Dana Roberts creates a number of off-dry wines that incorporate juice from fruit other than grape, but this sweet red is all vinifera in its blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Muscat. The nose is rather fascinating with very fruit-forward aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, peach and green apple candy, backed by cardamom and nutmeg. The drink is indeed sweet at 7 percent residual sugar, and it carries a bit of viscosity amid the flavors of raspberry jam, cherry pie filling and blueberry. Yet, there’s some balance in the ample acidity and rewarding tannins, a combination that makes this a nice little quaffer. At the family’s Farm to Fork Restaurant, they’ll suggest the Winemaker’s Club Sandwich with a glass of this, which is named for a tributary of the Chehalis River. And a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force.
Rating: Recommended
Production: 117 cases
Alcohol: 12%
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