Walla Walla Wine Cellar

You know it’s a good night when you get a hug from the winemaker (Tom Glase) after his hip surgery and are then told that you can buy the $110 bottle of wine at an 80% discount. Perhaps the cute guy behind the bar was pulling my leg about the prices, but I told him I would have paid just about any price for that delicious Balboa Candy Mountain 2006 Sangiovese. Deeee-licious. Dangerously delicious. Balanced, pomegranate, tobacco, ripe plum.

So I bought the rest of the bottles they had in stock. Don’t get your hopes up about finding any in the tasting room this weekend, because I bought them out. Yes, I did. Sorry folks, but it had to be done. It was too good to pass up. Especially at an 80% discount [smile]. Okay, really, at $22 a bottle it’s a steal. If you find some on a shelf somewhere, buy it! Although I do believe it was a wine club only selection.

From the fabulous new Balboa tasting room at 7 South 2nd Ave, where Amy Glase’s artwork is currently displayed on the walls as well as on the wine labels, I went to Flying Trout located at 37 South Palouse Street. There I tried four outstanding wines. The Deep River Red ($28), NV Malbec ($35), 2006 Phinny Hill Malbec ($35), and one more special red wine that you’ll have to stop by the tasting room to find out about. It was a tough choice, but I ended up leaving with several bottles.

From there we ventured to 26 Brix for some dinner and cocktails. Industry folks packed the bar, all well into a busy weekend. And there are plenty of tourists about, wine lovers in their element.

Tomorrow you’ll find me out and about, dodging the biggest crowds, but enjoying the buzz that is holiday barrel tasting.

Walla Walla Wine Cellar will be open from 12 - 4pm both Saturday and Sunday for those of you who would like to see the inventory in our shipping center. Rootielicious jewelry will also be on display. So please enjoy the weekend, drive safely, don’t forget to drink plenty of water and eat good food. And most importantly, have a good time.

Happy barrel tasting!

Justin is back this week. Valentine’s Day has passed and we’re moving from France to Italy. We’ll let you ponder whether this is the right time to make that move or not.

Sangiovese: One in five vines in Italy are planted to some sort of the Sangiovese grape. As the major component of what everyone knows as Chianti, Sangiovese’s roots stem from the Tuscany region of Northern/Central Italy. The wines can range from light and delicate like some of those from Chianti to bold and full-bodied like the great Brunello’s of Montalcino. Sangiovese can be very long lived and makes for a wonderful food wine on all levels. There are plantings in many places, especially In Washington and California. A good number of the American examples tend to lack some the depth and flavors of their Italian counterparts, but progress is being made. Sangiovese seems to have found a good home in Washington and should continue to improve.

Here in the Cellar we love a good Sangiovese! We see no reason why this varietal should not continue to improve in availability. And we certainly have faith in our winemakers to keep up the good work.

Some of our favorites are K Vintners 2005 Guido (super low availability!!!), a cult favorite, and the always pleasant Yellow Hawk Cellars 2003 Sangiovese.

We are also super excited about the upcoming release of the Helix Sangiovese. This Spring! Yeah! And don’t forget that yummy yummy Walla Walla Vintners Sangiovese. (Boy, we’re spoiled here in Walla Walla.)

Ciao.