2004 Owen Roe, DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
West Seattle Cellars customers are very familiar with the wonderful wines from Owen Roe, a collaboration of winemakers David O’Reilly and Peter Rosback. This is what they describe as their “most precious and super-intense” wine, sourced from Hugh and Kathy Shiels’ DuBrul Vineyard on a small outcropping in the Rattlesnake Hills northwest of Yakima. This vineyard site is quite high, 1375 feet, and has a unique blend of exposed basalt rock mixed with sedimentary soils and volcanic ash. Unlike warmer areas, DuBrul Vineyard wines seem to retain marvelous acidity while producing intense, powerful wines. A classic wine for a big juicy steak, this wine will age for another ten years. We have a tiny bit more at $60.00.

2004 Lost River, Cedarosa
At a tasting in early January, we had a chance to sample this delightful “Right Bank” blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, John & Barbara Morgan’s first reserve wine. We originally met the Morgans three years ago at the annual North Central Washington wine tasting at Ohme Gardens in Wenatchee, held on the last Saturday of July. We’ve enjoyed all their current releases, which include a delightful Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend, a rich Merlot, a powerful Syrah, and a soft Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine stood out as worthy of aging another five years, delightfully balanced, with warm flavors of raspberries, black currants and spice. John recommends trying it with lamb or particularly osso buco. Since John made only 100 cases, it’s only available through us, the winery in Mazama or their tasting room in Winthrop. The cost is $26.00; putting the club cost above $75.00, so we charged members a flat $75.00 plus tax.