Friday night's neighborhood tasting was a seafood-oriented buffet that turned on past themes like Killer Chardonnay to offer a selection of killer alternatives. I was able to feature some excellent WA wines as well as mix in some goods from Europe and BC. 62 tasters attended and voted for their favorites (as equals) of the ten wines presented. Not that anybody here cares about rank, but nonetheless the wines are listed below in order of most votes with BC taking the top prize (56 votes compared to the Giacosa's second place 48). My own favorites were not dissimilar.
2017 Black Hills Estate Viognier Okanagan Valley VQA
From the first rock star of BC wines, a viognier with Condrieu-like aspirations. And they nail it: pale gold, nose of flowers and nectarine, good weight on the palate with pear and peach and BC's exceptional minerality. Don't normally enjoy viognier, but I loved this. In my top five.
2017 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis
Surprised by the lack of enthusiasm in CT reviews thus far. On the richer side with notes of quince, peach, apple butter, preserved lemon and a bit of slate. Great aroma and palate-coating flavors built in the glass with time. Exceptional. My WOTN and ditto for all the most experienced tasters in the room.
2018 Mt. Boucherie Gewürztraminer Okanagan Valley
Needed a gewurz for a tasting and told the guy at Everything Wine in Surrey that I wanted all the perfumey ginger and spice without any oaky weight or cloying RS finish (Bill S will be pained that I passed on the Kettle Valley)--and he recommended this. BINGO, they loved it.
2018 Orr Wines Chenin Blanc Old Vines Columbia Valley
A serious old vine chenin with Loire-like qualities grown here in Washington state? Wouldn't even have looked for such a thing, but here one is. Tangy, concentrated notes of unripened Bartlett pear with citrus fruit and did I imagine it or is there a bit of wet wool there. Excellent body and balance. Must buy more. In my top five.
2017 Gamache Vintners Sauvignon Blanc Horse Heaven Hills
From a heritage vineyard of the Gamache family, this showed grapefruit, melon and a touch of bay leaf. Spends a few months on new FO, but it's just enough to give it a noble bearing without the vanilla or smoothness usually attributed to same. Very good.
2016 Buty Sémillon/Sauvignon/Muscadelle Columbia Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
62% semillon, the rest SB and Muscadet. Not usually a fan of semillon--it can be so heavy--but this showed beautifully. Pretty medium yellow, elegant and lithe with an underlying richness that's not at all cloying. Balanced and sophisticated--had I been served it blind, I might have guessed it closer to $40 than the $25 it costs. In my top five.
2018 Scenic Valley Farms Pinot Gris Ramato of Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Loved this. Same profile as before "orange/coral hued, fabu spicy gewurz-ish nose with onion skin and turmeric" but would add that it came as quite earthy in a field of only white wines. Hard to grasp for a group who see pink and think 'pretty' not earthy, but in my top five.
2018 Drink Washington State Visit Walla Walla White Blend Columbia Valley
Sprightly blend of reisling, muscat and pinot gris. Lightly musky and fruit forward with mixed tropical fruits and spice on the midpalate, but finishes clean and refreshing. Unfortunately, to my palate tastes more like a $12 wine than a $20 wine.
2003 Le Fraghe Garganega Veneto IGT
A very very nice garganega. Not Soave but a nearby area/village called Camporengo, also in the Lake Garda region. Pear and apple fruit with that touch of that fresh laundry thing that differentiates garganega from Chardonnay.
2017 Agro de Bazan Albariño Rías Baixas Granbazán Etiqueta Verde
Rich yet dry, more minerally than fruity. Probably too dry in general for this crowd though I picked it for the tasting because I love that. Great food wine.