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 Wine Reviews: recent releases
Wine Press NW 2006 |
James Leigh Cellars
2003 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, 225 Cases, $32
Outstanding! Other in the valley often tap into Spofford Station, but owner/grower/winemaker Lynne Chamberlain obviously held back some of her best fruit. Cherry fruit leather, pomegranate, citrus, lavendar, green peppercorns and a drop of molasses filter out the glass. The drink itself truns dark, powerful, and muscular in the form of blackberries, and black cherries that cast weight on the palate. Citrusy acidity, green peppercorn and strawberry/rhubarb compete to give a kaleidoscope of patterns for a chef to explore. | |
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James Leigh Cellars 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla valley, 300 Cases $28
It's all about Cab but is a combination of estate Spofford Station and famed Pepper Bridge. A nose rich with fruit and barrel influence includes plums, pomengranates and boysenberries along with milk chocolate, green tea, Ghirardelli shavings and cigar leaf. The drink is that of a big extracted wine with huge berry and chocolate flavors, sizable tanins and great acidity.
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James Leigh Cellars 2003 Spofford Station Syrah, Walla Walla Valley:
Spofford Station is an estate vineyard near the Oregon Border that is highly sought after by Walla Walla Valley wineries for its superb Syrah grapes. James Leigh Cellars, a boutique producer, has made its reputation on delicous reds, and this solidifies that notoriety. It opens with aromas of coffee ice cream, cherry cola, and loganberries, leading to clean robust flavors of cranberries, black cherries, pomengranates and vanilla. It's a richly structured wine that also shows a lot of complexity.
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