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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments Comment Date Community Score More...
Red

2021 Result of a Crush Christmas Cuvée

 Walla Walla Valley Syrah Blend, Syrah more
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10/31/2023 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 92 points

Double Decant. Syrah with a Viognier/Marsanne co-ferment. Lovely balance between the dark fruits and the funkiness. Long finish. Damn these 2021 ROAC wines are all frigging delish. Shh Don't tell anyone.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    11/2/2023 9:24:00 AM - You're in for a treat when you do open this one. Looking forward to reading your review.
Red

2017 Delmas Syrah SJR Vineyard

 The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater more
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9/27/2023 - Neecies Likes this wine: 95 points

What a difference time makes. Has definitely put on weight since we opened a bottle in early 2022, but it's not heavy and funky like most Rocks syrahs. It's feminine and sultry with understated power. They're Batman, this is Catwoman. Absolutely stunning.
Red

2015 W. T. Vintners Syrah Stoney Vine Vineyard

 Walla Walla Valley more
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2/14/2022 - Clark W Griswold Does not like this wine: 80 points

Nice nose. Tart red fruits. No meaty notes. Very minimal rocks funk. Tart finish. Not what I wanted it to be. Dumped my second bottle and I really don’t do that.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    7/4/2023 11:40:00 AM - I couldn’t believe it either. Me dumping a rocks syrah down the sink was a bit of a black swan. For me and the wife, It was a completely undrinkable wine at the time. As off putting as a corked bottle. Maybe we got a couple of bad bottles? At any rate, I’m glad that it’s coming around and people are enjoying it.
Red

2020 Piolet Syrah L'Inspiration du Père

 Royal Slope more
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4/7/2023 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 95 points

Double decant. Sweetish and decadent red and blue fruits. A hint a minerality. A hint of meatiness. A hint of pepper. The incredible freshness and purity of fruit is the star of the show here. These piolet syrahs are doing their own thing. Really quite remarkable! Amazing texture. Very long finish. Sexy wine!

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    6/11/2023 6:01:00 PM - Hmm hard to compare, maybe that’s why I’m so excited about the wines. It’s really focused on texture, purity of fruit and freshness. Very little oak influence and not over manipulated. I’d say kobayahsi is the only similar style that comes to mind. Both the 19 and 20 syrahs are worth seeking out.
Red

2019 Kobayashi Winery Cabernet Franc

 Columbia Valley more
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4/23/2023 - Eric wrote: 93 points

Today was pickup day for some new Kobayashi releases, so I just had to open a slightly older one from the cellar (my first time opening a Cab Franc from Travis).

I am starting to find a signature in all of his wines which I would label as PURITY. This is saturated purple, spicy cedar, floral, moving to a palate that is at once loaded with crunchy fruit and yet also showing crisp and lively acidity. There is nothing shy about this wine, but there is also nothing remotely heavy. With time the more herbal Cab Franc elements come to the fore, but this is also very much a wine of pure, fresh fruit, lovely texture.

Big and fairly furry tannins on the finish show that this wants plenty of cellar time.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    4/24/2023 8:26:00 AM - Well said! That was a fun event last night.
Red

2019 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard

 Yakima Valley more
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4/4/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 91 points

Well...
I had this last night without more than 20 minutes of air.
Tonight, after 24 hours of exposure in a decanter, this was a totally different wine! It was so great! And will get better, without question.

The moral of the story... Decant early and often! It's been a theme I've mentioned about 30 times over the last 12 months... And it seems I can't freaking get it, myself!!!

Anyway, I thought no way above 90 because of my own self induced errors.
I was wrong. 91 now. In a decade, could get mid 90's??

****

Yet again, I didn't decant this early enough.
I can't believe it!!
Popped the cork, slid into a large decanter, ran it through the spin-cycle for a minute, poured.

Presto... Not even close to enough!!!
It definitely needs air, though there was zero sediment.

Without the air, this was closed and rigid and less elegant, than it could be, I suspect.

Decant several hours ahead!

The usual varietal characteristics...
Deep Purplish
Dark cherries, Dark plum, blueberries
Black Green Peppercorn
Earthiness
Licorice. Chocolate. Tobacco?

Tannins resolving, but present
Structured
Going to be a decade to resolve completely?
Check in 5 years

Medium Full
High alcohol
High acid
Long 60 second finish

Syrah Shiraz
14.5% abv

PS- Drink The Rainbow!

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    4/4/2023 8:34:00 PM - 54?

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    4/5/2023 8:28:00 PM - Glad it came around for you. Agreed, It’s much better on day two.
Red

2019 Liminal Winery GSM WeatherEye Vineyard

 Red Mountain Red Rhone Blend more
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1/19/2023 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 91 points

Double decant. Black and blue fruits. Nicely textured. A big wine. Needs time. A bit harsh at the moment. Will try again after being open overnight.

