During my past visits I’ve experienced music on a sweltering afternoon at Arbor Crest, where they hold live music events each Sunday in the summer, sipping on their Sauvignon Blanc and swing dancing to great music.  I’ve also took out-of-town family members up for a taste of Eastern Washington’s summer and Eastern Washington’s wine.  This last time I went up all by my lonesome to taste some of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars newer vintages.

This time I was the only one in the tasting room and Shelby greeted me with a friendly hello followed by a warm smile.  The one thing I have noticed about the wine industry, with very few expceptions, is that everybody is just so nice.  Oh, sure, I’ve occasionally ran into snobs or people that just don’t want to be doing what they’re doing, but not very many.  This stop was no exception.  Shelby was knowledgable about the wine she was pouring and very easy to talk with. 

I tasted six of their wines this day.  Among them, their Sauvignon Blanc from Bacchus Vineyard, Sangiovese from Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Cabernet Franc from Conner Lee Vineyard, Petite Sirah from Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Malbec from Wahluke Slope Vineyard and Dionysus Meritage Red blend.  Arbor Crest does not grow their own grapes or have their own vineyard other than what you see when you drive in, which is used, according to Shelby, only for their sparklers.

A couple of the wines prompt extra mention.  Their Sangiovese was very warm with an extra zing on the end.  There were rich aromas of plum.  I am not normally a fan of Sangiovese because of the lack of nose and just a bland taste.  I have tasted some $100 a bottle Chianti’s that are 100% Sanviovese that I just didn’t really like until they started blending them with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Sangiovese’s that Washington is producing seem to have a much more defining nose, I’ve noticed.  In fact, we just tried a Maryhill Sangiovese that was very similar.

The Arbor Crest Sangiovese sells for $18 a bottle which makes this a great value.

One that sells for a bit more ($45 a bottle) but I STILL consider a great value is their Meritage Blend Dionysus.  I rated this VERY GOOD.  It consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.  This wine packs a punch and has good depth with many personalities.  There were tannins in this wine, to be sure, but not too tongue ripping.

Next time you’re in Spokane and want a unique experience head on up to the crest of Spokane and visit Arbor Crest Wine Cellars and enjoy the breathtaking view to go with your choice of wine.  And when you do, write me to tell me what you thought of it!

Until next time, thanks so much for reading and bottoms up!

We are enjoying a 2007 Maryhill Columbia Valley Chardonnay while sitting on folding chairs and using a step stool as a table!

Open That Bottle Night 2010 came and went without much fanfare, last night, just as last year did.  This year, however, we were back at home in North Idaho instead of Ogden, Utah. 

As you may, or may not, know, Open That Bottle Night, or OTBN, is the night you force yourself to open that “once in a lifetime” bottle of wine because if you didn’t, it may never get opened.  We save that special bottle for that special time and for some reason that special time never seems to be quite special enough.  So the bottle sits.  And sits.  And sits. 

“How ’bout THIS anniversary, honey?” 

“Ummmm, no.  Not quite important enough.”

And sits.  And sits.

“How ’bout the birth of our 14th child, baby?”

“Ummmmmm, nope.  Close, but STILL not quite important enough to open THAT bottle!”

And sits.  Until, it has sat too long.  Way too long!

That is why John Brecher and Dorothy (Dottie) Gaitor coined this once a year event, in their Wall Street Journal’s ”Tastings” column, that falls on the last Saturday of each February so that we could at least open a very special bottle before it had a chance to get over the hill, so to speak.  And this was the eleventh year of the event and it has gone viral globally!  It was all a-twitter on Twitter last night with the question, “What are YOU opening for OTBN tonight?”

Two years ago we had a little soiree at our place with a small group of friends and opened some very special wines.  One of them was a 1981 Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon.  It wasn’t very good.  It was either over the hill or just not kept correctly over the years as it was just bad.

But the experience was good.  That was the year we unvailed our cork catcher as I had just finished it a couple of days prior.  Last year we were on our own in Utah where we opened a Sancerre. 

