Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

Walking into DaMa Wines, Main Street, downtown Walla Walla, owner/winemaker Dawn Kammer works the tasting room. As I explained, I had a glass of the DaMa 2011 Rose at a luncheon earlier in the week and thought it exquisite and it should not be missed by attendees over Spring Release Weekend, May 4-6.

About the Wine: This Rose is quite different thatn others recently posted. This may have to do with Kammer's saignee of Syrah; the free run of natural wine grape juices gathered in the vat before first squeeze. However, the wines that accompany the Syrah are of the most perfumed grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Grenache and the rich Touriga Nacional, sourced from Walla Walla and Columbia Valleys.

Tasting Notes: Dancing within the succulent 2011 DaMa Rose lives a little sophisticate cloaked in coquettish behavior, titillating the nose in fumes of hibiscus. At first sip, a rustic swoosh of sassafras splatters the mouth with purple violets and edible pink roses. Dancing over the tongue, fresh-squeezed kumquat melds a well balanced residual sugar, fusing into a vibrant rhubarb reduction to cleanse the tongue for yet another bite of spicy Thai.

Honors: Because you're a woman who welcomes the frontier in creative wine making, Dawn Kammer, yours truly Judith Henderson of Wine & Country Living, honors you with 98 points of wine perfection! Congratulations Dawn and Team DaMa! 509-525- 2299.

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art, Drink Imagination!"

Thai Rhubarb Strawberry Napping Sauce

2 cups chopped red rhubarb

2 cups strawberries

2 cups rose wine

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

1 teaspoon each: red pepper flakes, whole clove

1 each: bay leaf, cinnamon stick

1 cup local honey

Method:

In a large pot add all ingredients and reduce by half over medium heat, stir often. When thick and glossy, remove bay and cinnamon stick, cool slightly and serve napped over cubes of blackened tofu on basmati-green onion stir-fry paired with a bottle of DaMa 2011 Rose.

Hear Judith's seasonal Wine and Food web cast with recipe, photos and wine pairing at www.chefjudithhenderson.com. The Wine & Country Living Cookbook, now on sale in wine tasting rooms across the region and at Coppei Coffee Co. in Waitsburg.