2009 JM Cellars Margaret's Vineyard Estate Red

Wine: Margaret's Vineyard Estate Red

Producer: JM Cellars
Vintage: 2009 
Varietal(s): 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 17% Malbec, 6% Petite Verdot and 6% Carmenere
Region: Walla Walla Valley AVA
14.4% alcohol
Cost: $42
Quality: 88-89 | Very Good

Plum in color with it going black in the core. On the nose are baking spices, black raspberries, blueberries and cocoa powder. The palate is rich with cherries, chocolate, and pepper. Mid length finish.Very Good.

Buzz: A local family business, John & Peggy Bigelow run this winery is perched on a hillside just up from the Sammamish valley in Woodinville. Dedicated to crafting great wine with great grapes they recently bought a site in the Blue Mountains and planted their first estate owned vineyard, Margaret's Vineyard. Using specialized farming including tightly spaced vines and one cluster per fine is going to give this vineyard great concentration in it's grapes for years. This is their inaugural vintage having just planted it in 2007. This is a very classic Bordeaux blend of grapes and I'm excited to see the progression of these wines from their vineyards as the vines mature and develop in the coming years.

Availability: Select wine shops, restaurants and winery.

JM Cellars
www.jmcellars.com.com

Woodinville, WA

Since 2000

Value Series: 2008 Seven Hills Winery Planing Mill Red

Wine: Planing Mill Red Wine

Producer: Seven Hills Winery
Vintage: 2008 Varietal(s): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Malbec, 
7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Region: Columbia Valley
Barrels: American, French, European (30% new)
14.5% alcohol
Cost: $11-$15
Quality: 88-89 | Very Good

A dense dark plum color in the glass. A very alluring nose of dried cherries, baked fig tarts and hints of cedar. The palate is light on its feet, fruit forward showing dark cherries, red fruit and mulling spices. Everything is bright and balanced with a nice smooth finish. Ready for drinking now. Very Good.


Buzz: Seven Hills Winery should always be in the discussion among the top wineries in the state. Founder and winemaker Casey McClellan grew up as a fourth-generation farmer working with his father to plant the Seven Hills Vineyard; another of the states' best. Casey and winery focus on a more restrained use of oak, varietally and terroir focused wine. They've been doing it over 20 years working with the best vineyards the state has to offer. This Costco buy is an absolute no brainer. Good any night of the week with any food or alone. Enjoy. Recommended.

Availability: Local grocers. (Found mine at Costco)

Seven Hills Winery

www.sevenhillswinery.com
Walla Walla, WA

Since 1988

2007 Zero One Vintners 'The Wild Sky' Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine: The Wild Sky

Producer: Zero One Vintners
Vintage: 2007 Varietal(s): 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot 
Region: Walla Walla Valley
Spofford Station and Olsen Estates Vineyards
14.4% alcohol
Cost: $30
Quality: 90-91 | Very Good / Excellent

Deep dark ruby red that glows in the glass. Dusky red fruit, herbal notes and cocoa present nicely on the nose. Palate is saturated with dark red fruit, chocolate and some fresh cut tobacco. Good acidity, integrated tannins, drinking very well now. Medium to long finish. Very Good / Excellent.

Buzz: A relative newcomer as a Washington wine producer, they are already making great wines out of the gate. Portions of proceeds from all 'The Wild Sky' purchases are donated to the Leave No Trace non-profit organization focused on 'enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people worldwide'. 'The Wild Sky' wine is named after the newly federally designated wildness area, Wild Sky Wilderness.

Availability: Local grocers, wine shops.

Zero One Vintners
www.zeroonevinters.com

Redmond, WA

Since 2006

Holiday Drink Recipe: Lemon Thyme Martini

A couple of great things happened in the last few weeks to culminate in this great fun holiday cocktail. I was making a lemon thyme lamb stew and had thought that the lemon and thyme really complimented each other very well and had been thinking about that combo since. Next thing I know I'm at the grocery store and see lemon sugar. It was at that point that I had the revelation...the sugar would make the perfect rim for a martini; a lemon thyme martini. 3 tries later and I think we perfected it!

Lemon Thyme Martini

• juice of 2 lemons (1-1/2 to 2 oz)
• 1 oz thyme simple syrup*
• 2 oz vodka (or 3oz if you wish)
• lemon sugar for garnish (or any good granular sugar)
• lemon twist for garnish

Chill martini glass in freezer while making the drink. Add ingredients together in shaker, add ice, shake. Use a wet paper towel to wipe rim of martini glass and push into sugar for garnish. Strain shaken drink into glass and serve. You can also add a lemon twist for extra credit.

