A selection of wine from Milbrandt Vineyards was featured at this year’s Holiday Tasting. They were so popular that we decided to showcase their entire line of red wines (those that are currently available anyway) at this week’s tasting. Altogether there will be a Syrah, Red blend, two Merlots and two Cabernet Sauvignons from two tiers of “quality,” ‘the Traditions’ and ‘the Estates’ labels.

Milbrandt ‘The Traditions’ wines– “The Traditions wines blend fruit from Milbrandt estate and neighboring vineyards throughout Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. Forward, balanced and drinkable upon release, they focus on the character and personality of the individual grape variety.”

Milbrandt ‘The Estates’ wines– “The Estates wines are sourced primarily from Milbrandt estate vineyards. Produced in limited quantities, they capture the personality of the grape and the character of the soils and climate. Intensely flavored and highly aromatic, these wines are rich, concentrated and complex.”

Milbrandt Vineyards– “Farming is in our blood. Our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all made their living working the land. Eastern Washington is in our blood. We came here as young children and have always called it home. When we planted our first vines in 1997 we were entering uncharted territory. Today, we farm 12 distinct estate vineyard sites totaling more than 2,300 acres. Our grapes are purchased by some of the most prestigious wineries in the state. Our own winery, launched in 2005, produces highly-individualistic wines from our estate and neighboring vineyards.

We were very careful about matching the right variety to the right site. Our goal was to be the best growers in the state. From the start, demand for our grapes was immediate and overwhelming.

As farmers, there is nothing more satisfying than controlling the quality and style of your product from start to finish. In June of 2007 we launched the Milbrandt Vineyards label.”

Milbrandt Traditions Syrah 2010– Columbia Valley, Washington. Vineyards: 59% Katherine Leone, 38% Clifton, 3% Clifton Bluff. A blend of 92% Syrah, 8% Grenache. “Barrel aged for 16 months in French and American oak. 1,000 cases produced. The 2010 Syrah is supple and generous with layered aromas of blackberry, boysenberry and hints of raspberry harmoniously weaved with caramel, spice and vanilla. This ruby red wine is well-balanced with a lush mid-palate followed by a soft, lingering finish.” $13.99

Milbrandt Traditions Brother’s Blend 2011– Columbia Valley, Washington. A blend of 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 17% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 10% Grenache, 9% Tempranillo. “Barrel aged for 16 months in American oak. 7,900 cases produced. The Brother’s Blend red wine offers enticing aromas of fresh blueberry, cherry, plum and vanilla. The palate is robust yet supple, with generous flavors of dark berry, dense cocoa, vanilla and a hint of spice that is beautifully framed by polished tanning and a long, toasty finish.” $13.99

Milbrandt Traditions Merlot 2010– Columbia Valley, Washington. Vineyards: Clifton, Clifton Hill, Talcott, Wahluke Slope. A blend of 87% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Syrah. “Barrel aged 12 months in French and American oak. 8,600 cases produced. The Merlot is round and rich with classic aromas of ripe dark red fruit, blackberry and hints of vanilla. Supple tannins, a full mid-palate and a long finish make the Merlot a delicious pairing with Cornish game hen, shepherd’s pie and gnocchi.” $13.99

Milbrandt The Estates Merlot 2010– Wahluke Slope, Washington. Vineyards: 36% Northridge, 35% Katherine Leone, 29% Clifton Hill. “A blend of 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 3,150 cases produced. A beautiful dark red color, the 2010 Estate Merlot has aromas of cocoa, cassis and tree ripened plums with notes of maple and vanilla. This wine offers flavors of red berries, cherry and spice. It is full-bodied with elegant structure and a lingering, silky finish.” 90 Wine Spectator- “Supple and focused, offering black cherry and tobacco flavors on a generous frame, with a hint of mint. The texture opens as the finish lingers.” $20.99

Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 2011– Columbia Valley, Washington. Vineyards: Katherine Leone, Clifton Bluff, Wahluke Slope, Northridge, Clifton. “A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. 16,400 cases produced. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and rich with classic Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of ripe plum, blackberry and subtle notes of mint. Layered dark cherry and mocha flavors, paired with gentle tannins and a full, luscious finish, make this Cabernet Sauvignon an impeccable pairing with roasted meats, cassoulet or barbecue.” $13.99

Milbrandt The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011– Wahluke Slope, Washington. Vineyards: 38% Northridge, 35% Wahluke Slope, 27% Clifton Hill. 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3,000 cases produced. “The Estates bottling is dense, full-bodied and complex. Black cherry, chocolate and coffee flavors and velvety mid-palate lead to a long, expressive finish. This wine pairs beautifully with rich protein dishes such as steak, lamb and duck.” $20.99