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Press Reviews

Northwest Palate | July/August 2008

Northwest Cellars

2005 Intrigue, Columbia Valley

The herbal-focused nose includes dried sage and grass, plus notes of leather and dried dark fruit. On the palate bright brambly black fruit flavors are plush with earthy accents of pine boughs. The savory qualities are mitigated by good fruit concentration and chocolate on the finish. Well balanced, the tannins compensate for the lushness of the fruit. Drink with green peppercorn steak. Good value. (50% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot; 1,000 cases made.)

Wine Press Northwest | Winter 2007-2008

Northwest Cellars

2004 Merlot, WA

"Excellent."

"This Kirkland, Wash., operation makes wines with the idea that you will want to order some with personalized labels. Additionally, it is making its products available through wine retailers with beautiful Northwest-centric scenes on its labels. This Merlot from Washington's oldest wine-growing region is superb, thanks to aromas of black pepper, raspberries, moist earth, black cherries and black olives. The medium-bodied flavors are rich with notes of dark plums, black cherries and chocolate. Assertive tannins back up the flavors and have us thinking about opening it with a grilled ribeye."

Northwest Palate | July/August 2007

Northwest Cellars

2004 Rachel Red, WA

"Light perfume of sandalwood and graham surrounds a sense of red fruit and rose petal in the nose. On the palate, cassis and blackberry fruitiness is appealingly juicy. The youthful tautness and somewhat angular tannins call for 1—2 years of cellaring to smooth out. (1,000 cases made; 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc; available at www.northwestcellars.com and select Seattle restaurants; a portion of sales benefits the Pike Place Market Foundation.)

Wine Press Northwest | Winter 2006/2007

10 great things to do in Northwest wine country

2. Design Your Own Wine Label

Bob Delf of Kirkland, Wash., continues to expand his unique negociant project called Northwest Cellars, which allows customers to create labels that he affixes to bottles holding his growing line of wines. His current releases, which retail from $13 to $24 per bottle, include a white blend from the Walla Walla Valley, a red blend that includes Red Mountain fruit, a Yakima Valley Merlot and two sparklers from the Willamette Valley. Delf's clients include hotels restaurants, businesses for use as promotional or corporate gifts, and anyone who wants to add a personal touch. Minimum order is 12 bottles. For more information, visit northwestcellars.com or call 866-421-WINE.

WINE REVIEWS - recent releases

Northwest Cellars
2005 Chardonnay-Viognier
Walla Walla Valley, 325 cases, $15

Bob Delf's slogan with his custom-label wine business is, "Now it gets personal." He's getting more serious, too, evidenced by this 75/25 blend of pricey Walla Walla fruit. Nice lemon, some orange zest, spice and oak form the aromatics. Inside, the structure rides the line between fruit-forward — refreshing citrus — and oak-driven with butterscotch and creaminess. A good dose of late acidity and a touch of pithy bitterness should find fans among either crowd. Try with corn chowder or lobster.

Wine Press Northwest | Spring 2007

Winepress NW rated this wine "Excellent" and "Best Buy"!

2004 Northwest Cellars Red

" ... inside is this charming wine of Cab (51%), Merlot (25%), and Cab Franc. A sweet nose of brownies, plums, cooked cherries and cassis is met on the tongue by smooth and complex flavors of bright cherries, red licorice, vanilla, and allspice."