Gordon Brothers Winery Visit Crush Weekend

Sign as you enter the private winery.

Sunday I visited Gordon Brothers Winery during their “Crush Weekend”. The winery is located above the Snake River near Pasco, Washington. They are a family owned winery and produce Estate Grown and bottled wine. Their winemaker since 2007 is Tim Henley (he’s doing a great job too).

Sunday view of Snake River at left and organically grown Chardonnay vines.

For multiple reasons, Gordon Brothers no longer has a public tasting room on either side of the Cascades. Fortunately, they do open their winery to the public three times a year, Spring Release weekend, Crush weekend and this year, December 10th for a Washington State University themed winery event (yes, there will be Cougar Gold cheese).

Four new releases and three favorites tasted Sunday.

My hostess was daughter of owner Jeff Gordon, Katie Nelson. She was very friendly and poured for me some 2007 favorites, two 2009 new releases and two 2010 new release. Some of the new releases I tasted included:

The just released 2009 Block 3 Merlot, this is a limited production 100% Merlot, with only 75 cases produced you will only be able to purchase this wine direct from the winery. While it is a young wine, the finish was huge and compelling. You will want to buy this wine and stash it away for at least a year before drinking - recommended.

Another just released wine was their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine too is drinking young and will benefit from another 6 months in the bottle. The finish was impressive and I had to ask for some water to cleanse my palate of all that Cabernet goodness, in order to appreciate the next wine - recommended.

Also recently released was the 2010 Reserve Chardonnay. My friends, this wine is just starting to show off, elegant, lovely with a mesmerizing finish. Produced from organically grown Estate grapes, this is another Gordon Brothers wine to stock your cellar with while you can get it. Serve it to your best friends and those you want to become your best friends - recommended.

Chardonnay grapes should be ready for harvest this week.

It has been a cool growing season in Eastern Washington – even my heirloom tomatoes never fully ripened – so harvest has been delayed for many in the region. Katie told me they hope to harvest their Chardonnay this week. Perhaps they are picking even as I’m writing this post.

More Estate grown grapes.

Let's not forget the red wine grapes.

I should have some specific reviews of several other Gordon Brothers wines I tasted Sunday, hopefully soon. Yes, I purchased some bottles to enjoy at home. Shouldn’t you?

Thank you to Katie Nelson for an enjoyable visit. The weather of last year and now this year have troubled many (sadly some vines were lost last year) but Katie was taking it all in stride and being positive. I'll post to my facebook page if I learn more about this years harvest. We're all praying for a warm October and a late frost.

Website: www.gordonwines.com

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Cheers!

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