NEW ARRIVALS
AND RELEASES-
See all listings here

Woodward Canyon
Artist Series
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
$39.99
Just released and
available now!

Owen Roe
and Sineann-
NEW RELEASES!

Sineann
Old Vine Zinfandel 2001- Yes!
Pinot Noir "All Oregon" 2001
Pinot Noir Reid & Reynolds 2001
Pinot Noir Phelps 2001


Owen Roe
Abbotts Table 2001
Chardonnay Casablanca 2001
Pinot Noir Casablanca 2001
Zinfandel 2001 (Big Reds Only)

News from the Vineyards
9/5/02

The most exciting experience I had this week was trying Solena's wines. Danielle and Laurent are offering some remarkable reds at very reasonable prices. I can really taste Laurent's skills--- he is very talented, and has already developed the high levels of complexity and finesse that elude many winemakers.

These are destined to be some highly regarded and sought after wines, and we are delighted to offer them. They are very limited, so please let us know if you want to try them. We will send them all out to the BIG REDS Club members in October.

While harvest is well under way in Washington, Oregon is still a month away for many of the grapes. The days continue sunny and the nights re cooling rapidly, perfect for maturing Pinot Noir. It's looking real good so far, I'll keep you updated.

We've added the Springhill Pinot Noir 98 to our list of under $20 recommended Pinot noirs- check it out! 98 was a wonderful vintage, and the wine is rich, ready to drink, outstanding value.-----JY

NW REDS -
NEW RELEASES= GREAT VALUES

I am just so happy to have a positive plethora of great NW red wines to offer you, our customers, this week- and more to come! We have had a series of excellent vintages here in the NW. We also have maturing vines yielding fruit that makes more complex wines. WA and OR universities and wineries' research has yielded amazing leaps in grape and wine quality.

Here are the NW reds we are featuring this week:

Solena is an exciting new winery formed by Danielle Andrus Montalieu and Laurent Montalieu. I am so pleased with the incredible clarity of these wines. They are so multi-layered, wines of grace and finess, yet powerful. And sooo interesting. Nothing simple or middle brow here- these wines are for the winelover interested in nuance, shading, true to the fruit, Laurent is making some of the most interesting Cab, Merlot, and Zinfandel in Oregon. Read more HERE.

Zinfandel 99 $25.00
From Southern OR fruit, complex, earthy, fascinating, complete review by Cole Danehower and order HERE.

Merlot 99 $25.00
From Washington's wonderful Klipsun Vineyard fruit, a total crowdpleaser, drinking well but a wine that will lay down for additional complexity and grace. complete review by Cole Danehower and order HERE.

Cabernet Sauvignon 99 $35.00
My favorite of the group, lovely silky tannins on the finish, rose and violets, milk chocolate, this wine is a stunner! Very very limited. Complete review and order HERE.

Di Stefano Winery
Merlot 99
SALE $21.99 regular $28.00
ORDER HERE
90 points in Wine Spectator 9/30/02
Wine Spectator says: "Soft and round, generous with black cherry at the core and chocolate-licorice overtones, finishing with fine tannins that let the flavors ride on the long, refined finish. Drink now through 2006. 224 cases made. --H.S."

Di Stefano is a tiny winery, long on quality, short on hype. They simply make excellent wines at prices that are significantly less than many other wines of their quality.

The 99 Merlot is both big, ready to drink, and approachable, and complex, with those wonderful dark notes in the flavor and finish that add so much to NW Merlots beyond simple soft fruit. This wine should hold for 2-4 years, and prove delightful with a large range of foods. You don't have to tell your friends how much it cost! They'll think it set you back a lot more than it will!

You might also like to try the Di Stefano Cabernet Sauvignon 98- the 99 has not yet been released, and we highly recommend the 98... $19.99 a bottle!

Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon 99
SALE $20.99
suggested retail $25
Wine Spectator 92 Points
9/30/02
Wine Spectator says: "Firm-textured and beautifully focused, this powerful wine has a gamy note weaving through the ripe, peppery currant and plum flavors, finishing with chewy tannins. Best from 2004 through 2010.—H.S."

Boy did Andy Perdue of Wine Press NW call this one! Months ago, his Platinum tasting gave this wine their HIGHEST RATING against many $60-$100 wines. And there's still some available. We highly recommend this great buy. Yet another example of Washington wineries coming through with better Cabs at $20 than California Boutique wineries do at $80 and up! ORDER HERE

In the interest of clarity, we would like to note that Seven Hills Vineyard does not belong to Seven Hills Winery. The wine reviewed above was made by Casey McClellan at the Seven Hills Winery with fruit purchased from Seven Hills Vineyard.

Walla Walla Vintners
Merlot Walla Walla Valley 2000
$26.99 ORDER HERE
Wine Spectator 91 Points!
Wine Spectator says: "A stylish wine, dense, plush, and generous with its black cherry, currant, chocolate, and sweet spice flavors that are spread on on the velvety finish. Drink now through 2008. 815 cases made. --H.S. "

We say- this winery is a local favorite in Walla Walla. These two guys are a hoot to talk to, make lush, impressive wine, and keep their prices reasonable.

Pinot Noirs
Under $20

Yes you CAN get a delicious
Pinot Noir from Oregon
for under $20, and
here's our current favorites:

Benton Lane PN $19.99
Belle Pente PN $19.99
O'Reilly's PN $15.99
Academy '99 PN $14.99
Academy '00 PN $14.99
River's Edge PN $ 16.99
Dundee Sprgs PN $20.00
Brooks PN $17.99
Springhill Cellars PN 98

Reviews and
ordering info here

Beaux Freres
2001 in Barrel- Tasting notes from Cole

Wine Spectator recently gave 90 points to Seven Hills for their Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon.
($29.99 on sale at Avalon).

1999 Seven Hills
Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
Klipsun Vineyard
90 points $29.99
Wine Spectator says: "Dark and brooding, this dense Cabernet is packed with currant, plum and exotic spice aromas and flavors, which echo beautifully, picking up just a kiss of spicy oak on the long finish. Best from 2004 through 2009. 500 cases made. (HS)"

Viento

The wines of Rich Cushman
We are in love with his rich and complex Viognier, his wild and wooly Syrah, not to mention his gushingly fruity Sangiovese.
All his wines are so reasonably priced, they are all best buys!