Community Corner
Wine Pick of the Week: 09 Isenhower Cellars Sangiovese, Desert Hills Vineyard, Yakima Valley
Mercer Island Patch's Cork Dork Chris Nishiwaki recommends a tasty Sangiovese from the Desert Hills Vineyards north of Yakima as a great wine to pair with tasty Italian cuisine.
The husband and wife team of Brett and Denise Isenhower, retired pharmacists, moved to Walla Walla in 1998 and started making wine in 1999. Ten years later, they opened a tasting room at 15007 Woodinville-Redmond Road in Woodinville. The end of 2009 is also when they harvested the fruit for this wine.
The Isenhowers source fruit from some of the best vineyards around the state. Their 09 Sangiovese comes exclusively from the Desert Hills Vineyards in the cool north part of the Yakima Valley. It is the cool weather that helps retain the acidity that defines Sangiovese.
This Sangiovese features layers of bing cherries, ripe strawberries, baking spices and smoke. The food-friendly acidity defines this wine. Pair with traditional Italian pasta dishes such as tajarin in a meat ragu.
The wine is available at the Isenhower tasting room for $29.