Sean P. Sullivan's Northwest Wine Report

Summary: Last week we focused on white wines as an offering to the Sun Gods who have recently pulled up stakes and left Seattle for what appears to be the remainder of the “summer”. While the results were mixed, I did manage to get in a climb of Buckner in the North Cascades on Friday and Saturday before the rain returned. For that, I am extremely grateful. You can see pictures of the trip here. Alas, on Sunday the rain came back and the next few days are forecast to be gloomy.

So in another offering before the long weekend, I bring you OS’s 2007 Riesling Champoux Vineyard. O S Winery (formerly Owen Sullivan) is located in South Seattle along with several other up-and-coming wineries. Winemaker Bill Owen and partner Rob Sullivan focus most of their attention on red blends using grapes from some of Washington’s best vineyards.

This white wine comes from the famed Champoux Vineyard. The Champoux Vineyard is located near the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This vineyard provides fruit to some of the state’s top wineries, including Andrew Will, Januik, and Quilceda Creek.

This is quite an interesting wine with a low percent alcohol compared to many of the Rieslings being made in the state. In this way, it is more Germanic in style. This stands in contrast to the increasing levels of alcohol in many wines produced in the state, as noted recently in an article in Wine Press Northwest.

Wines:

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O S Winery Riesling Champoux Vineyard 2007

There is an almost spritzy quality to the nose, I believe due to the wine’s acidity. Nose also has apple, mineral, and stone. The wine has a pleasing fullness on the taste with apple notes throughout and a tart finish. The wine has bracing acidity (the winemaker’s notes puts it at 2.98pH). 9.8% alcohol. 270 cases produced.

$20