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March 2006 Washington Wine Club
2003 Gamache Vintners Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
What do you get when you take 50% Gamache Vineyard old vines Cabernet, and blend it with
50% old vines from the legendary Champoux Vineyard? One of the best expressions of
Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon I´ve ever had. This wine is 100% Cabernet
Sauvignon, from vines 27 years old and older. The Champoux Vineyard, on the Columbia
Gorge, provides fruit for some of the finest Washington State wines, such as Quilceda
Creek. The Gamache Vineyards provided fruit for many of the Ste-Michelle reserve
bottlings. There´s some left at $43.00, although only a miniscule amount of the
production is in retail. Most is only available from the winery. We also have
their new release 2003 Gamache Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines will definitely
benefit from a number of years in bottle. I wouldn´t be surprised to see these
alive and kicking 10-15 years from now.
2001 Alder Ridge Meritage
And speaking of great vineyards, the Alder Ridge Vineyard has a fairly spectacular
reputation of its own. It´s very close to the Champoux Vineyard. Meritage is
a marketing term, meaning the wine contains only Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Carmenere.) This wine contains all
but the Carmenere. It´ll hold quite nicely in your cellar for up to five more
years. There´s a bit left at $39.75.
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