Did anybody other than me go to "Washington Wine Highway," a congenial tasting and eating affair put on today and tomorrow by the Woodinville, WA chamber of commerce on the grounds of the Chateau St. Michelle winery? Eighty Washington wineries showed up, with the usual conspicuous absence of just about all the heavy hitters such as Quilceda Creek, Andrew Will, Leonetti, and the other big point getters. And as usual, the one or two biggies that did show didn't bring their knockout wines; e.g., DeLille Cellars poured only their workhouse Chaleur Estate Blanc (a promising 2006 sem-sauv blend smothered in oak) and 2005 "Doyenne Syrah," a far cry from their usually excellent flagship Bordeaux-style blend or even their second brand "D2," neither of which was on hand.
Nobody in their right mind and not on a wine-tasting payroll would want to take TNs on four hundred mostly more or less pedestrian wines, so I drifted around enjoying the tasty food (from some of the Seattle area's best restaurants) and the wine such as it was. And there were high points.
2006 CAVE B ESTATE WINERY 2006 SEMILLON COLUMBIA VALLEY My favorite Semillon of the day, a honey-tinged, slightly off dry, satiny smooth blend of 80% Sem and 20% Savignon Blanc. How would it fare against two recognized WA Sems, L'Ecole 41 and Chinook, two no-shows? Probably pretty well. Price at the winery is $19.
2005 OTIS KENYON CABERNET SAUVIGNON WALLA WALLA A not-too-oaky approachable Cab with berry sweetness that comes from the fruit not the sugar. Seems to me that at $32 at the winery this could be had at your neighborhood wine shop for something in the twenties. Which would be good QPR.
2007 ALEXANDRIA NICOLE CELLARS VIOGNIER HORSE HEAVEN HILLS No oak, all stainless, pure true-to-type 100% yummy Viognier. About eight hundred cases made. $20.
2002 NORTHSTAR MERLOT WALLA WALLA "This will taste great with your lamb chop," somebody said while I chewed on the chop. It did. Worth the money? That's the question. $50.
2003 COTE BONNEVILLE CUVEE BONNEVILLE "ESTATE BOTTLED" DUBRUL VINEYARD My wine of the day, a Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc blend from relatively young vines planted in 1992. If Cote Bonneville can make something this delightful with 16-year-old vines, think what they can do ten years from now. And think what the prices will be! $120