Megan Couture makes wine from the heart

superlative Winners

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

AWARDS

Best of Show – Best White (Double Gold Medal) Siren Song 2019 Spanish Dancer Albariño, Yakima Valley, $30 (102 Cases) Judges’ Comments: This Spanish grape might prove to be the flashiest white variety of the decade in the Pacific Northwest, and Lake Chelan winemaker Kevin Brown has crafted a charming example that earned a double gold medal earlier this spring at the Seattle Wine Awards. He pulled from Crawford Vineyard near Prosser, a site favored by other regional winemakers for Albariño, and it’s brimming with aromas of lemon/lime and pineapple that make their way to the palate. The refreshing finish picks up Granny Smith apple and orange zest. Suggested pairings include steamed clams or grilled fish. Better yet, enjoy it at Holly Brown’s restaurant along South Lakeshore Road with Gambas et Moulles al Ajillo.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 635 S. Lakeshore Road, Chelan • (509) 888-4657 sirensongwines.com Best Red (Double Gold Medal) Beaumont Cellars 2018 Carménère, Columbia Valley, $34 (135 Cases) Judges’ Comments: Pete Beaumont presents each of the five classic red Bordeaux varieties as a standalone bottling, so it makes perfect sense for him to add the sixth - Carménère. There’s a fascinating history behind his grape, which was thought to be extinct since the phylloxera outbreak in France not long after our Civil War, but in 1994, plantings were found in Chile where for more than a century it was believed to be Merlot. For us in the Northwest, that seems unimaginable because Carménère presents itself as Cabernet Franc on steroids. Beaumont’s work offers Carm’s telltale profile of sweet herbs, sliced jalapeño and dense structure with blackberry, blueberry juice and a scrape of chocolate. Some winemakers need years to sort out the intense herbal qualities of this grape, but Beaumont shows himself to be a quick study with this rather pretty red wine.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 8634 Road U NW, Quincy • (509) 717-8885

19151 144th Ave. NE, Unit E, Woodinville • (425) 482-6349 beaumontcellars.com Best Rosé (Double Gold Medal) Ancestry Cellars 2019 Grandma Lila’s Rosé, Columbia Valley, $22 (121 Cases) Judges’ Comments: The Morin family straddles the Cascades with its wine business, operating tasting rooms in Woodinville and the Lake Chelan town of Manson. Jason Morin began making wine with his grandparents in their basement. His wife, Erin, also grew up with a grandmother who enjoyed wine, particularly rosé, so Ancestry names this spring pink for her. This offers cherry blossom, orchard fruit and nutty aromas, which lead to a palate full of white peach, melon and orange flavors. A bright and juicy structure finishes with a remarkably long and clean finish with citrus zest.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 50 Wapato Way, Suite B, Manson (509) 741-9006

19510 144th Ave. NE, Suite C-1, Woodinville (206) 607-9115 ancestrycellars.com

Best Dessert (Gold Medal) Château Faire Le Pont Winery 2015 Commander’s Reserve Dessert Wine, Washington State $34.99 Judges’ Comments: A year ago, Doug Brazil earned one of the Pacific Northwest wine industry’s highest awards when his 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain’s Shaw 32 Vineyard topped Wine Press Northwest’s 20th annual Platinum Judging. Brazil comes back with another red wine from the 2015 vintage to post a sweepstakes victory as the Best Sweet Wine of the 2020 NCW Wine Awards competition. He spent two decades in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, so his Port-style wine helps serve as a delicious tribute to his service to our country. It’s beautifully structured and loaded with sweet black and blue fruit, along with chocolate and vanilla secondary notes. He does a marvelous job of managing the alcohol and the tannins, which allow for full enjoyment of the Craisin finish. Enjoy it at his Wenatchee winery’s restaurant with a slab of the Chocolate Sky High Cake and a post-meal cigar.

For current tasting room hours, call the winery or visit its website. 1 Vineyard Way, Wenatchee • (509) 667-9463

636 Front St., Leavenworth • (509) 888-2108 fairelepont.com

WENATCHEE’S NEWEST AWARD WINNING WINERY

(509)888-0947 | virginiathomaswinery.com | 527 Piere St. Unit C, Wenatchee

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