CLOSED-BARREL SESSIONS (CLANDESTINE TASTINGS AND TOP-SECRET WINE ACQUISITIONS)

Our good friend and Bryant sales manager Jimmy came by with some new stuff, as well as a wrap up of some of the wineries we are working on bringing into the area (Classified intel, if I told you, I’d have to kill you):

Decoy Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2009. Grade=Outstanding. New from Duckhorn, this SB (with just a touch of Semillon) is crisp, dry, inflected with bright Meyer lemon, verbena, gooseberry and slight undertones of grapefruit. It’s an incredible value.

House of Independent Producers Chardonnay Dionysus Vineyard 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Stainless steel fermented, this crisp 100% Chardonnay shows off wonderful stone fruit and tropical fruit aromas and flavors. A slight amount of malolactic fermentation gives it a sublime creamy texture at the finish. Just wonderful.

House of Independent Producers Merlot Dionysus Vineyard 2008. Grade=Outstanding+. I have been a big believer in just how good Washington State Merlot is, and this just proves my point once again. Its rich, lush red and black fruit character is accented by copious amounts of vanillin oak, cedar smoke, mineral and baked earth. A fantastic value!