Posts tagged with 'Ryan Patrick Vineyards'

Taste Washington Takes On A Whole New Meaning

  • Posted on June 22, 2010 at 12:39 am

By Phil Anderson

In the month of June “Taste Washington” has taken on an entirely new meaning for me.  To start, on June 6th I completed the Hat Trick of pouring at the White Out Table at Taste Washington! Spokane for the third year which is held at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington.  This year we had double the white wines to pour.  These are all supposed to be wines that pair well with seafood, which is good because our White Out Table was immediately following the Anthony’s Seafood bar which boasted muscles, clams and oysters (oh, my!).  With their plates full of fresh seafood, people continued on to us hoping to find a great wine to pair with their delicious seafood.

Phil Anderson (that's ME!) pouring at the White Out Table at Taste Washington! Spokane!

The past two years we poured between 20-25 white wines but this year we were around 40-45 ranging from your standard whites that pair well with seafood to a Rose or two and even a sparkler.  There was a Terra Blanca Chardonnay that was quite delicious; of course, the Ryan Patrick Naked Chardonnay, as well.  Gifford Hirlinger brought a Pinot Gris for us to pour so that was kind of cool, because that was one of our favorite stops in Walla Walla last November.

One thing that was interesting was just the Friday before I had stopped in the tasting room at Jones of Washington in Quincy, Washington, to taste some of their wines on my way back home from Wenatchee.  We actually enjoyed their Chardonnay and a Rose of Syrah that Friday night, with the Rose of Syrah REALLY standing out and hitting the spot with outstanding mouth feel.  And come Sunday, there was that same Chardonnay from Jones of Washington so we could really add some insight for people when they had questions about that wine, since we weren’t given ANY tasting notes this year.

Yvonne Swanberg, General Manager of San Juan Vineyards (left) and Vivian Flanagan, co-owner of Ryan Patrick Vineyards.

A highlight of the evening was when I got to venture out among the masses to taste and visit and I went directly to Ryan Patrick Vineyards’ booth to introduce myself to Vivian Flanagan (and it turned out Terry Flanagan, as well) and it turned out they were right next to San Juan Vineyards’ booth!  You might remember Yvonne and San Juan Vineyards from the previous two years when I went on and on about their Madeleine Angevine.  We poured that again as well as their Siegerrebe, which I STILL cannot pronounce to save my life!  I tasted a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Ryan Patrick that was wonderful and a Cabernet Franc from San Juan Vineyards that would stand up great with a juicy steak.

It’s always a pleasure to see Jill from Townshend Cellars and I said, “hello” to her and Marlene from Woodward Canyon told me she reads this blog all the time, which I am very grateful for.  Now, if I can only find the time to write more than once a month!  (Remember, last year I was a complet failure at this point of the year.  I vow not to let that happen again!)

Some other reds that stood out during the evening were Five Star Cellars Super Tuscan Red, a Tempranillo from Kana Winery, Hedges Family Estate Red Bordeaux Blend, Robert Karl Claret and Forgeron Cellars Syrah.  You just can’t taste every wine at the event but every year I give it my best go!

This year we stayed at the hotel which was wonderful.  The room was extremely comfortable and it was such a luxury not to pack everything in the car and then drive an hour back home after tasting wine for four hours and then helping to break down for another two.  Personally, I think we’ll do that every year from now on.  Click here to watch a short video of Taste Washington! Spokane and look for me pouring at the white out table in the upper left hand corner (bald dude!) at about the 2:08 mark and at the end!

As for the rest of the “Taste Washington” scenerio, I will be partaking in the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla this weekend, preceded by the WBC or Bust Road to Walla Walla tour, sponsored by Wine Chatr, that I won a seat on because of this very blog.  It starts Wednesday and we will arrive in Walla Walla on Thursday night.  I am going to do my very best to blog about each of the days’ activities, but there are no guarantees!  I can’t begin to tell you all of the things that are lined up for the journey to Walla Walla and then the conference once we get there.

And lastly, I have just entered TWO (count ‘em, TWO) contests with a blog that ALSO won a seat on the WBC or Bust trip, Another Wine Blog and at Andrea Wine.  The first one is for a set of The One wine glasses developed by Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson and the second contest is by that same Master Sommelier that developed The One wine glasses as she is giving away a trip to Napa Valley!  If you are going to enter those two contests, as well, I wish you luck! 

Remember, if you really DO like drinking wine you should absolutely show your passion by “liking” drinking wine on Facebook (it’s kind of like becoming a fan but then they changed it!).  Everyday you’ll find a little tid bit about wine and you can share your OWN general wine thoughts, as well!

So, until Wednesday night, ciao for now and remember, bottoms UP!

Thank Goodness Ryan And Patrick Were Born!