*I used 1 package of fresh thyme in 2 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar (1:1 ratio) See how I did it here with lavender if you need a refresher.

In Season: Black Truffles in the Pacific Northwest

Truffles. Earthy, delicate, fragrant and expensive. While their European counterparts can go for more than $1500/lb, these small little hidden Pacific Northwest gems can be found for as little as $100/lb. While that might sound expensive, like mushrooms they don't weigh much and you don't need much as they pack a big culinary punch in a little package. My 2 little truffles here I purchased at Uwajimaya in Bellevue for $6.00 total and made a great meal for the evening.

Most recognized as 'Oregon' truffles, the truth is that they grow all over the Pacific Northwest; from Oregon up into British Columbia. The ones I just purchased here came from in Washington. Truffles (wiki) are fungi that grow just under the surface close to the roots of specific trees; oaks, Douglas-firs, pines and a few others. 

Black truffles can either be cooked with the dish or left raw depending on your dish. I used them with some fresh egg pasta, butter, roasted chicken thigh meat (I love protein too much to omit), and freshly grated parmesan. The fresh truffles were then both grated and sliced thinly on top of the pasta to finish. Less is more when it comes to truffles; less assertive ingredients...more truffle. They should be the centerpiece of the dish so they can be showcased and subsequently enjoyed as such. If you see some, grab them savor these dirty little gems. Just rinse lightly and rub them dry with some paper towels to remove any dirt. 


Truffle Tip: You can place fresh truffles in dry rice and place them in the refrigerator for a few days to store them. They will last a few days to a week this way.


Where: Local Farmer's market or specialty grocers. I bought mine at Uwajimaya in Bellevue.


When: November through February (generally)


Wine Pairing: I prefer a light to mid weight white wine or an earthy pinot noir. We enjoyed ours with a 2009 L'Ecole No.41 Semillon, Columbia Valley (Very Good).

2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Rattlesnake Hills Syrah

Wine: Rattlesnake Hills Syrah
Producer: Hollywood Hill Vineyards
Vintage: 2008 Varietal(s): 100% Syrah 
Region: Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Portteus Vineyards, Aged in French oak (25% new for 28 months), 13.8% alcohol
Cost: $34
Quality: 90 | Very Good 

Almost black in the glass. Smokey blue and black fruit, tar, and some spicebox on a fragrant nose. A rich mouth feel with peppered dark fruit and minerals on the palate. Nicely balanced with a good finish. Very Good.

Buzz: Steve Snyder started as a "avid beer home-brewer" in the early 1990's, and by 1998 had purchased and planted a vineyard on Vashon Island to experiment with growing "over 20 varieties of grapevines". Today Steve is an owner, grower, winemaker and is currently on the board for the Puget Sound Wine Growers Association. He owns and farms his own vineyards locally in the Woodinville area that produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In addition they also source grapes from different vineyards in the state (Washington) that showcase the very diverse terroirs from inside the state. They are brought to life in a restrained and pure expression of the varietals. Small productions, interesting wines, vineyards, varietals, and an emphasis on quality all show. Stop by their tasting 'house' in Woodinville as everything is worth trying. Recommended.

Availability: Limited availability. Local grocers, wine shops and winery.

Hollywood Hill Vineyards

www.hollywoodhillvineyards.com

Woodinville, WA

Since 2004

2009 Gramercy Cellars Lower East Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine: Lower East Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: Gramercy Cellars

Vintage: 2009    Varietal(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Cost: $20-$32

Quality: 90-91 | Very Good - Excellent

Region: Columbia Valley AVA

Dark plum in color with cool dark fruits, tobacco, spice box and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Silky dark fruit, tobacco and little spice on the palate. This is young and tightly wound showing good acidity, tannins and finish. Extended decant or some cellar time for a few years would do this very well. Well-structured wine and great match for a ribeye.  Very Good/Excellent.

Buzz: Great story. Founder Greg Harrington was the youngest American to pass the Master Sommelier Exam at the age of 26 and went on to run some of the best restaurant wine programs in the country. While on a trip to Walla Walla, he and his wife decided to move out to Washington and begin the quest to make amazing wine. Focused on less oak, less alcohol and more restrained style, this is one of the next ‘Cult’ winery if not there already. This is their second wine with extra grapes not used in their flagship wines. Excellent lineup. Recommended.

Availability: Limited availability. Local grocers, wine shops and winery.

Gramercy Cellars

www.gramercycellars.com

Walla Walla, WA

Since 2005