SIP SESSIONS
With Steve's Wine Bar
Washington Winemaker, Dirk Brink
Shelter In Place will be different this Friday Evening
from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Central Time.
•
Purchase 2 bottles of our Featured Basel Cellars wines by Thursday
and join us Friday May 8th at 6:00 PM for a Zoom call and taste along with Winemaker Dirk Brink.
Wine may be picked up Friday afternoon.
The Session Link will be emailed to you prior to the event on Friday.
• Featured Wines included in this special offer are: (Buy at least two)
This is our first-ever wine produced from the Rocks District in Milton-Freewater. This two-year-old Syrah planting produced beautiful mineral-rich fruit from the ancient cobblestones in one of the most distinct AVA’s in the world. All fruit was hand harvested early in the season and only two hours of skin contact was allowed after harvesting. A gentle press cycle was performed, followed by cold settling in stainless steel. A cool, slow fermentation lasted for about 45 days, maintaining freshness and varietal expression, while lees was stirred once a week for extra complexity and flavor. We extended the lees contact post fermentation and stirred for an additional two months to ensure depth and character in this Rosé.
The intriguing bouquet will reveal alluring fruit-driven hints of plum, raspberry, gooseberry and mandarin. This Rosé possesses an attractive floral component with notes of cherry blossom and potpourri. The pronounced minerality from the cobblestones is evident, with hints of chalk and smoke, alongside an exciting earthly element of mushroom and forest floor. The higher pH of the Freewater soil series delivered a wine with roundness and viscosity in the mouthfeel. The velvety texture in the mid-palate gives it a long and lingering sensation and balanced finish.The ripe and “sweet” flavors on the forefront are supported by fair acidity and create a subtle accent behind the fruit. This wine will be in its true element when paired with spicy crab cakes, shell fish pasta, pork shoulder with morel mushrooms or brie with truffle oil.
It is fruit driven with less tannins and acidity in comparison to their many of their other reds. 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 17% Malbec and 23% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only neutral oak is used to make this wine for about 18 months. It shows hints of raspberry, plum, butterscotch. It is floral and perfumy. There is just enough tannins to support a great structure of the wine. It stands alone but will age for a short while.
70% Syrah and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an interesting marriage of exceptional fruit from Mckinley Springs for the Syrah and Phinny Hills Vineyard for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The Syrah is co-fermented with Viognier and aged on Hungarian oak for about 20 months. They used about 7% of the viognier in the co-fermentation. This is a vibrant wine with notes of dark cherry, blueberry and orange peel. The Cabernet brings a great structure to the wine. There are notable layers in this wine. It’s got a wonderful mouthfeel but has fine tannins, great acidity which will allow you to cellar this wine for years to come.
"I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa and was always surrounded by vineyards and wineries from a young age. I was always very intrigued by the winemaking process. I think my dad’s love for farming and agriculture and my mom’s patience and attention to detail stuck with me. I studied viticulture and enology in South Africa, and during this time worked at the world renowned Vergelegen and Delheim wine estates. I did my first winemaking Internship at Ingwe Wine Estate in South Africa, and came to the states in 2004 and started internships with Chateau St. Michelle, Bookwalter and then moved on to Assistant Winemaker at Kestrel Vintners and then Winemaker at Coeur d’ Alene Cellars before I came to Basel Cellars."
"I met my beautiful wife Esther in 2005 working at Chateau St. Michelle and got married in 2012. We have one daughter named Anna Marie Lente, a true miracle and blessing from God. We also have an energetic Rhodesian Ridgeback called Cayenne that keeps us on our toes. We enjoy the outdoors, cooking, creating and living life to the fullest every day, and love the God that gave it to us!"