  • Posted on April 28, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Toni getting herself prepared to pour Ryan Patrick Vineyard wines for me in the tasting room located in Leavenworth, Washgington.

Toni getting herself prepared to pour Ryan Patrick Vineyard wines for me in the tasting room located in Leavenworth, Washgington.

By Phil Anderson

For many, many months we have been drinking a particular un-oaked Chardonnay, naked Chardonnay if you will.  Each time we buy it we open it, drink it and say, “This is just really good wine!”  The amazing thing is that this wine costs UNDER $8 a bottle AND you can find it in most stores in their wine section.  Let me see…easy to find, easy on the pocket book and EASY to drink.  Sounds like a great combination, yes? 

Ryan Patrick Vineyards is doing it the way a winery should do it.  They are single family and estate winery with three vineyards located in central Washington State near the banks of the Columbia River and is ideally located to assure the successful growth of top quality grapes.  They grow Bordeaux varietals as well as their Chardonnay, naked and clothed (with oak).  Terry Flanagan, and his wife Vivian, own the winery and vineyards and sons Ryan and Patrick serve as the inspiration for the company’s name.  Terry says, “Our goal has always been to produce limited quantities of reserve quality wines at affordable prices.”  Their first vintage was just 10 years ago, 1999.

I visited their tasting room recently and Toni, who was behind the bar, treated my like a V.I.P.  It was a delightful time.  Right next to their tasting room, located in Leavenworth, Washington, is a fine meat and cheese shop called Cured at Visconti’s (Visconti’s Ristorante is located right up the stairs) selling old world salami and market cured meats as well as fine cheeses.  We sashayed over to pick up some samples of things that might go with their wine and came up with porcini, cacciatore, elk jerky and an assortment of different cheeses thanks to Randy Nichols, the helpful man behind the counter.

The first thing that touched my lips was my old friend, their 2008 Naked Chardonnay which is fermented totally in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures.  No oak touches this wine ever and it is so refreshing!  This has literally turned into our house white wine in the past year.  They made just under 4,000 cases of this vintage but have continued to increase producion over the years because of it’s popularity, and it will soon push to near 6,000 cases.  My notes didn’t get too specific with this wine other than to say, “Still love it!”  Crisp and clean–just delicious.

 Ryan Patricks 2007 Estate Chardonnay was actually a nice surprise with a touch of oak that was not too overbearing.  It had good balance and a little bite on the finish.  Certainly a nice alternative to their Naked Chardonnay.

 I tasted their 2006 Barbera, which was earthy and smokey with some pepper on the nose, their 2006 Syrah, their 2007 Rock Island Red and their 2008 Rose.  I have to say, I really enjoyed the Rock Island Red, consisting of 50% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, but what surprised me was their Rose.  It was absolutely delicious!  Very floral on the nose as well as strawberries.  Perfect for a nice summer afternoon that rolls into a nice summer evening.  It is made with Syrah and it is sensational.

I didn’t get the opportunity to taste their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve as it was basically sold out and they’re down to just about three cases left, just enough to stick in their library.  I couldn’t quite get Toni to open a bottle.  Can’t say I blame her for not opening one but I DID try…can’t hurt to try, right?

I know I’ve seen the Rock Island Red at the Costco in Coeur d’Alene.  The Naked Chardonnay is everywhere around where I live.  If you can’t track these down call Ryan Patrick Vineyards and have them send you a bottle of each.  Don’t forget the Rose!  Like I said, the Naked Chardonnay is under eight bucks, usually, and the Rose is $11 while the Rock Island Red will pull $18 from your money clip. 

I really don’t care how you do it, just do it.  These guys are trying to make a good wine for inexpensive and I, for one, am liking the results.

I want to thank all of the people who have become fans of wine on Facebook (or have now “liked” wine on Facebook).  I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you take the time to read this simple little wine blog and have taken the energy to join wine on Facebook.  I hope that you continue to enjoy my scribes here at General Wine Thoughts.  I am toying with the idea of changing the name to something more catchy, more hip, more….more something I don’t really know.  

Any suggestions?  Any comments?  Please don’t hesitate to click on “comments” at the bottom of this post.  Until next time, keep it real, keep the beat and BOTTOMS UP!

Enough Already, Sheesh!

  • Posted on June 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm

OK, enough, already!  I have sat down probably ten times to write this next post only to have life hit me in the face in one way, shape or form.  I understand life has it’s priorities but, seriously, you have been waiting to hear about that Cabernet Franc with the pot roast (it was phenomenal!  Shelly has started making a pot roast with a different recipe and it’s just so moist and tasty and the Cab Franc went very well with it) as well as learn about legs.  Well, sadly, that was five weeks ago. 

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!

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