Thank Goodness Ryan And Patrick Were Born!
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!
Hi:
Thank you for the kind words. It’s always gratifying when someone “gets it” Come tour the vineyards with us sometime.
Terry Flanagan 509 888 4444