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Baer Winery
Ursa
Columbia Valley 2008
95 points
#6 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 WINES OF 2011
Winemaker Lance Baer founded Baer Winery in 2000, producing
his wines in Woodinville, Wash., using grapes from Columbia
Valley vineyards.
After his death in 2007, his sister Lisa and his father, Les, took
the reins and hired consulting winemaker Erica Orr. Baer’s
signature wine, Ursa, Latin for “bear,” has always been
impressive for its suppleness and pure flavors. The 2008, a
blend that focuses on Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is the winery’s
best wine yet.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Mark Ryan Winery
Dead Horse
Red Mountain 2008
93 points
Focused, generous and cmplex, not especially dense but
brimming with cherry, cinnamon, clove and coffee flavors that
persist unperturbed by fine tannins as the finish keeps rolling.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and
Malbec. Best from 2012 to 2020.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Mark Ryan Winery
Lost Soul Syrah
Les Vignes de Marcoux Vineyard
Yakima Valley 2008
93 points
Ripe and spicy, beautifully open in texture to let the blackberry,
pomegranate and floral spice nuances come through vividly,
finishing with fine tannins. Drink now through 2016.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
William Church Winery
Viognier
Conner Lee Vineyard 2009
90 points
William Church Winery’s 2009 Viognier Conner Lee Vineyard
delivers a captivating nose of smoke, baking spices, white
peach, lychee, and mineral notes. Round and creamy on the
palate, this ripe, full-flavored, nicely balanced Viognier will offer
pleasure over the next 2-3 years.
Jay Miller for The Wine Advocate
William Church Winery
Bishop's Blend
Columbia Valley 2008
88 points
The 2008 Bishop’s Blend is made up of 39% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 38% Malbec, 11% Syrah with the balance Merlot and
Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby red in color, it offers up an attractive
nose of spice box, tobacco, incense, black cherry, and blueberry.
Dense on the palate with plenty of spice, good volume, and
excellent balance, this lengthy effort will provide pleasure over
the next 4-5 years.
Jay Miller for The Wine Advocate
Ursa
Columbia Valley 2008
95 points
#6 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 WINES OF 2011
Winemaker Lance Baer founded Baer Winery in 2000, producing
his wines in Woodinville, Wash., using grapes from Columbia
Valley vineyards.
After his death in 2007, his sister Lisa and his father, Les, took
the reins and hired consulting winemaker Erica Orr. Baer’s
signature wine, Ursa, Latin for “bear,” has always been
impressive for its suppleness and pure flavors. The 2008, a
blend that focuses on Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is the winery’s
best wine yet.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Mark Ryan Winery
Dead Horse
Red Mountain 2008
93 points
Focused, generous and cmplex, not especially dense but
brimming with cherry, cinnamon, clove and coffee flavors that
persist unperturbed by fine tannins as the finish keeps rolling.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and
Malbec. Best from 2012 to 2020.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Mark Ryan Winery
Lost Soul Syrah
Les Vignes de Marcoux Vineyard
Yakima Valley 2008
93 points
Ripe and spicy, beautifully open in texture to let the blackberry,
pomegranate and floral spice nuances come through vividly,
finishing with fine tannins. Drink now through 2016.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
William Church Winery
Viognier
Conner Lee Vineyard 2009
90 points
William Church Winery’s 2009 Viognier Conner Lee Vineyard
delivers a captivating nose of smoke, baking spices, white
peach, lychee, and mineral notes. Round and creamy on the
palate, this ripe, full-flavored, nicely balanced Viognier will offer
pleasure over the next 2-3 years.
Jay Miller for The Wine Advocate
William Church Winery
Bishop's Blend
Columbia Valley 2008
88 points
The 2008 Bishop’s Blend is made up of 39% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 38% Malbec, 11% Syrah with the balance Merlot and
Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby red in color, it offers up an attractive
nose of spice box, tobacco, incense, black cherry, and blueberry.
Dense on the palate with plenty of spice, good volume, and
excellent balance, this lengthy effort will provide pleasure over
the next 4-5 years.
Jay Miller for The Wine Advocate
Sparkman Cellars
Ruckus Syrah
Red Mountain 2008
94 points
Focused, complex, powerful and, in the end, deftly balanced,
offering layers of cherry, pomegranate, roasted beet and smoke
flavors. Hints at clove as the finish rolls on against refined
tannins. Best from 2012 through 2018.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Sparkman Cellars
Ruby Leigh
Columbia Valley 2008
92 points
Supple and generous, this big wine is nicely framed with fine
tannins around a core of black cherry, coffee, dark chocolate and
spice flavors. Finishes with an almost silky finesse. Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Best from 2013 through 2018.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Sparkman Cellars
Lumiere Chardonnay
Columbia Valley 2009
91 points
Polished, with pear, apricot, tobacco and clove flavors swirling
through the medium-weight structure, lingering nicely on the
refined finish. Drink now through 2014.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Baer Winery
Ursa
Columbia Valley 2007
92 points
Supple, generous, focused and appealing for its layers of cherry,
raspberry, tobacco and spice flavors, lingering easily on the
polished finish. Delivers depth and distinction. Merlot, Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now
through 2015.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Baer Winery
Shard Chardonnay
Columbia Valley 2009
90 points
All Stillwater Creek fruit and 100% varietal, this bright and spicy,
unoaked Chardonnay showcases very pretty fresh herb along
with the usual green apple and pear fruit flavors. Lively and light,
despite its 14.4% alcohol, it’s a versatile and refreshing white.
Editors’ Choice.
Paul Gregutt for Wine Enthusiast
Ruckus Syrah
Red Mountain 2008
94 points
Focused, complex, powerful and, in the end, deftly balanced,
offering layers of cherry, pomegranate, roasted beet and smoke
flavors. Hints at clove as the finish rolls on against refined
tannins. Best from 2012 through 2018.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Sparkman Cellars
Ruby Leigh
Columbia Valley 2008
92 points
Supple and generous, this big wine is nicely framed with fine
tannins around a core of black cherry, coffee, dark chocolate and
spice flavors. Finishes with an almost silky finesse. Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Best from 2013 through 2018.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Sparkman Cellars
Lumiere Chardonnay
Columbia Valley 2009
91 points
Polished, with pear, apricot, tobacco and clove flavors swirling
through the medium-weight structure, lingering nicely on the
refined finish. Drink now through 2014.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Baer Winery
Ursa
Columbia Valley 2007
92 points
Supple, generous, focused and appealing for its layers of cherry,
raspberry, tobacco and spice flavors, lingering easily on the
polished finish. Delivers depth and distinction. Merlot, Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now
through 2015.
Harvey Steiman for Wine Spectator
Baer Winery
Shard Chardonnay
Columbia Valley 2009
90 points
All Stillwater Creek fruit and 100% varietal, this bright and spicy,
unoaked Chardonnay showcases very pretty fresh herb along
with the usual green apple and pear fruit flavors. Lively and light,
despite its 14.4% alcohol, it’s a versatile and refreshing white.
Editors’ Choice.
Paul Gregutt for Wine Enthusiast
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