Anelare Offers Selections to the Public and Members Only

Anelare is a small, privately owned winery in Eastern Washington that produces a limited number of red wines each year. Some of these wines are available to the general public for purchase, while some are not.

In order to have access to everything, you must apply for either a social or full membership and pay an annual fee ($249 and $996, respectively).

I suppose this sounds a bit like an upscale wine club, but if you like a winery with a certain degree of exclusivity, this may be the one you’re looking for. And at this time of year, it might also be the perfect gift for that difficult-to-buy-for, ultra-serious wine aficionado on your Christmas list.

In order to pull this off, of course, a winery has to deliver some seriously good wines. An accomplished winemaker is a must, and I was pleased to learn that Anelare uses the talented Victor Cruz, owner/winemaker of Cañon de Sol, who in turn learned the trade from one of the best, Fideltas Wines’ Charlie Hoppes.

Anelare’s 2007 vintages include four releases, two of which are available to the public. They include the 2007 Nonna Viola Red Wine ($24), a medium-bodied blend of syrah, cabernet, and merlot. It displays flavors of raspberry and thimbleberry, with pleasant notes of vanilla, oak and white pepper.

The 2007 Saint Helena Syrah ($28), is absolutely heavenly, with an abundance of black plum and cassis, accentuated with smoky nuances that melt into a lingering, violet-like finish. This is one bold, beautiful and sexy syrah.

Because the other two wines are exclusively for members, I won’t tip my hand too much about their details. Let’s just say that the 2007 Ciel du Cheval Syrah ($39), from Washington’s Red Mountain Appellation, and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($44) from the Wahluke Slope, are superbly crafted, beautifully layered, richly textured wines that are well worth the price.

The winery also has a tasting studio in Kennewick that is available for both public and booked-in-advance private tastings. For more information, including membership details and other Anelare wines, visit anelare.com.