Small Lot Co-Op Wine Reviews

Ladies and gentlemen, last week was a good week in celebrating all things Dionysus style! 

Monday the 25th started with going to an Industry wine tasting hosted by Small Lot Co-op Wine distributors at re:public bar and restaurant on Westlake. I tasted over 50 wines I kid you not over the space of 4 hours. One of the many things I love about Small Lots is they focus on Washington only. I am all about supporting Local, especially since we have so many brilliant local Washington wines.   Now I would like to say I was responsible and spit... oh no... I caved to peer pressure. No one was spitting! but one scary old guy and everyone was giving him dirty looks. I took a friend with me and we paced ourselves, tasting some wine, eating some food prepared by  re:public . The food was delicious and some of it was quite exotic (pates, foie grois, and oxtail oh my) and I definitely want to go back for dinner some time.  It was lovely morning. 

Wines of note: 

Mark Ryan Winery ok I love every wine Mark Ryan McNeilly makes; red, white, doesn't matter they are all delightful! He's my wine maker crush and I appropriately act like a giddy school girl every time I get to drink his luscious wine.... ok I know you want some names, if I have to pick favorites... His Chardonnay is my favorite Chardonnay ever.... its amazing... serious. For Reds its tough I think I have to go with the Water Witch, this is a red blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and  43% Merlot. It's Yummy!  His wines are a bit of a splurge and tend to run on the more expensive side but let me tell you they are SO worth it! If you ever want to get me a present... just saying.

Now I'm going to tell you about something I'm very excited about its the Seattle 100 project. Terra Blanca Winery , Small Lot Co Op, Theo Chocolate and Chase Jarvis a local Seattle artist have come together and released a fantastic book and collection of wines to support 4Culture, a local company that supports art and culture in Seattle.  I recommend you run out and buy this beautiful book and these fantastic wines! They are affordable and beautiful. The Red blend if medium bodied and tastes of blackberry currant and musk. The Chardonnay is very crisp with apple and pear and a hint of oak.  

I will stop rambling and just give you a list of my absolute favorites already alphabetically not by preference:

Des Voigne Cellars : The Duke and Untitled (both red blends, both awesome)

Eleven Winery: Pinot Gris Port (it's a white port, very complex and yummy)

Gorman Winery: (I pretty much loved everything this winery had out for tasting) The Evil Twin (another  red blend but yummy),  The Cry Baby Late Harvest Chenin Blanc (another dessert wine, its full of pear and honey)

Heaven's Cave: Icicles Ice (dessert wine, not sticky sweet but lovely. The guy behind the counter joked " apply topically, remove orally"... yes please.

Lodmell Cellars: Sublime Red blend (lots of fruit and pepper), and Saignee (it's a rose made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a sweet start and a peppery finish very very versatile and tasty), I also quite liked there Sauvignon Blanc.

Plumb Cellars: Damn Straight Blend. (yum! Cinnamon, black currant and blackberry and a touch of cedar)

Sapolil Cellars: Gandy Dancer (red blend of Syrah, Sangiovese and Malbec ... 3 of my favorites)

Smasne Cellars: Konner Ray Red Wine (another red blend, yes I love them... this one of Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. Very smooth with tones of raspberry and chocolate) I also quite like their Cabernet Sauvignon and their Rosella Rose (this is full of cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavors, its a blend of Sangiovese and Black Muscat)

Upland Estates: Gewurztraminer (yum! honey and pear and very light),  Sauvignon Blanc (complex and lovely, lemon grass and fig)

Wawawai Canyon Winery: Walla Walla Valley Carmenere Rose (this was crisp and dry with a hint of strawberry and oak), Wahluke Slope Syrah-Barbera Blend (blackberry and vanilla, big and jammy)

Willis Hall Winery: (ok I'm going to gush again, next to Mark Ryan this is my second favorite winery. John Bell has been labeled the "best new winemaker in Washington" for a reason. His wines are good and you should try them all)