From Sparrow’s red wine by the bottle list, the Walter Clore Private Reserve is a premium Washington Bordeaux-style blend, and it is $99 by the bottle.
About Walter Clore Private Reserve
This bottle comes from Columbia Crest, the Columbia Valley winery that opened in 1982 and helped put Washington reds on the map. It is named for Dr. Walter Clore, the Washington State University researcher widely regarded as the father of Washington wine, whose decades of work in the Columbia Valley laid the groundwork for the modern industry. Naming a flagship reserve after him is fitting. As the menu describes, this is the 2018 vintage and a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak. It is a serious, classically built Washington red, and at this price it is one of the better special-occasion bottles on our Eastside list.
Tasting Notes
Deep and complex, with flavors of plum, cedar, pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc gives it both richness and structure, and the French oak adds savory polish. This is a wine with real presence on the palate, layered and long, the sort of red that rewards a little time in the glass and pairs naturally with a leisurely dinner in Kirkland.
What to Pair It With
A Bordeaux-style blend this structured calls for hearty fare. From the Sparrow dinner menu, enjoy it with the American Wagyu steaks, the Sparrow-Smoked Rack, or the Eggplant Parmigiana. The savory tobacco and dark chocolate notes also stand up nicely to the Braised Duck or the Italian Sausage Fresh Rigatoni for a memorable Eastside dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Walter Clore Private Reserve?
It is a premium Columbia Valley red from Columbia Crest, blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, named for Washington wine pioneer Dr. Walter Clore.
How much is Walter Clore Private Reserve at Sparrow in Kirkland?
It is $99 by the bottle on Sparrow’s red wine list, available in our Juanita neighborhood restaurant and lounge on the Eastside.
What does Walter Clore Private Reserve taste like?
It is deep and complex, with plum, cedar, pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate, aged in new and neutral French oak.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Northstar Cabernet and the Ethos Reserve Syrah, both fine Columbia Valley reds. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.