Wine libraries are not at least. Wine library may conjure images of one’s dream collection of the world’s best wines or perhaps a collection of tasting notes from a self-proclaimed sommelier or it may just be a medieval term with wines as outdated as the name.

Commonly referred to as the wine cellar, the Cathedral Ridge Wine Library is our opportunity to showcase our best wines with a collection of tasting notes from our own sommeliers. With original Flerchinger Vineyard vintages, Halbtrocken lovers would be beside themselves, to Merlot and Zinfandel verticals and even our famed Rusty Red from the beginning, our Wine Library is a dream for those who love our wine.

With Passport Weekend upon us, we invite you to join us to venture into the library for a complimentary Reserve Cellar Tasting and if you love what you find, we’re offering 10% all reserve cellar purchases. But don’t fret; if you can’t make it this weekend, we welcome you to come in for a visit and perhaps an opportunity to venture into our library and our history. Enjoy the beauty of a different kind of library.

It’s likely you’ve seen him roaming the winery grounds and there’s a good chance he’s attempted to solicit a pet or two from anyone that glances his way. Always bounding about, our hardworking and faithful winery dog Rusty, is a beloved CRW family member.

It seems like just yesterday that I missed a day of school to travel up north into Central Washington to pick-up the newest member of our family. Driving home, he was immediately dissatisfied with traveling in his crate and ended up making the journey home asleep in my lap and it hasn’t changed much since, even though he’s quadrupled in size. Growing up, Rusty was another brother. Always protective, an endless playmate and I even had to share the backseat on family road trips with him, wrestling for who got the most room and always losing.

Aside from being a brother, Rusty is also a top-notch bird dog, but you’ll have to read that story on the bottle of wine dedicated to Rusty himself, our Rusty Red. A complex wine with rich, jammy blackberry, hints of chocolate, a bit of smoke and a touch of earthiness. A little bit of everything, just like Rusty is to our family.

We invite you out to say hello to Rusty and of course have a glass of wine. And keep an eye out for our newest family member, Rhett, a bundle of exuberant puppy racing around the grounds. Something tells me that his tribute wine will be a bit more spicy.

~MB

These guys are having a good time, so why shouldn’t you? This Tuesday, November 6 will likely be the last we see of political advertisements for at least two years. If you’re planning to either host or attend an election night party, one key ingredient everyone can agree on is that good wine is essential. The Wine Market Council has done some polling of their own to help you offer politically correct wine to your host or guests. Apparently, Red State wine drinkers are “more likely to purchase an unfamiliar brand of wine, drink at home, and select wine by how well it pairs with meals,” while Blue State wine drinkers are “more likely to drink Champagne or sparkling wine, try wine from a local winery, or purchase wine made from sustainably or organically grown grapes.” If you’re attending a bipartisan party, best to have your bases covered: Select a local, versatile wine, such as Cathedral Ridge 2010 Cabernet/Merlot or a Cathedral Ridge 2010 Pinot Gris. When tensions run high, topping the glasses with either of these options should keep everyone in the right mood. And whether you find yourself celebrating a victory or drowning your sorrow, at least you’ll know your wine is a winner. Cheers!

We left off with me going crazy for a 2010 Bangsund Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, but I also tasted the 2010 Hillside Vineyard Cabernet and if you’re a fan of big, juicy, ripe cabs, this is your wine! The nose is full of blueberry, vanilla, and blackberry jam. I also loved the amazing mouth feel, so incredibly smooth and rich that I felt like I was drinking liquid velvet. This was also a wine I was bugging Robb to bottle separately, we’ll see if that comes true…

Moving on, Robb also poured me a sample of the 2010 Rockstar Red, our big, brawny, amazing Reserve wine. With 50% cabernet sauvignon from Hillside Vineyard and 50% syrah from Kortge Vineyard, both from lots that are specifically set aside for our Reserve single-varietal bottling, this is the top tier of wine Cathedral Ridge makes. It doesn’t disappoint. The bouquet is explosive, rushing out at you with gorgeous notes of cherry and spice, blackberry, and a delicious forest-floor aroma. On the palate, the Rockstar is deep and soulful, showing flavors of ripe fruit and baking spice backed by firm tannin. If you want a celebratory bottle that will age, stay tuned for this one!

As Robb and I tasted through the barrel samples, I was struck by the differences in each wine. Beyond the obvious differences between grape varieties, each wine showed a true sense of place. To the French, it’s called terroir, and when you taste through these barrel samples, I think you’ll agree.

Before I ramble too much more, I’ll end this peek into the future of Cathedral Ridge with the 2010 Ziegler Vineyard Tempranillo, full of cherries, sandalwood, and peppery spices. This wine is almost “ready”, and I think it spoke to Robb and me that day, telling us that it’s itching to get bottled and shared with all of you!

The Barrel Tasting Party is coming up, one week from now, so I urge you to buy your tickets now! If you need some more information, feel free to call the winery 1-800-516-8710 and we’ll happily get you all set to go. ^Beau