So, what did WE open for that OTBN last night?  Good question.

This year we started out the evening with a 2007 Maryhill Chardonnay.  AND, it marked the first night of the year we enjoyed a glass of wine outside while throwing the ball to the dogs.  Last year we had snow in the back yard until April but this year it’s almost gone.  The sun was out so it made for a beautiful setting but once the sun set it got chilly really fast.  We even fed the fish in our pond for the first time this year on this eventful evening.  I drug out a couple of folding chairs because all of the patio chairs are inside for the winter, and we used a step stool as a table (see photo).

Maryhill has continually impressed me with their quality juice.  A couple of weeks ago we had a Maryhill  Sangiovese and it was very good.  We’re not really Sangiovese fans but this one was something we enjoyed.  We always enjoy their vitners blend.  But last night we opened a 2007 Columbia Valley Chardonnay, from Maryhill Winery.  It had a light toasty finish that continued to linger.  Very nice.  It wasn’t at all over oaked. 

Then, with dinner, we had a choice to make between a Cotes du Ventoux or a 2005 dArry’s Original Shiraz/Grenache from d’Arenberg in Australia and we chose the latter.

Shelley has a fondness for McLaren Vale Shiraz so we chose this one because of that.  We had T-Bone steaks (we usually have rib eye steaks) and they were scrumptious.  The only problem was that I THOUGHT it was a 100% Shiraz we were drinking (because I inadvertently FORGOT to look at the entire label!) but instead was a 50/50 Shirza/Grenache.  My bad.

Well, it started out rather tight but opened up in due time to a VERY berry nose and a chewy, jammy taste!  It paired very well with the steaks and by the end of the night my stomache was full and my heart was happy.

If you happened to enjoy your OWN Open That Bottle Night will you please comment here so that I know what YOU had to drink?  Thank you for reading and, as always, bottoms up!

So this is what I’ve decided to do:  Completely start over.  Yep, that’s right.  Well, not the whole column/blog but we’re going to forget about legs for THIS post and just clean up what’s been going on and then go on from there.  OK?  Good, I was hoping you’d be in agreement with me.

I want to start off commenting on an issue regarding a recent blogger that made a statement regarding a major league baseball player recently.  He made a negative statement as fact that directly put into question his ethics.  The player took the high road which is consistent with the class in which he conducts himself.  The issue is regarding bloggers and how they casually write whatever they want to without worrying about any consequences. 

I have five different blogs (you can see a list on my Phil Anderson Enterprises site) but I also have a background in writing and journalism.  Shelley and I seem to debate on the importance of having a few mistakes here or there in a blog.  I think it’s vitally important to put together the best blog you can, written the best you can and grammatically correct.  It also must include facts.  Sure, opinion is great and that’s exactly what you’re getting with this site as I tell you what my general wine thoughts are regarding the wine we’re drinking.  I don’t, however, claim to be an expert in wine but what I’m learning I am passing on to those who are starting from square one.

I guess what I’m saying is you are going to get the most factual information regarding wine that I can give you.  If I’m wrong, I would welcome and encourage anyone to correct me.  When I give negative feedback on certain wines I try not to do it in a vindictive way.  Will I be perfect?  No.  But I am looking forward to adding more and more people to my growing membership of wine lovers and my promise is to be as accurate as possible with wine facts while teaching about the wonderful world of wine.  And I will try to be concise, effective and entertaining. 

So, enough about that.

Here’s what I’m going to do.  I have a mounting pile of wine bottles that I was going to write about.  I had my little notes on each one and I have been eager to get going on them.  However, I had a little mishap in the form of washing my pants that contained ALL of my notes on these wines.  Ooops….  Or as Homer would say, “DOH!”  So this is what I’m going to do so that I know to re-taste these wines and give you my opinion on them:  I’m going to list each one.  Boring?  Maybe.  But it will help me to try them again.

Here goes, with the reds first.

