Maison Bleue - who knew?

brigcampbell · August 23, 2011, 10:22pm

Don’t know much about Washington wines but I was at wine exchange today and kept running into a label I have never seen before. Finally I gave up and looked one up on CT while in the store. TN consistently rave about the wine and the value, picked up the red jaja for $17 and will report back in this weekend.

Here are the notes:

Anthony_Lombardi · August 23, 2011, 10:47pm

They mainly focus on Rhones, but their Chardonnay is absolutely my favorite. They seem to be picking up a lot of momentum. Grenache and Mourvedre really are on the rise here and Maison Bleue is on the Grenache ground floor.

This market feels pretty insular sometimes, please do report back with what you think.

TR_Barry · August 23, 2011, 11:02pm

I will second what Anthony has said. At my former gig I had the privilege of offering John’s syrah to my clients. I’m a big fan of the Washington Rhone wines (white and red) and Maison is quickly making a great name for themselves.

Dick_Gearhart · August 24, 2011, 11:20am

Washington Wine Report (Sean Sullivan) has some very nice write ups about this producer. I recently placed my first order and am excited to try.

Doug_Hockersmith · August 24, 2011, 5:24pm

I think they are one of the best wa winerys. Bost the reds and whites are terrfic and the chardonnay I tried of theirs way probably the first chardonnay I’ve ever enjoyed.

Alan_Koehler · August 24, 2011, 5:55pm

We have not yet tried the reds but have really enjoyed their roussanne and marsanne bottlings.

Sean_P_Sullivan · August 25, 2011, 7:54pm

As Dick noted, I’ve written about this winery a number of times and am bullish about what Jon Martinez is up to. The latest Marsanne and Boushey Syrah releases are beyond extraordinary. Notes here:

http://www.wawinereport.com/2011/08/maison-bleue-thing-of-dreams.html

loren.grossman · August 25, 2011, 9:09pm

I think they are featured in this month’s WE article focusing on WA “Cult” wines

Hank_Gillespie · August 26, 2011, 2:16pm

Well, hopefully it bears no relationship to Chateau Blue, as in this report on Australian wines, from Monty Python’s Flying Circus :

A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world’s best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.

Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you’re really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is ‘beware’. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine’s armpit.

Hank

brigcampbell · August 26, 2011, 3:49pm

link doesn’t work…

[edit] working

Mike_Quetel · August 26, 2011, 4:06pm

link worked fine for me.

brigcampbell · August 27, 2011, 3:26am

2009 Maison Bleue Jaja - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (8/26/2011)
Pop and pour. Noticeable heat on the nose right through the finish. OK then, grab the dog and go for a 30 minute walk while it blows off. Dark garnet with purple edges around the rim. Nose with a little earth and raspberry. Some heat on the attack. Earthy cherry and raspberry liquor flavours. Stems showing on the backend. Strong acidity. Medium weight, good complexity, and medium finish. Very good QPR. Enjoyable food wine. Definite repurchase.

Posted from CellarTracker

brigcampbell · November 24, 2011, 12:00am

2010 Maison Bleue Marsanne Petite Joie Boushey Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (11/23/2011)
Uhhh… yowza! This is an amazingly terrific wine. Light gold color with a very slight green tint emanating from the glass as I move it around. Gentle aromas of pear and honeysuckle flowers on the nose hide the underlying complexity. Very sophisticated palate of grapefruit and pear wrapped in mouth-watering acidity. The fruit is contrasted with a hint of white pepper. The results all culminate in very long and entertaining finish. Outstanding. Unfortunately the “wine vultures” saw me getting excited about this wine as I played with it and now the “red heads” are circling my bottle of white…

Can’t dispute the high points previous tasters bestowed upon this beauty. I’m definitely repurchasing and with a few years under its belt this should evolve into something truly spectacular.

Posted from CellarTracker

Josh_Shields · November 24, 2011, 12:25am

I have two i bought from Full Pull; 2009’s La Montagnette and Le Midi Grenache because of all the great notes on CT. Prices are welcomed too. Both ran $32ish. Yet to crack one though.

Scott_Brunson · November 24, 2011, 1:20pm

Hank Gillespie:

Well, hopefully it bears no relationship to Chateau Blue, as in this report on Australian wines, from Monty Python’s Flying Circus :

A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world’s best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.

Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you’re really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is ‘beware’. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine’s armpit.

Hank

collecting a vertical, esp the Wogga Wogga

brigcampbell · December 24, 2011, 2:36am

Finally got to this one, my new favorite producer.

2009 Maison Bleue Roussanne Soleil Olsen Estate Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (12/23/2011)
Very light pale yellow color. Nose is primarily pineapple, with citrus, and floral notes. Palate starts with a full dose of unsweetened pineapple then the weight shows in a creamy texture, finally transitioning to lemon and a crisp bite of acidity. This is entertaining and completely satisfying based just on the evolution within each sip.

Posted from CellarTracker

Dav_d_Parta_n · December 24, 2011, 1:55pm

Hank Gillespie:

Well, hopefully it bears no relationship to Chateau Blue, as in this report on Australian wines, from Monty Python’s Flying Circus :

A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world’s best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.

Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you’re really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is ‘beware’. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine’s armpit.

Hank

I saw a guy with a couple of cases of Mollydooker in his cart yesterday at Costco. Though the above may be a bit harsh for me to compare to, I did feel a little nauseous.

No Maison Blue to be found here in Tucson
David