USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Tasted blind. Incorrectly identified as a Riesling.
Pronounced aromas ranging from citrus to tropical in nature, accented by jasmine, honeysuckle, and petrol. Lacks acid to go with the off-dry palate, not cloying. Lacks punch and crispness.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Syrah.
Similar notes as before. Fruit straddles red and black - cherry licorice, raspberry, acai, blueberry—additional earth aromas, dried herbs, and roasted game.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Syrah.
This does not suffer from a lack of color - a teeth-staining youthful, deep purple color. The sappy raspberry, black plum fruit shows vanilla, cocoa dust, and Asian spice notes from the oak, dried currant, pepper, and fresh violets. Long finish, striking a balance of fresh acidity and chewy tannin.
This has a healthy, nearly 30% addition of Mourvedre. Shows minty sugar plum and black currant on a well-rounded palate. Not as complex or as powerful as the other Syrahs in our tasting.
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Needed more time to open up. Tight flavors of ripe blueberry, plum, charcoal, and crushed stone. While I'm sure there was more going on with the wine, this wasn't particularly impressive.
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as a Bordeaux Blend.
Melka's blend of mostly Cab S, some Merlot, and light additions of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc. Exceptionally well done! Melka's deft touch of structure, approachability, and sophistication is on full display. Plush plum and black currants mix well with pencil shavings, cedar, jalapeno, bell pepper, mineral water, forest floor, and dusty cocoa. Supple tannins and, as someone else noted, no rough edges. Enjoyable today and in a decade.
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as a Bordeaux Blend.
Fully mature notes of balsamic, fig, and prune are dominating the wine at this point. Sasparilla, licorice, anise, and earthy hints on the fine-tannin palate. Would drink up.
Tasted blind. Incorrectly identified as Cabernet Franc.
The person who brought this was very disappointed that this showed much more unripe, green pepper pyrazine character than he expected. I embraced it but after reading others' reviews, I do wonder if our bottle had good provenance.
2019 B. Lovely Gewürztraminer 86 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Tasted blind. Incorrectly identified as a Riesling.
Pronounced aromas ranging from citrus to tropical in nature, accented by jasmine, honeysuckle, and petrol. Lacks acid to go with the off-dry palate, not cloying. Lacks punch and crispness.
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2017 Elephant Seven Syrah Diwa 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Syrah.
Similar notes as before. Fruit straddles red and black - cherry licorice, raspberry, acai, blueberry—additional earth aromas, dried herbs, and roasted game.
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2015 Avennia Syrah Le Corbeau Discovery Vineyard 92 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Syrah.
This does not suffer from a lack of color - a teeth-staining youthful, deep purple color. The sappy raspberry, black plum fruit shows vanilla, cocoa dust, and Asian spice notes from the oak, dried currant, pepper, and fresh violets. Long finish, striking a balance of fresh acidity and chewy tannin.
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2014 Force Majeure Syrah Parabellum 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Syrah.
This has a healthy, nearly 30% addition of Mourvedre. Shows minty sugar plum and black currant on a well-rounded palate. Not as complex or as powerful as the other Syrahs in our tasting.
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2016 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Needed more time to open up. Tight flavors of ripe blueberry, plum, charcoal, and crushed stone. While I'm sure there was more going on with the wine, this wasn't particularly impressive.
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2016 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette 94 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as a Bordeaux Blend.
Melka's blend of mostly Cab S, some Merlot, and light additions of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc. Exceptionally well done! Melka's deft touch of structure, approachability, and sophistication is on full display. Plush plum and black currants mix well with pencil shavings, cedar, jalapeno, bell pepper, mineral water, forest floor, and dusty cocoa. Supple tannins and, as someone else noted, no rough edges. Enjoyable today and in a decade.
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2012 Cadence Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Tasted blind. Correctly identified as a Bordeaux Blend.
Fully mature notes of balsamic, fig, and prune are dominating the wine at this point. Sasparilla, licorice, anise, and earthy hints on the fine-tannin palate. Would drink up.
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2013 Sheridan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Tasted blind. Incorrectly identified as Cabernet Franc.
The person who brought this was very disappointed that this showed much more unripe, green pepper pyrazine character than he expected. I embraced it but after reading others' reviews, I do wonder if our bottle had good provenance.
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2019 Paradise Peak Winery Riesling Sweet Riesling 80 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Quite sweet, cloying, almost Late-Harvest-like fruit; lacks acidity and complexity.
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