Coeur d'Alene Cellars
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2006 Alder Ridge Vineyard Syrah
- $40
Tart and sappy, this brings spicy berry fruit into play, backed with bright, citrusy acids. The actual AVA is Horse Heaven Hills, but this Idaho winery is only allowed to use Washington since the grapes cross the border.
— P.G.
(12/1/2009)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2008 Viognier
- $20
Creamy and smooth, this barrel-fermented Viognier has peach and citrus fruit, with grace notes of ginger and nutmeg. There is even a hint of honey as it gathers strength in the back of the throat, with noticeable alcohol also.
— P.G.
(10/1/2010)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2007 Syrah
- $28
It’s a fine effort, with classic Washington Syrah character. Berry, funk, mushroom, and spicy herb dominate, with plenty of juicy acidity and the structure to unwind as it cellars. Still tight and tannic, this is a wine to decant or, better yet, wait a few years before opening.
— P.G.
(11/1/2010)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2006 Viognier
- Online Exclusive
- $18
This is Viognier treated as Chardonnay, which is to say barrel fermented and put through a percentage of malolactic fermentation, then aged on the lees for eight months. The floral and citrus character is damped back, and the wine acquires an unusual softness, rounding out what can sometimes be a bitterness in the finish. The 2006 lacks the pure hedonism of the 2005.
— P.G.
(3/1/2008)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2006 Envy Syrah
- $32
Also sourced from the McKinley Springs vineyard in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this is the regular Syrah compared with the Opulence, the reserve. The wines are clearly differentiated, the Envy showing rougher edges, tougher tannins and a more tannic, earthy character. There’s a strong herbal streak also; this wine definitely needs hearty foods to complement it.
— P.G.
(12/1/2009)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2008 Chardonnay
- Online Exclusive
- $20
Smooth and fruity, this shows the banana/tropical side of the grape, enlivened by some brighter Washington acidity. It’s creamy and carries a streak of vanilla into the finish.
— P.G.
(10/1/2010)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2008 Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
- $28
Pleasant red fruits awash in chocolaty oak craft an accessible, broadly open Syrah. Though it seems a bit generic, it is balanced and tasty; a good bottle for near-term drinking with simple grilled meats.
— P.G.
(12/15/2011)
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2006 BDX Red Wine
- Online Exclusive
- $32
Previous vintages have been very impressive. Here, for some reason, the wine falls a little flat. It does not have the lively snap to the midpalate that I remember from before, and the blend, though tasty enough, with a mix of tangy berries, somehow feels a bit generic.
— P.G.
(12/1/2009)
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