Sagemoor Vineyards 2013 Wine Tasting

Each year after harvest, during the slow winter months, wineries and growers like to get together to taste the newest vintage of wine produced from their vineyard. Kent Waliser, General Manager, and Derek Way, Vineyard Manager, for Sagemoor Vineyards – which includes Sagemoor Farms, Bacchus Vineyards, Dionysus Vineyards, and Weinbau Vineyards – came by the winery to taste the 2013 wines with Kevin and Rick.

This is an enlightening exercise for both the winery and the vineyard. It’s a great opportunity to talk about the previous growing season, discuss any changes the winery or vineyard will be making in the coming growing season, and to taste the fruits of the previous year’s labor. Some vineyards host tastings where multiple wineries get together to share their wines and techniques, and others like Kent and Derek, stop by individual wineries to taste with the winemakers.

We tasted the Weinbau merlot, which goes into the Columbia Valley Merlot, and two blocks of cabernet sauvignon from Sagemoor, which go into Artist Series and Old Vines. The wines were showing very well, especially considering they are only three to four months old. Tasting these wines gives us a glimpse into what will come.

February for Foodies

 

During the month of February, indulge in tasty chocolates while exploring a flight of Woodward Canyon’s finest red wines ($15 non refundable). February's special tasting option will include three, two ounce pours, of Woodward Canyon's fine wines paired with three of Bright's Candies indulging chocolates. Treat your sweetheart this February and create an unforgettable experience at Woodward Canyon.
For more information, please contact the tasting room at (509) 525-4129.

Best of Class- San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition

"Walla Walla Valley icon Woodward Canyon of Lowden, Wash., earned best of class in the Chardonnay $40-and-over class for its 2012 Washington State Chardonnay ($44) — a particularly impressive showing among the entries from California.
“The biggest thing here is that we’ve never made the wine to win awards, but we’ve made it to be compatible with foods, and as a farmer, I’m also looking to respect the sense of place where the grapes came from,” said Rick Small, owner and founding winemaker." To read more about Woodward Canyon in the Washington Wine Tops San Francisco Chronicle Competition article, written by Andy Perdue, please click here.

Woodward Canyon's 2011 "Artist Series" Cabernet Sauvignon won Double Gold and the 2010 Columbia Valley Merlot won Silver.

Rand Sealey Reviews

 2012 Woodward Canyon Estate Dolcetto, Walla Walla Valley ($26)
Fermented in stainless steel, this Dolcetto shows wonderful fruit. It displays a deep purplish color and aromas of blueberry, cherry and plum that jump out of the glass, with scents of black roses and anise. The young red fruit flavors are ripe and vibrant, intermixed with cocoa, mocha and earthy minerals. On the back, the fruits turn sweetish (“dolce”), yet dry, with notes of dried cherries and roasted nuts, followed by a squeeze of tart blueberry juice and a dusting of baking spices on the generous smooth tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2011 Woodward Canyon “20th Anniversary Artist’s Series” Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State ($59)
Composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, this shows a deep ruby color and a rich nose of blackberry, cherry, cassis, and black olive, with scents of crushed roses, cigar box, juniper berries and sage. On the palate, the flavors are deliciously supple, yet deep cored, underlain with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, French roast and minerally earth. The back reveals squeezed berries, roasted nuts, mocha, kirsch liqueur and crème de cassis, followed by a fine balance of fruit acids, deft oak, and subtle spices on the lingering finish. 19+/20 points.

2010 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ($79)
This is an archetypal Walla Walla blend of 41% Merlot, 31% Petit Verdot, and 14% each of Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc. It displays a deep crimson color and a seductive nose of blackberry, huckleberry, cherry and cassis with scents of crushed black roses, juniper berry, sweet pipe tobacco, and black violets. The flavors are as sensuous as the aromatics, with the lavish dark fruits interwoven with licorice, finely ground cocoa powder, French roast and loam and gravel earth. The back reveals gently squeezed fruits, kirsch liqueur, and touches of dried orange peel, toast, butternut and toffee, and integrated oak, followed by a seemingly endless fine grained tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

WOODWARD CANYON WINERY CELEBRATES 20TH VINTAGE OF ARTIST SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Woodward Canyon Winery started their Artist Series cabernet sauvignon with the 1992 vintage. Since then, the Artist Series has featured a different artist each year, focusing mainly on artists from the Northwest.

To celebrate the 20^th vintage of this acclaimed wine, owners Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small invited artist Melissa Webster, who designed their first label featured on Woodward Canyon’s inaugural 1981 vintage, to create a new interpretation of her original label. The original label featured a woodblock print of Walla Walla Valley wheat fields. For the Artist Series 20^th anniversary, Webster developed a piece that is similar to the original in style yet can also stand on its own. This label will be featured on the 2011 Artist Series #20 to be released during Holiday Barrel Tasting in December.

“When approached this spring about creating the 20^th Anniversary Artist Series label, of course I was eager to join the project,” said Webster. “The painting done for this anniversary label is in the tradition of my landscapes of this area, emphasizing space, color, and abstract design.  I will be very pleased if it reveals my familiarity and love for Walla Walla Valley.”   

Webster will be on-hand to celebrate the release of the wine during Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend, Dec. 6^th-8^th at Woodward Canyon Winery. She will sign bottles and have other work available for purchase.

Woodward Canyon Holiday Barrel, December 6th-8th

December 6th-8thHoliday Barrel Weekend at Woodward CanyonPlease join us for a weekend filled with premium wine and exquisite food. This weekend is celebrated by virtually all of the wineries in the Valley and each winery participates in its own unique way, offering a variety of events including art, music and more. We will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm for tasting and will be featuring the release of the 2011 "Artist Series" Cabernet Sauvignon which celebrates the 20th vintage of that wine Artist, Melissa Webster, will be on hand to sign bottles and prints and will also have additional work for sale. We will also be releasing the 2012 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2012 Nelms Road Merlot. No reservations are required. Please call the winery with any questions at (509) 525-4129

Results of the Great NW Invitational Wine Competition

Gold Medal/Best in Class Woodward Canyon 2012 Washington State Chardonnay

Gold Woodward Canyon 2011 "Artist Series" Cabernet Sauvignon

Silver Woodward Canyon 2012 Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Woodward Canyon 2010 Columbia Valley Merlot
Nelms Road 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Nelms Road 2012 Merlot

For more results, please click here.