Kíona Washington State Proprietary Blend (2002)

December 3, 2008 — Tom & Melody

kiona-washington-state-proprietary-blend-2002It is a Wednesday evening and I had to work late and drive to a school downriver in Detroit to give a presentation. Driving home was dark with rain mixed with snow. I am so happy to be home. Tom poured me this glass of Kiona Proprietary Blend red wine, which we opened last night. It’s made from 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

I have had to get accustomed to the Washington State wines and this one is no different. This wine does not make me swoon, but that is probably because of me, not the wine. I have grown accustomed to a certain kind of wine and I have discovered that Washington State wines are different from what i am used to. I find Washington wines sharp and woody. This is not a fruit forward wine but the finish is bursting with cherries. For me, this wine requires a bit of concentration to appreciate. The work is worth it. As it breathes, and as I savor the complexities, I find I like it very much.

Weekend — hurry and get here!!  Cheers. . .

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Washington wines. Tags: , , , . 4 Comments »

Kíona Washington State Proprietary Blend (2002)

November 1, 2008 — Tom & Melody

I ordered this Kíona Washington State Proprietary Blend 2002 as part of a case of reds. This one was on sale for R9.99. It’s made from 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

It’s an interesting tasting wine and it is growing more complex as it breathes. The nose is reminiscent of tree sap with spice.  The taste is very fruity with cherries and raspberries. The tannins are firm and the finish is very long. We are very much enjoying this Washington State wine.

It is a Saturday evening and we have had an active day. I started my day with an 8-mile run and I also worked in the yard, did laundry, and took Trigger for a couple of long walks. (It was a gorgeous autumn day in Michigan.) I am roasting a fresh chicken that I purchased from a local farmer. I also made a fresh apple cobbler from an old recipe that I have had for years (the crunchy part is made with oatmeal). So dinner is smelling pretty yummy and I think this wine was a good choice for roasted chicken.

Our son Tommy is working tonight so it is just the three of us (if you include Trigger). I’m looking forward to Tuesday. I want to watch TV all night!!

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Under $10, Washington wines. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon (2004)

October 2, 2008 — Tom & Melody

gre_cabsauv_btlsht_webTom brought home this large bottle (1.5 L) of Cabernet from the grocery store one night when he was concerned we were running low on mid-week wines. We are having it tonight (Thursday) after a demanding day at work and teaching a night class. In fact, Tom just left to pick up a pizza because it has been a long day and we want to curl up and watch the vice-president debates without me having to cook. (By the way, it is definitely becoming snuggle weather in Michigan; feels cold and damp tonight.)

This wine is a decent mid-week quaff. There is a good deal of vanilla and fruit on the palate. The tannins are sluggish. All in all, a good choice for a pizza and debate evening on a cold Michigan evening.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Under $10, Washington wines. 3 Comments »

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine (2005)

June 21, 2008 — Tom & Melody

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005It is a beautiful June Saturday evening. We started the evening with a refreshing gin and tonic with plenty of fresh-squeezed lime. Now, we are having a glass of this Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005, a delicious blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This Washington State blend is luscious and fruity. The nose is a delicate whiff of vanilla and cloves. The taste is plums and spice. Tom purchased this wine for about $8 from Polly’s (our local grocery store).

I harvested some lettuce from my little garden for our salad tonight. I am also marinating pork chops, which we will grill. I have brown rice steaming now. Cheers and happy summertime!

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Syrah, Under $10, Washington wines. Tags: , , , , . 4 Comments »

Cascade Canyon Merlot (2005)

June 11, 2008 — Tom & Melody

Cascade Canyon Merlot 2005I am just home from a 7-day business trip in which I had meetings in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas. The trip was great and I learned a lot, but it is so nice to be home. Tonight, we had a gin & tonic with fresh lime, followed by a glass of this Cascade Canyon Merlot from Washington state. For dinner, we grilled beef kabobs with green and red peppers and red onions along with brown rice and a garden salad. The salad was special because I thinned my lettuce and green onions from my garden and made the salad exclusively from those tender and sweet morsels.

This wine is very fruity. The nose was a bit overpowering at first, but after decanting it mellowed into a fragrant blend of blackberries and blueberries. The taste is heavy with fruit along with a touch of pine. The finish is chocolaty.

It’s nice to be home and to see the spectacular green grass and trees of MIchigan. Texas is so impressive, but MIchigan is home.

Posted in Merlot, Over $10, Under $10, Washington wines. Tags: , , , , , , . 2 Comments »

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine (2005)

June 1, 2008 — Tom & Melody

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005This Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005 from Washington State is a blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tom bought this at our local grocery store (Polly’s) today. It is delicious. It tastes of woods and plums. I can taste strawberries on the finish.

We will have this wine tonight with a skillet dish (kielbasa, potatoes, carrots & green beans in a spicy broth). This is a nice way to end a Sunday night. I ran the Dexter – Ann Arbor half marathon this morning. It was a beautiful day for a run. I am a little achy but not too bad!

Posted in Blends, Valpolicella, Washington wines. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Snoqualmie Syrah (2003)

December 27, 2007 — Tom & Melody

Snoqualmie Syrah 2003This Snoqualmie Syrah 2003 from Washington state was a Christmas gift from Tom. I chose it tonight to accompany a casserole I made with our leftover Christmas ham. I am very excited about this wine. It is bursting with blackberries and blueberries on the palate. The finish is mocha, oak, and crisp apples. The tannins are graceful and lush. Thank you for a delicious gift, Tom!

Posted in Over $10, Syrah, Washington wines. Leave a Comment »

Hogue Shiraz 2005 & Ironstone Petit Syrah 2004

June 21, 2007 — Tom & Melody

Sights and Sounds of ChelseaTonight Tom and I went into town to the “Sights and Sounds of Chelsea.” Every Thursday evening in the summer our little city hosts a variety of musicians, jugglers,and other entertainers along the sidewalks. We just stroll down the sidewalks, taking in the sights and sounds! After awhile, we stopped into the Common Grill and sat at the bar, which is a fun place to be. Tom ordered the Hogue Shiraz and I had the Ironstone Petit Syrah. After a couple sips of each wine, Tom let me trade because I liked his Shiraz better than this particular Petit Syrah. The shiraz is from Washington state. A dry, medium-bodied quaff with pleasant spice and rasberries. I enjoyed it very much with my grilled ahi tuna salad. (Mmmmm, delicious!)

Posted in California wines, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Washington wines. Leave a Comment »