Walla Walla wines
I went to Walla Walla this weekend to visit with some family and friends and participate in a Saturday wine tour – a hobby I enjoy but don’t do often enough. A friend from high school works in the wine biz in the Seattle area and I promised her a review of the wineries, so here you go!
The first stop was Bergevin Lane Vineyards. Most of their wines are priced in the $25 – $55 range but I felt it was fair pricing for what you get. I especially liked their 2008 Viognier (Columbia Valley; 90 Points; Wine Enthusiast); their 2005 Oui Deux Syrah (Wahluke Slope; “Best of Class”; S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition; January 2009); and their 2006 Intuition Reserve (92 Points; Wine Spectator).
Next up was Patit Creek Cellars. All but one of their wines were priced under $30 but, again, the prices were fair for the product. I was extremely impressed with their 2007 Zinfandel (Walla Walla Valley; 93 Points; Wine & Spirits). Their 2007 Roux Bordeaux Blend (Columbia Valley) and their 2008 Chardonnay (Red Mountain) were also excellent wines. I was also very impressed with their 2008 Semillon Ice Wine (Columbia Valley) but being cheap and not really being a fan of dessert wines, I couldn’t bring myself to spend $59.00 on it (though if you really like ice wine, this is an amazing price for the drink!)
Finally, we went to Waterbrook Winery where we took a full facility tour, including barrel tastings, before heading to the tasting room to try their current releases. Their wines are mass-produced in state-of-the-art facilities, which mean they have a lower price point than the first two wineries. With rare exception, their wines are all under $20 but are surprisingly good when compared to other wines in a similar range. I really liked their 2007 Pinot Gris, 2007 Sangiovese Rose, 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2005 Meritage (all Columbia Valley vineyards).
There were only two wines I didn’t care for throughout the day, and that was because they were too sweet for me. No one else agreed with that opinion, but that was OK with me!
(Note to self: Go to Walla Walla to visit Uncle Mike more often. The wine is fab and the company is OK, too!)
Thanks for the review Frannie!! I will have to get down to Walla-Walla with you sometime & late Spring is the perfect time to go!! Let me know when you are going to head down there again~
I’m happy to go when it works for you! We should try to plan something for May or June – I’m certain Uncle Mike will tour us around and let us crash at his place. He has lots of connections in the Walla Walla wine world, and a fab collection of wines we can help him consume!