Washington State Boutique Wines @ Gallo Nero!

Meetup

Jan 4

Written By

What was poured

In the order it was served. Quoted tasting notes are credited to their sources.

1 · 2015 Delille Cellars D2 Columbia Valley

91 Jeb Dunnuck

“D2 release is named after the famed highway leading up to the Médoc from the city of Bordeaux. The 2015 D2 is 58% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, & the rest Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot. It offers a Pomerol-like bouquet of black cherries, leafy herbs, graphite, & lead pencil, & is medium to full-bodied, seamless & elegant. Readers wanting a taste of the style – & quality – from Delille should absolutely check this wine out. (JB)”

Jeb Dunnuck

2 · 2015 Ryan Patrick Rock Island Red Columbia Valley

88 Wine Enthusiast

“Mostly Syrah (73%) along with Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) & a pinch of Merlot, the aromas show notes of vanilla & dill in front of blueberry & dark cherry. The palate is full bodied & comes off as high octane, with a background of firm slightly gritty tannins. Though listed as only 20% new American oak, it shows a bit prominently at times. (WE)”

Wine Enthusiast

3 · 2014 K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain

99 The Wine Advocate

“Coming from the Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, the 2014 Syrah Cattle King is a huge, powerful, unctuous beast that gives up decadent notes of black & blue fruits, freshly crushed rocks, graphite, iron & licorice. Unctuous, sexy & with gorgeous purity, it carries itself with incredible grace & elegance, without ever being over the top. It flirts with perfection & is one of the highlights of the vintage—& the region. (WA)”

The Wine Advocate

4 · 2015 Delille Cellars Signature Syrah - 98% Syrah & 2% Viognier

“This wine displays an inky black color, with enticing aromas of smoked charcuterie, cracked black pepper, loam, & a whisper of tangerine & violets. Generous fruit flavors on the palate include plush plum & macerated blackberries, supported by pleasantly savory tannin & noteworthy acidity. With generosity & balance, it will be a pleasure to consume immediately, but also promises to improve in the bottle for a decade or more. Rated 94 #30 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018”

tasting note

5 · 2008 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate - blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

“This wine is made up predominantly from Red Mountain vineyards. A restrained nose of balsam wood, pencil lead, thyme, sage, black currant, & blackberry leads to a round, rich, succulent offering that has the balance & structure to achieve its 20th birthday in peak form. Rated 93 WA”

tasting note

6 · 2014 Soos Creek Merlot Columbia Valley Palisades

“Champoux, Charbonneau, Ciel du Cheval, Elephant Mountain, Klipsun, & Slide Mountain vineyards make up this wine. The aromas are lightly styled, with notes of baking spice, caramel, licorice, raspberry & dried herb. It comes off as full bodied, rich & liquorous, coating the palate from end to end with ripe red & black-fruit flavors. It's a hedonistic delight. Rated 90 WE”

tasting note

7 · 2015 Quilceda Creek CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine

93 Jeb Dunnuck

“This wine checks in as a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot & the rest Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot. It's a great introduction to the estate & offers a creamy, full-bodied, elegant, seamless style that just begs to be drunk. Crème de cassis, kirsch, violets, & incense notes all emerge from this sweetly fruited, pretty, elegant red that has incredibly sweet tannin. (JB)”

Jeb Dunnuck

8 · 2016 K Vintners Substance Stoneridge Merlot

“Offers a full-bodied, sexy, gorgeously textured style to go with lots of black currants, plums, graphite and licorice. Rated 93 WA. Jazzy aromas of raspberries, blackberries and graphite that lead to plump plush layered fruit flavors. Unabashed sense of deliciousness, with a finish that won’t quit. Rated 93 WE”

tasting note