P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by a firming acidity which defines the wine into & through the LONG, tangy/swt (55:45) finish with occasional glimpses of bitterness. For now & into Spring '19. 13%; My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $12.99 is $4 < its closest competitor on wine-searcher!]
P: LM body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt deftly balanced by a tangy acidity which controls the action into & through the LONG, tangy/swt (70:30) finish. For now & into EARLY '20, + MIGHT improve a bit through '18. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 91 pts & "Editors' Choice" WE @ $19, 89 Decanter, 87 WA, and Silver @ '18 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [This vendor's $13.99 puts it in the top 15% of wine-searcher's listings.]
N: Slightly closed; Butter, smoky bacon fat, but with restraint?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice frt beautifully bal with an acidity which leads the dance into & through the LONG, tangy, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with occasional notes of swtness. Well made, but drying out? Drink soon. 13.1% ABV; My VG, poss VG+, but with that proviso. 90 pts WE @ $36. [This vendor's $22.99 is $13 < the price @ the winery.]
87% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, & 6% Malbec "...farmed only for rosé & hand-picked several wks prior to our red wine harvest. The grapes are gently destemmed & pressed with no additional skin contact. The juice is settled, inoculated with a selection of aromatic yeast, & slowly fermented at low temperatures in s/s until dry. Thereafter the wine rests sur lie until bottling in early February." 2,700 cases
N: CLOSED; Some earth, poss minerals?
P: Med body; VERY RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by acidity. The finish is LONG, tangy/swt, with very, VERY slight bitterness & OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins. For now & the next 6-9 mos. 12.5% ABV; My VG-/VG. 90 pts WE @ $18. [This vendor's $9.99 is $9 < wine-searcher's only source!]
N: Fairly bright red rasp & straws with toasty undertones
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, almost swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/swtness (choc?) to the very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves cellaring for 6-9 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more. 13.8% ABV; My VG+. [This vendor's $19.99 is at least $6 < the next lowest on wine-searcher.]
P: LM body; NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which morphs into a LONG, slightly tangy, bitterSWT finish with a subltle swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES a yr or so, then drinking for the ff 2 or 3. Nicely done! 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $24.99 is pretty much in the middle of wine-searcher's 2 listings.]
N: Attractive melange of jam, smoke, & vanilla, with pyrazines underneath
P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by a puckerish astringency without ever losing the initial swtness. The finish is LONG, balanced, very slightly tangy with a swtness to the tannins though an ult drying. For now with fatty meat, but DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3+ yrs more. My VG+/EXC-, higher *if* QPR an emphasis. 90 pts & a "Smart Buy" WS, 6/30/18. [Though quite competitive, wine-searcher shows one source @ $1 < this vendor's $11.99.]
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
76% C,S,, 11% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbc, 3% Merlot, & 1% C.F. sourced from their estate Double Canyon Vineyard as well as Phinny Hill, Champoux, Destiny Ridge, & Alder Ridge, neighboring vineyards in the Alderdale region. 14 mos in 75% AM & 25% FR oak, 25% new; 20,000 cs released June 2017.
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt net by a puckerish astringency that doesn't lose touch with the swtish substrate as it slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with notes of swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS into '20, then drinking for another 4 yrs more? NICELY done! 14.0% ABV; My EXC-. 90 pts ea Suckling & WA, poss 89 WS (which I was unable to verify), and 88 WE @ $25. [This vendor's $16.99 is as good as anyone on wine-searcher.]
Note: On 5/26/2018 I differed substantially with respect to drinkability.
92% C.S., 4% Merlot, 2% C.F., & 2% Malbec sourced predominantly from their estate Stillwater Creek Vyd; Aged 21 mos in 70% FR & 30% AM oak barrels; 40% new; 14.4% ABV, 0.55 g/100ml T.A., & 3.76 pH. 5,739 cs
N: Fragrant, lots going on, but tough to parse. Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which does eventually lose virtually ALL its pucker as it transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a distinct swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs or so more. My VG+/EXC-. 92 pts Suckling, 91 pts & an "Editors' Choice" @ $26 from WE, and 88 WS. [This vendor's $19.99 puts it in the top of wine-searcher's 2nd quartile.]
