The wines of Washington State are a bit like the wines of Lake Erie North Share in Ontario that play second fiddle to the wines of Niagara. Washington State wines play second fiddle to the wines of California. It is not a question of quality but consumer confidence or as our Liquor Control Board of Ontario must be thinking to itself, “Follow the money”.
So what goes with the Brookwalter Readers Red Blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State? For aromatics expect a dense cloud of sweet blueberries and blackberries complimented by lavender and Croatian cherry sok in a creamy context. This creates a harbinger of smooth power like a Mercedes limousine cruising down the autobahn at 220 kms an hour. A grand wallop of richness on the palate. A poster boy for the full-bodied wine club. Blueberries that have been weightlifting and are big and muscular. Black cherries that are on steroids like a Russian gymnast. Medium long finish. Tannins are certainly not brutish. The wine seems to be struggling with its 14.8% alcohol and I would suggest it is built for food and it has enough heft to match venison, wild boar or moose. For something less exotic prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and lots of gravy please!
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah and 8% Malbec.
(Readers 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, Brookwalter Winery, Richland, Washington , $34.94 (store manger discount at $24.50), Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 13238, 750 mL, 14.8%, RKS Wine 91/100)
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