Winery - Morrison Lane
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Though apparently aging quickly, the wine is drinking well right now. Bone dry, with green tannins, it has a leafy, tobacco streak running well into the finish, and a fair amount of influence from the oak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Finished at just 12.9% alcohol, the cuttings for this interesting wine came from Tablas Creek. It brings light, tart, cranberry and red fruit flavors. Somehow an impression of butter creeps into the finish, which lingers surprisingly given the lightness of the wine, over all.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The unique blend—a third each of Syrah, Counoise and Viognier, all co-fermented, no less—yields a spicy, peppery, citrusy wine. Grapefruit, berry, cherry, orange peel and other citrus highlights lead into a full-flavored midpalate hinting at dust and green tea, then coming back full force with still more grapefruit, of all things. This is the wine to pull out with cous cous, grilled peppers and sausage.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
There is a little Malbec and Petit Verdot in the mix here, but Carmenère is the focus. Supple and smooth, with plenty of tannic grip, this plum-and-pepper-scented red makes a good case for the grape’s varietal potential in Washington State.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is Morrison Lane’s first Dolcetto—previously these grapes were blended into the winery’s Nebbiolo. The color is dark and saturated, the plummy fruit flavors laced with spice and leaf. There is a high acid sharpness on the tongue, with a little green character in the tannins, but it is a very promising first effort.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a three-part blend of Syrah, Counoise and Viognier, cofermented into a spicy, peppery, citrusy wine. Orange peel and other citrus provide the aromatic highlights, and the fruit has sharp, tart cranberry flavors, with a peppery bite.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Counoise is a surprise winner in Washington, making a deliciously spicy wine with light fruits running from watermelon to strawberry to plum. There’s a bit of a hole in the middle, but that’s the nature of the grape.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Warm, sharp (15.3% alcohol) and spicy, this Roussanne has a lot of bite in the mouthfeel. Sharp, edgy citrus rind flavors lead quickly into a finish that also has a bitter edge, a bit like quinine or gin. But served chilled on a warm day, it makes a fine apéritif.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Made as a pure variety, this rare example of Walla Walla Cinsault—is scented with lovely whiffs of berries, plums and moist earth. It falls somewhere in the same stylistic region as Sangiovese and Pinot Noir, with bright, sharp, acidic fruit flavors.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This 2005 Syrah from Morrison Lane seems a bit lackluster compared with previous efforts. This is smoky and tight, a tannic wine with flavors of lead pencil, green tea and earth. But the fruit is quite light, tart, and does not seem to sync up with the heaviness of the tannins.
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