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| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.8 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 65 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by hiker_guy on 6/29/2023: Color is solid. No bricking .
Nose of sweet tobacco, fully integrated oak, really interesting and I want to try it
Palate is silky smooth, densely flavored, rich, and delicious. Finishes long and the tannins really smooth out and make this delicious.
Would buy again . (644 views) | | | Tasted by drrobvino on 8/29/2020 & rated 91 points: Last of 4 bottles, no formal TN but very tasty overall. (1567 views) | | | Tasted by drrobvino on 10/20/2018 & rated 90 points: Bottle #3 of 4. No formal TN, the wine was tasty and enjoyed with friends. (2174 views) | | | Tasted by Racer117 on 9/14/2018 & rated 88 points: A bit of a disappointment. Big and juicy but also simple and hot. (2037 views) | | | Tasted by drrobvino on 9/3/2018 & rated 88 points: Bottle 2 of 4. Decanted and transported to a friends house to enjoy with steaks and potatoes.
Velvety structure, fruity/jammy and rather primary on the palate with moderate acidity and a pleasing finish.
Drink now through 2020. (2049 views) | | | Tasted by drrobvino on 6/6/2017 & rated 89 points: Big and juicy, drank this wine over 3 days or so. A bold wine, I did not take specific TNs but it was quite good, albeit not my preferred style.
Drink now through 2022+. (2537 views) | | | Tasted by dlcass on 3/25/2017: To Travis Allen's party. (2278 views) | | | Tasted by Rich S on 2/1/2016 & rated 91 points: No real formal note taken but this was clearly a well made and tasty cabernet based blend. Very smooth with loads of ripe, dark fruit, good structure and sweet tannins. Not overly complex but it likely would have benefited from decanting. (2674 views) | | | Tasted by Brownvino on 12/8/2015: Decanted for 60 min. Dark in color. Very fragrant during the decant. The taste continued to improve over the 120 minute consumption period. (2453 views) | | | Tasted by enjoyvino on 9/26/2015 & rated 94 points: Will stick with my score from last time. Beautiful wine with both a powerful cab nose of black/blue fruit and maybe some forest floor might be what I would call it. Palate has some depth with nice plum/jam fruit wrapped in some coffee and minerals. A little grip on the end still but I like that. (2483 views) | | | Tasted by Nbkat8 on 7/11/2015 & rated 95 points: One of the best Grand Reve's I've ever had. Smooth and refined, plum, cedar and minerals - refined tannins that coat throughout to the finish. Drinking perfect now or over the next couple of years. (2335 views) | | | Tasted by dlcass on 3/7/2015 & rated 93 points: Nice wine. Elegant texture. (2308 views) | | | Tasted by cpsmith33 on 1/31/2015 & rated 93 points: This is in a very nice place right now.
Beautiful cab that is refined and elegant.
