Apex at Alder Ridge

I cannot lie to you; I'm rushing to get my first post together and make my "food blogger" status ostensibly official, because I am going to Crush tomorrow night and intend to document every moment of the experience. Ah, but that is the future, and today I am addressing the past.

About two months ago, I bought a LivingSocial deal for a wine tasting for two at Apex at Alder Ridge (Woodinville, WA), $20. Lizzy and I scheduled our tasting on what turned out to be a rare sunny afternoon. We were greeted and seated promptly; we had our choice of the high glass tables (balanced on old barrels with tall stools), the couches and chairs, and a sheltered outdoor area; charmed by the barrels, we chose the tables and stools arrangement. (I started regretting that decision as time went on, since I'm not comfortable without a backrest and a comfortable place to put my feet.)

The front half of the room is mostly food for sale--pasta, crackers, cheese, pesto, sauces, and so on. The back half is tables, chairs, places to sit while you taste. It is open and friendly; patrons can mingle with each other, and the staff are welcoming. You can mill about and have a glass ($5 happy hour), or taste combinations of their colorful selection.

We were taken care of by a recent addition to the staff who was nonetheless knowledgeable and accommodating; she conversed with us as we dallied over our glasses, talking mostly about international travel and ethnic cuisine.

Highlights of the tasting: 2008 Apex Ascent Pinot Gris, clean and dry without the slight chemical aftertaste that usually drives me away from this variety; 2006 Apex Merlot (76% with a variety of other grape types), warm, very bold, and oakey; 2006 Alder Ridge Malbec, starting out bold and broad but tapering off quickly to a small, polite end; 2006 Apex Cabernet Sauvignon (90 points--Wine Enthusiast), my favorite of the bunch, which tasted exactly like taking a drink of espresso and then biting into a cherry.

We finished with a sweet, chocolate-infused red that smelled just like one of those chocolate-coated raspberry jelly candies.

In addition to the wines, we were given a small selection of salami and Beecher's white cheddar cheeses (props for local companies!). We also bought a package of luscious salted caramels ($10).

Woodinville wine country is famous around here for producing spectacular wines. The 2006 Cabernet is one of my favorites, but believe me, there are many excellent specimens out there. If you find yourself in the area, take a drive through this still rural community and watch for the "Tasting Today" signs along the side of the road.