2007 Palmaz Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Cab is King in Napa Valley, and with a sip or two of this wine you will understand why.  The 2008 vintage from Palmaz Vineyards is a shining example of a classic and delicious Cabernet Sauvignon.  Dark red in color with lifted aromas of black cherry, black currant, mint, cigar box, spices and vanilla.  The flavor combination of blackberry pie, cedar, mild peppery spices, dark chocolate and damp earth are nearly mind blowing and well integrated as no flavor dominates.  The mouth feel is a very generous and full bodied wine with structured tannins that lead to an incredibly long and luxurious finish.  If you could afford to drink this wine every day, you would!  Young and approachable now, but this wine will drink wonderfully for the next 15 years and beyond if cellared correctly.  Tasted twice with consistent notes.

About Palmaz Vineyards:

Palmaz Vineyards sits on the site where grape vines were originally planted by Henry Hagen in 1881.  They use gravity flow to move their wine and have a huge underground fermentation dome measuring 74' high and 52' wide.  Their three unique vineyards range from 400 to 1400 feet above sea level, and each provides distinctive terroir and flavor characteristics to their wines.  Their personal wine tours are guided by one of their family members who each play a key role into the success of their craft.

ABV:  14.5%

Retail Price:  $100.00

www.palmazvineyards.com

2008 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain

The Red Mountain blend from Hedges Family Estate is defined as the flagship wine of the estate, and it is easy to see why.  The 2008 vintage is a combination of 5 grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), Merlot (33%), Syrah (14%), Cabernet Franc (11%) and Malbec (6%).  This alliance provide with a deep dark colored wine in the glass and scores of flavors.  On the nose is a brilliant combination of dark fruits, currant, pepper, and damp earth.  This wine is very reminiscent of an old world style of wine.  This young wine has flavors of dark and red berries, leather, spice, forest floor and clove.  This wine was decanted for 90 minutes before tasting which enhanced the overall enjoyment.  While it can be enjoyed now, it is cellar worthy and would be great to see what develops in 5 years or more.  The finish is lively with firm tannins and a mildly smoky retreat.  Sampled from a 750ml bottle, but this vintage is also available in larger formats on their web site.

About Hedges Family Estate:
Hedges Family Estate began as a wine export company until they began focusing on the North American market around 1990.  Their estate includes a French style chateau and they truly believe that blending grapes from specific terroir is pinnacle to their success while many others concentrate mainly on blending varietals.

ABV:  13.5%
Retail Price:  $25.00

www.hedgesfamilyestate.com

2009 Hedges Family CMS Red

The 2009 CMS Red from Hedges Family Estate is another fine example of a great tasting and great value red wine.  This wine is a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Merlot (45%) and Syrah (16%) and is a stunning dark red color in the glass.  This wine was decanted before tasting, and some air time brought forth aromas of cherry, cooked plum, mild pepper, and oak.  The flavors are well integrated with the tannins, and there is a semi sweet finish on the palate that is lingering and well balanced.  This wine can pair easily with a wide variety of food, including barbeque or a mouth watering burger.

About Hedges Family Estate:
Located on beautiful Red Mountain, Hedges Family Estate believes heavily in terroir concept.  Their first vintage was in 1987.

ABV:  13.5%
Retail Price:  $15.00

www.hedgesfamilyestate.com

2008 Kerloo Cellars Tempranillo

Before you are done reading this, you should get on the phone or Kerloo's web site and order this wine while you can!  Few wineries produce a Tempranillo and even fewer do it with any relative success.  This is hands down the best Tempranillo I have ever tasted.  This crimson colored wine is handsome and strong.  Although considered to be delicate in nature by many, this wine has a very masculine feel to it with layered aromas of raspberry, tobacco leaf, strawberry rhubarb pie, sweet baking spices and young flowers.  You can lose yourself in the aromas alone, but you would be cheating yourself of the delicious and balanced flavors of red fruits, leather smoke and tree bark.  The tannins are strong and the finish is incredible!  Only 207 cases produced.  This wine has the ability to reach cult wine status!

About Kerloo Cellars:
Ryan and Renee Crane admittedly left safe, post college jobs and risked everything they had to pursue their passion of winemaking.  In just a few short years they have hand crafted wines that sell out quickly and have earned a reputation for wines that are delicious and in a class of some of the best in Washington and beyond.

ABV:  13.9%
Retail Price:  $34.00
Score:  96

www.kerloocellars.com

2008 Badger Mountain Chardonnay Columbia Valley

This wine has everything you need in a Chardonnay - certified organic, low alcohol content, great refreshing flavors and a price point that will blow you away.  The 2008 Vintners Estate Series Chardonnay from Badger Mountain is a medium golden crystal clear wine with aromas of honey, peaches, and ripe pear.  In the mouth is a creamy combination of stone fruits, minerals, honeysuckle, and flutterings of tropical fruit.  The feel in the mouth is luscious and satisfying.  This Chardonnay will accompany many styles of food - grilled chicken, fish, Thai - you name it. 

About Badger Mountain:
In 1990 Badger Mountain Winery became the first vineyard to be Certified Organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.  They rely only on organically approved and naturally occurring substances for all vineyard applications.  Badger Mountain Vineyard was established in 1982 by father and son Bill and Greg Powers.

ABV:  13.0
Retail Price:  $10.00
Score:  89

www.badgermtnvineyard.com

2008 Palouse Winery Red Satin Cabernet Sauvignon

If you're looking for a very tasty and smooth Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Palouse Red Satin Cabernet is for you.  Decanted for 1 hour.  The terroir comes through in this full bodied and mouth filling wine that is the color of egg plant with red hues.  For a young wine the tannins are surprisingly soft and velvety after the decant, and flavors of plum, sweet vanilla, black raspberries, and fine leather combine for a mouth watering and long finish.  There is just enough spice towards the end that adds to the intensity but does not distract. 

About Palouse Winery:
Located on Vashon Island, the winery recommends having some type of transportation since it is rurally located.  If you make the trek by auto, bicycle, scooter or pack mule - it will be worth it.  George and Linda love sharing their passion for award winning wines, along with their Yorkies Scoobie and Skylar.

ABV:  13.7%
Retail Price:  $29.00
Score:  91

www.palousewinery.com

2008 Palouse Winery Eclipse Red Blend

The 2008 Eclipse wine from Palouse is a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Syrah, creating a fragrant and tasteful full bodied wine.  Incredibly aromatic right out of the bottle, this dark plum colored wine presents ripe blackberries, black cherries, warm butter and baking spices on the nose with a hint of menthol.  The palate distinguishes flavors of black cherry, red and black currant, mint and spices with tannins that are well rounded and leave you with a finish that is pleasing and fruitful.  Further examination of the wine lifted some sweet smoke at the back of the palate.  This is a delicious wine full of character.  Drink this now or put it aside for a couple of years and you will likely get further flavor developments.

About Palouse Winery:
Palouse Winery is a family operation that has been in operation since 2003.  In that short amount of time they have received countless awards and continue to receive accolades from many of their peers and critics alike.  Palouse was named the 2009 Taste of Washington's "Best Puget Sound Winery".  Check out the Great Recipes page on this site for a great recipe that has the Eclipse wine in it!

ABV:  13.8%
Retail Price:  $26.00
Score:  93

www.palousewinery.com