Sept. 11, 2002
McCrea
Cellars shining on state wine scene
McCrea Cellars, one of the rising stars on the Washington wine scene, excels
at Syrah, making up to five different styles.
Winemaker Doug McCrea is a member of the Rhone Rangers, a group of mostly
California winemakers dedicated to the making and fostering of wines
that originated from the Rhone Valley of France.
Besides Syrah, McCrea makes a Viognier, a white wine, and is dabbling
with more exotic Rhone varieties including Mourvedre, Marsanne, Rousaune
and Counoise.
All of these varieties are grown in the Rhone River Valley on the opposite
side of France from the more famous Burgundy and Bordeaux regions.
Rhone wines are know for robust, darkly colored, fruity reds and full-flavored
whites that start with the Cotes du Rhone in the north and wind through
the famous Hermitage. This region is named after a French nobleman who
joined the Crusades and built a castle and became a hermit when he returned
to France.
The wine region ends at the Chateauneuf du Pape, which was the castle
of an early day pope not far from where the Rhone empties into the Mediterranean
Sea at Marseilles.
But enough of history and geography talk, let's get on to the McCrea
wines.
McCrea has his winery at Rainier, a tiny rural town near Olympia, but
sources all his grapes from excellent vineyards in Eastern Washington,
including Red Mountain, the Yakima Valley and new vineyards in the Horse
Heaven Hills near Alderdale.
He's been making finely crafted syrahs probably longer than anyone else
in the Pacific Northwest except David Lake of Columbia Winery, who is
credited with making the first Washington syrah back in the late 1980s.
"The one thing that stands out to me with a finely crafted syrah
is it is immediately pleasurable and attractive," he said.
McCrea
Cellars 2000 Amerique Syrah, Yakima Valley
- Made of a mix of American and French oak, hence the name. Upfront
toasty
oak aromas
with distinctive Australian Shiraz overtones. Mellow and juicy. Voted
outstanding by Wine Press Northwest panel.
McCrea
Cellars 2000 Boushey Grande Cote Vineyards, Yakima Valley
- Nice coffee aromas along with mocha and sandalwood spice. Rich blueberry
flavors. Smooth with a great finish.
McCrea
Cellars 2000 Ciel du Cheval Vineyards Syrah - Made from Red Mountain grapes. This is a big dark-colored wine with
tremendous
muscle. Rich blackberries and sweet plums are matched with nice toasty
oak. So jammy you'll want to spread it on your hot cakes.
McCrea
Cellars 1999 Cuvee Orleans Syrah - The
top of the line that is co-fermented with a bit of Viognier. Very aromatic
with raspberry
jam, lots of depth. Very youthful but smooth and pleasing.
McCrea
Cellars 2000 Syrah, Yakima Valley -
Over the top with flavors and aromas. Classic jammy mid palate with a
creamy chocolate finish.
Voted outstanding by Wine Press Northwest panel.
McCrea
Cellars 2000 Viognier, Yakima Valley
- White flower aromas with hints of jasmine, honeysuckle and lichee nut
and bosch pears. A
complex palate pleaser.
McCrea Cellars 2000 LaMer, Yakima Valley, $14 - A blend of Viognier
and Chardonnay has a distinctive characteristics with exotic fruit mixed
with peach and apricot. Nice, crisp and rich. A great match for rich
shellfish such as lobster, scallops and crab.
McCrea Cellars 2000 Elerding Vineyard Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, $33
- Barrel fermented in French oak. Rich and full flavors like a fresh
Hawaiian pineapple. Has essence of butter and lemons to match well with
foods.
McCrea 2001 Vin Rosé, Yakima Valley,
$14 - A fruity pleasing blend of viognier and grenache with a splash
of syrah. Serve chilled
for a picnic. It has a nice, strawberry component and a satisfying, crisp
farewell.
|
