Mike Scott of Lone Canary Continues to Produce “Unabashedly Washington” Wines

During a recent trip to Spokane I paid a visit to Lone Canary Winery, which has always been a favorite of mine. While I was there, I had the good fortune of spending a bit of time with winemaker Mike Scott.

Scott is wonderfully outspoken about his wines and has proclaimed that they are “unabashedly and unapologetically Washington State wines.” That’s great news for those of us who enjoy their wines with beautiful aromas, plenty of mouthwatering fruit flavors and just the right amount of acidity to keep things in balance.

And did I mention the incredibly reasonable prices? With the exception of the 2004 DuBrul Vineyard Reserve (a stunning red wine blend worthy of its $35 price tag), all of his current releases – including the 2004 vintages of his velvety smooth Merlot and Cabernet – are about $20 a bottle or less.

Scott’s Sauvignon Blancs have always been a thing of beauty and his 2007 vintage (about $13) is no exception. Lovely aromas and flavors of honeydew melon, a touch of stone fruits, and a bright, clean finish cap this white wine gem.

Also worth noting is the 2007 Cuvee Rosé (about $13), which I think is really more of a “reverse rosé.” That is, instead of starting with a red grape and leaving the skins on for just a short time, Scott starts with a sauvignon blanc and blends in 5 percent Barbera to achieve a lovely, salmon/coral hue.

Speaking of Barbera, if you haven’t tried this Italian-based varietal consider the Lone Canary label, which may well be the benchmark for Washington winemakers. The 2006 vintage (about $15) is loaded with red berry flavors wrapped in a splash of acidity and followed by a long, sultry finish of dried cherries. Outstanding!

You’ll find Lone Canary wines locally at the Food Pavilion, selected Haggen stores and Anthony’s Restaurants.