Reminder Preliminary voting for the 2009 Reader Survey Wine of the Year and 2010 Wine to Watch continues until 9pm tonight. Finalist voting will begin late Friday/early Saturday. Read more about the survey here.
December’s Virtual Tasting will be the Brian Carter Cellars 2007 Abracadabra. The tasting will take place on Monday December 21st. This wine is widely available and retails for $20.
Brian Carter Cellars is located in Woodinville, Washington. Winemaker Brian Carter brings almost three decades of experience in the Washington wine industry. During this time, Carter has made wine at Paul Thomas Winery (now defunct), Washington Hills, and Apex Cellars. In 1997, Carter began making his own wines. The first was Solesce – a Bordeaux-style blend that is now Brian Carter Cellars’ flagship wine. Carter focuses on producing blended wines, including two Bordeaux-style blends, a Super-Tuscan-style blend, and a Southern Rhone-style blend. However, no blend is ever more interesting and outrageous than the Abracadabra which features an ever-changing mixture of varietals.
As usual, I will be opening the bottle about 7pm Pacific Time and posting my notes along the way every thirty minutes or so. I will also be tweeting @wawinereport and using the hashtag #virtualtasting.
Please join us in trying this wine and posting your notes any time on, before, or after the 21st.
Previous Virtual Tastings
November Virtual Tasting – Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet 2007
October Virtual Tasting – Owen Roe Sinister Hand 2008
September Virtual Tasting – Novelty Hill Cabernet CV 2006
August Virtual Tasting – Barnard Griffin Cabernet 2007
July Virtual Tasting – Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2008
June Virtual Tasting – Waterbrook Melange Noir 2006
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 Cab 2005
November ’08 Virtual Tasting – Russell Creek Tributary Red 2006
October ’08 Virtual Tasting- Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet 2006
Where can I buy this wine in the Tri-Cities?
Good question. I will do some digging and see if I can find out for you.
Thank you! Your virtual tastings sound like fun! I have only read one so far in your archive (didn't have more time), but I didn't see what you ate with it… or what you would choose to eat with it… maybe I need to read the other ones.
Anon, generally when I am sampling wines for review – which I do on the Virtual Tastings – I try to stay away from anything beyond unsalted crackers to cleanse the palate. That said, just because I suffer in this way doesn't mean you have to. Food often enhances the enjoyment of wine and brings out various flavors in the wine and visa versa.
The 2007 Abracadabra is a pretty diverse mixture of grapes, although it is predominantly (35%) Cabernet. That said, it is not a big, intense wine. This gives you a pretty wide range of meat options, although I would stay away from seafood as it would most likely clobber it. For non-meat options (I eat fish but not other meat), I would go with a zesty red pasta sauce personally. Hope this helps!
There has to be a pay off to an exhausting two hours of wine tasting! LOL Any luck on where to buy this wine in Tri-Cities?
Anon, here's some spots. In Kennewick, try the Costco at 8505 West Gage Blvd. or the Yoke's at 1410 W 27th. My thanks to the folks at Brian Carter for their assistance with this information.