Second night smoothed out and was better. It’s big and concentrated. Fruit is jam packed in there. Boozy. Long finish. Still dont absolutely love it at the moment.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    1/23/2023 2:40:00 PM - Was with a double decant. Forgot to note that.
Red

2018 Powers AVA Collection Red Wine Horse Heaven Hills

 Red Blend more
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12/21/2022 - Clark W Griswold wrote: 88 points

Tuesday night pizza wine and nothing more. Screw top is handy. I think the whole Champoux thing is oversold.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    12/22/2022 10:19:00 AM - Of course Champoux is probably the most famous WA State vineyard. I have had some gorgeous wines from this site. I just don't think this wine is anything special. Its just cheap screw top WA wine. The Champoux thing is purely hype with this particular wine. Not saying Champoux is all hype in general. The Fidelitas Champoux cabs were something special indeed.
White

2021 Kobayashi Winery Marsanne-Roussanne Boushey Vineyard

 Rattlesnake Hills White Rhone Blend more
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10/7/2022 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 95 points

Pours cloudy. Tropical fruits and lemon. Almonds. Flowers. Fresh and vibrant with just a hint of butter. long finish. Creamy mouthfeel is the star of the show. This is my favorite white wine. Love the box so much. Its so perfect for me to grab one glass of delicious wine and enjoy it on the deck after work and not commit to a $60 bottle. Travis promised me that this would keep for a couple of months in the fridge and I believed him. It was gone in just over 3 weeks. :)

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    11/30/2022 9:54:00 AM - I hope so! I think the box was a huge hit. I heard it sold out in less than an hour or something like that.
Red

2019 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard

 Yakima Valley more
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5/26/2022 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 93 points

Double decant. Red and black fruits. Vanilla. Floral. Meaty. Incredibly Rich and concentrated. Drying finish. Better on day two. Might this be the best MCK yet? Not sure, it’s always good. Please find me a wine under $30 as complex and delicious.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    5/27/2022 8:15:00 PM - Sounds like you got some good ones there. Will look for reviews. Hope you enjoy them.
Red

2018 WeatherEye Vineyards Syrah Estate

 Red Mountain more
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4/21/2022 - Clark W Griswold wrote: 93 points

Pnp. Consumed over 5 hours. Great nose. Blue and black fruits. Meaty and peppery. Harshish tannins. Long finish. Much preferred this to the Grenache.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    4/22/2022 8:40:00 AM - Did not decant these bottles though I normally would. Yes both would benefit from time. I’d say don’t even think about opening that Grenache for a couple years.
Red

2008 Mountain Queen Productions In The Hall of the Mountain Queen

 Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2/13/2022 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 94 points

Pnp. Beautiful seductive candy like nose. Rich and delicious cassis and black cherry fruit. Baking spice galore. Silky smooth. Finish goes on for close to a minute. A gorgeous and mysterious wine! Would love to know vineyard and winemaker…

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    3/26/2022 12:30:00 PM - Thank you for the kind words. I hope you enjoy that bottle. No reason to wait!
Red

2016 Andrew Will Sorella Champoux Vineyard

 Horse Heaven Hills Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/5/2021 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 94 points

Double decant. Consumed over 4 hours. Sweet blueberry fruit. Nice minerality. Amazing texture. Long finish. Truly impressive tannin management. Elegant and text book Bordeaux style. Well done!

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    2/20/2022 6:05:00 PM - Hi! Let me know how you like the Sorella and Figgins. I’m sure they will both be delish. I have always want to get up the Okanagan valley and go tasting but have not had the opportunity. Kelowna looks gorgeous. I’m Embarrassed to say I have never had a single BC wine. Any wineries you plan to visit while you’re in Woodinville?

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    2/22/2022 6:33:00 AM - Sounds good. Hope we can make something work.
Red

2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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12/25/2021 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 93 points

Double decant. Complex red and blue berries. Spice and leather. Long bitter dark chocolate finish. Good stuff.

On day two this really doesn’t impress me. A $150+ bottle of wine, in a vintage that is considered the best that WA wine has to offer, a wine that I have cellared for 8 years. It leaves me scratching my head. It’s very good but for what I have into it, I want to be wowed and I’m not wowed.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    1/8/2022 12:41:00 AM - WineKJG, This was the only comment you have ever made on Cellar Tracker! I’m honored that my review of Quilceda Creek has inspired (or bothered?) you so much.

    Real talk though this 2012 Quilceda has made me rethink my allocation. I love the Galitzine Cab and the CVR but I’m just not sure I love this Champoux vineyard Quilceda as much as everyone else does. If I’m being honest this price point is probably higher than my budget should allow. It’s a wine that I get out on special occasions to make a great night an even better night. This wine is a Rolls Royce and it better drink like it. I just think that my money is better spent on other wines. If that means I’m buying wine for the wrong reason perhaps you can enlighten me…
Red

2019 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon

 Washington more
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12/28/2021 - Gabasaur wrote: 69 points

Smooth but a little sweet at the end. Tastes very light and is almost missing a zing like other cab sauvs I’m used to.
Red

2017 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard

 Washington more
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11/10/2021 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 92 points

Very similar to the last note I wrote on this, which was for the 2015. This vintage had slightly friendlier tanninc structure, but it was even less balanced in terms of how the fruit and unusual complexities meshed, or rather didn't really mesh. I like this wine a lot, it's fun and unique, but to me it shows a weird type of complexity that doesn't feel fully convincing, as though it's only the weirdest savory parts and leaving very limited room for the actual fruit/balance/energy?

