WTN: Giraudon, Long Shadows, Terra Blanca

[Jenise]

At a friend's home for a classic chicken dinner (with mashed potatoes, green beans and all that).

2018 Giraudon Bourgogne-Aligoté
The host purchased this on my recommendation years ago but had the sense to put them away for awhile. It has evolved beautifully in the bottle and has a lot more room to fly. Bright, zesty, with a lot of depth from the wait. Might go 2-4 more years at this rate. Killer bargain at around $10 a bottle.

2005 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Big ripe fruit characteristic of the vintage with tannins and just enough acidity to keep going for awhile. Not much interesting secondary development, though, so I'm not confident about further evolution, and foodwise it needs a big partner. It overwelmed the chicken, but the host is a retired Chateau Ste Michelle guy and major Allen Shoup fan, so he felt honored to drink this (and I knew he would).

2012 Terra Blanca 'Galet' Estate Vineyard Red Mountain Red Blend
Another guest brought this Rhone blend (syrah, mourvedre, grenache, cinsault). Aging extremely well--better than many Washington reds do, frankly, better than my Pirouette had. Is picking up the leather and dried fruit notes I crave in maturing wines, has great balance on the palate. Probably at peak but should hold here for 3 or so years. Great chicken match.

[David M. Bueker]

You always have such an interesting range of Washington wines.

The Terra Blanca is notably interesting to me.

[Jenise]

I have never paid any attention to that winery. Always kind of a lower tier winery in my experience from two decades ago--before I moved here--when a friend in California joined their wine club and brought a lot of blowsy new world fruit bombs to tastings that never showed well. Because of that initial introduction I've just ignored them. Was a nice surprise to have my snobbery corrected, and of course it was perfect for that roast chicken.