Walla Walla winemaker Victor Palencia knows his way around the Wahluke Slope as well as anyone, so his results with often-overlooked Rosebud Vineyard come as no surprise. And he loves working with Hungarian barrels, which he blends with French oak for 14 months, leading with aromas of strawberry, fresh boysenberry pie, cranberry jam, chai spices and spearmint. That’s followed by hedonistic layers of blackberry and boysenberry, robust yet rounded tannins and a finish of milk chocolate. Palencia reaches for this with fajitas, pizza, anything saucy or beef and mushroom lasagna. Look for this at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, Tito’s Italian Grill and Wine Shop in Coeur d’Alene and the Blackbird Tavern and Kitchen in downtown Spokane.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 150 cases
Alcohol: 14%
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