Taste Like a Sommelier Series--Oregon and Washington State Wines, Part Two

[wondersofwine]

The red wines...

2006 Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Oregon

This puzzled me and several others--the pale garnet color suggested Pinot Noir but I wasn't getting P.N. nose and flavors. I thought it was Merlot. Jessica thought it was Syrah although we both thought the color was more like Pinot Noir. Pale ruby or garnet color; slightly viscous. Big nose--sweetish with red licorice, pomegranate and some said cherry and plum. Tastes sweet, not tannic. Wasn't crazy about this one. Wine Spectator gave the 2005 vintage 90 points. Retails in the $20-$25 range.

Red Wine #2 2006 Barnard Griffin Merlot
(The '04 vintage sold for $15.75) The winery is in Richland next to Bookwalter.
I did guess this as Merlot (got one right). Darker, more opaque than the previous wine. Crimson color, viscous. Nose of black cherries and black berries. Some vanilla. On the palate, long drying finish, vanilla, chocolate cherries and a bit of pepper. 14% alcohol.

Red Wine #3 2004 Novelty Hill Syrah, Columbia Valley, WA
Darker still and very opaque. Scents identified by the group included prune, black currant, blueberry. 14.1% alcohol
I was expecting a Cabernet Sauvignon for the last wine but before I had made up my mind as to the variety, someone else correctly identified Syrah. Received ratings from 88 points to 90 points by the national press. Sells for about $19.50 to $22.

The three reds were then tried paired with the second course of Wild Columbia River Gorge King Salmon with local organic onions, roasted potatoes and sauce. None of the wines really complemented the dish but the Pinot Noir came closest. I asked Nancy what she would serve the Merlot with and she said maybe duck in a fruit sauce.

Dessert was cobbler from local blueberries with Sarig Agasi's homemade vanilla ice cream. The whole dinner was delicious.

[dananne]

Thanks for the two-part notes on Oregon and Washington wines. Due to our love of the area and their wines, and the two trips there in the past three years, we're familiar with most of the producers. I was interested in the Maysara notes in particular, as we enjoyed an '02 that we bought at the Oregon Wine Tasting Room in McMinnville, but we didn't like the '03 as much (we picked the latter up in Chicago at a wine shop).

Again, thanks for taking the time -- good notes!