Note from the Winemaker

Notes from the Winemaker

February 16, 2008

Happy New Year!

Many of you who read my “note from the winemaker” from late last year may remember my remarking on how incredible the 2005 vintage has been showing from Washington State. In 2008 Woodinville Wine Cellars will be releasing, starting in March, our first “Reserve” wine since the 2002 Conner Lee Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which some of you may remember.

The 2005 Reserve Cabernet is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard and may be the finest offering from this winery to date. The grapes came from block 40, planted with Clone 8 rootstock and were aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months.

As my tastings progressed during 2007 it was difficult to decide what was the best fit for all of these great lots, my hardest decision was splitting up both the amazing Merlot and Cabernet from their single vineyard bottling and incorporating them into the 2005 Ausonius to be released in May 2008. The result is not only an amazing new Ausonius, but I think you will find the single vineyard Merlot (released November 2007) and the Reserve Cabernet a great testimate to Stillwater Creek and the quality of Washington wines.

This wine starts with a full “engaging” nose of black currant, cassis, licorice and tobacco. The flavors saturate the palate, with cocoa, cherry, currant, and chocolate. The finish has firm tannins and a resistant length that proves this is a special bottle of wine well deserving of the label “Reserve”. This wine will see its peak in two years and will continue to evolve for the next 10 years.

The 2005 Reserve Cabernet will be available to Wine Club Members only from February 18 until our release party, on a first come fist serve basis. Our release party for this wine will be March 15-16. See our Events page for more details.

After these dates, if there is anything left, we will be selling to the public from the winery directly—this wine will not be available in any retail stores. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary wine! We think you will love it as much as we do.

Cheers,

Sean Boyd
Winemaker

August 24, 2007

The 2005 vintage is as great a vintage as Washington has had in a long time, and the 2005 wines from Woodinville Wine Cellars are proof. Many of the barrels that we typically blend into our Ausonius wine were so promising on their own that it was a challenge deciding whether to blend them in Ausonius or showcase them on their own as a single varietal. We ended up doing both; we have not only an outstanding blend for Ausonius which promises to be a world class wine but two single varietal wines--Reserve Cabernet and Merlot from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard.

In September we will be offering for sale our second release of the very popular Little Bear Creek which is anything but “little.” Also, our ever popular Syrah which we co-fermented with a touch of Viognier in whole clusters on top of the Syrah making this one of our most amazing Syrahs to date.

In November we will be releasing two smaller production wines—O.M.O. and Merlot . The second vintage of O.M.O (Odd Man Out) made with a 50/50 blend of Petite Verdot and Malbec will blow you away with intense fruit and a nose that fills the room. Don’t hesitate! Merlot is a wine that we only produce in extraordinary vintages and the 2005 was indeed extraordinary. Most people wouldn’t guess this was a Merlot because it so rich and complex. Pure melted chocolate in a bottle! When Washington Merlot is on, it’s hard to beat.

Last but definitely not least, 2005 blessed us with our best Ausonius to date and...drum roll please… our first Reserve Cabernet since the 2002 vintage. There are only 100 cases of the Cabernet Reserve, but I think this wine proves that Washington wines are on par with any on the planet. Look for the Ausonius and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon to be released in February/March 2008.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We are glad to have you as part of the Woodinville Wine Cellars family.

Cheers,

Sean Boyd
Winemaker


Home Page Notes from the Winemaker Wines Awards Wooden Logo Boxes Order Form Events Wine Club Mailing List Contact Us/ Directions About Us Tasting Room Artwork Art Culinaire	Notes from the Winemaker February 16, 2008 Happy New Year! Many of you who read my “note from the winemaker” from late last year may remember my remarking on how incredible the 2005 vintage has been showing from Washington State. In 2008 Woodinville Wine Cellars will be releasing, starting in March, our first “Reserve” wine since the 2002 Conner Lee Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which some of you may remember. The 2005 Reserve Cabernet is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard and may be the finest offering from this winery to date. The grapes came from block 40, planted with Clone 8 rootstock and were aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months. As my tastings progressed during 2007 it was difficult to decide what was the best fit for all of these great lots, my hardest decision was splitting up both the amazing Merlot and Cabernet from their single vineyard bottling and incorporating them into the 2005 Ausonius to be released in May 2008. The result is not only an amazing new Ausonius, but I think you will find the single vineyard Merlot (released November 2007) and the Reserve Cabernet a great testimate to Stillwater Creek and the quality of Washington wines. This wine starts with a full “engaging” nose of black currant, cassis, licorice and tobacco. The flavors saturate the palate, with cocoa, cherry, currant, and chocolate. The finish has firm tannins and a resistant length that proves this is a special bottle of wine well deserving of the label “Reserve”. This wine will see its peak in two years and will continue to evolve for the next 10 years. The 2005 Reserve Cabernet will be available to Wine Club Members only from February 18 until our release party, on a first come fist serve basis. Our release party for this wine will be March 15-16. See our Events page for more details. After these dates, if there is anything left, we will be selling to the public from the winery directly—this wine will not be available in any retail stores. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary wine! We think you will love it as much as we do. Cheers, Sean Boyd Winemaker August 24, 2007 The 2005 vintage is as great a vintage as Washington has had in a long time, and the 2005 wines from Woodinville Wine Cellars are proof. Many of the barrels that we typically blend into our Ausonius wine were so promising on their own that it was a challenge deciding whether to blend them in Ausonius or showcase them on their own as a single varietal. We ended up doing both; we have not only an outstanding blend for Ausonius which promises to be a world class wine but two single varietal wines--Reserve Cabernet and Merlot from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. In September we will be offering for sale our second release of the very popular Little Bear Creek which is anything but “little.” Also, our ever popular Syrah which we co-fermented with a touch of Viognier in whole clusters on top of the Syrah making this one of our most amazing Syrahs to date. In November we will be releasing two smaller production wines—O.M.O. and Merlot . The second vintage of O.M.O (Odd Man Out) made with a 50/50 blend of Petite Verdot and Malbec will blow you away with intense fruit and a nose that fills the room. Don’t hesitate! Merlot is a wine that we only produce in extraordinary vintages and the 2005 was indeed extraordinary. Most people wouldn’t guess this was a Merlot because it so rich and complex. Pure melted chocolate in a bottle! When Washington Merlot is on, it’s hard to beat. Last but definitely not least, 2005 blessed us with our best Ausonius to date and...drum roll please… our first Reserve Cabernet since the 2002 vintage. There are only 100 cases of the Cabernet Reserve, but I think this wine proves that Washington wines are on par with any on the planet. Look for the Ausonius and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon to be released in February/March 2008. Thank you for your ongoing support. We are glad to have you as part of the Woodinville Wine Cellars family. Cheers, Sean Boyd Winemaker	Sean Boyd Winemaker