I love very savory and meaty syrah, but here it just feels so strange. The nose is unbelievably smokey, briny, and vegetal, so much that it genuinely evokes a peaty whiskey. Cigar, even something like cigarette smoke, which is a bit less pleasant. There is a tiny little pinch of warm black cherry fruit lurking somewhere on the nose, but it feels 98% buried by these weirdly vegetal tones. Again, I like very earthy wine, it just feels a little off here.

Also similarly to the 2015, the palate felt more complete, with some ripe black cherry pie, maybe some spiced plum, something like that. There's a good dose of pepper and ashy smoke here as well, it's just not quite as overwhelming as it is on the nose, and a little bit less vegetal. It does need a little bit more acidity, I wouldn't call it flabby or anything but it feels a bit disjointed to have such a savory wine with a fairly soft, simple delivery. I liked the structure a lot though, the tannins felt powerful but were very fine and even powdery, pretty nice.

For me, fun/enjoyable overall and great to share while listening to Tom Waits' mule variations. But for over $30 I feel like there's much better balanced syrah out there that shows just as much complexity, very much including from this producer.
Red

2018 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

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10/29/2021 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 points

Five hour decant. Very deep dark magenta color. Black cherry, blueberry, pistachio, flint, coffee bean and maple-glazed donut on the dark, fruit forward nose (with a Syrah-like edge). Dry, velvety, full bodied palate, with hearty, smoldering acidity. Firm, full tannins on the long finish. This is already drinking beautifully and will only improve over the next 2-3 years.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    10/30/2021 6:35:00 PM - Well written review. Sounds amazing can’t wait to try it!
Red

2018 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard

 Washington more
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6/30/2021 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 93 points

Double decant. Concentrated black fruits. Barnyard funk. Great texture. Sort of drinks like a full bodied Beaujolais. Amazing complexity at $25 price point.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    10/27/2021 1:56:00 PM - COSTCO has it on the west coast periodically and its $25 or $27 maybe. I usually buy a case when I see it. Also "the deal" is periodically available there at around the same price.
Red

2011 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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12/24/2018 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 90 points

Decanted 8 hours. Lots of vanilla and alcohol. Gorgeous mouthfeel. Smother around the edges than cvr but this vintage did not quite meet our expectations.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    10/17/2021 3:18:00 PM - It was for Xmas eve dinner and I wanted it to taste at its best. Not suggesting it needs this long of a decant just trying to get to taste like $150 bottle of wine… After researching this 2011 vintage I have since learned that is an off vintage. The 2011 vintage was probably one of the most challenging in Washington wine history. There is more, the story goes that the quality of the fruit was not up to par form Champoux vineyard and they actually bought fruit from other Columbia valley sites, namely Dubrul vineyard. Now I have nothing against Dubrul it is just not in the same league.
Red

2016 Secret Squirrel Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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9/12/2021 - theebigjuan wrote: NR

Not my style at all so I didn't rate. Bought it because 1) I like the GSM blend and 2) I like Washington fruit. Unfortunately, this tastes like supermarket central valley big grapes big alcohol, so negatory on the two likes above.

Gave it tastings on days 2 and 3 to see if it would mellow. It did, but not enough.

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    9/13/2021 12:46:00 PM - This is the cab not the gsm…
Rosé

2020 Underground Wine Project And Why am I Mr Pink

 Washington Sangiovese more
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3/31/2021 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 88 points

Pale pink. Tart cherry and watermelon. Lively, crowd pleasing style. Killer buy at Costco for $6!

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    5/28/2021 10:44:00 AM - Right!? They cant make money on this stuff.
Red

2018 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon

 Washington more
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4/30/2021 - mahmudn wrote: 78 points

Look: Deep ruby, mostly opaque, lighter translucent edges, and full body
Nose: Dark jammy flavors, dark chocolate, dark cherry, mild astringency,
Taste: no acid, medium tannins, dark red jam, dark chocolate, vegetal, cherry, and some savory notes.
Finish: long, medium tannins, medium alcohol, some pepper and cherry

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    5/1/2021 8:45:00 AM - 78?

  • Comment posted by Clark W Griswold:

    5/18/2021 11:58:00 AM - This is the breakdown of the scale. I mostly live in the 85-99 range myself and I do not think that by todays standards that anyone recognizes an 80-84 point wine as "good".

    95–100 Classic: a great wine
    90–94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style
    85–89 Very good: a wine with special qualities
    80–84 Good: a solid, well-made wine
    75–79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
    50–74 Not recommended

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