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Barbera is an Italian wine grape variety that originates from Piedmonte, Italy, but seems to thrive in hot growing sites, such as we have here in the Columbia Valley. Great growing sites, such as we found for this wine at Elephant Mountain Vineyard (60%) and Millbrandt Vineyard (40%) allow production of Barbera that is long-aging, robust with intense fruit, enhanced tannic content and with some aging potential. This Kana Winery 2004 Barbera shows a deep ruby color, raspberry and blackberry fruit notes, and a full body. It has moderate chalky tannins that are balanced by a high level of acidity. It finishes long in the mouth into beautiful boysenberry fruit. 145 cases were produced. No other wine has the versatility that can cut through tomato sauce or compliment a steak as nicely as Barbera wine. We think this 2004 Barbera is the perfect pizza wine. PPW 9/05

This, one of our top tier reds, is a Claret style blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 13% Petite Verdot and 5% Malbec from the impeccably managed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA overseen by its talented proprietor Jim Holmes. The 2004 vintage gave us a very clean batch of physiologically mature and quite dark fruit. In the glass there’s intense extracted color and a nose of blackberries, cassis, violets and dark chocolates. Hugely lush and multi-layered it shows more focused cassis and blackberry fruit in the mouth, along with black cherry, blueberry, oak-spice and cedar box notes. The signature Red Mountain tannins are chalky, velvety, ripe and almost sweet, and are balanced against a lively acidity and its palate-coating fruit. It finishes long into glorious dark fruit and quality tannins. A wine for aging but drinking well in its youth, this large scale red should age well for 12 years plus beyond vintage. Try with a flash-grilled peppercorn top-sirloin steak and garlic mashed potatoes.

This is our best foot forward Rhone style white blend. The blend is 37% Roussanne (2/3 from Snipes Mtn. and 1/3 from Elephant Mtn. Vyds.), 53% Viognier and 10% Marsanne (both from Elephant Mtn. Vyd.). It is 60% tank and 40% new French oak barrel fermented. There’s a brilliant gold-platinum color that just flashes and sparkles beautifully and it shows an intense bouquet of floral notes, white nectarine, ripe Bartlett pears, apricot nectar and melted vanilla ice cream along with subtle orange-rind, and lavender notes as you swirl your glass. In the mouth explodes waves of juicy fruits, tropical pineapple, apricots, mango and lemon cream pie along with nuances of orange peel, and Chambord raspberry liquor layered with anise, minerals and orange spice. Beautifully proportioned, this large format white wine has bracing acidity, a viscous full body, and it finishes long into layers of concentrated fruit, and not-so-subtle tannins (for a white wine). Try with substantial food, such as a spicy Asina dish or as an accompanimetn to exotic cheeses.

This, our flagship red wine, is a Southern Rhone style blend of 69% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, 13% Grenache. The Syrah fruit came from Rustic Ridge Vineyard (36% of the blend), Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard (23%), and Naches Heights Vineyard (10%). The Grenache and Mourvedre are from Elephant Mountain Vineyard. Note the inky, concentrated, glass coating black-red color that leads you to its intensely aromatic nose of dark berry and cassis aromatics that are highlighted by tobacco-pouch, leather, peppered bacon, olive and freshly chopped tarragon spice. In the mouth there’s copious red fruit, mocha-chocolate, dried herb, spicy French oak and lush crème de cassis flavors along with a glycerin-infused full body and a lively natural acid and fine tannin structure. It finishes into ripe dark cherry and plum fruit, sweet tannins, toasty oak, and hints of coffee and orange spice. Drinking well now for its lush fruit, but this well-endowed red should age beautifully for 8 years or more beyond vintage. This food-friendly large-scale red matches well with strong cheeses and rich-hearty dishes. Try with a thick grilled steak topped with caramelized onions, scallions, crumbled bacon and peppercorns.

This lovely red wine is a Rhone varietal blend of 48% Syrah, 28% Mourvedre, 14% Grenache and 10% Counnoise. Fruit was sourced mainly from Ciel du Cheval, but also from Destiny Ridge, Haak, Elephant Mountain, Naches Heights and Vignes de Marcoux Vineyards. It has intense pie-cherry and cassis aromatics; copious red fruit and lush crème de cassis flavors; a glycerin-infused full body and a lively natural acid and chalky tannin structure. Drinking well now for its lush fruit, but this well-endowed red should age beautifully for 6-7 years beyond vintage. It is a food-friendly wine that matches perfectly with anything charbroiled! Try with cinnamon chicken covered with a apple cider reduction sauce. PPW 7/05

The 2002 Garnacha from the Yakima Valley is composed of 86% Grenache and 14% Tempranillo from the highly acclaimed Elerding Vineyard, located in the Horse Heaven Hills area (a soon to be a designated AVA) in the Yakima Valley. Its sparse, rocky and basalt soils, along with layers of limestone, high elevation, roasted daytime sun-exposed slopes, and its cool high-desert nighttime temperatures provide a wonderful growing environment for these Southern Rhone and Spanish varietals. Garnacha is the Spanish vinicultural word for Grenache, a widely planted grape that is a major blending varietal for some of the best wines from Spain and Southern France. Tempranillo is also a noble grape used extensively in Spanish Vino Tinto. You will note an intensity of concentrated fruit and varietal spice that is balanced against sturdy yet ripe tannins and a generous natural acidity. This food-friendly wine will shine brightly with a variety of dishes and will be an ageworthy selection for cellaring.

