“If all be true that I do think,
There are five reasons we should drink:
Good wine – a friend – or being dry –
Or lest we should be by and by
Or any other reason why.”
Henry Aldrich, 1647-1710, Five Reasons for Drinking.
My enthusiasm for Washington wines is practically boundless. Most of the world’s vibrant grapes flourish there, with Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling showing stunningly. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s when Washington State woke up many palates with stunning presentations of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Of late, a new winery opens every 13 days in the state, and Washington’s future looks bright, indeed.
Red Diamond Wines came to my attention a number of years ago when I spotted their fetching Merlot label at a wine shop and bought a bottle at an attainable price. I was transported into near-ecstasy by the comparative quality of the wine, and I mentally filed away the winery’s name for future hedonistic enjoyment. Their Merlot was ranked as one of the Top 10 nationally in 2007, and Red Diamond (owned by St. Michelle Wine Estates) hustled with planting Cabernet Sauvignon after the Merlot’s meteoric rise to stardom. Their Shiraz, another success story in my book, is a Rhone-like blend containing touches of Viognier and Grenache to make the blend more enticing.
Red Diamond Wines are available at Discount Liquor in Milwaukee and downtown Waukesha, Metcalf’s Sentry on State Street, Sentry Foods in Delafield and at various Sendik’s stores. They typically sell for around $9 per bottle (I’ve spotted them on the web for between $7.99 and $12.99) and are occasionally featured on sale between $7.50-$8.
Today, I’m delighted to share my notes of a recent tasting of Red Diamond’s line of wine for you:
1) 2008 Red Diamond Chardonnay. Pale yellow color with heavy body. The nose was multi-layered, with notes of crisp pear, butterscotch and a bit of oak, with dandy depth. In the mouth, it was a fruit party, with more pear, tart apple and pineapple. Long acidic finish. A-
2) 2008 Red Diamond Merlot. Rich ruby hue with heavy body. A gentle sniff revealed spicy notes with cherry, cranberry, blueberry, cocoa and pepper. On the palate, it strutted intense fruit – a veritable rock concert of robust intensity. A
3) Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, inky color with cloying body. On the nose, it displayed lots of black cherry – introspective. In the mouth, it displayed intense fruit that danced forever. Great with a steak or roast. A
4) 2007 Red Diamond Shiraz. Brooding, almost black velvet color with deeply heavy body. The nose was very much Rhone-like, but was more feral with its explosive intensity of deep cherry topped with cocoa and a tad of banana. On the palate, it rewarded the taster with intense, deep notes of cherry and almost-sweet raspberry, finishing with a hint of zesty orange peel. A class act for a rocking chair! A+
Today’s clear winner was the Syrah, followed by the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
All, at their price points, were well-worthy of Price/Value commendations.
Cheers to you, Red Diamond – you truly make Washington look good!
