2016 Sangiovese Waterbrook Winery

Washinton State’s Columbia valley wineries come up with surprises. Here’s a classic Italian varietal, Sangiovese, produced in the Walla Walla AVA. Each grows its grapes in different climates.

· Tuscany is in Italy’s upper NW corner with hot summers and mild winters; there is very little rainfall.

· Walla Walla on the Columbia River averages 19” of rain and 9” of snow.

Which means you can have the best of both worlds! The winemakers of Tuscany use different applications from the Waterbrook winemaker. As an example, I enjoy Moon Drop grapes, and I enjoy Bing cherries. Each is different from the other, but good.

Waterbrook Icon Sangiovese; served chilled.

Taste=3: After the pour, its nose is fruity. At first taste, the dark cherry jumps to the front. Next, you “gotta chew” this wine for its strawberry, mocha, and plum. Also, it has a medium texture without a big tannin finish.

The usual food pairing doesn’t quite fit its fruity nature… maybe cheeses, soups, salads & seafoods?

Looks=3: The winemaker used genuine cork; it is a young red can use aging. It comes in a dark brown Bordeaux bottle for cellaring. It shows a dark red color with good legs in the glass. The label is a plain-Jane, basic info, and that’s all you need to know.

Cost=2: This Washington State varietal is competitive with products from Tuscany. It gives the buyer other options for different Sangiovese applications.