Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Col Solare from Columbia Valley, Washington. Col Solare is a winemaking partnership between Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori and Washington state's Chateau Ste. Michelle that began in the vineyards of the Columbia Valley with Piero Antinori's on-going attraction to unique viticultural regions. In 1990, Piero made his first trip to the Columbia Valley. Impressed by the quality and diversity of Washington wines, Antinori began discussing a partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle that would challenge them both to step out of their own proven perspective to achieve something new. The idea took hold, and Col Solare was born with the 1995 vintage. Grapes were gently crushed and pumped over twice daily during a ten-day fermentation. At dryness, a portion of the wine went through an extended maceration of about two weeks to increase extract. We moved the wine with gravity into new and one-year-old French oak barrels; each barrel was racked periodically throughout 22 months of barrel aging. Sensational chocolate and caramel aromas join with an earthy note and a hint of tobacco to introduce a wine with generous black currant and black cherry set off by a trace of allspice. Silky with both abundant, soft tannins and plenty of muscle, this is a wine of significant dimension. ...The terrific 2002 Col Solare is unquestionably the finest to date. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah, it explodes from the glass with aromas of black fruits, tar, and licorice... -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Andrew Will from Columbia Valley, Washington. Blend: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot At this point, it is a wine of bearing with pure fruit flavors and good structure, as well as a sense of self-possession and charm. This wine will undoubtedly need some time to show its promise.

Red Wine by Chester-Kidder from Columbia Valley, Washington. Tasting Notes: Vibrant blackberry aromas are enhanced by hints of chocolate and mocha. Rich and complex, the mouth feel is round and balanced with lush, soft tannins. A lengthy finish lingers with a seamless impression of dark fruit. Vintage: Collectors who enjoy big, rich, fruit-forward wines will find Columbia Valley's 2003 vintage to their liking. This was one of Washington's warmest seasons on record with overall heat accumulation rivaling the high numbers posted in 1998. Temperatures were warm from June to August, allowing grapes to reach an exceptional level of maturity. In short, it was a wonderful vintage from start to finish. Winemaking: Chester-Kidder is a hand-crafted blend of classic red Bordeaux varietals and Syrah, styled for complexity and elegance. Fermented in small lots and aged 27 months in tight-grain French oak, winemaker Gilles Nicault and Long Shadows founder Allen Shoup, selected a diverse collection of Columbia Valley's finest vineyards to create a layered wine with ripe fruit character that is reflective of the vintage. Vineyards: The 2003 Chester-Kidder represents a diverse collection of select Columbia Valley vineyards, all farmed for low yields, resulting in a rich, multi-dimensional blend. Cabernet Sauvignon from the old vines at Sagemoor Vineyards, near Pasco, contributes complexity and deep flavors to the wine; Cabernet from Weinbau Vineyard on theWahluke Slope gives the wine rich tannins; Walla Walla Syrah adds dark, lush flavors.

Red Wine by Columbia Crest from Columbia Valley, Washington. The Walter Clore Private Reserve was picked from Columbia Crest's premier vineyard sites. Vineyards are located on the Wahluke Slope (50%), offering aromatics, texture and complexity and on the Horse Heaven Hills (50%), introducing balance and body. A classic Bordeaux-style wine offering a heady nose of cherry, blackberry, cinnamon and cocoa. Fruit and oak are perfectly balanced on the palate, and the seductive chocolate, cherry, blackberry finish lingers. -Ray Einberger, Winemaker

Red Wine by Columbia Winery from Columbia Valley, Washington. Peninsula represents wine artistry at its finest. This is a skillful and imaginative Bordeaux styled wine that demonstrates the significant relationship between winegrower and winemaker. From the famed Red Willow Vineyard in Yakima Valley, WA, this is a delicious Bordeaux-blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Awakening nose shows thyme and sage, lavender, black pepper and blackberries. The palate has herbal, cedar nuances with fine tannins and a long finish. Enjoy this wine tonight with a leg of lamb or pasta with bolognese sauce. This wine will mature beautifully with careful cellaring for an additional 4-6 years.

Red Wine by Hedges from Columbia Valley, Washington. The Flagship of Hedges estate wines, The Three Vineyards is a classic Red Mountain wine showing deep, dense color, firm yet supple tannins, and well defined acidity. The Three Vineyards is a blend of fruit from three estate vineyards: Hedges Estate Vineyard, Bel'Villa Vineyard, and Red Mountain Vineyard. Always a majority blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine is suitable for drinking upon release but will also reward those with the patience to age it.

Red Wine by Desert Wind from Columbia Valley, Washington. Crafted from fruit grown in the Columbia Valley of Washington, the Desert Wind Ruah is an affirmation of eastern Washington's viticultural prowess. This full bodied, Bordeaux-inspired blend is enveloped in a lush core of concentrated blackberry fruit with a hint of anise on the palate. The wine has hints of toasted oak and almond spice, as well as a rich garnet color, which is complemented by soft, velvety tannins and a lingering finish. Enjoy the Ruah alone or with grilled meats, tomato based entrees, and soft cheeses. Drink now through 2011.

Red Wine by Canoe Ridge from Columbia Valley, Washington. Don't be fooled by the name. This is a serious little wine that blends the lighter lots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot into a delicious, approachable, everyday wine. Our Red Table wine is aged in 75 percent French and 25 percent American oak barrels for 14 months.