudly family owned and operated, was the first in Chile to champion Malbec decades ago, and remain today the only winery specializing in it).
Their 2022 "Secreto" bottling is a winner at Vinous' $25 review, this layered/very balanced example should end up the easiest buying decision you'll make all week:
"The 2022 Malbec Secreto, enriched with 15% undisclosed grape varieties, originates from El Olivar in Peralillo, Colchagua Valley. This purple-hued wine offers aromas of blackberry and plum with a subtle hint of leafiness. Indulgent, rich and juicy on the palate, it lingers with fruit notes—balanced and easygoing. 90 points (reviewed at $25)" - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous 7/24
Viu Mananet
After working as a wine merchant alongside his father and brother since the 1930’s, Miguel Viu Manent made the decision to branch out on his own in 1965, purchasing a historic vineyard and winery in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. The estate was and still is one of the most well-exposed sites in the region, and it included 370 acres of pre-phylloxera massal selections from France.
After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking).
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Stefano Brandi
Lost River Salish Sea White Blend 2023
Columbia Valley, Washington
$22.99, $20.69 for Wine Club Members
Lost River Winery was founded in 2002 in Washington’s upper Methow Valley by John Morgan and Barbara House, who had relocated from Bellingham. John, a former civil engineer in Whatcom County, after a commercial-scale test batch and coursework at U.C. Davis, relocates and to starts building the winery in January of 2002 with three feet of snow on the ground. In 2022, ownership passed to Rick and Joanne Coursey. They both had early careers in wine and hospitality before long careers in government. Rick has also studied enology and viticulture at Purdue and U.C. Davis.
Not far from Winthrop, the winery lies alongside the clear and icy Lost River, which flows from the snowcapped Cascade Mountains. Due to the “rain shadow” effect of the towering mountain range summers are hot and dry. Though the Salish Sea white blend does not come from a single estate vineyard, it reflects a careful selection of grapes sourced from across Washington AVAs, chosen for balance and aromatic expression.
The name Salish Sea recalls and honors the First Nations cultures that have long flourished along the waters of the Puget Sound and beyond, evoking a sense of place, a connection with the land and sea.
This aromatic and complex white blend offers bright citrus and tropical fruit notes, balancing freshness and a touch of oak.
Recreational Dungeness crabbing season is still open in Bellingham Bay until the end of the month, and it’s hard to imagine a better match for this wine than freshly caught crab. Great as well with shellfish and seafood, for something simpler on a weekday evening, I would just open a bottle of Salish Sea and pour a glass or two alongside a pan-fried sogliola alla mugnaia (sole meunière — sole sautéed in butter), accompanied by a fresh salad.
80% Pinot Gris, 20% Viognier
Sogiola alla Mugnaia (Sole Menière)
New York Times
Mark Ryan Flowerhead Pinot Gris 2024
Columbia Valley, Washington
$15.99, $14.39 for Wine Club Members
Founded in 1999 in Woodinville, Washington, Mark Ryan Winery quickly earned high reputation under the guidance of Mark Ryan McNeilly, a largely self-taught winemaker. McNeilly began producing wine in garages of friends and family, as well as developing in the meantime his craft with the mentorship from some of the region’s most experienced vintners. Over the years, the winery expanded both in size and acclaim, eventually relocating production to Walla Walla in 2017, which helped it become the 14th largest winery in the state. Today, the Mark Ryan Winery includes several satellite labels, such as Lu & Oly, Board Track Racer, NumbSkull, and the Underground Wine Project. Mark’s two daughters, Lucia and Olivia, are the inspiration behind the Lu & Oly selection, which began with the 2013 vintage. This offshoot includes the Flowerhead line. The label artwork was created by the very talented Kyler Martz, a Northwest illustrator and tattoo artist.
Their first vintage of Flowerhead Pinot Gris showcases a beautiful array of fragrances and flavors with balanced and fresh acidity. Aromatic notes of pear and lemon zest are joined by a bouquet of gardenia and honeysuckle. On the palate, delightful flavors of ginger, kumquat, and watermelon rind produce a slightly spicy and citrusy profile. The crisp, clean acidity leaves a lingering sense of brightness on the finish.
This Pinot Gris is perfect with fresh seafood like scallops and crab, bright and fresh East-Asian dishes, roasted poultry featuring citrus and herbs, and salads such as arugola with goat cheese and pears.
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Hannah Green
City Limits The Citizen 2022
Columbia Valley, Washington
$15.99, $14.39 for Wine Club Members
City Limits was founded by David and Cindy Lawson, who are also owners of the esteemed Covington Cellars and Two Vintners labels. Morgan Lee, winemaker, has been brought in to craft wines for all three projects.
