Tasting Notes
Current notes on wines available for purchase.
Chasselas Doré
When available. We have not made a Chasselas since the 2006 vintage due to damage to the vineyard from disease and various pests, like raccoons and birds. This grape comes from one of the oldest vineyards in western Washington. Known as the Back Bay Vineyard, it was planted originally to the Island Belle grape sometime in the 1920s. The Chasselas Doré was planted later, about 1940. It is light, and delicate, and reminds of rice wine with hints of pear.
2007 Semillon
One of the great, lesser known grape varieties in the world of wine. In Bordeaux, it plays an important backup role to Sauvignon Blanc, which by itself tends to be a bit herbaceous. However, in eastern Washington it takes on a bit of this grassiness and becomes its own wine. It is at once fruity, rich and distinctive for its acid edge. It reminds of pear with a tint of tomato leaf.

This wine pairs well with white fish, goat cheese, and a tomato garnish. Its soul-mate is black cod. And amazingly this wine will out age many white wines.
2007 Cabernet Franc
These grapes come from the Upland Vineyards in Sunnyside, kind of central Yakima Valley. Cabernet Franc is one of the main grapes of Bordeaux, and it does particularly well in an area known as the Right Bank, the right bank of the Gironde River, an estuary much like Puget Sound. It is often blended with Merlot. It is one of the three grapes used in our (Anniversary) Reserve Red. It is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; in fact, it is the parent of both of those grapes. Franc brings a touch of herbs, or tea leaves, and provides a kind of linear taste sensation that remains in the back of the palate.

Serve this with lighter dishes such as pork, turkey, or grilled portabello mushroom filled with herbed cheese.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine shows off the full richness of this vintage. It combines power and fruit concentration with acidity. These grapes came from the Dwelley Vineyard in Walla Walla. It has lots of ripe raspberry fruit characteristics with a fullness of flavor balanced by good acidity. This wine will continue to change and develop richer flavors with another five years of age.

Serve this with full rich meat or vegetable dishes like roasts.
  2009 Merlot
A youthful wine from grapes grown at Upland Vineyards. This wine is at once fruity and elegant and reminds of a wine from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. It has nice up-front fruit but with flavors that linger toward the back of the palate.

Serve this with lamb, or pork or rich poultry dishes. It will continue to fatten up with three to five more years.
2009 Grenache
A new grape variety for us. Grenache has always intrigued me, especially when it expresses a peppery quality, similar to fresh-ground black pepper. It is a major component of Cotes-du-Rhone wines, usually enhanced by a touch of Viognier and a bit more of Syrah. Our version is Grenache with a bit of Viognier co-fermented together. It is medium weight, fruity, and dry at the same time…and there is a hint of the pepper in the aromas and the back of the palate.

This is your grill wine,  or your deck wine; serve with grilled sausages, or BBQed chicken.
Tramp Harbor Rosé
At the start of fermentation of the Grenache wine we remove some of the juice and ferment it separately to produce a rosé-type wine. This wine was very popular but we only make about ten cases each year. It ranges in color from very delicate to light red.

Chilled, it works well with summer fare.
Tramp Harbor Red
Our blended table wine. This wine is made in batches of four barrels, with one of the barrels coming from the previous batch. Currently we are selling batch #9, which is a combination of ’08 Merlot from Walla Walla, ’09 Merlot from Upland Vineyard, ’09 Syrah from Walla Walla and a barrel of batch #8. This wine is rich and sweet tasting, not of sugar, but of ripe round fruit.

Ready to drink now, it goes with just about everything.
2009 Pinot Noir
Island-grown grapes by Joe and Tony at Monument Farm Vineyards. This is probably the most fun wine. It is from grapes close to home and reflects the terrior of this special place. This wine is difficult to understand as it shows true Pinot Noir character, both in its cherry/strawberry fruitiness but also in its slightly vegetative quality, like a great Burgundy. Don’t let the light red color fool you. This wine is going to age and become a dark red wine with great complex flavors, for those with patience (and a wine cellar).

This can be served with salmon or pork roast.
Claire Red
This is a fun wine made for my daughter, Claire. She asked if I would make a red wine that was lighter and smooth. This is a blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Tramp Harbor Red. It is fruity and dry, medium weight and lingering, with aromas and flavors of raspberry.

Serve this with light seafood, cheese, or spicy dishes.
Irvine’s Vintage Cider, Vintage Blend
This is a blend of European cider apples made from a variety of sources. It is crushed and pressed at the winery using a cheese press, then fermented to dryness, settled, then racked into oak barrel where it sits for a year aging. It is then racked again, sugar and yeast are added, then the cider is put into 500ml bottles and capped with a wired porcelain cap.
It is dry and creamy and not too unlike a good champagne (definitely a small c). 

Open Sundays also, 2-5pm, during the summer months until September 1.