MIKE JANUIK
Winemaker

Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.

Main Office

630 3rd Ave
15th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone (212) 818-0770
Fax (212) 953-2366

Adminstration

50 Avon Meadow Lane
Avon, CT 06001
Phone (860) 409-9119
Fax (860) 409-9272

E-Mail

info@dreyfusashby.com

 



Visit  www.noveltyhillwines.com   for the complete history of Novelty Hill

 

 

Wine Adviser

Highlights of booming Woodinville

Look out Walla Walla, here comes Woodinville!

If you take a moment to blink in either of the state's wine-tourism magnets, a new winery pops up nearby. Woodinville now has more than 30, with many more in the works. The sold-out Passport To Woodinville open house last weekend brought thousands of wine tourists to town. I suspect that they, like me, were amazed to discover how many brand new, tiny boutiques are sprinkled among the area's nondescript warehouses.

Where Betz Family winery set up shop a few years ago there are now three tiny startups, and three more just around the corner. Another cluster of eight boutiques is sited a few blocks north. And not all the growth is small in scale. Januik and Novelty Hill, who have been sharing winemakers and cellar space for some years, are breaking ground on a spectacular new, ultra-modern winery and tasting-room complex just north of Columbia winery. It's supposed to open in time for next December's holiday barrel tastings.

Visiting new wineries brings with it a kind of giddy joy; you find that you are a part of someone's dream, just as it is coming true. So don't wait another year for Passport to come around before you set out to explore on your own. Though some of the smaller wineries are not often open to the public, many do keep weekend tasting-room hours, and others might be willing to make an appointment if you phone ahead.

There are so many exciting wines pouring out of Woodinville cellars these days that I easily pulled together a case for this week's column. These are not inexpensive, but I have looked for the most interesting and best values among the offerings currently listed. Here is a mixed case of highlights:

see the rest of the story here...

Don't want to sign in? Try BugMeNot

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - April 11, 2006

We're underway! More than two years of planning and preparation came together last week as we began site clearing and grading. Upon completion, the new winery will be home to one of Woodinville's most exciting tasting rooms, featuring Novelty Hill wines as well as our winemaker Mike Januik's own wines from Januik Winery. Join our mailing list to receive project updates and an invitation to our grand opening.

See the Press Release...

 
 


NOVELTY HILL
HAS REDESIGNED
THEIR PACKAGE

See the story here...

NOVELTY HILL

Breaks ground on the new winery...

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY 2003
SMART BUY

MERLOT
COLUMBIA VALLEY
STILLWATER CREEK
2003

SYRAH
COLUMBIA VALLEY
STILLWATER CREEK
2003

The Oct 2006 issue of the Wine Enthusiast includes some terrific Novelty Hill scores:

92 pts. 2003 NH Syrah, Col Valley
Ripe black fruit and spicy, smoky scents pull you into this smooth and lush gem of a Syrah. Dense and fruit-driven, it's a showcase of the super ripe 2003 vintage, which blessed Washington's Syrah with unprecedented power. Editor's Choice

90 pts. 2004 NH Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Crisp, authoritative melon and mineral, lined with lime and citrus and pineapple. A lovely wine, concentrated and rich.

91 pts. 2003 NH Stillwater Creek Vineyard Merlot
Rich, powerful and sappy, with a tarry core packed with fruit. Young, concentrated and spicy with whiffs of anise and plum.

89 pts. 2003 NH Merlot, Col Valley
Good, solidly made blend with enough Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc to add coffee aromas and firm up the tannins. It falls away in the finish, getting light and a bit leafy, with echoes of green tea.

 

homeabout us our portfolio order center sales tools locate wines contact us links