2005 Chateau Rollat Cabernet Sauvignon- USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (10/10/2009)
Popped and Poured. The nose carries subtle but pretty scents of floral laced cherries, touches of tobacco leaf, and plenty of fresh tilled dirt. Though the wine still through its youthful tannins around with reckless abandon, the red cherry fruit is up to the task, matching it blow for blow. Though lacking the mineral definition of upper tier Left Bank wine, it carries an endearing earthy quality and little in the way of detectable new oak. Slightly bitter sensation of rose hips on the finish doesn’t detract, but blends in well with the of the facets of the wine. Should develop slow, but with good promise down the road. (91 pts.)
I have this wine also and I have drank one or two and I have the others laying down. I’m not sure when I bought the 05, but since I purchased the 05 I’ve not heard a thing from the winery. Are they still in business? I’d buy more but I haven’t heard from them. Granted I could google them and find the number… I just found it odd that once I purchased the initial shipment I’ve not heard a thing. Nice people…just odd.
All of that being said…thanks for posting the note.
Hmm odd. Well Garagiste was offering this and the more expensive (Edourd sp?) very recently and at quite the attrcie price. I’ll be at the Cayuse weekend in early Nov and given that the Rollat tasting room is right in the heart of downtown, I’ll pop in and see whats what. Agreed, nice people though. Alos, they made a pretty decent rose too, if I recall correctly.
I get Garagiste emails and I missed that one. I searched today and found it. It’s probably good I missed it as I’ve been cutting back (just about cold turkey) on purchases over the last several months, but Rollat at 29 would have been very tough to pass on.
Rollat wines are so very sophisticated but their sales and marketing is pretty amateur. They had a large first production and haven’t been able to move it, that is why you find it at Costco and other places discounted. Such beautiful wines but I would appreciate a newsletter or something to know what they have going on now.
Heavy sigh of disappointment here. Was able to go to Walla Walla for Cayuse weekend and heard that Rollat was pouring '06s now so I headed to their original tasting room. The new Rollat blend was on a par with the '05, I even think Dale’s notes could translate to the newest vintage. I was looking forward to more great things but then the '06 Edouard was a terrible letdown. Lastly the snarkiness of the tasting room employee toward me was a shock. Even his female colleague and the Trust winemaker pouring alongside seemed surprised at his bad manners. I’m trying to seperate the experience from my memory of the wines, but it’s not easy. I think I’ll enjoy the remaining '05s I have and call it good.
