April Pogue
GENERAL MANAGER, GRAND CRU
April Pogue runs a tight ship at Grand Cru, the new Bellevue wine bar and shop where every Friday the sparklers go pop during TGIC, Thank Goodness It’s Champagne. Before Grand Cru, she worked wine at Earth and Ocean and Yarrow Bay Grill.
WHITE
2007 Dusted Valley Vintners Viognier, $26
Yakima Valley, Washington
An amazing acidity balances this full-bodied white. It tastes of stone fruits and white flowers, and has a crisp finish.
2007 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Chardonnay, $35
Columbia Valley, Washington
As close to a perfect chard as you can come: Balanced, with juicy citrus, crisp green apple, and a slight roundness that give way to a creamy finish.
ROSÉ
2008 Cedergreen Cellars Viola Rosé, $14
Columbia Valley, Washington
This is a perfect summer wine: light and fruity with bright citrus and hints of strawberry.
RED
2006 Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte Red Blend, $20
Columbia Valley, Washington
This is a velvety wine with remarkable backbone and luscious fruit.
2007 Chinook Cabernet Franc, $22
Yakima Valley, Washington
Chinook’s cab is fruit forward and full bodied, with rewarding acid that lifts the palate to provide a light, floral finish.
2006 Laurelhurst Cellars Laurus Nobilis Red Blend, $28
Columbia Valley, Washington
A full-bodied blend whose fruit balances perfectly with its structure.
2006 Januik Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, $30
Columbia Valley, Washington
This value vino is full bodied, bold, spicy, balanced, and complex with dark plum, vanilla, and nutmeg notes.
2006 Bunnell Family Cellars Northridge Vineyard Mourvèdre, $38
Wahluke Slope, Washington
A full-bodied and balanced mourvèdre with earthy, spicy, dark fruit.
2006 JM Cellars Merlot, $38
Red Mountain, Washington
This inky, rich, full-bodied, smooth merlot has dark plum and spicy nutmeg flavors and medium tannins.
2006 Grande Rêve Collaboration Series II Syrah, $45
Red Mountain, Washington
It has an amazing sense of terroir balanced by its fruit (blackberry, cassis). France should grant this syrah an honorary citizenship.
Next: Michael Anderson, beverage director, 0/8 Seafood Grill and Twisted Cork Wine Bar
Published: September 2009
It would be great if there were links to the wineries and/or stores that sold these wines
Very interesting!
Agree with Thairu, a great list from Jeffrey Dorgan and others, but don’t make it so hard for us to follow up and find these wines if we want to try them…links would have been perfect….The Stevens Divio and the DeLille AIX are great!!
Really looking forward to trying out John Howie Steak in Bellevue’s Bravern – there has been a lot of talk around John Howie’s new establishment and from what I’m hearing so far, it’s really that good – a steakhouse w/ not only a dream team, but with soul – locally owned, locally sourced products, etc.
If you are looking for Watermill’s wine go to www.watermillwinery.com, they have an online store where you can buy the wine. Enjoy!