Note: Today I found this significantly more approachable than I had on 6/30/2018.
100% Syrah from the Boushey Vyd's Oldfield Block, yielding 3.0 tons/acre Yeast: native 49 days on skins 35% new & 65% once-used FR oak puncheons, 19 mos barrel-aged on lees; 14.5% ABV, 5.8 g/L T.A., & 3.75 pH.
N: Earthy, poss barnyd, atop berries & pyrazines. [Note: Others were commenting upon the the smokiness of this, which I've not noticed in any of my now 3 tastings of this vintage.]
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt fairly quickly met by a PUCKERISH astringency which defines the experience into & through the quite LONG, still puckerish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS *lots* of time (guessing into, if not through, '21), then likely making its '10th IF the frt holds. Safely my VG+, but SEVERAL notches higher IF, in fact, a swan DOES emerge! 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck & 91 WA. [This vendor's $29.99 is within pennies of having the BEST price of wine-searcher's burgeoning entries.]
Note: I didn't taste NEARLY this level of structure on 5/19 & 6/16/18, I'm thinking for 1 or both of the ff'ing. 1st, in ea of those tastings the wine had MUCH more exposure to air, allowing the frt to come forward & "mask" the backbone. 2nd, the frt is becoming JUST "drowsy" enough to REVEAL the underlying structure.
Even later note: Based upon my tasting of this on 9/22/18, I'd say it's likely entering at LEAST a semi-dormant stage.
I thought the reds were notably better than all but 1 of the whites/rosés. Within the domain of reds I clearly preferred those from WA over the OR Pinots.
2015 Illahe Grüner Veltliner Estate
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Fermented 70% S/s, 30% acacia barrels; 4 g/L R.S., 3.30 pH; 720 cs
WAY too cold
N: Almost notes of petrol? Undertones of pears?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by a firming acidity which defines the wine into & through the LONG, tangy/swt (55:45) finish with occasional glimpses of bitterness. For now & into Spring '19. 13%; My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $12.99 is $4 < its closest competitor on wine-searcher!]
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2016 King Estate Pinot Gris
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
100% s/s fermentation, aged on lees for 4 mos
WAY too cold
N: CLOSED; Pears, poss apples?
P: LM body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt deftly balanced by a tangy acidity which controls the action into & through the LONG, tangy/swt (70:30) finish. For now & into EARLY '20, + MIGHT improve a bit through '18. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 91 pts & "Editors' Choice" WE @ $19, 89 Decanter, 87 WA, and Silver @ '18 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [This vendor's $13.99 puts it in the top 15% of wine-searcher's listings.]
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2015 Trisaetum Chardonnay
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
TOO cold
N: Slightly closed; Butter, smoky bacon fat, but with restraint?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice frt beautifully bal with an acidity which leads the dance into & through the LONG, tangy, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with occasional notes of swtness. Well made, but drying out? Drink soon. 13.1% ABV; My VG, poss VG+, but with that proviso. 90 pts WE @ $36. [This vendor's $22.99 is $13 < the price @ the winery.]
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2016 Seven Hills Winery Dry Rosé
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
WAY too cold
87% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, & 6% Malbec "...farmed only for rosé & hand-picked several wks prior to our red wine harvest. The grapes are gently destemmed & pressed with no additional skin contact. The juice is settled, inoculated with a selection of aromatic yeast, & slowly fermented at low temperatures in s/s until dry. Thereafter the wine rests sur lie until bottling in early February." 2,700 cases
N: CLOSED; Some earth, poss minerals?
P: Med body; VERY RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by acidity. The finish is LONG, tangy/swt, with very, VERY slight bitterness & OCCASIONAL *hints* of raisins. For now & the next 6-9 mos. 12.5% ABV; My VG-/VG. 90 pts WE @ $18. [This vendor's $9.99 is $9 < wine-searcher's only source!]
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2014 Dominio IV Pinot Noir Love Lies Bleeding
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
3.7 pH
N: Fairly bright red rasp & straws with toasty undertones
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, almost swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/swtness (choc?) to the very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves cellaring for 6-9 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more. 13.8% ABV; My VG+. [This vendor's $19.99 is at least $6 < the next lowest on wine-searcher.]
