EAST COAST PALATE

My second stop of the evening was Barrel House liquors down on 14th st. NW.  I opened up three wines from one of Washington state's biggest producers, Columbia Crest. 
The 06 Chardonnay, 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 05 Shiraz were the samples being poured, offering a diverse range of flavors.  The Chardonnay was oaky, buttery, and for me a little bitter.  I really don't like it, even for $9.  The Shiraz and the Cabernet were both low B wines for me.  The Shiraz has that peppery spice with some jammy fruit leading the way in the flavor profile, but there isn't much structure or finish.  I liked the Cab a bit better.  It's a cherry dominated wine with some oaky aspects, but for me it was the smoothest and most balanced of the trio.  These two reds were also priced at $9. 
Having just returned from living in Walla Walla, WA, I'm familiar with the Columbia Crest label.  I'm also familiar with some of the higher quality wines that come out of the Pacific Northwest.  These are bottles to buy as alternatives to Yellowtail or Kendall Jackson, but they don't really represent the true depth and quality of many of the wines coming out of Washington's Columbia Valley.

My eventful Saturday began yesterday at down at Circle Wine & Liquors (www.circlewinelist.com), where I poured three well-priced Aussi wines.  The Rosemount 2008 Chardonnay, 2007 Shiraz, and 2007 Shiraz/Grenache are all on sale there for $9.  The Chardonnay for me was a bit green smelling.  Nice notes of crisp green apple... Not so nice aromas of peas or green beans.  It was an okay, non-oaky Chardonnay that scores a low B for my taste, but would probably be a good choice for someone to try if they like lighter Pinot Grigio style Chardonnay.
The Shiraz is a fruit-bomb aromatically, with a whiff of candylike sweetness mingling with nice cherry and plum action.  Once I tasted it, though, I percieved a slightly plastic taste, as if somebody dropped a Lego block in my glass when I wasn't looking.  A bit off, but still a typical spicy, plummy Shiraz from down under.  Another low B.
The Shiraz/Grenache was the favorite of the day...for me and most of the store's clientele that stopped by for a few sips.  This wine had the fruity qualities mixed with a cocoa subtlety that pops in on the mid-palate.  For me this is the bottle I would buy; a solid B and a very versitile vino for holiday pairings.

So tonight I went down to the YES Organic Market in NW Washington, D.C. to pour a pair of wines from Australia's Barossa Valley:  The Black Swan Pinot Grigio and the Black Swan Shiraz.  I had a great time hearing the shoppers' reactions to the two wines, and I was able to chat with some really interesting people.  This connection, for me, was the most important part of my evening.  The chance to sample two wines priced at only $8, and get feedback about the two products, is what I really valued most.  That is the essence of this blog: share wine opinions, try a few beers, talk about some restaurants that impress me, but mainly find wines that are worth their cost.
The 2009 Pinot Grigio is a refreshing, zesty white wine, perfect for summer or pairing with cheese or seafood.  It has a lemon-Granny Smith tartness that gives it a great finish.  It reminds me sort of the sensation of eating Sour Skittles or Sweet-Tarts.  It is a solid B wine (86) and definely worth its price.
The '08 Shiraz has a jammy, raisiny aroma, and once it's in your mouth it is a mix of toasty prune flavors with a bit of peppery spice to fill it out.  It didn't have much of a finish, but I still give it a low B rating (83-84).
Two decent wines that were well priced, and an evening of meeting the people I'm trying to reach with my opinions and recommendations... I enjoyed every second and every sip I shared with you all.  Cheers to all who came by to try the Black Swan wines.  Let me know how you liked them, and feel free to share some suggestions with me...I'm always open to try something new.
Thanks also to YES Organic Market.  The store is amazing... we need this in MD.  Visit their site at www.yesorganicmarket.com