Ron Coleman of Tamarack Cellars in Walla Walla helped pave the way for Northwest-made proprietary blends more than a decade ago with his remarkable Firehouse Red, and he and winemaker Danny Gordon take the next step of their business by launching this second label in what they refer to as “hyper-negoçiant” style. There’s a theme of dark purple fruit from start to finish, ranging from blueberry, black currant, licorice, Graham cracker and minerality in the nose to more currants and blueberry on the palate. Light touches of toasted granola arrive in the finish. Its pomegranate acidity, firm tannins – and price point – were designed for weekday pairings with grilled meat and pot roast. Tamarack Cellars has collaborated with Seattle-based wholesaler/importer Noble Wines, so these wines should be widely distributed.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,000 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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