Episode 34 | Living a Legacy: Jason Gorski of DeLille Cellars
Jason Gorski
DeLille Cellars | Director of Winemaking and Viticulture
DeLille Cellars has been celebrated since its inception in 1992. Their Bordeaux and Rhone-style blends have earned them over 180 wines scored at 90+ points, totaling over 500 individual 90+ scores from leading critics, and was one of the first five wineries in Washington State to receive Robert Parker’s 5-star/Outstanding rating.
Jason Gorski leads the winemaking and viticulture helm at the new production facility and gorgeous tasting room in Woodinville, WA. He has earned numerous national and local awards, including a coveted position on the 2018 Wine Spectator Top 100 list for the 2015 Signature Syrah and recognition from Wine & Spirits “Top 100 Wineries of the World” awards for both 2017 and 2018.
Jason is guiding the legacy of DeLille with skill, attention to the detail and care for the people that help ensure DeLille will continue to be a leader in Washington’s and the world’s wine scenes.
Visit and shop DeLille Cellars
Bordeaux Basics
The region of Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France on the Atlantic coast. Near the city of Bordeaux, two rivers meet and form the Gironde estuary that flows out to the Atlantic. These rivers divide the landscape into three areas, the Left Bank, the Right Bank and the Entre Deux-Mers (between two rivers) which is situated in the middle of the two waterways.
We talk about the Big Six Bordeaux red varietals, the newly incorporated grapes due to climate change and the predominant white varietals. Bordeaux is famous for dry reds but they produce the finest dessert wines known as, “liquid gold” and we describe the general primary flavor profiles found in the region.
Episode 43 | The Louis M. Martini legacy and where Cabernet Sauvignon is king
Michael Eddy & Brenae Royal
Winemaker & Monte Rosso Vineyard Manager, Louis M. Martini
Winemaker Michael Eddy and Vineyard Manager Brenae Royal from California’s revered Louis M. Martini winery are preserving the legacy of one of California’s most esteemed wineries. Learn how Michael became only the fourth Director of Winemaking in the history of Louis M. Martini, and how Brenae became vineyard manager in record time at one of the oldest and most desirable Napa valley growing sites, the famed Monte Rosso Vineyard.
Explore and visit Louis M. Martini
Wine storage tips & our Washington Cabernet Sauvignon picks
We examine the aging, maturation, and drinking of Cabernet Sauvignon. When exactly is the right time to open those big, bold reds? Plus, we’ll list some of our favorite Cabs from Washington state.
Photographs courtesy of Louis M. Martini
Episode 41 | Tony Rynders: Master of Oregon Pinot Noir
Tony Rynders
Winemaker, Panther Creek Cellars
Panther Creek Cellar’s winemaker Tony Rynders has had a fascinating journey as a vintner, one that’s taken him from the Pacific Northwest to California and back again. Along this path, he’s garnered one of the more stellar reputations in the industry for creating award-winning Pinot Noir and unique white blends highly prized by fans of wines from Oregon state’s terroir. Dave & Sandi will discuss wineries with a presence in both Washington and Oregon, and reveal some of the wineries with cross state boundaries between Washington and Oregon, highlighting how our shared AVA’s (American Viticulture Area) inspire collaboration. Plus, they discuss their tasting notes of Panther Creek Cellars’ three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and the Winemaker’s Cuveé.
Visit Panther Creek Cellars website
Episode 39 | Auction of Washington Wines 2020 Honorees
Auction of Washington Wines 2020
Since its inception in 1988, the Auction of Washington Wines has raised more than $50 million, benefitting Seattle Children’s and Washington State University Wine Science Research. Events hosted by AWW give wine lovers the chance to support the Washington wine industry and families in our communities around the region. The 2020 Auction of Washington Wines events will take place August 13-15, so check out the best of Washington wine and get your virtual bids ready here!
Your 2020 Honorees
Honorary Chair, Karen MacNeil is considered America’s foremost wine presenter, author of the international best-seller, “The Wine Bible, “Emmy winner as host of the PBS series “Wine, Food and Friends with Karen MacNeil” and the first Food and Wine Editor of USA Today. She has also earned the distinguished title of “Wine Professional of the Year” from the James Beard Foundation. And TIME Magazine has called her “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” It’s a true honor to have her join us on Decanted.
Learn about wine from Karen
Honorary Vintner, Mark McNeilly, founded the Mark Ryan Winery in 1999, starting as a self-taught winemaker with a few tons of fruit in a friend’s garage. Mark Ryan Winery has earned critical national and international acclaim, due to Mark’s winemaking expertise and utilizing some of Washington’s finest fruit. He has created destination tasting rooms in Woodinville and Walla Walla and has made significant contributions to the Washington wine community for the past 20 years.
Visit Mark Ryan Winery
Honorary Grower, Rob Mercer, was born and raised in Prosser and the Horse Heaven Hills area, where his family has farmed for generations, leading to the first wine grape plantings in 1972. Rob and his team grow 25+ varieties over 3,000 acres in the Horse Heaven Hills and Columbia Valley AVAs and provide fruit for a multitude of wineries in Washington state, including his seven brands.
Taste the Mercer wines
Episode 42 | 2020—What a Year.
2020 and our Best Of in Wine
Don’t let 2020 kick you as you head out the door into 2021. We drank a lot of wine this year (didn’t we all?) and here’s our Best Of in Wine.
Yes, yes, we could have included DOZENS to this list like Cayuse, Horsepower, Passing Time, Force Majeure, etc. etc. but some of these beauties aren’t widely purchasable or they need to lay down for a while. So, this represents what came out of our wine cellar and online shopping that you can grab up too!
Plus, events, tasting rooms, virtual events, COVID, and more.
Top Tasters
Best White Wines—Two Vintners 2019 Grenache Blanc (WA) and Devision Vintners 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
Best Rosé—Sashay Wines 2019 Rosé by Shae Frichette (WA)
Best Orange Wines—Troon Vineyard 2019 Kubli Bench Amber (OR) and Two Vintners 2019 “From Mars” (WA)
Best “Unusual” Wine—Sabelli-Frisch 2018 Lanterna Flame Tokay (CA)
Best Pinot Noir—Joseph Swan Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir Trenton Estate (CA) and Big Table Farm’s 2017 Sunnyside Pinot Noir (OR)
Best Syrah—Big Table Farm, 2016 Funk Estate Vineyard Syrah (OR) and Devison Vintners 2018 Beneath the Stones (WA)
Best Rhone Style Blends—2017 Clos St. Michel Chateauneuf-Du-Pape (FR) and Cairdeas Winery, the 2017 Caislean an Papa (WA)
Best “Right Bank” (Merlot/Merlot dominant)—2015 Chateau Rouget Pomerol (FR) and 2015 CheckMate End Game (BC)
Best Dessert Wine—Vista Alegre 40 year Tawny Port and Tildio Winery, 2018 Estate Port (WA)
