February 5 - Vintages

TATE
SECRETS
Once in the
shadow of other North
American regions,
Washington State is
revealing itself as
a wine power to be
reckoned with.
24 VINTAGES
There’s a well-kept wine secret on the US West Coast:
Washington State. Second only to California for quantity of
vinifera wine production in the US, it continues to win
critical favour. In fact, Wine Spectator’s 2009 Top 100 list
contained nine Washington State wines, and their justpublished
2010 list has five – including, at #43, this release’s
Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2007.
Contrary to the images of coastal fog and rain conjured at mere
mention of Washington, the epicentre of the state’s wine country
is actually in the east and is a semi-desert. Many critics consider
it to be the best spot in the US for Cabernet Sauvignon, and also exceptional for Merlot.
Vines on original rootstock (phylloxera cannot thrive in sandy soil) coupled with warm
days, cool evenings, and next-to-no rainfall (irrigation is widely used) create ideal conditions
for growing the great French red grapes such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.
The long growing season – blessed with two more hours per day of sunlight than
California (who knew?) – allows the big reds to fully ripen, while the cool evenings
bring a freshness seldom seen even in … yes, California. Washington State Cabernets
display a robustness coupled with elegance and style; Merlots have a spicy complexity
and lush depth; and Syrahs are vibrant and ripely fruity with a Rhône-style smoked meat
character and minerality. Washington’s secret is now yours to share.