2011 Maison Bleue Boushey Vineyard Le Midi Grenache

Maison Bleue was founded in 2007 by Jon Meuret, who left a career in dentistry in Kansas City to move to Walla Walla and pursue his interest in winemaking. Meuret sources grapes from Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley. He has also started a Domaine J. Meuret label for single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from dry farmed vineyards in Oregon and the Columbia Gorge. Maison Bleue focuses primarily on Rhone style wines of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier and Marsanne. The estate’s wines have regularly earned ratings in the low and mid-90s.

Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA created in Washington State. The valley, a 600,000-acre area in south central Washington, was granted AVA status in 1983. In 1984 Columbia Valley was given AVA status, and Yakima Valley was enclosed within the Columbia Valley AVA. Nevertheless, Yakima Valley remains home to the largest concentration of vineyards and wineries in the state. There are more than 60 wineries and some 16,000 vineyard acres, and nearly 40% of Washington wines are made with Yakima Valley grapes. The most frequently planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking here dates to 1869, when a winemaker from Alsace planted grape vines. Vineyard planting and wine production plodded along slowly until the early 1980s when numerous modern pioneers started making well-reviewed Yakima Valley wines. Some of the state’s newest, most closely watched appellations, including Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA, are contained within Yakima Valley.

One of the most popular red varieties planted, it ripens late and prefers hot dry climates. It probably originated in Spain, where it is still widely grown. Grenache is best known for its use in Southern Rhone wines, including those of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.