I’ll admit it, I was wooed. The Thursday before Holiday Barrel Tasting I spoke to Gordy Venneri about Walla Walla Vintners‘ inventory. I wanted to know how much of each was available and if there was anything I needed to climb over the tourists to grab before it was gone. Not a pretty mental picture, but you understand, I’m sure.
The one thing that stuck out in my mind was the 2005 Malbec. And yes, I have mentioned this before. I DID brave the icy roads with my friend Crystal and we made our way to the winery, the only place to get our hands on this particular wine. Gordy had told me that it was not available at wholesale (through distributors) and was only being sold through the winery itself, so I wasn’t likely to find it in a wine shop, and certainly not a local one at that.
It was a beautiful day. Snow covered the rolling hills. As we passed through the gate and up the drive, the vineyards spread out before us, rows of hibernating vines glistening in the winter sun. Icicles hung from the eaves of the winery. We skated across the parking lot from our car to the comfort of the tasting room.
The famed brownies were in plentiful supply. I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, but those brownies were devilishly addictive. Crystal told me they serve them every year. I bet there’s someone who goes back just for those. Then again, “Baby Leonetti” makes pretty amazing wine. It would be stretching it to say people went there for something other than the wine.
I spent plenty of money during Barrel Tasting this year, but my prized purchase is the Walla Walla Vintners 2005 Malbec. Crystal and I will be enjoying this amazing, spicy, grabs you by the imagination and won’t let go, gets under your skin and into your blood, makes you jump for joy wine. It’s dark, and rich. The nose reminds me of finding the anise in my mom’s spice cupboard for the first time. Wonderful mouthfeel. Flavors of blackberries and stonefruit. Smooth Western (read leather and mild tobacco) finish. Combining fruit from three vineyards — Frazier Bluff, Sagemoor, and Pepper Bridge — Gordy Venneri and Myles Anderson have crafted a marvelous treat.
Malbec is a wine to watch for in Washington. I believe it’s on the rise. And it makes me happy.
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That day was amazing, especially sliding right through the intersection of Boyer and Division. Your post makes me want to roll back time and snag more of the Malbec. Oh well, the day we drink what we have will be perfect.