Dark currants, berries and very smooth. (1749 views) | | | Tasted by Acohen on 12/30/2014 & rated 93 points: Very cab like with currant, coffee and great balance and long mouthfeel (1734 views) | | | Tasted by jcable on 11/22/2014: Did a tiny vertical of 06 and 07 I, and they were both great. The 06 is in a much heavier glass bottle, FWIW. The 06 was more jam and fruit and yet amazingly well balanced. The 07 was refined and structured and showing fruit but also clearly saving something for later. While the SxS was nice I'll drink the other 06 soon and let the 07 cellar a bit longer. (2299 views) | | | Tasted by enjoyvino on 10/11/2014 & rated 94 points: This wine is big. Great deep blue fruit/berry nose. Intoxicating to some degree. On the palate this wine just opens up and coats your entire mouth. Just enough minerality, maybe a little tobacco wrapped with all of that big bold dark fruit. Really enjoyed this wine! Drinking great. (1712 views) | | | Tasted by lvjohn on 7/29/2014 & rated 93 points: Big, bold deep red flavors with some port-like character. Very rich and potent. (1910 views) | | | Tasted by Vinsant on 1/4/2014: Took 1.5hrs in the decanter for this to hit its stride. Initial sniff and sip revealed cherries, red currant, dust storm (dry earth), and apple blossom. One hr in, tasty plums appeared but the finish seemed off a bit. T-bones were done and rested and match very well with the at the 1.5hr mark. Smooth and balanced palate, red fruit, spice, and caramel apple. A well structured wine that was delish but I bet in 5 yrs or so it will display more secondary characteristics and really rock \m/ (2668 views) | | | Tasted by enjoywine on 10/9/2013 & rated 94 points: No formal note. One of many wines with friends steak cookout. Tight at first with tannins dominating but after 1 hour this was the wotn. I can say I'm liking this (for my palate) more than Dellile and Betz similar priced cabs at the cookout. Glad I have 1 more, but sad I stopped buying with this release. (2874 views) | | | Tasted by Apollo_Creed on 6/11/2013 & rated 93 points: Started a bit sweet, but mellowed quickly. Delicious. (3126 views) | | | Tasted by Knicksfan on 6/8/2013 & rated 94 points: I was very pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed this wine. Still very big and fruity but in a great balance and harmony. We put it up against some spicy ribs and I didn't think it would hold up but the flavors came through and made the combination spectacular. (2799 views) | | | Tasted by Wine Nut on 4/19/2013: This wine is really very lovely. It is incredibly balanced and exhibits wonderful harmony in terms of acidity, fruit and structure. It seems somewhat restrained in a sense. Dark plum in color with a nose that suggests lilac, white pepper, pencil lead and strawberry jam. Yet it eases onto the palate effortlessly as super fine tannins tantalize your tastebuds before giving way to an herbal palate filled with cherry pie and blueberry compote as the finish slaps you in the face. This wine needs to be taken seriously. Not for the faint of heart. It is a wine which demands serious attention. Bravo! (2863 views) | | | Tasted by memphishusky on 4/6/2013 & rated 92 points: This was really good and still has life ahead of it. Bright fruits and that red fruit/mineral component that CdC has showed through. (2372 views) | | | Tasted by wineberg on 3/22/2013 & rated 93 points: Decanted 6+ hours. 14.8% ABV
Still a youthful purple. Nose of raspberry, black cherry, green bell pepper, graphite. Palate is much the same, with smooth, silky tannins.
Very good bottle, but certainly needs the decant. It was quite tight and showing lots of barrel for a couple hours after it was in the decanter. Or give it a while longer in the cellar. (2267 views) | | | Tasted by Gene_Mo on 2/14/2013 & rated 93 points: Just a great bottle. Pulled from the cellar, vinturi, wait just a bit and drink. Tannins are subdued, dark fruit.
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. (2094 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2011, IWC Issue #159
(Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series I Red Wine Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Australia and the Pacific Northwest, Issue #8 (6/25/2011)
(Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series I Ciel du Cheval Vineyard) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (3/18/2011)
(Grand Rêve Vintners Collaboration Series I Red Wine Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain) Arresting aromatics of floral notes, earth, chocolate, penetrating licorice notes, herbal notes, and a jumble of red and black fruit on a wine to linger over. The palate is dense, dark, and seamless with a firm texture of polished tannins. A hedonist’s delight. Give three plus years or decant extensively. 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot. Aged 23 months in French oak (70% new). 14.8% alcohol. 200 cases produced. Ben Smith winemaker. ***** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| Grand Rêve Vintners Producer websiteRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.Ciel du Cheval VineyardCiel du Cheval (named for the wonderful views of the neighboring Horse Heaven Hills) sits further down the Red Mountain slope from Tapteil on slightly more vigorous soils. Jim Holmes has employed a fan trellis system and careful management to great effect; the wines are among the most elegant from Red Mountain without sacrificing any of the power and intensity typical of the terroir.
On weinlagen-infoUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Red Mountain WinesNW Article on Red Mountain
Wine Enthusiast Article on Red Mountain
The Seattle Times Article on Red Mountain |
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