This month’s Virtual Tasting wine will be Waterbrook’s 2006 Melange Noir. The tasting will take place on Wednesday June 24th from 7-9pm. The 2006 Melange Noir retails for $15, can frequently be found on sale, and receives wide distribution (Note: The 2006 vintage is a fairly new release so some outside the state may find the 2005 on the shelves). Please join us in trying this wine and posting your notes.
Waterbrook was founded in 1984, making it one of the first wineries in Walla Walla Valley. The winery’s name comes from an Indian translation for Walla Walla. Throughout its history Waterbrook has focused on providing quality at an affordable price point – a high QPR, or Quality Price Ratio, in modern parlance.
Waterbrook produces approximately 70,000 cases annually and is the flagship winery of Precept Wine Brands. Precepts Washington holdings include: Apex Cellars, Browne Family, HOUSE Wine, The Originals, Sol Duc, Sweet Pea, Willow Crest, Pine & Post, Sockeye, Pavin & Riley, Rainier Ridge, Washington Hills, Avery Lane, Shimmer, and Wrangler. Together these wineries produce a staggering 300,000 cases annually.
Last weekend marked the grand opening of Waterbrook’s new tasting room and production facility west of Walla Walla. This facility, which will serve as a production center for Precept’s wines, is awesome in scale – 10,000 barrels, 60 tanks ranging in size from 1,000 to 3,000 gallons, and a one hundred bottle per minute bottling capability. Additionally, Precept Wine Brands scored a coup earlier this month by hiring Long Shadows CEO Mike Williamson as their President and Chief Operating Officer.
Look for a full report on Waterbrook’s new facility as well as their wines in my upcoming 2009 Walla Walla Spring Release Report (NB: Work on the report has been delayed by the early start of summer and resulting early start to the climbing season. See more pictures than you would ever want to see here).
Previous Virtual Tastings
May Virtual Tasting – Charles Smith Boom Boom! Syrah 2007
April Virtual Tasting- Columbia Crest GE Shiraz 2006
March Virtual Tasting – Magnificent Wine Co. House Wine 2006
February Virtual Tasting – Hedges CMS Red 2007
January Virtual Tasting – Columbia Crest GE Merlot 2006
December ’08 Virtual Tasting – Ch. Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet 2005
November ’08 Virtual Tasting – Russell Creek Tributary Red 2006
October ’08 Virtual Tasting- Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet 2006
So we started a few minutes early. First whiff was full of alcohol. Temp was around 74. A bit warm and makes sense. Initial taste was tannins and earthy on the nose. Not sure yet about the middle, but the finish seemed to tail off.
We then ate some pizza and let it sit for a little. Alcohol has disipated and the nice earthy tones appeared in the nose. Like it so far. Time to let sit a little.
Few hours later. Still dry but now the acidic finish is starting to come through. My wife likes it a lot.