2007 Columbia Crest Riesling – $7

The number one question we get asked this time if year is, “What wine would go with my Thanksgiving turkey dinner?”

Well, a lot of wines compliment turkey, but few quite as well as Riesling, and since Thanksgiving is an all-American holiday, give the German Riesling a rest and go with Riesling from Columbia Valley. Plus it IS among the best.

So, here comes Columbia Crest. Enough fruit for a harvest farm stand – apricots, pears, peaches and melons all getting together at the house this year.

Throw the coats on the bed, have a seat and take a sip of this crisp, refreshing white. Not too sweet, it’s terrifically tongue-loving. All those fruits present on the nose come back to party one more time in your mouth. Fine by itself, but wait ’til you sip it after a bite of Thanksgiving turkey! Its clean acidity, pure fruit flavors and mild alcohol (11.5%) bring a nice counter-balance of lightness to the feeling of heaviness as the dinner progresses.

Ever notice you never get any on Thanksgiving? Must be all the coats on the bed.

2008 Pacific Rim Riesling – $10

This organic, screw-top Riesling from Columbia Valley’s Pacific Rim has a lot going for it. Spritzy, but not too spritzy, it’s the “Sweet Tarts” of wine: sweet pears – but not too sweet – and golden pineapple tartness combine in your mouth for a refreshing “breezy summertime in Savannah” party.

Try it with Thai, chili, spicy Asian, Caribbean jerk chicken – or vanilla bean ice cream! Don’t expect much of a BUZZ from this wine though, 9% alcohol will only get beer drinkers tipsy. Unless of course you drink two bottles!

2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz – $6

A 2005 Shiraz from Columbia Valley, Washington, the current vintage of Shiraz from Australia in this price range is 2008, so this wine has a nice bit of bottle age. Aged for 14 months, half in oak barrels, half in stainless. A splash of Cabernet Sauvignon to help with the nose and mouth feel. More attention to detail than you would expect for a wine that I picked up on-sale for $5.99. to top it off it’s a Wine Enthusiast “Best Buy”.

So, how does it taste? The answer is pretty good. A nice mellow fruit forward flavor, not a huge “fruit bomb”, more smooth black cherry with a touch of pepper. The finish evaporates quickly. Not a complex or lush wine, but drinks very well.

I usually avoid really inexpensive red wine, they seem to always have something that is not quite right about them, but the Columbia Crest was a solid shiraz. It was more than just bulk juice, somebody cared about what this wine tasted like. This would be a good “Playstation” wine, invite your buddies over for a Madden tournament, pop the top on a couple of bottles and you got a party started.

2008 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling – $9

So Michalina’s cooking me dinner – a spicy chicken dish that smells as delicious as she does. When I get to her condo, DAMN!! I forgot to bring a wine! “Back in five, kochanie”, (Polish for “yo baby”) and I’m off, knowing I spotted a Dominick’s downstairs (that’s a chain of grocery stores in 312 that has a decent selection of wines) .

Once there, I spot a Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling for $9 chilled. Sold! Not only is Michalina Polish for Michelle, but if you know anything about Polish girls, you KNOW they likes their Riesling!

Back at her place, we enjoy a “primer” glass together while she puts the finishing touches on dinner. She couldn’t say enough about this wine – not too dry, not too sweet, nice and crisp and refreshing with lots of apples, melon and even a little lime.

Then we gave it a whole new level of appreciation when we started digging in (eating, I mean – other stuff came later). It went with her chicken dish like chocolate and strawberries. Like lingerie and sexy hips. Like bellies and jewelry. It was sweet but not too sweet, and it’s gentle sweetness was just the right counter to the spice of the chicken dish.

Chateau Ste Michelle is the oldest winery in Washington State and they are the LARGEST single producer of Riesling in the world (600,000 cases)! They were the winner of Wine Enthusiast’s American Winery of the Year in 2004, and have an amphitheater on their grounds in Woodinville, WA where you can drink their wines and see Styx or Tony Bennett (and others) in concert during the summer months.

Being around for so long and selling so much Riesling, it’s obviously not just Michalina & I that think their wines are a perennial solid choice for go-to consistency.

2006 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon – $16

I am a fan of the wines made by Charles Smith Wines.  He is doing some really cool things with wine at a affordable price. This Cab is sourced from a vineyard in Columbia Valley, Washington. 85% Cabernet, 10% Malbec and 5% Cab Franc, kind of low alcohol for a Cab, only 13.5 %.

Now this is a cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon, if you are going to measure this against a Napa or Sonoma Cab you are going to be taken aback. Not oaky and with smooth tannins, tastes of black and blueberries and chocolate covered cherries. Tastes smooth, not thick, has a nice finish that is nuanced. Charles Smith says that this is not a Bordeaux wine this is a Washington wine, which I take to mean he is turning the terroir thing around on the French.

This is a Cab that would appeal to Barossa Valley Shiraz lovers. Very fruit forward, but still has some complexity. Untwist the screw-top and your ready to go.

2007 Boom Boom Syrah

This is a Syrah from Charles Smith Vineyards with grapes sourced from Columbia Valley, Washington State. Charles Smith is arguably the hottest Syrah winemaker going today. His high-end wines have a huge buzz, and the Boom Boom is his entry level Syrah.

This is a well made wine, it drinks way above it’s price range. It tastes good. It is smooth, the fruit is rich and spicy and the finish lingers. If you want a full bodied wine that tastes great and can be had for under $20 (I paid $15.99), this is an excellent choice.

A tip: check to see if a high-end winemaker you follow makes a “budget” wine. If a winemaker can make a wine that would inspire someone to spend $100 on a bottle, they can usually make a wine that rocks for under $20. Follow the winemaker and great wines can be found. Not all of the expensive guys care to make a budget wine, so support the ones that do.

2007 Eve Chardonnay Charles Smith Wines

Picked up this Columbia Valley, Washington State Chardonnay for $11.99. The first thing that hits you is the smell of apples, it’s as if you are standing in an orchard.  The apples come through on the palate, crisp juicy fresh apples, not cider, also some pear and on the very end a touch of butter.

This is more fruit driven and less oaky than your typical California Chardonnay. If California Chards are not doing it for you or you just want a change of pace, seek the Eve Chardonnay out. This is winemaker makes wines worth looking for.

2008 Kung Fu Girl Riesling

Single vineyard, estate bottled Riesling from the USA all for $10.99. While there is nothing wrong with wines sourced from different areas, many excellent wines are made this way, it’s pretty cool to get a single vineyard Columbia Valley, Washington wine at this price range.

 Kung Fu Girl has a very fragrant nose and tastes of apricots with a bit of lime, The finish is nice and long, fruity but not too sweet. This is a good wine to offer to the person who is new to wine or does not think they like wine, it’s very tasty and easy to enjoy.