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2015 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Volcanique
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
N: Smoke slightly atop earth, flowers underneath?
P: LM body; NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which morphs into a LONG, slightly tangy, bitterSWT finish with a subltle swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES a yr or so, then drinking for the ff 2 or 3. Nicely done! 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $24.99 is pretty much in the middle of wine-searcher's 2 listings.]
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2016 Canoe Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon The Expedition Horse Heaven Hills
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
77% C.S, 13% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 1% C.F., 1% Malbec, & 1% Tempranillo, from Vineyards: 93% Horse Heaven Hills & 5% Yakima Valley; 13.6% ABV, 5.5 g/L T.A., & 3.90 pH; 28,000 cs made.
N: Attractive melange of jam, smoke, & vanilla, with pyrazines underneath
P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by a puckerish astringency without ever losing the initial swtness. The finish is LONG, balanced, very slightly tangy with a swtness to the tannins though an ult drying. For now with fatty meat, but DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3+ yrs more. My VG+/EXC-, higher *if* QPR an emphasis. 90 pts & a "Smart Buy" WS, 6/30/18. [Though quite competitive, wine-searcher shows one source @ $1 < this vendor's $11.99.]
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2015 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
76% C,S,, 11% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbc, 3% Merlot, & 1% C.F. sourced from their estate Double Canyon Vineyard as well as Phinny Hill, Champoux, Destiny Ridge, & Alder Ridge, neighboring vineyards in the Alderdale region. 14 mos in 75% AM & 25% FR oak, 25% new; 20,000 cs released June 2017.
N: Smoke, poss choc atop berries; pyrazines underneath?
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt net by a puckerish astringency that doesn't lose touch with the swtish substrate as it slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with notes of swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS into '20, then drinking for another 4 yrs more? NICELY done! 14.0% ABV; My EXC-. 90 pts ea Suckling & WA, poss 89 WS (which I was unable to verify), and 88 WE @ $25. [This vendor's $16.99 is as good as anyone on wine-searcher.]
Note: On 5/26/2018 I differed substantially with respect to drinkability.
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2014 Novelty Hill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
92% C.S., 4% Merlot, 2% C.F., & 2% Malbec sourced predominantly from their estate Stillwater Creek Vyd; Aged 21 mos in 70% FR & 30% AM oak barrels; 40% new; 14.4% ABV, 0.55 g/100ml T.A., & 3.76 pH. 5,739 cs
N: Fragrant, lots going on, but tough to parse. Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which does eventually lose virtually ALL its pucker as it transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a distinct swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs or so more. My VG+/EXC-. 92 pts Suckling, 91 pts & an "Editors' Choice" @ $26 from WE, and 88 WS. [This vendor's $19.99 puts it in the top of wine-searcher's 2nd quartile.]
Note: Today I found this significantly more approachable than I had on 6/30/2018.
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2015 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty
USA, Washington
100% Syrah from the Boushey Vyd's Oldfield Block, yielding 3.0 tons/acre
Yeast: native
49 days on skins
35% new & 65% once-used FR oak puncheons, 19 mos barrel-aged on lees; 14.5% ABV, 5.8 g/L T.A., & 3.75 pH.
N: Earthy, poss barnyd, atop berries & pyrazines. [Note: Others were commenting upon the the smokiness of this, which I've not noticed in any of my now 3 tastings of this vintage.]
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt fairly quickly met by a PUCKERISH astringency which defines the experience into & through the quite LONG, still puckerish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS *lots* of time (guessing into, if not through, '21), then likely making its '10th IF the frt holds. Safely my VG+, but SEVERAL notches higher IF, in fact, a swan DOES emerge! 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck & 91 WA. [This vendor's $29.99 is within pennies of having the BEST price of wine-searcher's burgeoning entries.]
Note: I didn't taste NEARLY this level of structure on 5/19 & 6/16/18, I'm thinking for 1 or both of the ff'ing. 1st, in ea of those tastings the wine had MUCH more exposure to air, allowing the frt to come forward & "mask" the backbone. 2nd, the frt is becoming JUST "drowsy" enough to REVEAL the underlying structure.
Even later note: Based upon my tasting of this on 9/22/18, I'd say it's likely entering at LEAST a semi-dormant stage.
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