Entertainment - Wine column

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 02, 2009

Mount Baker Vineyards adds great new wines

One of the biggest selections of wines in the state just got bigger.

Mount Baker Vineyards has rolled out a full slate of new releases that include a blend and several other varietals the winery has produced for the first time. Coupled with its already expansive list of estate-grown and Eastern Washington varietals, the local winery now boasts about 30 wines to choose from.

Just released and highly recommended is the 2007 Semi-Sauv (about $20), a super-delicious white wine blend. A 47 percent allocation of semillon nicely softens the acidity of the sauvignon blanc, providing balance and complexity. The result: a well-rounded wine with mouthwatering pear flavors that taste a bit like a pinot gris.

Three new and distinctively different red wines are also now available. The 2006 Tempranillo (about $15) displays a lovely spicy/floral aroma, with plum, spice and black cherry flavors. There's plenty of character in this wine, yet it almost does an about-face by melting into a velvety soft finish.

The 2006 Zinfandel (about $18) could best be described as a guilty pleasure, perfect for sipping at the end of the workday. With massive red cherry and berry flavors balanced by a staggering 15.7 percent alcohol content, this is definitely not a wine for the faint of heart, and probably the reason I enjoyed it so much.

Finally, the winery's first attempt with the 2006 Dolcetto (about $20) also has to be considered a rousing success. This beautiful varietal of Italian origin displays good acidity upfront, punctuated by a trace of bittersweet chocolate on the finish.

Take note, there are limited quantities of the Semi-Sauv (about 70 cases), Zinfandel (about 140 cases) and Dolcetto (50 cases). That's your cue to stock up on these well-made, well-priced wines now, before they're gone for good.