“All About the Blends” at Brian Carter Cellars
Nestled in the “Wine Alley” district of Woodinville is one of the Brian Carter Cellars tasting rooms, and it is a must visit when in the downtown area! With a beautiful outdoor area, lots of space inside, and a full kitchen, this winery boasts some amazing blends and perfectly paired dishes to complement their array of wines.
Brian Carter is well known in the wine industry for his amazingly precise blends which never disappoint. Not only does he have his own label, but he consults on many others due to his expertise when it comes to the art of blending. A visit to the Woodinville tasting room will give the customer a warm welcome by the awesome staff, and plenty of seating options from outdoor lounging to private tables and high tops, and just sitting around the bar which allows a view of everything going on. Members have their own space as well for a more intimate setting.
Upon our arrival we were greeted and chose to sit at the bar for the immersive experience as we watched several guests enjoying some sips and bites on a gorgeous Washington afternoon. The first pour in our glass was the 2014 Array Chardonnay, a Burgundian style which has the smallest inkling of Oak but rounds out just as quickly with peach and honey notes. We were lucky to drink it as it is very rarely available at the tasting room due to its popularity. There are few Chardonnays that catch my attention, but this was a future re-visit to the realm of Burgundian style Chards. Next, we moved on to the 2021 Abracadabra Rosé, a beautiful, blended porch pounder which is heavy on the Sangiovese, giving it the ripe strawberry and thicker taste than most Rosé made solely with Grenache. Dry, but tasty, would be a great pairing with sunshine, happiness, and friends.
After the Rosé, the 2018 Tuttorosso, a lovely Super Tuscan blend that combines white truffles with blackberries and floral notes, making for bold yet approachable Red. More impressive was the $34 price point for a bottle that could easily garner $50-$60 at any wine store. After the Tuttorosso was my favorite of the flight, the 2018 Le Coursier, a 93pt Gold Medal winner and delicious bold sipper with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon taking the helm with Cab Franc and Malbec rounding it out. My wife and I enjoyed this so much that we made sure to leave with a bottle as 1 oz. was not going to suffice. What really surprised me about this one was the tannin levels were perfect despite the big reds in the blend, which made it light tasting on mouthfeel, but the flavors were all strong and present.
Lastly, the 2016 Solesce Bordeaux style blend was a delicious conclusion to the flight, with a berries and vanilla nose and black fruit, perfect tannins, and a long finish on the palate. They also serve a 2017 Solesce but I feel the extra year in the bottle helped round out the tannins to the perfect silk feel with every sip. Overall, Brian Carter Cellars offers amazing blends and an equally amazing experience in their tasting room with knowledgeable staff, a tasty menu, and plenty of room to bring a large number of friends for an event or simply a Sunday afternoon sip session.
