Thank you to Rand Sealey for his kind reviews of the Dowsett Family 2008 Devotion and 2010 Gewurztraminer in his August 2010 issue:

“A Rising Star: Christopher Dowsett

Chris Dowsett is co-winemaker at Buty Winery (some of whose wines have been highly recommended here). There, he also makes two of his own wines: a dry Gewurztraminer from the Celilo Vineyard, a top source for that variety, and a Rhone-style blend. As Chris puts it, his winery makes only wines he loves to make. Both are exemplary examples of their types.

2010 Dowsett Family Gewurztraminer, Columbia Gorge, Celilo Vineyard ($22)
Brilliant gold colored, this wine emits terrific aromatics of pear, peach, lemon peel, litchee nuts, nutmeg, clove, orange blossoms and acacia flowers. The flavors are well extracted, with notes of spiced pears, dried grapefruit peel and stony Columbia Gorge minerals. The back picks up sensations of Poire William liqueur, grapeskin and recurring litchee nuts, followed by a racy, lingering dried fruit finish. One of the finest Washington Gewurztraminers I’ve run across. 19/20 points.

2008 Dowsett Family “Devotion” Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($30)
Composed of 41% Syrah from Morrison Lane (Walla Walla Valley), 30% Mourvedre from Kiona Heart of the Hill (Red Mountain) and 29% Grenache from Destiny Ridge (Horse Heaven Hills), this is a superb rendition of a Rhone-style red. It is deep ruby colored, with sensuous aromas of blackberry, huckleberry, mulberry, crushed roses, lavender and smoldering incense. The flavors are thick and chewy, bathed with red and black fruits, chocolate, licorice, coffee grounds and scorched earth minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, mocha, pain grille, dried orange peel, roasted nuts, cinnamon bark and grindings of nutmeg and clove. On the finish, moderate acids, glycerin (long “legs” inside the glass) and chewy tannins make for a wine that ranks high on the hedonistic scale. 19/20 points.”

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A gracious thank you to Jeb Dunnuck for his review in issue #8 of the Rhone Report.  This is a very intensive subscription newsletter on Rhone style wines.  Please visit http://therhonereport.com/ for information on how to subscribe.

2008 Dowsett Family Winery Devotion (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley) $30 Made in a savory, complex, and non-fruit forward style, the 2008 Dowsett Family Winery Devotion, a blend of 41% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 29% Grenache, has meaty aromatics of spiced berries, white pepper, lavender, and tar paper on the nose. Needing air to shine, this continues to fill in over the evening, gaining both complexity on the nose, as well as more substance on the palate. Medium+ bodied on the palate and very well balanced, with a light, rounded texture, beautiful integration of acid, tannin, and fruit, and a quality finish that possesses ripe tannin, this interesting and unique wine is delicious now, but should also age reasonably well, with 5-8 years not being out of the question. It’s slightly softer and lighter through the middle than I would like, but time will tell. I like this style of wine. (90 pts.)

The 2010 Dowsett Family Gewurztraminer “Celilo Vineyard” has been released!

This wine is a beautiful example of the magic that Celilo can produce in a cool/average year.  We produced only 173 cases of the 2010, so please contact us at info@dowsettwines.com if you need some…

The 2008 Dowsett Family Devotion was Recommended in the Winter 2010/2011 issue of Wine Press Northwest.

“This blend of Syrah (41%) in Walla Walla, Red Mountain Mourvedre (30%) and Grenache off the Horse Heaven Hills shows dusty raspberry, pomegranate and strawberry fruit leather components, backed by cordial cherries, rose hips,pink peppercorns and crushed almonds.  Suggested pairings include lamb or herbed poultry.”

#82 Top 100 Of 2010

94 Dowsett Family 2009 Celilo Vineyard

Gewürztraminer (Columbia

Gorge); $22. The Celilo Vineyard is arguably

the finest location in Washington for growing

Gewürztraminer, and over the years quite a few

winemakers from both Washington and Oregon

have worked with these grapes. No one does a

better job than Chris Dowsett, and this new vintage

is his finest to date. A thrilling wine, from the

first sniff to the last lingering sip—lemon peel,

sappy citrus fruits, rich minerals, perfect acidity—

it’s all here in spades Editors’ Choice. —P.G.

93 Dowsett Family 2008 Devotion

(Columbia Valley); $30. The 2008

Devotion is 41% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 29%

Grenache. Winemaker Chris Dowsett notes that

he is upping the percentage of Mourvèdre again

in the 2009 version. It’s a significant improvement,

elevating this blend into a rarefied, tightly

controlled, sculpted wine with wild berry and

cherry, iron filings, dark chocolate and licorice,

wrapped in firm, polished tannins. Cellar Selection - P.G.

The 2009 Dowsett Family Gewurztraminer “Celilo Vineyard” has been chosen by Paul Gregutt as the #19 Top Washington Wine of 2010, in the Seattle Times.

For a link to the entire list, go to:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/wineadviser/2013496862_pacificpadviser05.html

2008 Dowsett Family Devotion Red Wine Columbia Valley

Score: 90   $30 retail

Issue: Web Only - 2010

Broad, round and brimming with flavor, centering on blackberry and spice, and hinting at roasted meat, black olive and roasted red pepper as the finish rolls on nicely against fine tannins. Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2016. 210 cases made. –HS

Please join Dowsett Family Winery and Buty Winery for a combined Classic Wines Auction Winery Dinner.

Fenouil Brasserie, in the Pearl District of Portland, will be our host on March 1, 2011.

http://www.classicwinesauction.com/winemaker_dinners/winemaker.html

This dinner will be small and intimate, so reserve a spot today!

Issue 153, November/December 2010

Dowsett Family Winery

Stephen Tanzer

International Wine Cellar

http://www.wineaccess.com/tanzer

“2009 Gewurztraminer Celilo Vineyard Columbia Gorge ($22) Pale green-tinged color.  Expressive but laid-back aromas of pear, peach, nutmeg, cinnamon and marzipan.  Supple, smooth and off-dry, with subtle apricot and passion fruit flavors complemented by nutmeg and mace. Fairly full in the mouth without coming across as heavy.  Finishes with some warmth but remains fresh for the vintage. 88

2008 Devotion Red Wine Columbia Valley ($30; a blend of 41% syrah, 30% mourvedre and 29% grenache)  Bright red-ruby.  Aroma of woodsmoke, pepper and spices, with a hint of raspberry emerging with air.  Hints at a liqueur-like ripeness in the mouth, but this is a savory more than obviously sweet, with a lush, mouthcoating texture.  There’s a nutty note here that seems a bit tired.  Finishes with broad, dusty tannins.  A seamless blend, but I wanted a bit more definition and lift.  87″