c/o Worldwide Wine Services, Wine
Country Road, Prosser, Washington 99350
Phone: 001 201 891 8393 Fax: 001 201 891 8775
UK agents: Southern Wine Brands
Formed in 1982 by a successful asparagus and mint farming family,
this is a large winery making some 400 000 cases of wine each year.
The majority of these are solid, consistent commercial wines, but the
1996 Reserve Cabernet shows that they can also deliver at the premium
end of the marketplace. The two vineyard selection wines, the Merlot
and Chardonnay, are both good value for money at £8 a pop.
1999 Fumé Blanc
25 000 cases made. Full on nose of spice and boiled sweets. Fresh
fruity palate. Technological. OK/good
1999 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
50 000 cases made. Bright fruit and pear drops on the nose. Palate
shows more bright fruit and a touch of spice. Good
1998 Vineyard Selection Chardonnay
50 000 cases. An intriguing nose showing ripe fruit and some
toasty, spicy oak, and these follow through to the nicely balanced
palate. Very good (retails for about £8)
1999 Cabernet Merlot
50-70 000 cases made each year.
Blackcurrant fruit with a pronounced leafy edge dominates the nose.
The palate is sweetly fruited with good balance. Good concentration;
attractive. Very good (retails at about £7)
1998 Vineyard Selection Merlot
40 000 cases made. Quite a sophisticated wine with ripe fruit and
oak in good balance. Noticeable tannins. Very good (retails at about
£8)
1996 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Production of around 7000 cases. The nose shows ripe blackcurrant
fruit with a leafy edge and some spicy oak. There's ripe dense fruit
on the palate -- an attractive wine. Very good+