Today our little party train jet off to Leavenworth, WA for a few days of respite…and wine tasting!!!
Leavenworth has an incredible little strip of kitschy shops and restaurants (following the Bavarian theme that the town is famous for) as well as some great local wineries – all neatly stacked together on the 1/2 mile strip just off the highway. We like going there for the Christmas set-up (gorgeous) and the relaxation that only a few nights in the mountains can give you.
The wines themselves have never been much to write home about – though I have found a few standouts. 2003 Cabernet Franc from Icicle Ridge Winery. I could only afford one bottle at the time and it is still in my little make-shift cellar ( i.e. a box in my parents’ basement that maintains a perfect 50 degrees F year round – amazing!!) but the resounding flavor when I tasted it was LEATHER – like a big old leather strap. One day I will bring myself to open it and tell you all about it. For now, I will have to see if there are any other beauties up in the mountains that I can bring home.
Enjoy the last week of relaxation before the new year!
mumura 
2 responses to “Off to Leavenworth, WA we go…”
I haven’t tried the Icicle Ridge Cab Franc. Have you tasted the Wedge Mtns Cab Franc? I’ve always been a big fan.
How about Boudreaux? It’s really worth taking the time to make an appointment and go taste with Rob. His wines aren’t cheap but they sure are tasty.
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Hi Geordie,
Icicle Ridge stopped making the Cab Franc a few years back apparently – I’ve now promised one of the ladies in the tasting room that I will email her when I taste the bottle of 2003 Cab Franc to let her know what its like. Apparently the winemaker never keeps any of his wines – crazy? Maybe – but nonetheless…
re: Boudreaux, I couldn’t afford his tasting fee!! My dad and I were tasting together (my first full-on chance to show him my new WSET-earned skills) and went into the shop. It was beautiful and we were both so excited to see the wines on their menu. I just don’t want to spend so much for tasting and be guaranteed to spend at least $30 per bottle – many places on the same strip of shops had tastings for $2 and bottles less than $20. When there is such competition, I would have hoped for a bit more courting as a consumer. I had a LOT of fun in Leavenworth though – Bella Terrazza 2009 Reisling (grapefruit on the nose, white pepper on the tongue) is the standout at this stage!!
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