Powers Winery in the Richland WA, has been producing wines for longer than most other wineries in the state – its legacy extends back to 1982, which for WA is a decently long time. Started by brothers Greg and Bill Powers, they also produce wine under another label called Badger Mountain. It was also one of the first wineries in our state to transition to 100% organic grapes back in 1992 – long before it was the savvy thing to do.

2006 Reserve Meritage: W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Technical Data:

• Vineyard Sources and Grape Varities: 31% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coyote Vineyard (Wahluke), 22% Merlot from Katharine Leone (Wahluke Slope, Milbrant), 21% Malbec from Goose Ridge (Columbia Valley), 18% Petite Verdot from Alice Vineyard (Wahluke), and 8% Cabernet Franc from the Estate (Columbia Valley)
• Copperage:  The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec both were in new wood (French), the rest in 3-4 yr old. 
• Bottled in August of 2008
• ph: N/A
• Alcohol: 14.2% 
•  240 cases made
• Price: $35

Nose: Blackberries, tar, pie crust and some herbaceousness.

Taste: Black plum, blackberry and black cherries combined with some leather, sweaty sock, firm tannins and a finish that lingers quite well. This wine should easily lay down for the next 5-10 years. 

2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Technical Data: 

• Vineyard Source: Champoux Vineyard
• AVA:  Horse Heaven Hills
• Release Date: 04-01-09
• Alcohol:14.5%
• Residual Sugar:0.0
• Acidity:0.62 
• pH 3.74
• Price: $30

Nose: Obvious cherries, blackberries and big league chew, pomagrante, brussel sprouts on the nose along with some vanilla-laced tobacco. 

Taste: I get dried cherry, shoe-leather, dark chocolate, tobacco, anise, not a bad mouth-feel, hints of smoothness and a good finish. This wine would be a natural pairing with prime rib or grilled steaks topped with blue-cheese; however, at it’s price of $30, there are some better values out there – to me this wine is currently bringing about a $20 experience.

Winery website:  www.powerswinery.com

Winemaker, Chuck Reininger, of Reininger Winery in Walla Walla WA has been producing premium wines from the fruit of local Walla Walla vineyards for over a decade now. Along with his primary label of Reininger, Chuck also launched another label called Helix – this wine always features grapes sourced from the Columbia Valley which opens up a new direction for him and the style of wines he wants to produce. For those who may now know, Columbia Valley has been growing wine-grapes for a much longer time than Walla Walla and still has arguably the best fruit in the state.

In this review, we look at their Sangiovese and Pomatia:

2005 Sangiovese: W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Vineyards: Stillwater Creek Vineyard 

• Blend: 100% Sangiovese 
• Total acidity  g/100ml
• Cases Produced 327
• Price: $30

Nose: Some good bluebeery components at play along with bubble-gum, rhubarb and some veggie action. 

Taste: Peppered bacon with some eucalyptus and tart rhubarb on the front-to-mid palate. Good spice, pencil lead, pepper and a striking finish of dark fruit on the end – good finish and acidity which makes this wine an easy pick for many types of food. 

2005 Pomatia: W.E.P. Rating: 120%

• Vineyards: Ash Hollow, Bacchus, Minnick, Pepper Bridge, Phinny Hill, Pleasant, Seven Hills, Stillwater Creek
• Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Syrah
• Cooperage: 52% French, 42% American, 8% Russian Oak, 9% New Oak 
• Bottled: August 2007
• pH 3.9
• Total acidity: .593 g/100ml 
• Production:  3265 Cases
• Price: $21 

Nose: Elmers glue, blackberry, blueberry and some road-kill funk – some nice black pepper, and smoked paprika. 

Taste: Huge black fruit on the front palate – an onslaught of blackberries, black plum and black cherries for days. I get some stellar hints of dark chocolate, pepper, leather mit and some char. Its finish lasts a long time – the tannin struture on this wine is stellar for its price point and the overall finesse it has proves to be one of the more memorable wines I’ve had at this price.  Nice lingering finish of fresh black fruits, pencil lead, ink and leather.

Winery Website: www.reiningerwinery.com