WTN: 1995 Charbonneau (Woodward Canyon)

[Jenise]

I have no idea what the history of Charbonneau is and why Woodward Canyon bottles this approximately 50/50 Cab/Merlot blend under this proprietary name with it's own fancy gold label that bears no resemblance to any of Woodward Canyon's other offerings, but I've enjoyed a few bottles of this over the years. In fact, I recall that my first Charbonneau was poured for me by Dr. Randy Buckner whom some of you know.
This 1995 is probably the most aged bottle I've had.

Decanted to separate out the sediment and give the wine a badly-needed chance to open up. A clear rim hints at some age but the wine itself is a deceptively youthful garnet-purple. The nose is at first reticent offering faint berry notes and some starchy root vegetable scents. Bob thought he smelled a bit of celery. In time, the fruit caught up and rounded out with black cherry, mulberry and sweet potato. Acidity and tannins were in a good place and in fact will probably outlast the fruit which lost traction during the second glass. Drink up if you've got 'em.

I have no idea what the history of Charbonneau is and why Woodward Canyon bottles this approximately 50/50 Cab/Merlot blend under this proprietary name with it's own fancy gold label that bears no resemblance to any of Woodward Canyon's other offerings, but I've enjoyed a few bottles of this over the years. In fact, I recall that my first Charbonneau was poured for me by Dr. Randy Buckner whom some of you know.
This 1995 is probably the most aged bottle I've had.

Decanted to separate out the sediment and give the wine a badly-needed chance to open up. A clear rim hints at some age but the wine itself is a deceptively youthful garnet-purple. The nose is at first reticent offering faint berry notes and some starchy root vegetable scents. Bob thought he smelled a bit of celery. In time, the fruit caught up and rounded out with black cherry, mulberry and sweet potato. Acidity and tannins were in a good place and in fact will probably outlast the fruit which lost traction during the second glass. Drink up if you've got 'em.

Can't remember the specific vintage but we drank some Charbonneaus out of the 80s and thought they were delicious but can't really remember why I haven't had any since. Must have changed distributors, or something like that.

Ric Small wanted to work with a balanced blend of cab/merlot, but one that could change every year as suited his desires and the vintages.

He also wanted a label that spoke to the particular area of the Pacific Northwest and its rich history...so he selected the name of Charbonneau, a famous French-Indian frontiersman.

Ric also produce a series of different labels over the years based on photos of actual people from the entire history of the PNW---it was his way of nodding to the people who created the northwest and capturing their character in his wine.

[Jenise]

Ric also produce a series of different labels over the years based on photos of actual people from the entire history of the PNW---it was his way of nodding to the people who created the northwest and capturing their character in his wine.

Yes, the 'Dedication Series'. I've got the '89 thru '96 of that one plus some more current releases, which he still has the pictures on the labels of but now refers to as the Old Vines as compared to his Artist Series cabs. Not that I'm a vertical collector, I'm not, I was just wildly impressed with an '89 a friend opened and decided to pick up a bunch of older bottles to make a dinner party out of--they can be picked up at auction for just $20-30, where a new bottle of the current release sets one back about $80. It's one of the best and most long-lived wines made in this state.

That I knew--about the Charbonneau, I didn't. Thanks for the history. I'm not sure he makes this blend anymore--at least, when I've been there for the spring barrel tasting where he poured EVERYTHING he seemed to have on hand, a Charbonneau wasn't one of them.