Grande Ronde Cellars 2007 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $30
Dave Westfall and his two partners recently moved the production facility to downtown Spokane, not far from their lively tasting room. They work with very small lots and their attention to detail and patience shows. Here’s a classic Cab from start to finish, leading with aromas of dark cherry, milk chocolate, vanilla, cedar, black pepper and graphite. Elegance is immediately apparent on the palate black currant, plum, slate, more pepper and cocoa. Its medium tannin structure, pleasing acidity and restrained alcohol make for tremendous length of flavors. For those in the Spokane area, the famed Davenport Hotel & Tower offers a sip-and-stay promotion that includes a $20 voucher for Grande Ronde and other member wineries.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 270 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Andy: Love your work on WA wines. On your recent newsletter, you looked at top cabs from OR Vinyards. I’ve got to throw Tero Estates in there for his cabs. Doug makes amazing cabs (3 different cabs from specific blocks of his estate Vinyards) and they are some of the best I’ve ever tasted. In case you haven’t met Doug (owner/winemaker) he is a fabulous winemaker, and a great guy!
Bill Richey
Hi, Bill.
Thank you for the note and kind words. I have visited Tero tasting room at the Marcus Whitman, but I don’t think we’ve tasted its wines. I appreciate the heads up and will seek them out.