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Soos Creek Commander Comet Syrah 2021
Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
Location: Discovery Vineyard/Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Press: 94 Points
Cellar Aging: Drink now or cellar until 2034
Tasting Notes
Inky in the glass, this delivers tar, sagebrush, allspice, and dusted blackberry on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and a great sense of flavor density with its black fruit and chocolate core. Delicious now, see it develop over the next decade.
Food Pairing
- Grilled or Roasted Lamb: The wine’s depth and spice notes harmonize well with the savory flavors of lamb.
- Barbecue: The smoky and bold flavors of barbecued meats align with the wine’s robust character.
- Aged Hard Cheeses: Cheeses like Parmesan or Asiago enhance the wine’s complexity and balance its tannins.
- Smoked Meats: The wine’s flavor profile complements the rich, smoky flavors of meats like bacon or smoked sausages.
About Soos Creek:
With twenty-one vintages under his belt, David Larsen of Soos Creek Wine Cellars is one of Washington’s longer-tenured winemakers. Larsen began his journey as one of Washington’s best winemakers in a somewhat unlikely manner. He started out making fruit wine as a hobby in the seventies. This was a practical decision as much as any thing else, as his parent’s house had copious amounts of the blackberry bushes out back. While he made his fruit wine for fun, as a consumer, he gravitated toward drinking wines from Bordeaux along with California Cabernet. Larsen’s focus as a winemaker is squarely on the fruit. The winery is dedicated exclusively to red wine made from Bordeaux grape varietals. Larsen bases most of his winemaking decisions on taste rather than making wine by the numbers. “You can only make great wine if you know what great wine tastes like,” he says. “I’m into the art of winemaking. That’s what keeps me going.”
A Few More Details
The most important factor in making great wine is the terroir of the vineyard and one of the primary elements of terroir is the soil. The history of the vineyard soils in the Columbia Valley of Eastern Washington is a fascinating one. They are the effects of the Ice Age floods that occurred 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. The below story is summarized from an article by Andy Perdue in the Fall, 2005 issue of the Wine Press Northwest magazine.
At the end of the Ice Age, part of the Cordilleran ice sheet crept south down into Idaho. This lobe of glacial ice blocked the Clark Fork River creating Glacial Lake Missoula that covered western Montana. Eventually, this ice dam failed setting loose a 500-foot-high wall of water that swept southwest across Eastern Washington at 60 mph. These floods were equal to 10 times the instantaneous flows of all the rivers in the world combined. After this first dam broke, the glacier continued its march south, repeating the entire process of temporarily blocking up the river then bursting to flood Eastern Washington another 80 to 100 times every 50 to 75 years. Each time, more gravel, sand and silt was washed south, shaping Washington’s wine country. Since the end of the Ice Age, wind has continued to shape the landscapes of the Columbia Valley by adding a top layer of sand and silt to create the perfect terroir for premium wine grapes.
Source: https://www.sooscreekwine.com/vineyards
Sagemoor Miguel the Man Limited Release 2017
Varietal Composition: 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc
Location: Wahluke Slope, Washington
Press: 93 Points Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Aging: Drink now or cellar through 2035
Tasting Notes!
“Crafted by Chris Peterson (Avennia), the aromas draw you into the glass, with notes of black tea, bittersweet dark chocolate, black coffee, cherry, dried herb, leaf and graphite, showing a lot of nuance. The palate brings intensity of flavor along with plenty of sophistication and spot-on balance. Firm tannins back it all up. It’s beautiful. Best after 2026, with a long life beyond that”. Sean Sullivan
Food Pairing
- Grilled or Roasted Red Meats: The wine’s tannic structure complements the richness of beef, lamb, or venison.
- Hearty Stews: Dishes like beef bourguignon or lamb stew harmonize with the wine’s depth and complexity.
- Roasted Poultry: Roast duck or turkey, especially with savory herbs, can highlight the wine’s fruit and spice notes.
- Mature Cheeses: Aged cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, or blue cheese pair well with the wine’s bold flavors.
About Sagemoor:
Sagemoor’s parent company, Allan Bros. Inc. is a multi-generational family owned and operated company with a rich history in agriculture beginning in the 1930’s in the Yakima Valley. In 2014, Allan Brothers purchased Sagemoor Vineyards from its original founders who began planting vineyards in 1972. For fifty years, Sagemoor Vineyards has provided premium wine grapes from our iconic vineyards to dozens of the most renowned wineries and winemakers in Washington.
A Few More Details
Since 1972 our commitment has been and continues to be respect for the land and those caring for it. Our vineyards have thrived through the wind, snow and harsh temperatures of Eastern Washington. Minimal intervention is our philosophy for farming practices, ensuring positive impact to the ecosystem, our employees and our community in every step we take while tending the vines. Sagemoor vineyards are certified sustainable through SustainableWA or LIVE Certified.
West Seattle Wine Cellars 