McCrea Cellars Counoise 08

This is one of the few bottlings of this varietal in the world!

Counoise (“coon-WAHZ”) is renowned for its brightness (good acidity) and explosion of red fruit aromas and flavors. The 2008 amply lives up to this reputation. It will be great with any foods where you might want a Pinot Noir. - the winery

Want to conduct a fascinating tasting? Try bottles of McCrea's Counoiuse, Mourvedre, Grenache, Viognier and Syrah wiht a bottle of McCrea's blend, Sirocco, and a bottle or two of Chateneuf du Pape or other Southern Rhone blends. You can experience the grapes, one by one, and then try how they tasted blended together. Take apart a classic wine style, discover its components, and compare Doug's pioneering "New World Northwest" Rhone wine to the source.

Wine & Spirits gave 88 points to the 2003 vintage: "This counoise, drawn from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, has a brick-like, saturated red quality about it-red berry compote scents sweetened by brown sugar-oak notes. Its flavors are every bit as red, with a waxy texture that would pair well with chicken alla mattone (roasted under a brick)."

From the winery:

2004 was a year of many challenges. It began with a devastating freeze in January that permanently damaged many Washington vineyards, particularly in the Walla Walla valley. Fortunately, Rhone varietals are far more winter hardy than anyone would have imagined. Most of our fruit was not affected. The summer was one of the hottest on record, suggesting a very early harvest. But late August cooled and even brought some rain, which slowed sugar development while promoting good acidity and proper physiological maturity. We had a relatively normal harvest from mid-September through late October. The '04 wines are very promising; the fruit characteristics are similar to 2002 and 2003. We anticipate good complexity and intensity, with even better acid and pH ratios than prior vintages.

A pioneer of Rhone varietals in Washington State, winemaker Doug McCrea transforms grapes from the finest Yakima Valley, Red Mountain and Columbia Valley vineyards into wines of extraordinary depth, balance, complexity and finesse. Annual Production: 4000 cases of Syrah, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne and Counoise.