Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to plan ahead, or write ahead in my case. As much as I had intended to write this blog post last week, get ahead of the game, be uber-organized, it seemed that there were obstacles constantly thrown in my path and I will admit that I was getting frustrated. But to repeat a phrase that most of my family members are sick and tired of hearing, “things happen for a reason”. And I guess the underlying reason as to why I procrastinated was that…the third wine from Trio Vintners which I’m profiling today won a terrific award this past weekend and of course congratulations are in order!
Let’s recap the the last eight days of my blog…
Last Wednesday on my weekly Wine for Your Weekend post, I reviewed Trio Vintners’ 2009 Primitivo (sample).
***A blend of 85% Primitivo and 15% Zinfandel grapes and aged in American and French oak, this wine was released in April 2011. On the nose were earth and cherry aromas with a bit of white pepper. More cherries, baked apples, earth, and some spice were discerned on the palate. Its finish was lingering and reminded me of the tastes from my Croatian wine experience in November. The cost of this wine is $26.00 ~
And this past Monday, I reviewed their 2009 Watsons Riddle Mourvedre (sample) paired with one jazzin’ video!
***Its color was a clear medium purple and on the nose, there were smoke, earth, some oak, black cherry, blackberry jam, and more dark fruit. These aromas were more pronounced as I swirled and I couldn’t wait to take that first sip. With medium acid, medium tannin, medium body, and 13.9% alcohol, this was a well balanced wine of 100% Mourvedre grapes with flavors of cherries, white pepper, earth, smoke, oak, and wood. No one element overpowered the other and balance is the keyword with this wine. Cost is $26.00~
Now I’m thrilled to review the third of the trio (get it?) of wines which were sent to me with much appreciation on my part by Karen LeBonte of Trio Vintners in Walla Walla, Washington. Please contact Karen at www.triovintners.com for more information and to place an order!!
***2008 RIOT Red Wine (sample) –
I opened the RIOT fifteen minutes before I poured the first glass then waited five minutes before I swirled and had the first sip. With a medium purple color and luscious aromas of cherries and some strawberries (maybe a few blueberries?) I also detected wood, earth, and smoke and even some vegetal notes on the nose. A dry wine, the RIOT had soft tannins, medium acid, and more earth, wood, asparagus, green pepper, and wait..a little more fruit on the palate. The alcohol level is 14.1% and was full of body and balance. Its finish was pleasantly lingering with an ahhhh….moment! This wine is a blend of 85% Mourvedre (contributing the earthy, woodsy, gamey notes), 10% Sangiovese (gotta have some fuit!), and 5% Grenache (for those smooth tannins)! I love that this red blend table wine is different, surprising, pairs with so many food choices, and budget friendly at $18.00! And I’ve got to say, it was an unexpected “riot” to my senses!!
The awesome news for Trio Vintners is that their 2008 RIOT received the Gold Award in the category for Rhone and Other Varietals and Blends up to $19.99 in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Congratulations!!
But why are Washington wines garnering such great press these days and why are they so cost effective? Perhaps…
- Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the United States so the supply is great but maybe the demand isn’t as high as for the California wine. Kinda like Chicago is the Second City???? (Yes, I live in Chicago..)
- Many amazing boutique wineries like Trio Vintners are producing delicious wine and they are competing with not only each other, but wines from other countries.
- The eastern part of Washington exhibits desert like conditions with sandy soils for grape growing. There are fewer viticultural problems such as phylloxera, pests, etc. so the viticultural costs may be lower.
These thoughts are for your consideration and debate and you can discover more about Washington wine from www.washingtonwine.org. Thanks, Karen, for letting me sample some terrific wine! It has been a RIOT!
Cheers! Cindy