Maryhill 2005 Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel; HC 2006 Merlot from Charles Smith Wines; Rodney Strong 2006 Pinot Noir (which was a gift and I’m mad I lost the notes!);  Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2005 Barbera; Portteus 2007 Rattlesnake Red.

The whites are Ironstone 2007 Obsession Symphony; Coeur d’Alene Cellars 2007 No. 6 White; Starborough 2007 Sauvignon Blanc; Villa Maria 2008 Sauvignon Blanc; Oyster  Bay 2008 Sauvignon Blanc; Pacific Rim NV Dry Riesling; Terra Blanca 2005 Viognier; Festival ’34 2007 Chardonnay; Milbrandt Vineyards 2006 Riesling.

And, lastly, one of Shelley’s most favorite Rose’s, Montes Cherub 2008 Rose’ of Syrah.

My oath to you is to not let life get in the way of my passion regarding this site!  I am not going to let life bully me!  I am in control and I am the boss! 

I feel better, thank you.

Now, next Sunday, a week from tomorrow, which will be Fathers Day, Shelley and I will be pouring at the “White Out” table at the 2009 Taste Washington-Spokane.  Last years event taught us about Madeleine Angevine (see my post in mid-March and mid-April).  Who knows what we’ll find this year.  The “White Out” table is right next to the Anthony’s Oyster and Seafood Bar.  We will start pouring around 2:40 (I think) so if you’re there come by and say “hello” to us!

I will try and take great notes on all of the wine we taste that day.  Usually I can only muster about 20 wines; Shelley is about ten.  But it’s so much fun and I can’t wait for that day to come. 

Until the next post, bottoms up, and thank you for reading!

2004 Pieropan Soave Classico

Happy Saturday! Welcome to another posting of my “General Wine Thoughts”. Fun stuff, huh?
We’ve had some interesting wine the past couple of nights. Last night we had a wonderful roast for dinner and opened a 2005 Winemaker’s Blend from Maryhill Winery. Maryhill is located in the, as they state, “world renowned”, scenic Columbia River Gorge in South Central Washington State. We’ve enjoyed this particular wine quite a bit because we had the honor of being able to take home a couple of bottles after we helped with Taste Washington last June in Spokane, Washington. We’ve come to understand the benefits of helping to break down the event afterwards.

This red wine is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc and went quite well with the roast beef. This particular blend always seems to have quite a few tannins but it has a rich, full nose and a lovely taste.

We opened the evening with a 2004 Pieropan Soave Classico from Italy (pictured). I couldn’t find out what was used in this particular vintage white table wine but the 2005 had 90% Garganega and 10% Trebbiano. I understand that this winery uses Garganega for their Soave Classico. It reminded me of Chardonnay in its look and taste. It was quite smooth and had a subtle flowery nose.

The night before that we had broiled steaks, a staple in our house. We had a 2006 Stephen’s Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon. I thought this wine was rather weak, to tell you the truth. I was really needing a big Cab to go with this steak and it really didn’t live up to that expectation. Hey, you win some and you lose some, yes? Anyway, Stephens Ridge is located in Santa Rosa, California and this is the first time we tried this winery.

Tonight we just finished a 2007 Chardonnay from Snoqualmie Vineyards, also, from the Columbia Valley in Washington. Actually we didn’t expect a lot from this wine as it was quite inexpensive but it was rather surprising. Usually the nose on a cheap white wine is of a dirty laundry hamper but this had nothing of the like. Light, fresh and surprisingly, not too much oak, which I’ve found is another consistent trait of cheap wine.

Since the next posting will likely be after the Super Bowl here is my prediction that you all have likely been on the edge of your seat waiting to hear. It will be a close game and I think the Arizona Cardinals will put a bow on their Cinderella story by upsetting the Steelers 23-17.

There you have it. Another post in the books and THIS one with an actual picture! Keep a lookout for the next one as I’m going to show you the Cork Catcher I made to catch all the corks from the wine we drink. It’s very unique and an eye catcher.

Till then, bottoms up!