We pose a question: If your name was Charles and you owned a winery with a partner whose first name also was Charles, what would you call your wines? For Charles Biener and Charles Smith of Washington state, it could only be Charles & Charles.
As it so happens, Washington state is rapidly becoming a major player in the growing of fine wine grapes in this country. While it has not surpassed the famed wine grape counties of California, the state has become the go-to place for many winemakers during this period of global warming.
Winemakers have been warned of the possibilities of losing their treasured Napa and Sonoma wine baskets in ways similar to what is currently occurring in other wine grape regions like Australia, Sicily and Greece. Many of the California wine grape growers have been buying land in Oregon and Washington state, as well as Canada’s British Columbia.
But we digress and should return to Charles & Charles and their wines from Washington state. The vineyards are blessed with a much cooler climate than the often very even and expectable climate of California wine grape-growing counties.
Washington state has proven to be a perfect climate for burgundian grapes, pinot noir and chardonnay. In Burgundy, because of its northern France location, grapes often have to be fully ripened before winter shuts them down. However, when they do achieve full maturity, the wines they make are superb. So it is in Washington state, and when the weather is willing, the grapes oblige with a beautiful vintage as it did in 2011 and 2012.
Charles & Charles 2012 Chardonnay ($12)Throughout the entire process of making this wine, extra care was taken from the picking of the grapes to the care taken during winemaking.
All of this tender loving care resulted in a wine of distinguished character and distinction that features the aromas of citrus, golden delicious apple, vanilla and subtle spice from the toasted oak, along with a delicate mineral and lemon-lime hidden behind star jasmine and honeysuckle notes. Unlike many of today's wimpy chardonnays, this wine has a long, fruity and interesting finish. One characteristic emphasized in this wine is the creamy feeling it has in the mouth, which is truly the sign of a better wine.
Try this wine with shellfish and other seafood, as well as almost any chicken-based meal. We thoroughly enjoyed this wine and believe you will too.
Charles & Charles 2011 Red Blend ($12)The Charles & Charles 2011 Red Blend comprises 72 percent cabernet sauvignon with 28 percent syrah to add more interest and depth to the wine.
The wine has an inviting red color, a medium body and presents the familiar aroma of cassis blackberry and violets with hints of chocolate residing in the background. Most of these aromas carry over to the flavor, where they mingle with a suggestion of raspberries and soft spices.
The wine is very open and easy to drink. There is also no need for any further bottle aging - it is ready to drink right now. It is the perfect accompaniment for lamb, grilled beef dishes and full-flavored cheese.
Charles & Charles 2012 Rose ($12)More and more, rose wines are losing the stigma of inexpensive pink sweet wines of the past and are regaining their prominence of old as an elegant full fruit-flavored “goes with everything” wine.
This offering from Washington state helps to resurrect the style's former glory. The wine was made from mostly syrah grapes and proudly displays the aromas of strawberries and cherry with a very positive mineral background, which carry on to the flavor and the finish.
We found this to be a wine that is easy to drink, enjoyable and an excellent buy for the money.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and manages ArticlesOnWine.com. He can be reached at frojhe1@att.net.
