2010 Dusted Valley Stained Tooth Syrah

The winemaker's notes begin with "Purple is our favorite color..." Everything this wine touches turns to purple - and it's great.

The wine is 91% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah, 2% Mourvedre, and 2% Grenache and weighs in at 14.6%. The wine was aged 12 months in 20% New American and French Oak and 80% Neutral. The grapes hail from some of the top vineyards in Washington State's Columbia Valley.

Dark fruit and silky tannins provide a great finish. Now where did I lay down that whitening toothpaste?

Julie's take - "A great big syrah - tasty".

Maison Bleue 2010 Jaja Red

According to the label "Jaja is a southern French expression for great, everyday wine".

I have to agree.

This blend of 37% Grenache, 37% Syrah, and 26% Mourvedre adds up to a great wine. While this year's model seems a bit lighter and crisper than previous vintages it is still top notch - especially at the price point. The wine is a ruby red color and will pair nicely with summer grilling - bright fruit and crisp finish.

The Maison Bleue wines are not widely available - especially outside of WA - so I recommend getting your hands on whatever you can.

Julie's take: "Yum".

2009 Maison Bleue Gravière

This wine is just fantastic. I am still working hard to find a wine from Maison Bleue that I don't absolutely love. This Rhone blend (50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 25% Mouvedre) is super balanced and a pleasure to drink. It hails from Snipes Mountain in the Yakima Valley. First sip impressions include a lot of berries, plum and licorice - perfect for a sipping at the end of a long warm day. 195 cases produced.

Julie's take: Outstanding!