Reininger Winery’s Helix is a Great Second Label

I’ve always wanted to do a feature on Walla Walla’s Reininger Winery, but never seemed to have gotten around to it. The sticking point I’ve frequently had with these wines is that they’re almost all $30 a bottle or more. Make no mistake, these are great wines, but at that price most of us can’t afford to pop open a bottle every time we’d like to serve one with dinner or get together with friends.

Then after a visit to the Reininger tasting room last fall, a couple of their newer releases grabbed my attention and made me realize that I needed to get the word out. The wines are bottled under a second label called Helix, a reference to the owner’s grandparent’s high school and farming community near where the current tasting room opened in 2003.

Four Reininger wines carry the Helix label and the two I recently tried – which are interestingly named for English and French snails – are particularly good. Here are my tasting notes:

2004 Helix Aspersa (about $16) – A beautiful blend of 75 percent Chardonnay and 25 percent Viognier. The wine has a lovely floral aroma with luscious pear and peach flavors, balanced by just the right amount of acidity and a slightly spicy/oaky finish. The Viognier gives the wine a bit more density and complexity and it all adds up to a terrific value.

2002 Helix Pomatia (about $20) – A blend primarily consisting of Merlot plus three other red varietals. There’s a touch of coffee in the nose followed by plenty of savory herb and plum flavors. Another wonderfully complex wine you can really sink your teeth into.

If you’re unable to find these wines locally, try Compass Wines in Anacortes or Esquin Wine Merchants in Seattle. They can also be ordered online at www.reiningerwinery.com.