Washington State Trip Day 2

WASHINGTON STATE DAY 2 – Seattle/Woodinville (6/15/2019)

Wonderful day of tasting capped off with Ray’s Boat House for dinner. Kevin White Winery is a true gem and highly recommend you get your hands on their limited production Rhone wines.

Eight Bells

Tasting room five minutes from my brother’s house. Second time visiting them and again wonderful wines at a good prices.

• 2018 Eight Bells Compass Rosé Red Willow Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Strawberry, spice, minerals and watermelon. Short to medium finish. Flavorful wine. 88 points. $25 (88 pts.)
• 2018 Eight Bells Chardonnay Boushey Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Melon, spice, orange peel and heavy floral. Too acidic. (86 pts.)
• 2016 Eight Bells Sangiovese Red Willow Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Cranberry, spice, floral, ripe fruit and earth. Medium finish. Very balanced wine and excellent example of what this grape can do in Washington. (91 pts.)
• 2015 Eight Bells Cabernet Sauvignon David’s Block Red Willow Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  The best wine sampled today at Eight Bells. A blend of Cabernet, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. Pepper, wood, vanilla, red currant and mild oak. Medium finish. Solid! (92 pts.)
• 2015 Eight Bells Syrah 8 Clones Red Willow Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Floral, dust, earth and chalk. Lacks fruit but not bad. Drink now. (88 pts.)

Lobo Hills

Tony was outstanding! Took care of our group and great descriptions on the wines and the unique process he makes them. At the end he did a blind taste of the two Syrah wines. I thought one had been opened for a few days but it turned out the Spilya just needs some serious time in the cellar as the Stonetree is open for business. Highly recommend a stop at Lobo Hills.

• 2018 Lobo Hills Sauvignon Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasted at the tasting room. Wonderful Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp and good minerality. Floral, grapefruit and lime. Short to medium finish and good acidity.
  $18.00 (90 pts.)
• 2018 Lobo Hills Auxerrois Inland Desert – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasted at the tasting room. Orange peel, floral, limestone and shells. Fermented with oyster shells. Solid overall effort.
  $25.00 (88 pts.)
• 2018 Lobo Hills Cabernet Franc Rosé – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasted at the tasting room. Very solid Rose effort. Spice, watermelon, rose petals and strawberry. Short to medium finish. 
  $16.00 (89 pts.)
• 2013 Lobo Hills Right Bank Blend – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
  Tasted at the tasting room. Excellent wine and drinking really well right now. Tobacco, cherry, stones, floral and gravel. Very nice Bordeaux like wine. 
  64% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc
  $20.00 Amazing value (93 pts.)
• 2016 Lobo Hills Cabernet Franc Lonesome Springs Ranch – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasted at the tasting room. Strawberry, floral, wood, pepper and perfume. Very nice wine and medium plus finish. Drink now to 2024. (91 pts.)
• 2014 Lobo Hills Syrah Spilya Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
  Tasted blind against the 2014 Stonetree Syrah. Big style Syrah with oak, cherry, spice, floral and black pepper. This is still tight and needs some cellar time. Thinking best after 2022. 90-92 points
  $30.00 (90 pts.)
• 2014 Lobo Hills Syrah Stonetree Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope
  Tasted blind against the Spilya. Very well integrated. Cherry, plum, white pepper, blueberries and subtle spice. Fruit is the main event here. Medium finish. 
  $30.00 (92 pts.)

Kevin White

Kevin White gave us a tour of the operation. He is making some of the best Rhone Blends for the money I have ever tasted. He uses more neutral wood so the fruit is the star of his wines. Very approachable young however these do have the ability to age.

• 2017 Kevin White Winery Pionnier Boushey Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasting pour. Pepper, raspberry, stone, floral and mild spices. Very tasty wine with medium finish. Drink now to 2025. (92 pts.)
• 2017 Kevin White Winery La Fraternité – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasting pour. Excellent young wine. Underbrush, floral, black pepper, red currant and spice. Medium to long finish. A tremendous value for $30. Age for up to a decade. (92 pts.)
• 2017 Kevin White Winery Syrah En Hommage – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasting pour. Plum, blueberries, stone, mild oak/vanilla and floral notes. Very smooth wine over all. Medium finish. Amazing how well this is drinking and fruit is the main feature. (92 pts.)
• 2016 Kevin White Winery Heritage DuBrul Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Tasting pour. Very good wine. Get your hands on these before they sell out. Cherry, blueberries, coffee beans, neutral wood and spice. Medium to long finish. Balanced wine. 93 plus (93 pts.)
• 2017 Kevin White Winery Red Wine – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
  Day 1: Kevin White’s entry level red blend. I like the screw cap closure. Big fruit featuring ripe cherries and plums. Nice spice elements along with underbrush and floral notes on the finish. (89 pts.)

Dinner at Ray’s Boathouse

2 very nice Oregon Pinots at Ray’s. I had the grilled Ahi tuna which was amazing. Service from John was outstanding.

• 2010 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
  Tasted at Ray’s Boathouse. Cranberry, spice, cherry and funk. Flavorful and classic Oregon Pinot. Drink now to 2023. (93 pts.)
• 2010 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Aliette – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Strawberry, minerals, violets, underbrush and spice. (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker