The holiday’s are here and we at Black Door Wine Company have a list of Washington State wine ideas to share for your holidays.

17 Washington State AND one California Merlot 

 

Let’s get started:

 

 

Hestia  Andrews Ranch 2010 $32.00 a bottle

 

This beautiful inky purple 2010 Malbec from Andrews Ranch offers up an alluring bouquet of enticing cedar, incense, white pepper, meat, black cherry, and blueberry compote. Hestia is opulent carefully aged 22 months in two year old French oak and a perfect match with braised lamb, sausage, mushrooms and spicy sauces. Andrews Ranch released only 200 cases and can be cellared for the next 6-8 years, we have stock still available at the store.

 

Force Majeure Collaboration Series

 

“FROM A ‘GREAT DREAM’ TO AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE”

The bold prowess of this Collaboration Series is world class quality and we at Black Door Wine Company have you covered, if you act quickly. For you wine geeks, we’ll drop a few names so you get the idea. This effort, is the work of Ben Smith of Cadence, Mark McNeilly and Mike Macmorran of Mark Ryan Winery, Ross Mickel of Ross Andrew Winery, Carolyn Lakewold of Donedei, Chris Gorman of Gorman Winery and James Mantone of Syncline Cellars.

 

The Line up:

 

COLLABORATION SERIES I 2009 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series I is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend that takes full advantage of Ben Smith’s winemaking talents and skill in assemblage, the putting together of the individual components of the wine. Vineyard Manager Ryan Johnson selects and meticulously farms some of the most coveted vines at Ciel du Cheval for this project, including blocks planted in 1975 and 1982. The result is a sophisticated blend that not only captures the beautiful, unmatched intensity of Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but also possesses the earthiness, spiciness, and minerality from the addition of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine reaches its full potential after several years in the cellar, but can be enjoyed in its youth due to its fine tannins, vibrancy and complexity.

COLLABORATION SERIES II 2009 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series II is a tribute to France’s Rhone Valley. The upcoming release of Collaboration Series II is modeled after wines of the Northern Rhone, while two of the earlier vintages were inspired by the South. Sourced from Ciel du Cheval’s highly-allocated blocks of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, with a splash of Viognier and occasionally Roussanne, winemaker Ross Mickel has created wines with the aromatic intrigue of their Rhone counterparts and with the structure, balance, and age-worthiness of Red Mountain.

COLLABORATION SERIES III 2008 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series III is 100-percent Syrah that exhibits the abilities of winemakers Mark McNeilly and Mike Macmorran to deftly capture Washington State’s distinctive fruit intensity and richness. Our goal is to create a pure expression of Red Mountain Syrah where the fruit is unleashed and the “powerful elegance” of Ciel du Cheval takes center stage. Four different Syrah clones are blended together to create a concentrated and layered wine that is true to its DNA.

COLLABORATION SERIES IV 2008 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series IV is a Merlot-dominant blend, with judicious amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with the occasional dash of Petit Verdot. Winemaker Carolyn Lakewold brings her joie de vivre and flair to a project that incorporates her passion for artisanal winemaking with the oldest Merlot vines at Ciel du Cheval. Using only 100-percent free-run juice, Carolyn crafts a wine that is ripe, rich and complex with velvety soft tannins.

COLLABORATION SERIES V 2009 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series V is our venture with rockstar winemaker Chris Gorman and has a simple goal: “Make wines that turn heads.” The inaugural version of Collaboration Series V was somewhat unconventional: 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah, barrel-fermented and aged in 100% new oak. The result was an “elegant beast” of a wine that somehow managed to bridge the gap between Old World and New World expressions of Grenache. Subsequent bottlings of Series V take the form of varietally-labeled Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from old vines as well as newer clonal blocks at Ciel du Cheval. We think of it as classic Ciel cab, but with the volume knob cranked up. Not for the easily offended.

COLLABORATION SERIES VI 2009 $53.00 a bottle

Collaboration Series VI is a Southern Rhone blend deftly crafted by James Mantone of Syncline. While many Southern Rhone-styled wines are Grenache-dominant, we chose to emphasize a variety we feel has great potential in Washington State: Mourvedre. Our approach is to make Mourvedre the major component of Collaboration Series VI, and to use Grenache and Syrah for added character and complexity. James brings insight and knowledge to this project from his years of experience farming and making wine from Rhone varieties. We feel that having James and manager Ryan Johnson collaborate on this wine is a great way to push the boundaries of winegrowing in Washington.

 

DuckHorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2009   $48.00 a bottle

 

We at BDWC have the stellar, rock solid Merlot from DuckHorn!

 

Winemaker’s notes, “Fundamental to our tradition was the early decision to focus on the production of Merlot. Dan Duckhorn felt that this elegant varietal was under appreciated in North America. “I liked the softness, the seductiveness, the color, the fact that it went with a lot of different foods; It seemed to me to be a wonderful wine to just enjoy. I became enchanted with Merlot.”

 

DeLille Cellars D2 2009  $43.00 a bottle

 

The D2 2009 was released in November 2011 and truly this winemaker makes one of the best Bordeaux in the world. Wine Spectator rates the vintage with 94 points.

