Cougar Crest Estate Winery, Walla Walla

Taste Washington! 2012 Recommended Wines.

Cougar Crest Estate Winery was established at the Walla Walla Airport in 2001 by Deborah and David Hansen. Owners of 50 acres of vineyard, all in the Walla Walla Appellation, they have sold wine grapes to other wineries for years. Deborah Hansen is the winemaker at Cougar Crest Estate Winery. I enjoyed visiting with Deborah and David at Taste. We talked about Gary Vaynerchuks visit in 2008. Evidently, a lot of good wine was enjoyed by all at the Space Needle the night before the Grand Tasting.

The Wines.

2009 Estate Vioginier - Big floral nose, big, flavorful, good finish, bright, hang time. Released November 2011, case production 847, 100% Viognier, ABV 14.3%. Retail price $20. Recommended.

Cougar Crest Cabernet Franc, Grenache Rose, Viognier.

Grenache Rose - Pomegranate, rhubarb, lovely, good finish, dry. Recommended.

* Favorite: Estate Cabernet Franc 2007 - Best Cabernet Franc of Taste WA, spice, dark fruit, balanced, earth, light med finish, raspberry. Release March 2010, cases produced 1,323, 76% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, ABV 13.5%. Retail price $38.

Cougar Crest 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and Anniversary Cuvee.

* Favorite: Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Earth, dark, good finish, not monster, needs research, touch heat. Released March 2010, cases produced 1,135, 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, ABV 13.5%. Retail price $40.

Cougar Crest 2007 Syrah Estate Grown.

Syrah 2007 - Modest nose, good, mellow mid palate and finishes strong. Released February 2012, case production 1,074, 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier, ABV 13.9%. Recommended.

Cougar Crest 2009 Grenache Rose and 2008 Tempranillo.

* Favorite: Estate Tempranillo 2008 - big, dry, tasty, it's all good. Released February 2012, case production 450, 87% Tempranillo, 13% Syrah, ABV 14%. Retail price $32.

Wines listed here are the wines I liked and recommend. My favorite wines appealed to me because they expressed unique characteristics and quality, they are indicated by an “*” and are in italics.

Cougar Crest Estate Winery
50 Frenchtown Rd.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-529-5980

Walla Walla Tasting Room: Open 10 am – 5 pm daily.
Woodinvelle Tasting Room: Open Thurs-Sat 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday- Monday 12 pm – 7 pm.
Spokane Tasting Room: Open Sunday-Thursday 12 pm - 6pm, Friday - Saturday 12 pm - 7 pm.

www.cougarcrestwinery.com
twitter: @CougarCrest

Walla Walla AVA Location.

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