Pure Roussanne; plump and spicy, with beguiling accents of cinnamon around rich fruit. Orange, tangerine and apricot fruits are in full display, the wine is round and luscious and the finish quite full and satisfying.——P.G.(2/1/2011)—— 92

Rich, ripe and round, this lush take on Roussanne is loaded with cantaloupe, sweet pineapple and Meyer lemon fruit flavors. The fruit is brought forward by a small amount of residual sugar, which seems like an enhancement in this instance. The finish has just a hint of honey cough drop—sweet and slightly minty.——P.G.(12/31/2008)—— 90

This is 100% Roussanne, a creamy, leesy white wine with plenty of texture and wet stone flavors. Fresh and immaculately clean, it seems to beg for food, either a mild cheese or perhaps a pasta in cream sauce. There’s enough acid here to cut through the fat, and the lasting lick of lime in the finish makes you reach for another sip.——P.G.(3/1/2008)—— 88

The cuttings came from Tablas Creek’s Beaucastel vines and were planted on Red Mountain in 1999. They are just now coming into their flavor years. This is young, yeasty and fleshy with flavors of citrus and stone fruits. I like the texture and balance, the vivid acids underpinning the clean fruit, and the hint of butterscotch wrapping up the finish. ——P.G.(12/31/2006)—— 88

Gorgeous aromas and flavors of dried honey as well as acacia blossoms are found in the 2003 Roussanne. Rich, lush, and medium-bodied, it is one of the world’s rare examples of a fine 100% Roussanne. This suave, seductive, highly expressive effort was produced from four year old vines in Red Mountain’s Ciel de Cheval Vineyard. Incidentally, I was so impressed with the 2003 that I ordered a bottle of the 2002, McCrea’s first Roussanne vintage, at a Seattle restaurant and found it to be good (86-87 points) but not as ripe, flavorful, and balanced as the 2003. Drink this beauty over the next 2-3 years. Tel. 206-938-8643 www.mccreacellars.com