NEW JOB = NEW WINES!

It would be irresponsible of me to sell wine to customers without having first tried them myself, so the last couple of weeks I've been "donating" part of my pay to try and sample a fraction of the 2500 wines I'm responsible for helping move. Since there are so many, I'm not going to waste any more time... here we go!

2007 Boudinaud, "Côté Jardin", Côtes du Rhone, France
~A traditional and beautiful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Plush, ripe, dark berry fruit that is jammy but smooth. There's just the right amount of spice and damp earth to keep this wine balanced without sacrificing character. A fun wine! The price is right, too... $12.95 at Central Market.

2007 Delas Freres, Côtes du Rhone "St. Esprit", France
~Wines from the southern part of the Rhone are usually Grenache-based, but this elixir gets its power from Syrah (75%), with help from Grenache (25%). This gorgeous wine has loads of black fruits, zesty spice... and attitude. It is almost as if the wine is saying, "Yeah, I'm $12, so what?"
A 90 pointer from the Wine Advocate.

2006 Bogle, "The Phantom", California
~A mystical blend of 49% Petite Sirah, 49% Old Vine Zinfandel, and 2% Mourvedre, this wine is a limited, seasonal release. Deep, full-bodied and opulent, with succulent blackberry fruit, licorice, black pepper and black tea. The fruit for this wine was sourced from appellations known for these varietals: Lodi, Clarksberg and Amador. This wine will drink well now, but will get better with a little bottle age. Very impressive, and at $20, an excellent buy.

2008 McManis Family Vineyards, Chardonnay, California
~I've been a big fan of the McManis line-up for quite a while. These are always quality wines that consistently over-deliver, and the 2008 Chardonnay is no exception. This is a full-bodied white, viscous and rich. Pear, ripe apple and white flowers are evident in the bouquet. The flavors confirm the apples, along with vanilla and buttered toast on the finish. If you should see any of the McManis wines, don't hesitate to pick them up! They all retail for under $15, and usually less... $12.98 at Central Market.

2008 Silverlake Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington
~This wine reminded me of a Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux; an inexpensive but quality wine. It truly does have a Bordeaux quality; firm tannins, cassis and blackberries, balanced acidity and lively oak. The blend is also in the tradition of Bordeaux, 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot. A wonderful representation of what Washington wines are all about. (Yes, I'm aware that is a lot of "W"s; my wife says it's alliteration).

I'll be reviewing some more wines soon. Hey... it's part of my job.

"A man cannot make him laugh - but that's no marvel; he drinks no wine."
~WM. SHAKESPEARE, Henry IV Part 2