Moving towards the end of a great Washington Wine Month we share one of the great boutique producers out of Woodinville. Baer winery was founded by the late Lance Baer, who sadly passed away at age 39. Since that time Lisa Baer has been running the show and doing a great job. Of course it was more than ten years ago that Baer made history by having their ‘Ursa’ red wine be named the #6 wine on the 2008 Wine Spectator Top 100.This accolade really brought national attention to this small winery.
On the weekend Baer is a great place to visit, located in the Woodinville in the warehouse district. Baer has become synonymous with brilliantly capturing the art of blending. Head winemaker Erica Orr is one of the state’s great winemakers. Her wines are structured and Bordelaise, yet utilize the richness of each vintage. The recent releases come from the 2016 vintage which was another warm vintage that didn’t quite see the level of head spikes that 2015 was blessed (or cursed) with. Erica crafts her wines with some killer fruit — the widely acclaimed Stillwater Creek vineyard. This vineyard tends to have a slightly cooler climate than most in the Columbia Valley. Look for their 2016 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which has marvelous richness and poise. After a little decant, this thing is singing. Similarly excellent was the 2014 ‘Star] (WWB, 94) which is one of the best Washington Merlots that I have sampled in the past year. Learn more about this fantastic Woodinville winery at baerwinery.com Here are the great new releases by Baer.
2016 Baer ‘Callisto’ Red Wine-The 2016 Baer ‘Callisto’ is a fabulous blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Syrah, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Needing a one hour decent to fully be singing, this opens with an aromatic core of red fruits that are wrapped around by toasty oak and chocolate tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate has good freshness and purity of fruit. Milk chocolate covered red cherry, coffee grounds and shades of sagebrush all collide on the palate. Fantastic now, the ‘Callisto’ will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 20200-2032- 92
2016 Baer ‘Star’ Merlot- This great 100% Merlot wine was entirely sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Not really needing a decant at tall, the ‘Star; is soft, round and generous, as the Merlot yields a silky, pillowy mouthfeel that entices. A light dusting of salinity falls upon a deep core of red fruits with milk chocolate and sagebrush undertones. Outstanding in its youth, the highly elegant 2016 ‘Star’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2032- 93
2016 Baer ‘Ursa’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Ursa’ is a simply gorgeous blend of 38% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc with 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and just a touch of Malbec. Once on the nose the leafy and savory tones truly entice alongside shades of blackberry cobbler that all mingle in the glass. The palate has a soft mouthfeel and a seamless quality that makes this glide across the mid-palate. Elegant and enticing to enjoy in its nascent phase, the 2016 ‘Ursa’ will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Just be sure to give this a one to two hour decant if enjoying right now. Drink 2020-2032- 93
2016 Baer ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- This unique, single vineyard bottling shows very pretty red rose petal and violet tones alongside ripe red and dark fruits on this expressive nose. The palate is impeccably balanced, showing both bright acidity and good viscosity. Mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, leather and ripe wild blackberry flavors all come together with a bright sense of minerality. The earthy undertones really complement the rich fruits, as this great new wine will have a long life in the cellar. Give this a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2032- 93
2016 Baer ‘Arctos’ Red Wine- The ‘Arctos’ is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine that is downright awesome to enjoy right now. Following a one hour decant, the ‘Arctos’ takes the lead with gorgeous Asian spices that combine with, red bell pepper and creme de cassis aromatics that take shape in the glass. The soft mouthfeel is lovely. Red bell pepper, anise, creme de cassis and shades of blackberry cobbler all mingle together on the palate. The elegance of the wine is apparent. While fantastic to enjoy now, the 2016 ‘Arctos’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2032- 93