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Novelty Hill 2013 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Grenache, Columbia Valley, $28

By on November 18, 2016

novelty-hill-stillwater-creek-grenache-2013-bottleThis juicy red Rhône variety is returning to prominence in Washington, but its scarce plantings explain why last year it was — on average — the most expensive grape to purchase by the ton statewide. Woodinville vintner Tom Alberg’s Stillwater Creek Vineyard, the estate site across the Cascades near the Frenchman Hills in the Columbia Basin, offers one of the largest bottlings of Grenache, and this release is a bold and cellar-worthy example. It spent 20 months in 40% new French oak barrels, creating toasty and spicy nuances of dark chocolate, coffee and white pepper in front of blackberry, elderberry and pomegranate fruit. There’s a rush of pie cherry and blueberry on the palate, which is paced by mouth-filling pomegranate acidity and tannins akin to espresso grounds.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 392 cases

Alcohol: 14.4%

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Articles credited to Great Northwest Wine are authored by Eric Degerman and other contributors. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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