Brian Carter Cellars 2006 Oriana

*Bottle #39: Brian Carter Cellars 2006 Yakima Valley Oriana 

*Price: $24 (Free - Got the hook up)

*Running Tab: $488

My homeland of Washington has really taken off in the wine blending trade. It's often times rare to see a red wine around here that is 100% the varietal. State regulations allow a wine to only be 75% of the varietal the bottle claims - for example, to call a wine a Merlot, it only has to be 75% Merlot (or the main varietal) and the rest can be whatever the winemaker sees fit to make a successful blend. On a related note, it can be 98% that main varietal and yet still has the option to be called a blend. 

It's all just a little bit of marketing repeating, folks.

Even though everyone's doing it, one man stands to battle it out as the creator of it all. In the Woodinville wine country of Washington, that is.

Brian Carter, aka former winemaker and consultant for Apex, Hedges, Kestrel, McCrea, Paul Thomas and Washington Hills, created his own label a couple of years back and is basing his winemaking practices on European styles from across the board. With a Super Tuscan, a Bordeaux and a Rhone blend, Brian Carter Cellars not only epitomizes the experienced Washington winemaker with nearly three decades under his belt but is influencing other local grape enthusiasts to follow in his footsteps.

Easily Woodinville's Sweetheart, Carter and his crew have a cult of winos who pledge their allegiance to his blends. And I may have been there one or seven times.

His one and only white, the 2006 Oriana (Latin for "golden lady") is 46% Viognier, 35% Roussanne and 20% Riesling. 

Smells like:

Extremely aromatic with tropical fruits a la pineapples (Roussanne), my latest obsession of apple-pear cross something floral (Viognier) and definite orangey pitted fruits - the official term may be apricots and tangerines (Riesling). 

Tastes like:

Those orange fruits just lightly crumbled with honeycombs. Not the cereal but the real deal. Love the crisp acidity and finishes easy and pairs great with olive oil-cooked shrimp and penne. Mostly because that was all the options I had in my house.

I may frequent this particular winery's tasting room often and know most of their employees by name as well as their dogs, but I do it for the wine! And the industry discount... And the hook-ups... But mostly for the love of the wine! Don't judge me, I'm poor.

So continue I will to schmuck-schmuck with fellow wine industry people in the pursuit of wine donations. Such a noble deed. 

Score: 8.5.