Yet another favorite producer from my WA wine tasting.

I don't know much about these wines other than it's a very small production. Unfortunately, I was too busy chatting away with David Minick from Willow Crest to talk to John Dingethal, owner of Sandhill. Hopefully, our WA crew will help me out here.

2000 Sandhill Winery Merlot, Red Mountain
Here’s my favorite Merlot fron the tasting. I love the candied cherries, sweet blueberry and licorice aromas that flow out of the glass. This wine picks up an exotic banana flavor on the mid-palate and finishes with it. Mmm, mmm, good. 91

1999 Sandhill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
Not nearly as impressed with this wine as I was the Merlot as it was decidedly tannic. However, I did pick up some good leafy tobacco, sage, earth, and coffee notes. 89+

The Sandhill was served at the PNW Soiree. Anyone would to pipe up?

Cheers!
And remember: Life's too short to drink bad wine.

Sure, I'll pipe and chime in .

John Dingethal was one of the winemakers present at the Soiree and, while this is a trait I find in many winemakers, he is a delightful, knowledgeable and passionate artisan ( with a very dry wit!). His '98 Cab was what I tasted our first meeting and I was starstruck. The chewy '99 needs a little time and I agree, his Merlot is Mmm, mmm good.

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http://seattle.vinocellar.com

Thanks again Queen!

I don't think I'm sold on WA cabs. They tend to have lots of ripe berry fruit and excellent aromas but I just don't find the level of complexity I enjoy. However, I still have yet to try Leonetti, Andrew Will, or QC.

WA Syrah and Merlot ... that's a different story

R2:

Don't make your decision final until you have also tried DeLille, Cadence, Betz and Januik.

Soooo, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

is much better than the 1999. The 1999 is a bit hard and tannic. unfortunately the 1998's are all sold out.

I have not tried the 2000 yet, but I think this is one of the more promising producers out there. The fact that he has access to his own red mountain fruit is a huge plus, he just needs a little more time to learn the ins and outs of wine making.

**********
When will I learn?
The answers to life's problems aren't at
the bottom of a bottle! They're on TV!
- Homer Simpson

No decision is EVER final in regards to wine. I'll be happy to sample whatever is put in front of me

I tried a bottle of an unreleased Sandhill merlot, I think it was from 1992? It was brought to the tasting just to show the aging potential, and I thought, "My God! This is what wine is all about!"
It really blew me away. I wish I had some notes to share, but I do know I've never had a merlot as good before or since.

The vineyard is well established, the winery is fairly new. It impressed me from the get go.

my mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely