Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery apparently owns the largest estate vineyard in Washington state, spanning approximately 2000 acres. They are situated near Benton City WA, adjacent to the Red Mountain AVA. Goose Ridge provides five labels: Goose Ridge Estate, g3, Tall Sage, Stonecap and Cascadian Outfitters. All their wines are made with estate fruit.
Tasting Notes are from Goose Ridge
2017 First Flight Red Blend
Expressive aromas of blueberry and blackberry layered with hints of mocha. Intense fruit flavors of red cherry, plum, and huckleberry are accented with baking spices.
$28 bottle/$336 case
Rating 4.0 - very dry, grippy tannins. blend of malbec, merlot, petite sirah, petit verdot
2017 Sharp Tailed Grouse
This a beautiful blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache. Aromas of fresh strawberries, fresh herbs, and savory game.
The palate is juicy with flavors of cherries and white pepper.
$39 bottle/$468 case
Rating 4.4 - savory bacon, game, nice complexity, smooth finish, best slightly chilled
2017 Syrah
Velvety texture and fragrant spicy floral aromas. Flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, and marionberry. Kris Pairs with crispy Brussel Sprouts with bacon.
$38 bottle/$456 case
Rating 4.1 - easy drinking, smooth, linear
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Concentrated aromas of dark cherry layered with hints of herbs and tobacco. Juicy notes of dark berry and currant. Matt enjoys this wine with cheese, tapenade, and salami.
$42 bottle/$504 case
Rating 4.2 - juicy smooth currants, nice structure with a soft finish; light cab.
2017 Reserve Malbec
Full of dark cherry, blackberry, and cassis. Big and rich velvety mouthfeel with a long finish and hints of white pepper and spice. Becky drinks this wine every chance she gets.
$55 bottle/$660 case
Rating 4.3 - luscious, velvety
I was fortunate to also try the 2018 Vireo a equal 3 way blend of Cab, Merlot, Syrah. It was savory on the nose with nice cherry, floral notes, and minerality. Smooth and complex, rating 4.4., priced at $45. Unfortunately they were out of the Sol Duc. These latter 2 are their "flagships" so to speak, and I will need to return to check it out.
They also had a nice 2017 Red Breasted Merganser Reserve Syrah ($52, sale $39) which I preferred over their standard Syrah, rating 4.3.
Their Artist Series wines were outstanding. They feature some beautiful art work collaboration. I tried the bordeaux style blends. I side by side tasted the merlot dominant 2019 Grand Canyon Reserve Bordeaux Blend ($54, rating 4.3) vs the cab dominant 2019 Smoky Mountains Reserve Bordeaux Blend ($54, rating 4.4) and preferred the latter slightly more.
The 2018 English Rose Reserve Bordeaux Blend ($52) was excellent boasting a beautiful nose of vanilla, with bright cherries and light smooth refreshing finish on the palate, rating 4.5. The artwork is also gorgeous.
Finally there most premium bottle, the 2014 Goose Mountain Estate Echelon ($65), is a limited production wine. A Merlot and Cab Franc blend, showing a nice velvety lush plum with great structured tannins. Rating 4.6.
I thoroughly enjoyed my tasting experience, and the wines at Goose Ridge. I will definitely be back and hope to get a side by side of their Viero and Sol Duc. In the end I purchased a couple bottles of the 2017 Sharp Tailed Grouse, and got it at a sale price, as well as the beautiful 2018 English Rose Reserve Bordeaux Blend.
