Sean P. Sullivan's Northwest Wine Report

No one else in Washington is making the types of wines that winemaker Douglas McCrea is. McCrea has a dazzling lineup of Syrah and Rhone varietals and blends. What other winery in Washington can you think of that makes a Mourvedre, a Counoise, and five different Syrahs?

Always well-made, McCrea’s wines are not to be missed. Of the latest releases, the 2006 Non Sequitor is a steal at $20. In addition to their new and recent releases, we also had the opportunity to taste their 1998 Viognier and 1995 Chardonnay.

Wines:
Score	Name	Notes	$
*	McCrea Roussanne Ciel du Cheval 2006	Yeast and light toast on the nose. A touch of lemon on the taste. A long finish without being overpowering. A creamy mouth feel.	$22
+	McCrea Grenache Blanc Boushey Vineyard 2007	Lemon zest and a touch of white grapefruit on the nose and taste. Young still but a good, refreshing wine with a tangy, up front taste.	NA
*	McCrea Sirroco Blanc 2006	Creamy mouth feel with an excellent touch of lemon on the finish. Yeast and lemon on the nose.	$25
+	McCrea Vin Rose NV	Mineral and light toasted oak notes on the nose. Quite red in color. Uncomplicated taste but very pleasing. A crisp finish with tart cherries. Overall a good summer rose. Recommended.	$18
*	McCrea Viognier 1998	Golden in color. Light lemon, yeast, and toasted oak notes. An almost champagne-like aroma. A fascinating wine with a complex profile. A full-bodied wine, creamy in texture.	NA
+	McCrea Chardonnay 1995	Mineral, spice, and light smoke on the nose. Light yellow in color. Up front on the palate and then drops off to a long finish.	NA
*	McCrea Non Sequitor 2006	Tons of spice and dark spicy fruit. A gigantic, full-bodied wine. Overwhelmingly outsized for the price. Coats the tongue and has a long, long finish with raspberries, mineral, and a pleasing tartness. A steal for this price.	$20
*	McCrea Counoisse 2006	Fairly light in color, this wine delivers with touches of wheat, light red fruit, and the smell of wood after the campfire has gone out. A medium-bodied wine with bracing acidity and a tartness on the mid-palate. A very well made wine.	$28
*	McCrea Syrah WA State 2006	A rich, full-bodied wine that is loaded with spice and smoke wound with traces of anise. Hasn’t fully grown up but is showing quite well.	$25
+	McCrea Mourvedre 2006	Mineral, spice, chalk, and a slight stemminess on the nose. Red fruit marks an interesting, smooth taste that seems a bit disconnected from the nose.	$28
*	McCrea Syrah Boushey Vineyard 2004	A smoky, full-bodied wine with a big mid-palate and finish. Opens up and expresses itself with raspberry and spice.	$44
**	McCrea Syrah Cuvee Orleans 2004	Raspberry, spice, and stone aromas surrounded by very light anise. A superb wine that is rich and lingers. 97% Syrah; 3% Viognier.	$50
*	McCrea Syrah Amerique 2005	Mineral, violets, and raspberry aromas on a nose that is a bit lighter than I remembered. A dynamite mid-palate and finish. 77% Syrah; 23% Mourvedre.	$40
**	McCrea Syrah Ciel du Cheval 2004	Plum, spice, anise, and raspberry aromas with touches of black pepper. A meaty body that lightens up to a long finish. 100% Syrah.	$44