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Savage Grace
Part 6, Washington State: visiting one of North America's leading wine
growing regions
Michael Savage is a music dude. He runs a recording studio. 'I love
the audio analog world,' he says. 'The flaws that this brings are
similar to wine. I want to learn about the accidents that happen; to
learn what the vineyard is bringing.' He cites as his favourite wine
influences Cru Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc and Burgundy. That's a
good start!
He
got into winemaking when he enrolled in the WSET wine education
program, and is part way through his diploma. He took wine
production classes at the NW Wine Academy in Seattle. 'I was
becoming fascinated with winemaking,' he says. 'I met some people,
then did some winemaking in a warehouse space with
three other wineries, then expanded to this place.' He currently has
a unit of his own in the Woodinville Warehouse district, just a
stone's throw away from Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen of WT Vintners.
Production is 2000 cases per year.
'I'm
looking on the edges in Washington,' he says, taking grapes from
places like the Columbia Gorge.
THE WINES
Sauvignon Blanc Red Willow Vineyard 2014
Yakima Valley
This has some musque clone in it, and 25% is fermented in
neutral barrels. Lively, fresh and textured with a nice mineral edge
to the citrus and pear fruit. Nice texture. 90/100
Gruner Veltliner Underwood Mountain Vineyards 2014 Columbia Gorge
50% stainless steel/50% neutral oak, early and late pick. Has
some richness on the nose. Melon and pear fruit with nice texture
and a hint of pepper spice. Nice focus and detail. 91/100
Chardonnay Celilo Vineyard 2013 Columbia Gorge
Planted in 1973, this is half stainless steel and half neutral
barrel, native yeasts. Two picks, all Wente clone. Broad and
textured with nice precision. Lovely pear, spice and citrus notes.
This is precise but it also has generosity. Lovely. 92/100
Pinot Noir Underwood Mountain Vineyards 2013 Columbia Gorge
Dry farmed (in the Gorge there are 16 inches of rain a year),
this is made from three clones. Sweet, fine, pure with fresh red
cherry and berry nose. Very silky and smooth on the palate, and
quite light with a hint of spiciness and nice finesse. 92/100
Cabernet Franc Copeland Vineyard 2014 Yakima Valley
Whole berry fermented. Lovely floral red cherry and raspberry
nose. Vivid, supple with nice freshness and a spicy edge to the
primary, juicy raspberry fruit. Juicy and fine. 92/100
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Yakima Valley
From 7 Mile Vineyard in Rattlesnake Hills. Supple, juicy and
bright with vivid pure blackcurrant and berry fruits. Supple and
nicely textured with pure fruit to the fore. 91/100
Riesling
Underwood Mountain Vineyards 2012 Columbia Gorge
Honeyed and limey with an enticing nose. Lively, taut high acid
palate has sweetness and texture. Feels
dry. 90/100
Riesling Underwood Mountain Vineyards 2014 Columbia Gorge
Fresh, lively and vivid with lime and honey, and good acidity.
Lovely purity here. Quite floral with the acidity balancing the
sugar. Slightly off-dry in style. 91/100
WASHINGTON STATE WINES
 Introduction
Betz
Columbia
Winery
De
Lille
WT
Vintners
Savage
Grace
Chateau
Ste Michelle
Andrew
Will
Airfield
Estates
Hedges
Milbrandt
Vineyards
Ciel
du Cheval Vineyard
Col
Solare
Powers/Badger
Mountain
J
Bookwalter
Pacific
Rim
Gordon
Estate
Long
Shadows
Seven
Hills
Charles
Smith
Geology
with Kevin Pogue
Leonetti
Woodward
Canyon
Gramercy
Cellars
L'Ecole
No 41
Columbia
Crest
Maryhill
Memaloose/Idiot's
Grace
COR
Cellars
Syncline
Wines
tasted 06/15
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