2003 Stevens, XY Columbia Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
West Seattle Cellars customers have enjoyed a wide range of Tim Stevens’ wines, including his elegant 424 blend, his easy drinking Big Easy Cabernet, and his powerhouse Black Tongue Syrah. Now Tim has made his first reserve wine, 100 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon from his 4 favorite barrels of 2003 fruit, 75% from Sheridan vineyard and 25% from Champoux vineyard. Aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months, it is powerful and intense, deliberately “masculine’ in style (the XY refers to chromosomes, not some mysterious code.) A classic wine for a big juicy steak, it will continue to develop over the next five years. Since it was only $39.75, Tim sold out of it in 5 hours at his winery. We have a tiny bit more, but fear not, the next vintage of Tim’s delightful Black Tongue Syrah is arriving this month!

2004 Racine, Pinot Noir
And now, as Monty Python would say, for something completely different! Two years ago, Chris Berg, who represents several Oregon distributors, shyly poured us a sample of his new Pinot Noir. While there wasn’t enough for sale, we were duly impressed. Last year, we sold a couple of cases of the one Pinot he had available for sale, and our customers were duly impressed. This year, we have been selling cases and cases of his lighter Pinot, called Klee and his fabulous Roots Pinot. Now we are proud to present his reserve Pinot in this club, named after his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin. He made only 50 cases of this wine from his own Roots Estate, and aged it in neutral French oak for 18 months. Full of intense dark berry flavors, with a lovely earthy nose, it will develop for another 5-8 years. Chris recommends trying it with lamb or pork. It’s also $35.75, and Chris can supply us a bit more.