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WTN: In which a WA wine has Bob convinced it's Bordeaux

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:03 pm
by Jenise
Opened a 1999 Andrew Will Sorella last night that I purchased recently after sampling my first Sorella at a trade tasting. 'Sorella' is winemaker Chris Camarda's proprietary name for a Bordeaux blend that seems to range anywhere from the 65% cabernet/25% merlot plus the other usual suspects that were in this bottle to the 80% cabernet/10% cab franc plus that make up the current 2009 release.

And this is how it works up here in the Pacific Northest Westest: a fantastic Bordeaux-like wine is being made right under my nose but I have to stumble over it all by myself because most of the people I share wine with don't share my preference for European style wines. Or if they do, they don't buy Washington wines.

This one's a gem. Deep garnet-hued red color hints at some age. On the nose, which is delightfully effusive and attractive, red fruit, spice, leather and just a touch of barnyard tricks the DH (darling hubby) into believing I've served him Bordeaux. There's also cedar, graphite, tobacco and cherry pie going on. The balance is good but better with the first glass than the last, where the finish gets a bit clipped and suggests the wine has peaked. We were nonetheless impressed, and I'll be buying more vintages for our cellar.

Re: WTN: In which a WA wine has Bob convinced it's Bordeaux

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:35 pm
by David M. Bueker
I have liked the Sorella. Have not had anything more recent than 2001, but enjoyed them all.

Re: WTN: In which a WA wine has Bob convinced it's Bordeaux

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:43 pm
by James Dietz
A little pricey, but in the scheme of things....

Re: WTN: In which a WA wine has Bob convinced it's Bordeaux

PostPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:00 pm
by Howie Hart
Jenise wrote:...And this is how it works up here in the Pacific Northest Westest: a fantastic Bordeaux-like wine is being made right under my nose but I have to stumble over it all by myself because most of the people I share wine with don't share my preference for European style wines. Or if they do, they don't buy Washington wines....
Not just PNW. There's a very nice restaurant about 5 miles from me, located at the top of the Niagara Escarpment, with a beautiful view (vineyards, orchards, Lake Ontario and the Toronto Skyline on the horizon). They have good food, but not a single NY State wine on their wine list, let alone anything from the 40+ wineries within 20 miles. Why do people have inferiority complexes about their local wines?