Labor Day Plans?

If you are 21 or over, which you should be if you’re on this site, and you like motorcycle rallies, mud bogs, live blues music, demolition derbies, food vendors, and a beer garden, then I have a place for you! This Labor Day weekend, Sunny FM, Golakechelan.com, and Love Washington Wine are sponsoring Mill Bay Casino’s Labor Day event entitled: Thunder in the Sun. Now, if you’re not a Harley ridin’, leather wearin’, casino goin’ type, then I would suggest that you at least go to find out what in the world mud bogs and motorcycle rallies are and then let me know!

Cheers – Kristy

Mannina expands our repitoire

Mannina Cellars 2004 Merlot has been a top seller for us from day one. It's fruit-forward characteristics and drinkability made this an easy choice for our customers. Now, we have acquired the 2005 Merlot, the 2005 Sangiovese and the Cali (NV)! After a visit to this winery, I was able to bring back one of each of these varietals to taste with the Love Washington Wine team (it's a tough job) and we all fell in love! The Merlot and the Sangiovese proved sip after sip that the 2005 growing season in Washington quite simply rocked! The Cali is a red blend that does not disappoint! It's delicate in all the right ways and is extremely food friendly. I have a great affinity for these wines and the winery (not solely based on the similarities in our names) because I enjoy the wines and the winemaker immensely. I'm so happy that Mannina is part of our LWW family and that they are sharing their stellar wines with all of us!

Cheers - Kristy

Wine Cruises Take Flight

LWW is proud to sponsor the Columbia Voyager Tri-City River Cruise. The Wine Tasting Cruise Series (held exclusively on Wednesdays: August 15th, September 12th and 26th, and October 10th and 24th) is hosted by KONA 610 AM radio station. Each cruise features three wineries and four to five selections of their wines to accommodate elegantly catered appetizers and live music. The August 15th cruise showed a great turn out. We poured the 2006 Saint Laurent Syrah Rose, the 2004 Saint Laurent Chardonnay, the 2006 C.R. Sandidge Rose, and the 2005 Mannina Cellars Merlot. The crowd loved every one of the selections but simply raved about the Rose of Syrah from Saint Laurent.

Cheers – Kristy

Chateau Fair Le Pont bares all

Chateau Faire Le Pont has asked us to expand our list to include their 2003 Chateau Blanc Reserve, 2004 Chardonnay, 2004 Elerding Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Syrah, 2005 Pinot Gris, and 2005 Pinot Noir. As I tasted through all these new selections, I found that I enjoyed the 2004 and 2005 vintages even more than previous vintages. I really like the way this winery, winemakers, and their wines are progressing. Chateau Faire Le Pont, with its beautiful restaurant and winery facility seems to just get better with age. Don’t take my word for it though; try them for yourself!

Cheers - Kristy

C.R.Sandidge is Whistling Punk

Whistle Punk is the name; smooth, seductive, and rugged is the game. In looking at this bottle as it sits on my desk, I have to wonder both where the name came from and why in the world there is a lumberjack on the label. I know the creative genius behind all the C.R.Sandidge wines has a reason behind it, but it only becomes clear to me when I open the bottle to taste. It makes me want to sip and whistle at the same time! It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Syrah and has the kind of kick that I suppose only a lumberjack can give you. Regardless of the secret behind the name, this wine is awesome! It’s enjoyable now, but I’m taking another bottle home to cellar for my future whistling sessions.

To continue with the interesting names, we have added the 2003 Tri*Umph and the 2006 Great Gams Rosé. I can only infer that the Tri*Umph got its name from the “Oh my goodness, this could be the greatest red I have ever tasted” reaction that often follows the very first sip of this blend. I would definitely agree that this wine will put some “umph” in your glass. The name Great Gams must come from both the beautiful legs adorning the label on the bottle and from the gorgeous “legs” streaming down the glass after a good swirling.

Try these wines for yourself, and let me know your opinions on the names and the tastes that come with them.

Cheers - Kristy

Vintner Video Series Latest edition

You've met Mike. You've met Terry. They have spoken of their wines, their winemaking styles and what they are truly passionate about. Now meet Doug. He finds his passion for winemaking in the ties to the land and the exciting history of it all: the grapes, the people, the wines! With their second vintage scoring 90+ points in wine spectator, I would say that Doug's palate is a great one, though he claims not to, this guy really knows what he is doing. His wines are a personal favorite, and I would recommend them to anyone to enjoy anytime!

View this most recent vintner video at: https://www.lovewashingtonwine.com/Video/WineryVideos/HoranEstates/LWW-HoranEstatesVideo.aspx

Or any of the others at:
https://www.lovewashingtonwine.com/Video/VideoMainSection.aspx

Check back often to see who else has something interesting to say. Try Horan estates wines to see, no to taste, what they do best. Enjoy!

Cheers - Kristy

Cascadia is now on the menu…

New to our wine list, Cascadia winery has three great wines to try, all unobtrusive and unassuming, very light yet complex in their simplicity (if that makes any sense). In trying the 2006 Chardonnay, Riesling, and Merlot, it’s been fun to see how they are each unique and truly engaging, a great reflection on their winemaker: Alan Yanagimachi.

Cheers - Kristy

Saint Laurent's new wines!

We are excited to feature Saint Laurent’s two newest wines in our updated catalog!

If you are a Syrah-lover like me, but find that it can often be too heavy during these warm summer days, I may have a solution for you: Saint Laurent’s 2006 Rose of Syrah, chilled and served with grilled, herb-crusted Salmon, grilled asparagus, and warm garlic bread. Nothing beats this delicious combination, shared with a group of good friends, relaxing in comfy lounge chairs on the front porch, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Am I making your mouth water?

Saint Laurent’s other new wine is a Bordeaux style blend that holds true to its name: Lucky Red. This wine goes great with a warm bonfire and warm conversation, when the Rosé is gone, but your friends are not. I have found this wine to be a crowd pleaser on those endless Northwest Summer evenings.

Cheers - Kristy