Maryhill Winery

Maryhill Winery has found a distributor in the sunshine state! They will be distributed by the Opici Wine Company of Fl. Our friend Mary, who works for Opici,  had a Maryhill representative in town and we were able to taste the incoming wines. 

Maryhill Winery was the 2009 Washington State Winery of the Year. The winery was established in 1999 by Craig and Vicki Leuthold on land that was originally used as a farming community along the Columbia River in the early 1900's. In 2001, Maryhill Winery opened its doors as one of only 100 wineries in the state. Today, Washington has more than 600 wineries. That is one crazy influx of wineries in only 11 years. The winery now has a very nice tasting room and large amphitheater for summer concerts. The winemaker at Maryhill used to be the winemaker at Paraduxx. 


Some of the wines that will be available for purchase in Florida are below: 


1) 2010 Maryhill Riesling  ($14) This wine had flavors of citrus and fruit. The winery suggests pairing this wine with shortbread cookies. 

2) 2010 Maryhill Winemaker's White ($12) This wine had flavors of pineapple and pear. The blend is 42% Viognier, 25% Semillion, 18% Sauvignon Blanc, and 15% Chardonnay. 

3) 2010 Maryhill Winemaker's Red ($15) The blend is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Franc. 

4) 2007 Maryhill Merlot (approx. $18) 

5) 2010 Maryhill Viognier ($16)  The viognier was a fan favorite. I really enjoyed this wine and the price is great. I can't believe the prices are so low for these wines. I'm not complaining though! haha 

Butting Heads Shiraz

Last night I had a bit of the 2005 Butting Heads Shiraz from Barossa Valley in Australia. My mom bought the bottle and shared it with me. In Florida I have seen it sold for around $23-$26. The Wine Barn in Orlando says its retail price is supposed to be around $65.00. Fewer than 200 cases of this wine was produced. I do get a lot of spice and espresso from this wine. I like it for the price. I don't think I would pay $65 for this, but at around $25-$30 it is a great buy.

Robert Parker gave this wine 90 plus points saying:

"Butting Heads is a negociant label owned by importer Jane Delaney. Her first Barossa Shiraz, sourced from a single vineyard at Krondorf, is a success. The 2005 Shiraz is opaque purple/black. It has a fragrant bouquet of pain grille, spice box, espresso, pepper, and blueberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, dense, structured wine with excellent concentration. At present the wine is monolithic, but 5-6 years in the cellar may result in additional complexity. It will drink well through 2025."

Wine Review: 2006 Folie á Deux Zinfandel

Today I am reviewing the 2006 Folie á Deux Amador County Zinfandel. I will first post what the winery says about the wine and then my thoughts.

A bit about the winery: The winery that makes the Folie á Deux wines also produces the Ménage á Trois wines. The French term Folie á Deux means "shared fantasies," and Folie á Deux winery crafts Zinfandels from old vines in Amador County.

I tasted the 2006 vintage. The winery tasting notes are as follows:

" Soft and smooth, this Zinfandel offers aromas of plum and cherry with just a hint of pepper and spice. The wine is an ideal pour with almost any meant entree, from haute cuisine to barbeque."

My Thoughts: The color of the wine was a lighter red/purple. The clarity of the wine seemed a bit dull and there was no sediment. Zinfandels are not usually meant to be stored for long periods of time so I felt it was better to drink this now rather than store it longer.

The nose had hints of clove and spices. I actually picked up a gingerbread smell. The taste of the wine was rounded with a bit of tannins. (I think the tannins would have been less if consumed earlier)

The wine had a medium body with a lingering taste of spice. I love when there is some spice to a Zinfandel. It gives it an edge and sexy vibe.