Notes from the Winemaker

August 24, 2007

The 2005 vintage is as great a vintage as Washington has had in a long time, and the 2005 wines from Woodinville Wine Cellars are proof. Many of the barrels that we typically blend into our Ausonius wine were so promising on their own that it was a challenge deciding whether to blend them in Ausonius or showcase them on their own as a single varietal. We ended up doing both; we have not only an outstanding blend for Ausonius which promises to be a world class wine but two single varietal wines--Reserve Cabernet and Merlot from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard.

In September we will be offering for sale our second release of the very popular Little Bear Creek which is anything but “little.” Also, our ever popular Syrah which we co-fermented with a touch of Viognier in whole clusters on top of the Syrah making this one of our most amazing Syrahs to date.

In November we will be releasing two smaller production wines—O.M.O. and Merlot . The second vintage of O.M.O (Odd Man Out) made with a 50/50 blend of Petite Verdot and Malbec will blow you away with intense fruit and a nose that fills the room. Don’t hesitate! Merlot is a wine that we only produce in extraordinary vintages and the 2005 was indeed extraordinary. Most people wouldn’t guess this was a Merlot because it so rich and complex. Pure melted chocolate in a bottle! When Washington Merlot is on, it’s hard to beat.

Last but definitely not least, 2005 blessed us with our best Ausonius to date and...drum roll please… our first Reserve Cabernet since the 2002 vintage. There are only 100 cases of the Cabernet Reserve, but I think this wine proves that Washington wines are on par with any on the planet. Look for the Ausonius and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon to be released in February/March 2008.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We are glad to have you as part of the Woodinville Wine Cellars family.

Cheers,

Sean Boyd
Winemaker