Debuts & Discoveries - II

Where was I? Oh, yeah, Palouse! Well, I guess I missed a bunch of new wineries - Lost River, Lowden Hills, Mercer Estates, Michael Florentino Cellers, Mt Defiance Wine Co. and Naches Heights. Palouse was up to their usual tricks with great wine. Mark Wysling's new winery Parejas (Pa-rey- has) is just barely up and running. He only had the proof for the labels, but it's what's inside the bottle that counts. Mark's four offerings were great. The 2007 Riesling was an expl0sion of floral and fruit aromas followed by a steely, totally dry, tart, fresh, citrusy wine that refreshes the palate. Try it with oysters, seafood, fish, or blue cheese - definitely a food wine, although it would be totally refreshing if we ever got some hot weather around here. The 2007 Rose is an unusual blend of 34% Viognier and 66% Mourvedre. Crisp, but with some body, reminds of French Rose and a great value at $13. Mark and I disagree about the spelling of Cinsault, one of the many grapes grown in the Rhone Valley of France. Apparently both spellings are correct, but I prefer Cinsault. He prefers Cinsaut. No matter, it is very unusual anywhere in the world to find 100% Cinsault. Cinsault is often hugely productive in the south of France where it would result in a thin wine, but Mark made a delicious medium bodied wine full of fruit and perfect with everyday fair such as pizza, hamburger, etc,. The 2006 Red Mountain Syrah is well made and delicious. Shane Howard at Pondera made three very successful wines I preferred the 2005 Melvado for its fruity friendliness and reasonable price of $23. The 2005 Sericus (Latin for silk) is a Bordeaux style Blend also quite good. Where did these guys get all the Latin? Latin school? The Latin Quarter? The last of the trio , 2005 Consensio (Latin for Harmony) is a bigger more structured wine. To be continued....