WASHINGTON
Our second installment for Washington’s August wine month! We are doing all Washington Reds!
Malbec from Finn Hill, Mourvèdre from Latta, a Bordeaux style Red Blend from Sage Rat, and a top shelf Rhone style red blend from Parabellum! You gotta check em’ out!
Humble Vine
Wednesday, August, 13TH
2-8 PM
Wine Tasting: $25
Latta, 'Lucius' Chillable Mourvedre Yakima, Washington $26
Meet the Chill-vedre! These grapes are from two long time Latta sites in Yakima Valley. One half went direct to press to capture freshness and energy, while we took the other half full carbonic (gently sorting whole clusters into the fermenter, sealing it with loads of carbon dioxide - no peaking for 10 days, then foot stomping those whole clusters kicking off primary fermentation and basket pressing just a few days later). The combined wine is wild, bouncing off the walls with bright fruitful energy and just enough savory notes. This wine will charm from firepit shoulder season through summer evenings and back again. Made from sustainable sites with minimal intervention.
Aromas of blueberries and violets take your hand and introduce you to flavors like cherries, vanilla, black tea and Red Hots. Silky smooth and eager to please, this is a mighty fine carbonic wine.
Sage Rat, “Scrublands” Yakima Valley $26
A Washington Super Tuscan! Grown in Yakima, but utilizing the Sangiovese grape native to Tuscany with half of the wine being Cabernet Franc, not native to Tuscany. Deep ruby color. The nose is raspberry, blackberry and a hint of vanilla. Palate of raspberry, smoke, blackberry and a hint of cedar. The palette is dry, heavy tannins, and medium body. 50/50 split Cabernet Franc & Sangiovese aged 14 months in neutral French oak.
Finn Hill, Vivant Malbec Columbia Valley, Washington $21
Named after the Finn Hill neighborhood north of Kirkland, where the garage winery started. Inky purple-magenta color and wafts perfumed aromas of crushed black and red berries on wet gravel, with hints of molasses and bay leaf. The pour delivers predominant fruit notes of blackberry, boysenberry, red currant, and blueberry. The finish brings mellow plum-skin acidity and tannin.
Parabellum, “Coulee” Red Blend Columbia Valley, Washington $50
Parabellum is intimately tied to Force Majeure Vineyards, which was founded in 2004 (originally as "Grand Reve Vintners") and quickly gained reputation for high-quality estate-grown Bordeaux and Rhône blends.
We find a rounded, textured, sexy style that carries plenty of cassis and blueberry fruits as well as notes of violets and spring flowers, a kiss of Red Mountain minerality, and a great finish. There are only 400 cases made. 93% Syrah | 7% Mourvèdre from the Force Majeure Estate Vineyards in both the Rocks region of Walla Walla and the estate on Red Mountain.
