In Seattle this week I’ve discovered two nice wines you might want to check out!

Pasek Cellars 2007 Syrah 

Pasek Cellars was started by Gene and Kathy Pasek in 1995. Located in Mount Vernon, Washington, their specialty is fruit wine but they ventured into Syrah.

  • Grape Variety: 100% Syrah
  • Aroma: Warm spice and berries.
  • Taste: Extremely smooth and flavorful wine of blackberry and spice (from the oak aging) with a nice lingering finish.
  • Price: $12
  • My thoughts: My girlfriend picked up a bottle of this in Leavenworth, Washington at a tasting room. It was an extremely easy to drink red wine full of berry flavor and perfect for a cold Autumn night.

Hestia Cellars 2010 Chenin Blanc 

Out to dinner at Tilth Restaurant (organic new American cuisine from James Beard award winning chef Maria Hines), I discovered this one. Hestia is a small family owned and operated winery making wine in the Snoqualmie River Valley not far from Seattle. Their grapes come from four small vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA.

  • Grape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Aroma: Melon and honey.
  • Taste: Dry and crisp acidity, medium body with melon, citrus and honey notes.
  • My thoughts: I really enjoyed this wine! It’s aged in stainless steel tanks for five months which gives it a nice balance of minerality and fruit. More medium bodied than a Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio and not as grapefruit forward as a Sauvignon Blanc. Unfortunately this wine is sold out on their website as only 200 cases were made. But keep an eye out for the 2011. Can you believe when I went to their website for more info I saw their winemaker/owner and I share the same name, Shannon Jones?!?! Must go meet him. ;)
Cheers!