This value white blend is 48% Pinot Gris, 33% Pinot Blanc, and19% Riesling with fruit obtained from Naches Heights, Steiner, Vignes de Marcoux, and Muncey Park Vineyards. It is a mineral infused and elegant wine with beautiful pear and crisp apple fruit, along with notes of lemon zest, tarragon spice and wet stones. Its generous acidity is a testimony to the cooler sites from which the fruit was procured and the long growing season that was the hallmark of this wonderful vintage. This is a great “opener” wine to serve by itself ice-cold on a warm day or while relaxing in the hot tub. Try with a cold pasta salad primavera or with milder cheeses. 521 cases produced.

This Rhone styled white wine is a blend of 75% Roussanne, 20% Viognier and 5% Marsanne. The Roussanne fruit is from Elephant Mountain, Snipes Mountain, Millbrandt, and Morrell Vineyards. Both the Viognier and Marssanne came from Elephant Mountain Vineyard. Note its intensity of aromatics with peaches, ruby grapefruit, tropical fruits and rose pedals literally leaping from the glass! In the mouth one finds similar fruits along with candied pears, minerals, and an amazing mouthfeel. With its brightly balanced acids it finishes long into a gloriously sweet finish. Try with summer squash soup with a generous sprinkling of brown sugar or alongside a tray of rich imported cheeses.

One of the oldest blocks of Lemberger standing in the United States, planted in 1979, and from a newly designated vineyard, formerly part of Red Willow Vineyard, these vines look like tree trunks with low vigor and produce naturally lower yields and quite dark thick-skinned berries. This wine’s red garnet color and a red raspberry nose lead you into its wonderful flavors of sweet raspberry, kirsch liquor, raw honey and dried cherry fruit. It shows a focused midpalate and finishes long and seamless into jammy fruits along with ripe tannins and balanced natural acids. We feel this wine is proof to the notion we have that you’ll get larger proportions and considerable complexities from Lemberger fruit produced from mature vines. Drink now for its intense and lush fruit, but this wine, with all its stuffing, is expected to age well compared to your average and less complex Lemberger. 210 cases produced. Try with lemon-butter basted barbecue chicken.

Malbec is known from its origins in France as a blending varietal but has really taken its best form when grown in Argentina and Washington State as a complex, intense and age-worthy red. Snipes Mountain Vineyard, in the Yakima Valley, has had some acknowledged success with Malbec in previous vintages and we found this 2004 to be at the top of the heap! This deeply colored red wine shows blackberry jam, marjoram spice and black licorice in the nose. In the mouth there are more blackberry preserves and boysenberry fruit that light up your palate, which is balanced against a beautiful natural acid structure. This full-bodied wine finishes with ripe fruits, lovingly soft tannins, along with hints of herbs de provence and black peppercorns. We feel it is a wine best consumed in its youth but it should age well for 5-6 years beyond vintage. This is a versatile food wine and it matches perfectly with a spice-rubbed grilled steak.

This wine is the result of the magic touch of viticulturist Phil Cline and careful artisan winemaking by Mark Wysling with fruit procured from this cooler and higher elevation growing site, Naches Heights Vineyard. This vineyard is located just outside of Yakima up in the hills between it and the town of Naches in the northwestern part of the Columbia Valley. We think the cooler climate and rocky volcanic soils gave this an Alsacian-like quality along with a wonderful minerality and balanced acids beyond a typical Northwest Pinot Gris. It was 100% cold-tank fermented and had a long contact on its lees before filtration. Its brilliant clarity and platinum-gold color draw you into the glass to note an incredible nose of a freshly sliced Granny-Smith apple along with a touch of white grape perfume and mineral dust. In the mouth there’s that classic green apple along with nectarine fruit, Asian pear and Bartlett pear fruit in the background. This ripe, full-bodied, yet elegantly structured wine finishes long into complex earth tones, minerals and white fruits. Try with fresh cracked Northwest dungenous crab on ice or with a cheese appetizer plate. 50 cases produced.

This semi-dry Rose’ is made from 100% single vineyard Barbera fruit obtained from Coyote Canyon Vineyard located in the eastern stretches of the ColumbiaValley. Its fruit saw a nice long hang-time into cooler fall weather, achieving high natural acid levels and complex varietal maturity. Note its gorgeous garnet pink-red color and brilliant clarity in the glass. The nose shows cherry syrup, kiwi, blood-orange, and hints of Asian spice. In the mouth it flashes flavors of cherry, peaches, citrus, raspberries and plums that grow and grow as its zesty acids drive your taste experience into harmonious balance with the wine’s sweetness and provide great length to the wine’s finish. We think this wine tastes great by itself served very cold, especially on a hot day. This bold rose’ has enough stuffing in it to pair well with rich creamy cheeses but try with a raspberry vinegarette salad topped with shaved almonds or crushed pecans.

This Alsatian style Riesling is from LesVignes de Marcoux, Muncey Park and Naches Heights Vineyards. It has a minerality, acidity and concentration of fruit that we feel is on par with some of the best Rieslings in the world. It has wonderful pear and green-apple flavors, along with hints of grapefruit, tropical mango and a long fruit-filled finish. Try with fresh fruit and creme fraiche, or with mild cheeses. 100 cases produced.

This well endowed Rhone-styled white wine is 85% Roussanne and 15% Viognier and showcases how well these warm climate varietals thrive in the warmer temperatures, south sloping topography, and the higher elevations of the newly-designated Horse Heaven Hills AVA in the Yakima Valley. It shows aromas and flavors of raw honey, toasted nuts and apricot nectar along with an intensity of fruit and an incredible full-body that stand up against generous ripe tannins at levels not commonly seen in a white table wine. This large format wine is the “white wine for red wine lovers”, and will stand its ground with the heartiest of meals and should be very age-worthy (much like the long-lived whites from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape district in southern Rhone). Try with Scallops in a white wine sauce on a bed of pasta- a food-wine match made in heaven! PPW 7/05

All the fruit came from the highly coveted Ciel du Cheval Vineyard and this black-purple intensely colored reserve/limited-production red shows blackberry syrup, violets, vanilla, and intense Syrah-varietal characteristics in the nose. It is very much a full-bodied red that is not for the meek! It has powerful flavors of blackberry, raspberry and dark current fruit along with toasted French oak, creamy chocolate, bacon fat and the typical signature chalky tannins from the Red Mountain AVA. Only 100 cases produced. This large format wine will match up well with rich fatty meats. Try with roast leg-of lamb or a broiled porterhouse steak.

A noble red varietal that originates from Spain and has very limited plantings in Washington state, Tempranillo seems to love our Yakima Valley’s high solar units, and long-warm growing season. The fruit was sourced from Elephant Mtn. Vineyard (80%), and Vin de Marcoux Vineyard (20%). Note the unusual violet red color and brilliance in the glass. In the nose it shows crushed blackberries and good aromatics. In the mouth one appreciates direct and focused red fruits that finishes with complex notes of earth, leather and molten chocolate. Generous balanced acids and an austere ripeness makes this a wonderful food wine. Try with goat cheese on rye crackers or with smoked salmon. PPW 9/05

The high elevation, basalt soils and windswept exposure at the impeccably managed Elephant Mountain Vineyard provided us with incredible fruit for the 2004 vintage. Viognier, a noble white varietal that originates from southern Rhone, grows well in the Yakima Valley, thriving in our long hot summer days and developing complexities and good natural acidity levels with our cold high dessert evening temperatures. Note the thickness of the wine as you swirl it in the glass and the aromas of tropical fruit, white peach sorbet, and kiwi. In the mouth flows a wave of similar fruits, Yakima dust, and subtleties of white chocolate and buttered sautéed bananas. This well balanced full-bodied white wine finishes long into tongue teasing acidity. 100 cases produced. Try with mango chutney smothered chicken breast or enjoy as a chilled aperitif wine. PPW 10/05

This is a value red blend of 43%% Zinfandel from Millbrandt Vineyard, 40% Malbec from Snipes Mountain Vineyard and 17% Petit Verdot from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. It shows ripe Zin-berry fruit, raspberry jam, dried herbs and cracked peppercorns that are backed by soft tannins and zippy acidity. This medium-bodied everyday red should be worthy of any dining table and also should go well with anything grilled or blackened. This is the first release of what we plan to continue in every subsequent vintage, that being an easy drinking red that is ready to go on release, and that represents value based on our ability to secure fruit at a fair price that we pass on to you, our hard-working customer.

Literally next door to Mike Sauer’s Red Willow Vineyard is the newly designated Vignes de Marcoux Vineyard that has just a few rows of Zinfandel planted on its roasted southern slopes that gets the same detailed attention that it’s famous bigger brother vineyard gets! This wine has the rich fruit, spice complexities and full body that one would expect from this varietal along with the carefully restrained use of oak from 2-3 year old French and American oak barrels. It is a food-friendly style of Zin with its racy acidity balanced against ripe berry fruits. Drinking well now and should hold its quality for 3-4 years. Try with Pesto Pasta.