Wednesday, Jul. 09, 2008

Chinook celebrates 25th anniversary; Mercer Estates prepares for debut

By Bob Woehler, Special to the Herald

Prosser is often considered the cradle of the Washington wine industry because of its history as a center for wine research and as the site of some of the state's oldest wineries.

Now it's seeing a new generation of wineries pop up. Today's column focuses on one of Prosser's oldest and one of its newest. Chinook Winery is celebrating its 25th year, while nearby Mercer Estates Winery is opening later this summer in a brand new facility.

Chinook Winery -- The first thing that strikes you about the winery's wife and husband team of Kay Simon and Clay Mackey, besides their wines, is their dedication to food.

Located off Interstate 82 at exit 82, the winery is in a picturesque old farmhouse shaded by tall trees. The tasting room is cozy, with the owners on hand to serve guests. And almost as prevalent as the wines are recipe books.

The hallmark of Chinook's wines is their finesse. They are uniformly clean, superbly balanced and food-friendly.

2006 cabernet franc, Yakima Valley, $20.99 -- If Chinook can't make you a cabernet franc lover, no one can. This one is soft and fruit driven with dried cherries and vanilla plus hints of plums. Kay says it goes great with Estouffade Provençal beef stew with garlic, thyme and orange zest.

2007 cabernet franc rosé $14.99 -- Rosé color with essences of fresh Rainier cherries and a dry, crisp finish. It's great in Sangria, but try it alone with an asparagus and wild rice salad topped with bits of smoked salmon.

--On the Net: www.chinookwines.com

Mercer Estates Winery is just down the street not far from Hogue Cellars. It's a joint venture of Mike Hogue and Bud Mercer, both from pioneer Prosser farm families. Joining them is David Forsyth, longtime head winemaker at Hogue Cellars. Mike sold his interest in Hogue Cellars in 2001 to an international wine company.

Planned production is 65,000 cases. The Mercer wines show off the skill of Forsyth and are a welcome addition to the Prosser scene.

2007 pinot gris, Columbia Valley, $14 -- It's bottled with a screwtop and offers yummy ripe peach and melon aromas and flavors. How about grilled chicken with mango sauce?

2005 merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, $24 -- Any merlot by Forsyth has to be good. Expect spice and chocolate cake with a touch of marzipan when you taste this smooth delicious red. How about a chocolate almond torte with whipped cream?

-- On the Net: www.mercerwine.com

* Bob Woehler has been writing a biweekly column about Pacific Northwest wines since 1978. E-mail him at bwoehler@charter.net or check out his past columns at www.winepressnw.com.

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