Northwest Wine Festival - Gold Medal Winning Reds

Highlights of the festival for me were wonderful reds from Kestral, Willis Hall, Zerba, and Lone Canary wineries. There were lots of good whites, especially Pinot Gris and Viognier. My only regret is somehow missing Cave B and Glen Fiona. Maybe that was because I started out from the "Zs". Gold Medals went to the 2003 Cave B - Cuvee de Soleil and 2003 Lone Canary Rouge for Bordeaux style blends. As I already mentioned, Kiona got a gold for it's 2003 Lemberger. Sagelands 2003 Four Corners Merlot took a gold, as did 2004 Zerba Cellars Merlot. Dave Minick, winemaker/owner at Willow Crest ( another recent Seattle Wine Blog posting) won a gold medal for his 2004 "XIII"( a reference to the thirteen varietals that theoretically make up a Chateauneuf du Pape), a wonderful Rhone style wine. C.R. Sandidge took home a gold for their 2002 Boushay Vineyard Syrah and 2003 Columbia Crest Reserve Syrah was another winner we told you about in the Seattle Wine Blog.