I spent the weekend near Olympia, Wash. with my friend Andy Lench and his family. Andy is a well-known wine merchant specializing in fine Bordeaux with his multi-national company Bordeaux Locators. What I didn’t know is that his daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Javier, are running a small wine shop in Olympia called Gran Vin Wine Merchants. So, I visited the shop on Sunday and they organized an impromptu tasting: wines $30 or less, 90 points or more. What are friends for?
I didn’t video it, but I thought I would give you the tasting notes. They had some lovely wines for close to the $20 mark. One outstanding wine was under $15. The only wine I didn’t give 90 points was Andy’s own Bordeaux, but maybe it was a little closed compared to the others.
I tasted all the wines blind.
2007 Domaine Grand Veneur Lirac Clos de Sixte: Rhone value. Fruity and spicy with lots of meat notes too. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a chocolate and berry character. Long and powerful. Lots going on here. 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre. Drink now. $19 – 91 points.
2007 Quinta Do Vallado Douro: This is a favorite Portuguese wine for me. Lots of violets and berries on the nose with hints of sandalwood. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a fruity finish. Delicious and juicy. Drink now. $19 – 90 points.
2007 Philippe Cambie Cotes du Rhone Les Halos de Jupiter: Wonderful black pepper and dark fruits on the nose. The aromas are intense. Full-bodied, with round and soft tannins and a juicy, chocolate finish. Lots of fruit. $18 – 91 points.
2005 Chateau Carignan Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux: Loads of fruit with currants and spices on the nose. Lots of dark fruits. Full and juicy. Medium finish. Needs more on the finish to be outstanding. 100 percent Merlot. $29.95 – 89 points.
2007 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva: This is an excellent value from Tuscany. Lovely flowers and dark fruits. Subtle. Full to medium body, with firm and silky tannins and a pretty finish. Balanced. Drink now. $14.99 – 90 points.
Thanks for the information. My daughter lives in Olympia and I wasn't finding much there in terms of wine. Now I know where to go!
Speaking of Washington wines, I was at a great wine dinner Saturday with winemaker Billo Narvane, whom I'd met a couple of years ago. He and his brother own Rasa Vineyards in Walla Walla and are making really great juice. I've had his Q.E.D. wine before and it's great but his Pinot Gris blew me away by how Alsacian it was, like a huge Zind-Humbrecht vinified bone dry. Billo's winemaking is very French in style and he's really a brilliant guy all around (had a masters from MIT and then received his masters from UC Davis). They're starting to gain traction with scores and distribution and worth discovering if you get into Washington wines at all.
Best Regards,
David Boyer
classof1855.com
Solamente para agradecer la visita del Señor James Suckling a Grand Vin Wine Merchants en Olympia, WA. Fue un verdadero placer el convivir, catar vinos al mismo tiempo aprender de sus fabulosos comentarios y platicas.
Gracias,
Andrea y Xavier