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AWS Washington Red Tasting January 21st, 2006 A small group of tasters were graciously hosted by Jens Rosenkrantz at his wine shop on Madison Road located near Plainville and Camargo Pike. If you have not had a chance to visit his shop you have missed a unique experience. It is unlike any wine shop in the city. His original name “Cincinnati Wine Garage’ was very appropriate. It is more like walking into a friend’s basement than a wine shop (Obviously it would be a friend with a lot of wine). The first thing you notice, as you make your way through the door, is an older Honda motorcycle lying up against the back of a couch. Yes a couch. There are multiple couches around a big screen TV right next to the pool table. On the far side of the wall looms a dartboard with three darts inviting you to a game. In a side room the wall is lined with skies and hockey sticks. 
Exactly what you might expect in a basement of a friend. What you wouldn’t expect to find is the walls all aligned with shelving containing a huge selection of assorted wines. In addition to the wines on the shelves the floor contains a multitude of cardboard boxes holding additional wines. In the short time I looked around I found everything from a Hess Syrah Rose to a 1954 bottle of Madeira. The eclectic wine selection is only matched by the eclectic décor. You feel almost like you are antiquing as you search through the various bottles hunting out that gem. 
Enough about the shop, you just have to visit for yourself. The tasting consisted of 11 different red wines from Washington (2 were brought from by guest from their cellar). The wines were tasted blind. Wines were generally tasted in groups of two. The wines were initially poured without any additional information provided. Initially we all tried to guess the grape makeup of the wine. After a short discussion among the members it didn’t take to long to decide on the wine type. (The Syrahs gave some of us a bit of trouble). The following are the notes I took on the wines. The notes include comments heard by others but since the tables were spread a bit apart I was not able to hear everyone’s comments. (clicking on the wine title will provide more information on most wines).
2002 Columbia Crest Grand Estate Merlot Purplish-Red color, light smoky nose, very soft mouth-feel with a smooth short to medium finish. After being open awhile developed a caramel, crème brulee nose. A pleasant example of an inexpensive Washington State Merlot. 2002 Canoe Ridge Merlot
Purple color that continues to the rim, bright fruit aromas, hint of chocolate, like the first wine had a very velvet mouth feel and a smooth but rather short finish. Finished with a hint of cherries. After being open for a short period seemed to lose most of it’s pleasant features and developed into a dull wine. This wine disappointed me the most in the tasting because I have had some very good vintages of this wine in the past. 2002 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon
A inky purple color, cherry, raspberry notes with a hint of oak, seemed to be little out of balance but was not able to quantify the missing element. Probably just lacked complexity. Finish was medium in length and pleasant for the hint of fruit and spice. After being open for a while the flavors remained consistent. A pleasant wine but nothing about it stood out.
2001 Chateau Ste Michelle Canoe Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark deep purple color, hints of cedar, dark fruit and vanilla, First wine showing much tannin. The tannin was balanced with the fruit providing a pleasurable mouth feel. The finish was medium with notes of earthy fruit. Not a big wine but one that should still develop over the next few years. Firehouse Red is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah, 15% Merlot , 9% Cabernet Franc, 2% Sangiovese, and 2% Carmenere. Dark reddish purple, good aromas of rich fruit that carry through to the taste. One of those wines you like to linger in your mouth while you try to figure out the components. I found this wine to be one of the best I tasted and voted as my Best Value. Lost very little after being open for a while. Finished with the same fruit but with hints of coffee.
Bright purple (as were most of the wines tasted tonight). There is no doubt the Washington winemakers know how to extract nice color into their wines. One taster noticed a bit of iodine, I thought more like a cough drop. Fruit was present but dull. Many people found the aroma of the wine when first poured to be unpleasant. In the glass this wine probably changed more than any other through the night. It never became one I really liked but did continue to improve. Maybe a little more bottle age might help but I doubt it.
2003 Snoqualmie Columbia Valley Reserve Syrah Dense purple color with hints of jammy fruit. Had a hint of leather. The tannins were full but not overpowering. The fruit in the mouth tasted slightly sweet. Finish was soft and of medium length. As the while opened it developed a bit of a vanilla crème aroma and flavor. Based on votes I probably enjoyed this wine more than most of the other tasters.
1995 Powers Mercer Ranch Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Good dark purple color showing very little fading for a 10 year old wine. A bit of smoke, eather and blackberry aromas. The flavor shows good fruit but somewhat dulled by age. Mouthfeel is smooth and filling. Tannins are still a bit rough showing that if the existing fruit can hang on the wine can still age. Nice smooth lingering finish. My second favorite wine of the night. It showed that these wines can age. Deep purple that carries to the rim of the glass with just a hint of amber edges, nose of cherry with a bit of chalkiness, hints of earthiness and tobacco, sweet fruit on the taste with a bit of vanilla from the oak, one taster found cassis. Tannins are present but nicely integrated into the wine. Finish is longer than other wines tasted. While tasting great now it should continue to evolve for years. My favorite wine of the night.
Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain Two Vineyards Reserve Continuing the theme of bright purple color. Aromas of ripe dark fruit, blackberry and cherry. Light toasty oak with a hint of spiciness. The spiciness continues in the mouth. The wine is mouth filling and complex. Layered tannins give a smooth feel in your mouth. The finish long and savoring. A very pleasant wine that seems just a little less complex and the Perigee 
It was a very good tasting with a fine showing of wines. While there were no great wines the overall impression was very good. At the end of the evening Jens opened up a 1970 Chateau Giscours Marqaux. A third growth wine from a classic year. The only catch is it was a wine a customer had found in basement of a house he just bought. The wine had gone threw years of abuse. The wine did show the abuse being a bit oxidized and washed out. But it did depart some of the fruit and flavors that I am sure were present in the past. It was worth the try because you never know what you can find in those bottles. Even after years of abuse. 
As we finished our last wine a few picked up a couple of bottles of wine to take home. Jane Carr even found that special India wine she has been looking for. On the way out you are greeted with one last reminder of the eclectic décor. Hanging over the door pointing into the room is the old awning of the Maisonette. Complete set of pictures
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