Basalt Cellars 2004 Rim Rock Red

A few weeks ago, I was in Eastern Washington visiting my friend Rick. Over the last year I have been slowly infiltrating his beverage palate with the deliciousness of wine. You see, Rick runs an internationally-renowned beer blog, and has taught me many new and exciting things about the world of craft brew. I thought it only fair to share the wealth and teach him a thing or two about wine.

Knowing that we both have a soft spot in our hearts for red bordeaux blends and that there was some good news to celebrate, I had brought a 2003 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve to crack open. Well, upon opening it up the cork disintegrated. When I say disintegrated, I mean took me 20 minutes to open and the cork ended up in a pile of dust on the counter. I was mortified. Upon drinking the wine was flat and demonstrated some cork taint. I had been talking up this wine and was very disappointed that it didn't hit the mark. I know it's a good wine, I just had a bad bottle.

So, the next night, Rick pulled out a bottle of Basalt Cellars 2004 Rim Rock Red that he had purchased not knowing much about it except it was from Clarkston, WA and was a Cabernet Sauvignon heavy blend that included Merlot, Cab Franc, and Syrah. It was delicious, and in fact had medaled at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Using Columbia Valley fruit, it offers a nose of coffee, oak, and fruit which carries into blackberries, cherries, and some earthiness on the palate. It was great as a standalone wine, but I'd suspect it would be amazing with a big old steak from the BBQ. It ended up being a much better wine experience for us at half the price.

Rick calls himself an idiot savant in the world of wine because he always picks out great wines without knowing it. I think he is holding back and knows more about wine than he lets on. Regardless, grab a bottle of Basalt Cellars and if you are in the Clarkston area, perhaps visit the tasting room. I'd like to.

Cottonwood Canyon 2000 Synergy Classic

Last night, Bob Woodshed of the [BW] Beer Blog and I were putting the final touches on a project that we had been working on, and the completion called for celebration. To the wine rack I went, were our choice was whittled down to three different options -- a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Kiona, a Dolcetto from Erath, and the 2000 Synergy Classic from Cottonwood Canyon. The Synergy hit the spot, so open it became.


If you recall from a post from some time ago, Cottonwood Canyon Winery is in the Santa Maria Valley AVA (California), and my aunt works there part time so I visited the winery in March of 2007 when I was down in the area. They focus on Chardonnay and Pinot, but put out some bigger red bordeaux varietals as well. The Synergy is a bordeaux blend -- 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Interestingly, by taste I would have sworn there was some Syrah in there but of course then it wouldn't be a true bordeaux blend due to the Rhone origin of the Syrah.


According to the winery, the wine had a deep, warm blackberry color, and opened with a nose of pomegranate and smoke. I detected some leather in there as well. Flavors of rich, dark cherries come through in the mid-palate. Soft, smoky tannins and flavors of blackberry, blending into chocolate cherry repeatingly throughout, create the lingering, complex finish. It was very pleasant and very enjoyable for both of us -- thankfully, since Bob mentioned that he wasn't interested in Merlot that evening (and I didn't even think about it until we were well into the wine). Definitely a winner. I'm looking forward to opening the bottle of 1996 Synergy that's on the rack waiting for another special occasion.


We rounded out the evening with a Barnard Griffin 2005 Syrah (tulip label), always a standby winner and a great value wine.