City Limits was created to highlight the divide between the place where wine is grown and made; as Morgan says, “One day, it came to me as I drove past this sign after 10 years of time. We (the producers) travel far and wide outside of the City Limits to work with farmers and source fruit to make wine. We then take that produce and create something beautiful, and we present it to the people within the City Limits. We bring the rural land to the urban people in a bottle of wine. ….We bring fruit that is grown beyond the City Limits to people who live within the City Limits to spread the love of Washington Wine.”
Morgan’s mom, Lynn Lee, designed the labels for City Limits. The inspiration behind The Citizen label is the Bread of Life Mission in Pioneer Square. It’s an iconic Seattle institution in the middle of the city’s oldest neighborhood that gives back to those in need. City Limits proudly donates a portion of the proceeds from City Limits to NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Grapes for the 2022 The Citizen were co-fermented in open-top vessels on the skins for three weeks, then aged in a mixture of French and American oak and stainless steel for 15 months.
“The 2022 Citizen burst up from the glass with a zesty blend of citrus-laced wild berries, sage and zests of blood orange. This is racy with tart red berry fruits elevated by brisk acidity, as a primary concentration adds tension toward the close. This finishes with staining length and a bitter finger as hints of tart black blackberry slowly fade.” Vinous
50% Zinfandel, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
Mark Ryan The Vincent 2022
Columbia Valley, Washington
$17.99, $16.19 for Wine Club Members
Mark Ryan McNeilly founded Mark Ryan Winery in 1999 with the goal of making the best wines in Washington State. Largely self-taught, Mark honed the craft of winemaking through rigorous study and the welcomed advice of some of the area's most experienced producers.
Over a decade later, Mark Ryan Winery has grown in size, earned acclaim from wine-lovers and critics alike, and garnered respect from the state's elite producers. The goal, however, remains the same. Make delicious wines that represent the vineyard from which they come, making every vintage better than the last.
The Board Track Racer project began in 2007 with The Vincent Red. Mark wanted to create a lineup within the Mark Ryan family of wines that was ready to drink upon release and wallet-friendly for everyone. Maintaining the uncompromising quality of all Mark Ryan wines was paramount, and the wines have been well received by critics and loyal customers ever since.
The 2022 Board Track Racer shows enticing aromas of candied cherries and dark berries intertwine with warm wood spices. This full-bodied wine has a plush texture, offering generous layers of red and black fruits. The wood spice notes persist gracefully, carrying through to a lingering finish.
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Friday Tasting
 
Avennia & Liminal Winery Tasting
with Renee Stark
Friday, September 12th, 3-5:30 pm
Avennia was founded in 2010 by Marty Taucher and Chris Peterson, who had met at the acclaimed DeLille Cellars, where Peterson was production winemaker and Taucher a harvest intern. Their new winery’s reputation rose quickly on the strength of Peterson’s winemaking philosophy, crafting wines of nuance and complexity with an elegance that can be hard to achieve in the heat of Washington state.
The notion of vin de terroir is as old as wine itself; stylistically, however, it can still remain elusive, particularly in younger wine regions like Washington. The wines of Avennia have managed from the outset to distinguish themselves, emphasising terroir and refinement over fruit-forward expressions.
Liminal, a single-vineyard project within the Avennia portfolio, uses only fruit from the WeatherEye estate, at the top of Red Mountain, and has quickly become known for wines of finesse and sophistication, harnessing the power of Washington’s warm growing conditions with distinctive finesse.
We welcome Renee Stark to share the wines and story with you.
Friday, September 12th. $5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership at every event.
The Lineup
Lineup
Lydian Alto White 2022 $19.99
Avennia "Oliane" Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $29.99
Lydian GSM 2021 $22.99
Avennia Justin 2022 $39.99
Liminal GSM "Barbarcous Heart" 2021 $60.99
Avennia Syrah "Anaut" $2021 $57.99
Friday, September 12th 3-5:30 pm
$5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership.
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Upcoming Tastings
Avennia & Liminal Winery of Washington
with Renee Stark
Friday, September 12th 3-5:30
Vietti Winery of Piedmont, Italy
With Gianfranco D' Aniello
Friday, September 19th 3-5:30
POP-UP with Holocene of OR, Black Square of WA & Clos Lointain of Languedoc, France
with Carrie Alexander
WEDNESDAY, September 24th 3-5:30
Evesham Wood Winery
Willamette Valley Oregon
With Amy Pickering
Friday, September 26th 3-5:30
All tastings $5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership at every event.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
HOURS OF HAPPINESS
Tuesday-Saturday
10-6 PM
360-393-3271
ORDER ON-LINE
Email: ted@sjwinemerchants.com
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