Experience Micro Climates

Ok micro climates with out a doubt exist, and wine is the best way to find out what that means. I just had a great experience at Wine O'clock/Bunnell family cellars. I was lucky enough to show up at Bunnell the day after Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator had requested to do some barrel samples from Ron's up coming wines and it was awesome. My point is I was able to taste samples of individual vineyards, blocks, and even clones of Syrah. This was the best example in, 13 years of wine experience, that I had to truly identify what a micro climate ( or terroir, look up the definition to help) does for a wine. At one point 6 different Syrahs were in front of me all from different vineyards throughout Eastern Washington, two from two specific clones from one vineyard and I could identify specific differences from each one. This was not only delicious but remarkable in the world of Washington wine and Gods great earth or the world of wine. It showed me how different a wine can be from each individual place. This is not a story for bragging rights, what I am telling you to do is go out and find at least three different Washington wines all from the same vintage, all the same varietal, all from single vineyards (ie Horse Heaven Hills, Crawford, Milbrandt.....) and if possible all from the same producer and open them all and taste them together. The one variable can be the all from the same producer that it VERY hard to do, but I can help you do this just contact me. I currently cary three of Bunnell's Syrahs. The experience will change your life or if nothing more your understanding of wine. Yes this time I had an epiphany, go out taste, try and enjoy after all variety is the...

Thank you Ron Bunnell and the wonderful world of Washington wine.
(This experiment can be done using other wine producing regions but I recommend Washington)

Woodward Canyon Walla Walla Cab. 2007

OK, so you can only find it at restaurants, but do find it. Last night I had a bottle of 2007 Woodward Canyon Walla Walla Cab. at the Yellow Church Cafe here in Ellensburg (sadly this time I had to share) and even as young as it is it drinks wonderfully. It showed some perplexing notes of what I would generally find in a WA syrah, such as, the mouth feel was thick and somewhat sweet and there was a distinct nose of cooled bacon fat. The pallet had a roller coaster effect that ended with a slow long finish of dark fruit and molasses. After much discussion and some argument I got what I will call a cooked rhubarb and black berry center pallet. Well enough of the eclectic tasting notes when all is said and done it was a real joy to drink. Look for it at wine oriented restaurants through out WA, but go soon because there was very little produced and soon this will just be a story of what you could have tried. Go forth and taste them all because as you know variety is the....