Yakima Valley Maiden Voyage Tasting Tour!
Yakima Valley AVA, Naches Heights, Snipes, Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, Rattlesnake AVAs
Tasted Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Sunday, November 18, 2012 by VinLancaster with 964 views
Introduction
Yakima is still relatively undiscovered and the wines are incredible. We tasted great wines at every stop. One of the highlights for me was a more relaxed down to earth feel, as we met with either the winemaker and/or the family at each stop. Yakima is truly a special place.
Flight 1 - Day 1: Steppe Cellars, Cultura, Severino Cellars, Two Mountain Winery (Zillah and Sunnyside) (22 Notes)
Steppe Cellars: Nicely made wines, talented winemaker and very under the radar. BALANCE comes to mind with Steppe. Nice farm-vineyard setting and rustic tasting room. Neil was the most gracious host and we sampled just about everything in bottle! 2nd favorite stop of day 1
Cultura: Incredibly gifted winemaking going on here. Big wines, yet restrained with elegance and ultimately balanced. Spent an afternoon with Tad who provided a comprehensive barrel room tour, performed punchdowns on the last of the 2012 (zinfandel), talked winemaking geekery freely and was very forthcoming with answers to all our wine related questions. HIGHLY Recommend seeking out these wines and a visit is worth every effort. #1 favorite stop for day 1
Severino Cellars: Family owned/operated winery, large rustic tasting room among vineyards. Focus is on old world style wines. Bordeaux blends were offered this visit.
Two Mountain Winery: Solid wines which are varietally distinct. Well-made and sensible value here. Crush was in full swing on our visit, but they made time for us as we tasted through several wines. If you like dogs, 3 will greet you at your car, which was a bonus for us!
Flight 2 - Day 2: Southard, Naches Heights Vineyard, Gilbert Cellars/JB Neufeld (Selah, Naches Heights, Hacket Ranch West Valley Yakima) (17 Notes)
Southard: Accomplished, graceful, elegant and interesting wines with that ah! factor. Scott was a great host, provided a tour of the barrel room as he was completing ML in several barrels. These wines are so under the radar, yet I am predicting a huge following over the next few years. Seek, taste and buy before they sell out.
Naches Heights Vineyard: Fun tasting room environment with humorous wine labels to match. Cafe style tasting room with beautiful grounds and a place to stay for lunch and a glass.
Gilbert Cellars/JB Neufeld: Extremely well made wines, highly structured with elegance permeating every drop. Suave, balance and intrigue going on here. We started at the Gilbert tasting room in downtown Yakima where we tasted through the current releases. Justin Neufeld is the winemaker for Gilbert and they are extremely lucky to have him. Wine after wine was thought provoking, harmonious and just beautiful. We met up with ChrisinSunnyside & Mrs CiS who set up a private tour with Justin at the Gilbert Cave. Justin tasted us through handfuls of barrel samples one wine thief at a time. No notes were taken, but word to the wise: the Gilbert and JBNeufeld 2010s and especially the 2011s are going to be incredible. We are already discussing ordering futures. This was our favorite stop of the entire trip!!
Goat Rocks: A shout out to CiS for his generous offer to let us sample his 2012 Cab Franc.
Flight 3 - Day 3: Daven Lore Winery, Chinook Wines (Prosser) (10 Notes)
Daven Lore Winery: Well balanced wines, food friendly and palate pleasing. Great tasting room at the top of the hill in the HHH AVA, offering vast views and great conversation with Gordon, the owner and winemaker. A lot of history and science talk. Worth a stop.
Chinook Wines: Landmark winery, one of the first in the area with loads of history about the area local vineyard management and winemaking practices as they have evolved. Kay was a great host despite in the midst of crush. She and her husband manage all aspects of their estate vineyard and winemaking for ~30 years.
Flight 4 - Day 4: Maison Bleue, Hightower Cellars, Tapteil Vineyard, Fidelitas, Kiona, Goedhart Family, Cooper A Red Mountain Winery (Prosser, Red Mountain) (42 Notes)
Maison Bleue: Final tasting at Prosser tasting room-as Jon is moving everything to Walla Walla. Beautiful wines, expressive, purity of fruit and uncompromising balance.
Hightower Cellars: Solid line-up, strength in Bordeaux varietals. Great Red Mt characteristics
Tapteil Vineyard: Strong Red Mt line-up with focus on Bordeaux and Rhone varietals
Fidelitas: Big showy wines, weighty and some are well structured
Kiona: Time between last stop and next appointment, Kiona was en route. Offering over 20 wines, jack of trade wines. Powered through this line-up, no score.
Goedhart Family: Dedicated to syrah, done in a unique style where masculine structure meets graceful flavors and aromas. Each wine truly distinct from one another. My personal favorite stop of the day.
Cooper A Red Mountain Winery: Serious line up of mostly Bordeaux varietals which pack a punch in flavor and quality
Closing
Our first tasting trip to Yakima was incredible thanks to ChrisinSunnyside for all his time spent to help gather information about touring, people to see, places to taste, setting up private tastings/tours and dinners! This trip would not have been nearly as amazing without your help!
We were fortunate to meet these great people and consider ourselves lucky to call Chris & Barb friends!
