December 2, 2017

Washington Wine Overdrive!

1. 2015 Charles Smith "CS" Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon grape
One of the best values I've tasted in a long time, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the team at K Vintners was hand-harvested, natively fermented and aged all in French oak. Smoking good notes of cassis, black currants and hints of plum all emerge from this rich, beautifully textured, layered beauty that has solid tannic grip, a silky, elegant texture and a great finish. It has real elegance and finesse and is a dark fruited, unctuous beauty to drink over the coming 3-4 years. Rated 92 The Wine Advocate

2. 2013 APEX Cellars The Catalyst Red Blend Columbia Valley - blend of 49% Syrah, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Merlot grapes

"Broad and spicy, with pepper and licorice accents to the dark berry flavors as they pick up momentum on the finish. Syrah blend." Rated 90 Wine Spectator, 100 Top Values of 2016

3. 2013 Woodward Canyon Artist Series #22 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon grape
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series is straight up terrific, with tons of black currants, plums and spice to go with background smoked herbs and toasted bread nuances. Incorporating 11% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, this full-bodied, rich, layered beauty has a great mid-palate, a silky texture and ripe tannin, all suggesting it will have a graceful evolution. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15. Rated 94 The Wine Advocate

4. 2013 Charles Smith "CS" Super Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge Vineyard Columbia Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon grape
The 2013 Super Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge has a sexy profile (compared to the Merlot Stoneridge) and has amble black currants, licorice, graphite and spice to go with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, solid mid-palate concentration and a great finish. Like all of the wines here, the winemaking is impeccable and while this can be enjoyed in its youth, it will have 15+ years of longevity as well. Rated 93 The Wine Advocate

5. 2014 K Vintners Motor City Kitty Syrah Washington State - Syrah/Shiraz grape
Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it's a crazy value. Rated 95 The Wine Advocate

6. 2014 Tenet Wines "The Pundit" Syrah Columbia Valley - Syrah/Shiraz grape
Directly appealing, this wine is bursting with aromas of plum, red currant, herb and spice–all showing freshness and purity. The palate is packed to the brim with supple fruit flavors, full of density and weight, while never getting bogged down. It hits the delicious gong hard. Editors' Choice Wine Enthusiast Magazine

The finest vintage of this cuvee to date (it’s only the second year for the cuvee though), the 2014 Syrah The Pundit has loads of ripe dark fruits, charcoal, smoked herbs and licorice in a concentrated, rich, yet always balanced and fresh style. Made from 88% Syrah, 6% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, aged mostly in French oak (which is a positive change from the American oak used for the 2013), with a small part in concrete, drink this pleasure-bent effort over the coming 4-5 years. Rated 92 The Wine Advocate

7. 2009 Purple Star Syrah Columbia Valley - Syrah/Shiraz grape
Fresh and inviting, with smooth tannins around a supple core of currant and plum fruit, lingering easily. Drink now through 2016. Rated 90 Wine Spectator

8. 2012 Quilceda Creek CVR Red Wine Columbia Valley - 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc, & 1% Petit Verdot grapes
A smoking effort that shows the beauty of the 2012 vintage, Golitzin's 2012 CVR Colombia Valley Red Wine is made from a declassified blend of most Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller parts Merlot and Malbec. It's offers a brilliant, almost Bordeaux-like, bouquet of sweet cassis, lead pencil shavings, graphite and hints of toast that flows to a full-bodied, layered, seamless Cabernet that has integrated acidity, sweet tannin and a great finish that doesn't lack for richness or persistence. Already hard to resist, it will nevertheless continue to drink nicely for another decade or more. Rated 93 The Wine Advocate