Chatter Creek 2008 Blend 105

Are you wine sleuths looking for an aged, elegant Bordeaux blend Big Red to get you through the winter chill that doesn’t set you back the equivalent of a January gas bill?  We have just the wine for this month’s Value Wine No. 1, the Chatter Creek 2008 Blend 105 from Columbia Valley, Washington.  Yes, that’s right, this Northwest Big Red is actually a 2008 vintage, meaning that it is perfectly aged at the vineyard and refined for your immediate enjoyment.   Reminiscent of a Right Bank Bordeaux, the Chatter Creek 2008 Blend 105 is a Merlot based blend, with helpful dollups of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc to complete the classic five Bordeaux blend varietals. The Blend 105 has a nose of blueberries and violets, with a front palate of cassis and blueberries, finishing with an earthy and elegant mouthfeel containing a hint of vanilla bean and almond.   The finish lingers for a minute or so, completing the delightful experience.   Conveniently finished with a screwcap, the Chatter Creek 2008 Blend 105 is a terrific picnic wines to complement your earthy and rich cheeses, and it is also a terrific candidate to pair with a grilled filet of beef or prime rib.   The past several vintages of the Blend 105 have been scored very favorably with various wine critics. The 2008 vintage received a very respectable 87 rating from Wine Spectator, which commented:  “This vibrant, deftly balanced style offers smoky, cola-accented black cherry flavors on a lithe structure, hinting at dusty earth notes as the finish lingers.”  Available on the Chatter Creek website (www.chattercreek.com) for $20, a clever sleuth can source this lovely Big Red for a few bucks less.   Thanks to our friends at Ronin Wines, I had the opportunity to meet founder and winemaker Gordon Rawson, who immediately conveyed his passion for his Chatter Creek wines and the Washington terrior from which its grapes are sourced.  One sip of the Chatter Creek 2008 Blend 105 All in all, we recommend that you run, don’t walk, to acquire the 2008 Blend 105 to start your cellar on a roll to celebrate the new year!