2007 Steppe Cellars Sémillon 86 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Scents of apple and cajoling lemon zest. Honey crisp apple alongside flavors of apricot, lemon drops and tart pears. Bordering on crisp at the finish with interesting herbal notes, not unlike dill weed on the back end. Not as lively on the palate as the nose, but still standing considering this is a 2007.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Steppe Cellars Big Sage Red 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Big and bold bright red and blue fruit flavors and aromas. Wood notes such as vanilla and cedar flavors are assertive. Quite tannic, yet broad with a drying finish. A quaffable and a pleasant NV with big bang for your buck.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Steppe Cellars Merlot 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Floral and lively donating scents of violets, cloves and bright black cherry. Refined berry fruit, green olive, rich cocoa and a dusting of nutmeg on the lively and amply polished finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Steppe Cellars Malbec Stonetree Vineyard 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope
(11/14/2012)
Big black fruit, dried cherries, plum and stones on the nose. Intensely spiced with Bengal pepper and fennel flower. Jam-packed with velvety plum, cherry, carbon, leather, cigar box and acidic lift on the lingering glycerin palate.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Steppe Cellars Syrah Stonetree Vineyard 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope
(11/14/2012)
Aromas fill the glass with bold black and blue fruits, coffee, smoke and cocoa bark. Big and woody on the palate, with an abundance of wild berries, chewy cherry and asphalt. Weighty and pronounced on the rooted finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Steppe Cellars Tempranillo Grenache Mourvedre 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope
(11/14/2012)
Ripe black and red fruit aromas marry deep chocolate and loam. Complex layers on the palate with solid cherry, cranberry and black currant. A soft floral note on the mid-palate leads into additional flavors of asphalt, sage and mocha. Good acidity, pure and balanced with an expanded finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Steppe Cellars Artemisia 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
(11/14/2012)
Big and fleshy on the nose and palate. Tart fruits, jam, pepper and toast on the nose. Nice dollop of acidity balances out the broody ripe fruit and big wood flavors. A bit hot on the hind palate which seeps into the finish. This is a big wine that needs time to mature. Try this in 2013 or 2014.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Cultura Cabernet Franc 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Beautifully floral with violets, wild flowers and flowering plum trees, almost ethereal on the nose. Secondary scents of plum, forest floor and bright berries flow out of the glass. Soft tannins on the palate with bright acids, bright red fruit, violets, dill weed, anise, chocolate and crushed rock. Medium in weight, but balanced entirely from start to finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Cultura Merlot 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Currants, black cherry, crushed green peppercorns and pencil shaving aromas abound. Flavors are big, round and balanced. Fruit concentration infused with minerality and near perfect acidity add to the exquisite balance. Layered and focused with ample tannins; this is one to lay down for a few years to reveal itself as one of the best Merlots I’ve had in years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Cultura Kairos 92 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
50/50 blend of their amazingly aromatic Cab Franc with exceptionally flavored & well balanced Merlot- this wine hits all the high marks for me. Complex layers on the nose and palate with depth at the base and concentration of fruit, minerals, acid and earth linger on the teeming finish. Deep dark chocolate, cherry, aniseed, fresh cut flowers, slate, sage, marion berries and currants are noted with each lengthy sip. Remarkably well made, this wine will cellar well for years to come. Drink 2015++
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Cultura Cabernet Sauvignon Meek Family 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Masculine and big up front with stems, black cherry, mocha, cigar box, toasted almonds and olives. Graceful on the finish with notes of vanilla, orange peel and a soft and silkiness that sauntered in the mouth for a full two minutes. Brooding, yet another well balanced wine made by the Fewels which would benefit with time; drinking this in another 5 years will be utmost rewarding.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Severino Cellars Severino Red Wine Lot #3 83 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Flavors of candied cherry cough syrup, spiced raspberry with cedar notes. Light in weight, simple and unassuming.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Severino Cellars Merlot 85 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Dried fruits, earth, cherry and toast. Jammy and viscous, a big wine with heat on the palate, needs time to blow off.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Severino Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Best of the three offerings, this was another big fruit forward wine with ample earth and spiced vanilla on the palate. Tannic and chewy, give this a few years to settle down.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Two Mountain Winery Riesling 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Rattlesnake Hills
(11/14/2012)
Pears, crisp apple, fresh cut grass flavors and aromas. Nicely dry and very smooth on the finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Two Mountain Winery Chalk Art Rose 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Strawberries, grapefruit, melon and limestone. Brightly acidic with a suppleness on the crisp finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Two Mountain Winery Hidden Horse VIII 84 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Rattlesnake Hills
(11/14/2012)
Big and simple with red fruit jam, spicy cigar and tart cherry. Light in weight.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Two Mountain Winery Merlot 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Floral, cherry, blueberry and licorice on the nose. Flavors of tart juicy berries, saline, dark spices and balanced generously. Bright with a lengthy finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Two Mountain Winery Syrah 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Scents of baking spices, pepper and dried tree fruits. Bright on the tongue with spiced chewy cherry, clay and toast. Finishes cleanly with ample endurance.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Two Mountain Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Exotic spiced aromatics; cardamom, sweet cigar tobacco, brick and blackberry. Intricate flavored layers consisting of black currants, mace, campfire, fresh blackberry pie and slate. Drying tannins and tightly wound. Give this another few years to completely unite.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Two Mountain Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Perfumed with dill, violets, vanilla and cranberries. Ripe fruit flavors followed by baking spices, tart berries and an early core. Soft mouthfeel gives way to a lively and long finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Two Mountain Winery Brothers No. 3 Copeland Vineyard 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
(11/14/2012)
Bounding aromas with ripe berry fruit, freshly tanned leather, sweet toasted oak and loam. Big and dense palate with chewy dates, dried cherries, earth and leather. Widely tannic from front to hind palate this needs some time to soften. Drink 2014+
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue