Wine: Washington red blends offer a good variety

They also tend to be hot from the alcohol, say my wine group members.

Washington wine makers use the traditional grapes from Bordeaux - cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, cabernet franc and petit verdot - plus syrah and occasionally zinfandel or carmenere. That leaves a number of blending options to make outstanding wines.

My wine-tasting group compared four Washington blends. The results follow:

» 2006 Nicholas The GraEagle Red Wing Walla Walla Valley, $29.99.
The GraEagle had earthy scents of plums, cherries, forest floor and tobacco leaf. In the mouth, the wine had jammy plum flavors and cigar box tastes. It needed a fatty steak like a rib eye. Made from 38 percent cabernet sauvignon, 35 percent cabernet franc, 18 percent merlot, 6 percent syrah and 3 percent petite verdot, this wine ranked first in our tasting.

» 2006 Hedges Three Vineyards Red Mountain, $24.99.
The Hedges had scents of cooked fruit, rhubarb compote, fresh earth, wintergreen and leafy greens. The palate included tastes of cranberries, raspberries, rhubarb, wintergreen and black tea. This wine ranked second in our tasting. Its blend was 51 percent merlot, 38 percent cabernet sauvignon, 7 percent cabernet franc and 4 percent syrah.

» 2001 Goose Ridge Vireo Columbia Valley, $26.99.
The bouquet suggested scents of plums, cherry stems, clove and chocolate. Slightly hot from the alcohol, the palate flavors had a fudge-like character plus plums and cocoa. Made from essentially equal parts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah, it ranked third.

» 2007 L'Ecole No. 41 Recess Red Columbia Valley, $23.99.
We discovered scents of cherries, pomegranate, sour fruit, iron, cola and the smell of B-vitamins. This wine had a lighter body but a pleasant mouth feel, with flavors of sour fruit, mint and sage. This wine started out strong but then stopped short. It was made from 50 percent merlot, 25 percent syrah, 16 percent cabernet sauvignon, 6 percent petite verdot and 3 percent cabernet franc.

SURING THE WINE SHELVES:

» 2005 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon, $75.
Aromas of blackberries, black cherries, licorice and spice. A velvety texture showed tastes of black fruit, chocolate, coffee and spice. A pretty wine.

» 2007 Wolf Blass Gold Label Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, $23.
Aromas of grapefruit, apples and vanilla. The texture was rich and round, with green apple tastes backed by nice oaking.

» 2006 Valley of the Moon Sangiovese, $16.
Aromas of red cherries, red raspberries, vanilla and leather. The palate showed the same notes as the nose, with more spice and complexity.

» 2007 Lake Sonoma Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc, $15.
Lots of tropical fruit filled the nose, with a hint of honeysuckle blossoms. Lemon joined the lively flavors of pineapples and exotic tropical fruit on the palate. The finish was crisp.

» 2006 Hess Mendocino/Lake/Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.
Aromas of fresh red cherries and currants. Silky in the mouth, this wine was ready to drink immediately.

» 2006 Wolf Blass Yellow Label South Australia Shiraz, $13.
This affordable shiraz tasted of dark fruit, spice and plums. A little rough around the edges, it should go well with beef and full-bodied meats.

» 2005 NxNW Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, $35.
Aromas of blueberries, blackberries, dusty cocoa, oak and spice. The dark fruit carried over to the palate, along with black currants, pepper and spice.