POSTED: Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009

Anelare offers exclusive deals on quality red wines

Anelare is a small, privately owned winery in Eastern Washington that produces a limited number of red wines each year. Some of its wines are available to the public for purchase; some are not.

For access to all of its wines, you have to apply for a social or full membership and pay an annual fee, $249 and $996, respectively.

I suppose this sounds a bit like an upscale wine club, but if you like a winery with a certain degree of exclusivity, this may be the one you're looking for. And at this time of year, it might be the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for, ultra-serious wine aficionado on your Christmas list.

To pull this off, of course, a winery must deliver some seriously good wines.

An accomplished winemaker is a must, and I was pleased to learn that Anelare uses the talented Victor Cruz, the owner and winemaker of Cañon de Sol, who, in turn, learned the trade from one of the best, Charlie Hoppes of Fideltas Wines.

Anelare's 2007 vintages include four releases, two of which are available to the public. One is the 2007 Nonna Viola Red Wine ($24), a medium-bodied blend of syrah, cabernet, and merlot. It displays flavors of raspberry and thimbleberry, with pleasant notes of vanilla, oak and white pepper.

The 2007 Saint Helena Syrah ($28) is heavenly, with an abundance of black plum and cassis, accentuated with smoky nuances that melt into a lingering, violet-like finish. This is one bold, beautiful and sexy syrah.

Because the other two wines are exclusively for members, I won't tip my hand too much about their details. Let's just say the 2007 Ciel du Cheval Syrah ($39), from Washington's Red Mountain Appellation, and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($44), from the Wahluke Slope, are superbly crafted, beautifully layered, richly textured wines that are well worth the price.

The winery has a tasting studio in Kennewick that is available for public tastings and for private ones booked in advance. For more information, including membership details and other Anelare wines, visit anelare.com.