Winemaker’s Notes: The impression on the nose is immediate with aromas of fresh cherries, cinnamon, plum brandy, mocha chocolate, fennel seed and cigar box. The array of bright nuances continues on the palate with classic “Bordeaux blend” flavors of black currants, black cherries, blueberries and mint. There are also delicate hints of black pepper, brown butter and toasty oak flavors that combine with rich and juicy mouth watering balance continuing through the lengthy finish delivering yet another delicious D2 vintage.

 

Maison Bleue Family Winery

 

Winemaker Jon Meuret-Martinez is dedicated to Washington State terroir-driven Grenache, Syrah, Marsanne and Viognier wines, as well as Chardonnay. These are beautiful wines uncompromised in the style of traditional techniques, gentle handling and a modest use of French oak. Quite simply, the wines combine European sensibility with controlled New World opulence, in our opinion.

 

The List:

 

Au Contraire” French Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2010

$22.00 a bottle

 

This 100% Chardonnay has delicate aromas of white peach, hazelnut, wet stone, tangerine, and honey. There is great mid-palate weight with flavors of ripe pear, cinnamon, minerals, citrus, balanced acidity and a long persistent finish. Try it with seafood, poultry, veal, braised pork, and soft or fully ripened cheeses.

 

La Vie Douce Roussane $19.00 a bottle

 

This Roussane is off dry only with residual sugar. the acidity on the finish provides seamless balance perfect paired with spicy dishes and soft French cheese.

 

Soleil Olson Vineyard Rousanne $28.00 a bottle

 

“The 2009 Soleil is wonderfully aromatic with notes of acacia honey, smoky marshmallow, allspice, cardamom and a real flintiness. The mouth shows rich and full-bodied flavors of dried apricots, pear, toasted nutmeg and lemon bar all perfectly integrated with seamless acidity. Pair this wine with poultry, mildly spicy foods, smoked salmon, shellfish, and assorted soft, fully-ripened cheeses.”

 

La Montagnette Upland Vineyard Grenache $37.00 a bottle

 

“A deep garnet colored wine offering up delicate notes of kirsch, black raspberry, jasmine, slate & cassis. These exotic aromatics are followed in the mouth by rich flavors of black cherries, dark plum, silky tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long, concentrated, powerful and refined. This wine pairs well with beef, grilled pork, lamb, poultry, wild game, tuna, pasta and mild, firm cheeses.”

 

Reynvaan Family Vinyards

 

Another small Washington vineyards showing fine wine exclusively from the state. Christof Beron-of Cayuse is the consulting winemaker, and the results of Mike and Gale Reynvaan’s wines reveal the true characteristics of terrior. Your holiday meals of lamb, sausage and grilled meats pair with Syrah.

 

The list:

 

In the Rocks  2009 $53.00 a bottle

 

In the Rocks brings together the soft characteristics of Viognier with the Syrah to create wonderful aromatics of truffles, leather, braised meats, Calamata olives and sweet shortbread cookies.

 

The Unnamed Syrah 2009 $53.00 a bottle

 

The Unnamed Syrah is loaded with aromas of peach, tangerine, wild blackberry, smoke and hints of lavender and a trace of caramel. This elegant wine is created to be enjoyed in its youth but will evolve over the next 7-8 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Darby Winery

 

Dark Side Syrah 2010 $27.00 a bottle

 

The 2010 is classic! This is an elegant Syrah with grapes from the Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope and Walla Walla Vineyards.  Ripe flavors of sweet spice, blackberry, sage and a layer of smoky minerality seem to last forever. Very complex, this Syrah is big but has a velvety texture and will age nicely over the next 5 years.  This is one of Darby’s favorite Dark Side’s ever

 

 

Boudreaux Cellars Winery 

 

Merlot 2006 $40.00

 

We can’t help ourselves to offer up a romantic prelude for the Merlot:

 

“Nestled in the Cascade Mountains near Leavenworth Washington and totally off the grid, this small winery produces beautiful wines that adore food.”

 

The 2006 is a 100% typical Washington merlot from 4 vineyards in 3 AVAs (Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla Valley). The famous blocks in Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge forms the backbone of this wine and elegance is added from Dionysis, one of the Sagemoor Vineyards, and aromatics from Wallula round out this wine into a plump mouthful with good acidity on the finish. Beautiful, and even more beautiful, with showy, gorgeous body.

 

Happy Holidays!

From David and Victoria

Black Door Wine Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About David Lower

We are a boutique wine store located in the N. Tacoma Proctor district, researching and finding small winerys that make no more than 2000 cases a year, we taste and retaste to be sure of the quality, with in depth understanding what the winemaker is accomplishing, the nuances that make great wine. David Lower started collecting small winemakers in the early 90s from Spain, Italy, Burgundy, California, Washington, Oregon. "Procuring and tasting every wine I could afford to buy was essential to gaining some idea of what exits in the wine world". Victoria Johnson is the store Manager at Black Door Wine Company, a visual artist, understands that details make all the difference in good and great wine. She enjoys exploring the wines with David developing her palate gaining a quick and refine knownledge. .
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