Big Blends and Big Hearts
Most these wines have a rare mix of grapes, and are an extremely nice company. The palate will find all these wines exciting, big, and rich. And the winemakers are Awesome. Come learn the stories of these cool companies. They have great causes as the focus of their winemaking: by either giving the workers the profits, health care, or giving proceeds to positive foundations!
St. Laurent Winery, Lucky Red, Columbia Valley, 2016 $16
With a new Winemaker looking to impress, this wine is popping with bright blackberry and plum notes, with an exotic wild raspberry note from the Syrah. Along with the fruit, notes have a distinct hint of freshly ground cinnamon. A subtle layer of vanilla from first sip to finish.
Stolpman Vineyards, “La Cuadria”, Baallard County, CA, 2015 $23
Blend: 68% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 12% Sangiovese
The profits are returned to the crew members, divided by seniority, in the form of a year-end bonus! Sangiovese is from Tuscany, and here it is a Rhone blend! This wine bursts with red fruit backed with subtle spice and tannin. Finely balanced, the wine rewards the palate with both pure pleasure and sophistication. A nice earthy-mineral note provides a check to the scrumptiously accessible front palate.
Upsidedown Wine,The Method Red, WA State, 2014 $26
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Nebbiolo and 22% Sangiovese. That is wild because Nebbiolo is from North Italy, in the Piedmont. And Sangiovese is from central Italy in Tuscany. When you Drink Upsidedown, 20% of the proceeds are passed on to a foundation of their choice. The Method is www.a21.org/. Aroma volatiles are amped up, cranberry, cherry, and vanilla. The fruit flavors are broad and rich. SOO GOOD!!
Vital Winery, The Given” Blend, Walla Walla Valley, 2015 $27
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Malbec, 10% Cinsault, 10% Tinta Cao. WHAT!?! That’s a crazy blend because Tinto Cao rarely escapes Portugal!! All proceeds go to the SOS Clinic, a free, non-profit health care clinic in the Walla Walla area dedicated to helping people get the healthcare that they both need and deserve with no questions asked. We’re going to find blackberry, currant, and flint. Tannin grip on the tongue, leads to berry, Red Vines, ripe Bing cherries, pomegranate, fig and dark plum.