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Wine of the Week - Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2013 Viognier CrawfordVineyard - Washington State @ancwine

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An adorable, heady Viognier by one of my favorite winemakers. Bravo!

 Alexandria Nicole Cellars is a local Washington winery dedicated to producing small lots of hand-crafted wine at their Destiny Ridge Estate vineyard and winery. Destiny Ridge vineyard is located on the bluffs above the Columbia River near the town of Paterson, Washington. Many different varietals thrive in soils and micro-climate conditions of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Lovely place.

Tasting Notes:

 Color: Straw, shiny, clear.
Nose: Fresh pear, honey, sweet minerality, hazelnut, lychee, nectarine skin, peach blossom with light vanilla and fig. Generous layered nose, added depth over 30 minutes. Nose stuck in glass. Reminded me of a spring rain in the orchard, sitting outside on the porch, smelling the fresh baked bread cooling in my Great Aunt Marjorie's kitchen.
Palate: Fresh, creamy, honeyed-pear, brioche, medium-light body, silky dryness on the tongue, orange cream with river rock and stone fruit on the long finish. Extreme like.


Pairing: I would drink by itself or pair with mild soft cheese, crusty bread or delicate fish like Halibut. It's all about the wine. Tried to pair with dinner of fried breaded shrimp, pot stickers, kimchee, grilled vegetables, sushi rice and hot sauce. That dinner demolished this wine.

 Thoughts: What a lovely wine. The longer it was open, the more it delivered, more, more, more. Eminently drinkable, I had to exercise restraint lest I empty the bottle in one sitting. I reveled in the nuanced layers as childhood memories were evoked like an incantation growing in strength. A heady wine indeed. Deep respect for the winemaker and grower.
Strongly recommended + Wine of the Week.

Appellation: Columbia valley
Vineyard: 62% Crawford Vineyard, 38% Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Aging: Stainless Steel
Varietal: 100% Viognier, handpicked and whole cluster pressed
Closure: Natural cork.
ABV: 13.4%.
Grower Crawford Vineyard: Charlie and Connie Crawford.
Winemker: Jarrod Boyle.
SRP: $20.

 Alexandria Nicole Cellars
www.alexandrianicolecellars.com

Tasting Room Locations:
  • PROSSER TASTING ROOM
    Open daily 11-5 | 2880 Lee Rd, Suite D , Prosser, WA  | 509.786.3497
  • HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE
    Open 12-5 Thursday-Monday| Friday night happy hour 5-8
    14810 Northeast 145th Street, Woodinville | 425.487.9463
  • DESTINY RIDGE VINEYARD AND WINERY
    Open by Appt.| 158422 W. Sonova Rd. | 509.242.9979
About:

Alexandria Nicole Cellars is owned by Jarrod and Ali Boyle. Jarrod named Alexandria Nicole Cellars after his wife, Ali (Alexandria) Boyle. Situated near the Columbia River, Destiny Ridge Vineyard is a protected location. It benefits from constant wind generated by the Columbia River and special micro-climate characteristics of the vineyards location. Of the 367 acres of land 263 acres is applied to vineyards. The first vines were planted in 1998. Planted varietals include: Riesling, Merlot, Grenache, Viognier, Malbec, Lemberger, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rousanne, Mouvedre Cabernet Franc, Marsanne, Syrah, Petit Verdot. Jarrod and Ali also sell approximately 75% of their grapes to many well-known Washington wineries.

If you have never visited this part of the wine world, then I encourage you to visit Southeastern Washington wine country. Experience the pleasures of Washington wine at the wineries I visit and write about.

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Cheers!
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