Tasting Notes from the West Coast

It's so nice to have friends who are willing to drink for you! I recently received some more tasting notes on Washington wines from West Coast Correspondent James Bassett. All content below is his:

Renegade Wine Co.
2008 Red Wine
Columbia Valley, WA

“Glasses? We don’t need no stinking glasses!” So it says on the label, which looks almost hand-made -- in fact, there’s not even a UPC code, so good luck finding this anywhere but in Washington, is my guess. (Although I found this at QFC, which is Pacific Northwestern for "Kroger,” so who knows....)

Still, you ought to try -- and you’ll want a glass to help capture and concentrate the faint aroma. Fortunately, the taste itself is much bolder. There’s oakey Cabernet here, lighter, the sweetness of fruitier Merlot, and . . . Sangiovese? Something cedary and earthy and a wee bit spicy, with plum, cassis and black cherry. Considering the label (and the $10 price) this was a gamble, but I’m very happy with the result. It is somewhat rough around the edges, but this seems like it should age well for at least 2-5 years.

"For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore --
Nameless here forever more." -- Poe, The Raven

Corvidae Wine Company, Columbia Valley, WA
“Lenore” 2007 Syrah
My next try from David O’Reilly’s latest venture, the “Lenore” Syrah is medium-bodied with a deceptively tenuous nose. Take a sip, though, and dark black raspberry and smokiness practically explodes into the mouth. Spice, some hints of flowers (lavender?), fruity but with a smoldering backbone that keeps it from being too syrupy and a lingering lightly tannic finish. Better than its price would have you think, although it’s still not nearly as good as The Keeper -- but what could be?