The Nearly Annual Lyon 10 Year Retro Tasting #24, Wines of Washington
Lyon Again, Eugene, OR
Tasted November 5, 2022 by Grinner with 121 views
Introduction
Started in '97 with ten year old CaliCabs, this has been a really fun group and get together! After finding out that Washington had one of its best years ever, I scrapped the '12 Oregon Pinots and here we are!
The wines were double decanted 3-4 hours in advance. Served one at a time in blind flights of 5. Each flight was unveiled as we went. Everyone had the list, so guessing gets easier!
Flight 1 - The Gathering (2 notes)
Caviar on potato chips and some homemade clam dip
White - Sparkling
2012 Union Champagne de Saint Gall Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé
93 points
A very nice mix of white citrus, green apple, chalk and dough. Great acidity and mouthfeel. No drop on day 2.
Rosé - Sparkling
2012 Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé
91 points
Nice contrast to the Champagne before it. Red berries tossed with citrus and pear. Hints of toast and minerals, but it's all about the fruit. Drink up.
Flight 2 - The "First Ice Skater" for the Rhonies (1 note)
Red
2012 Anne Amie Syrah
88 points
Showing its age, this was a nice smooth Syrah table wine. Very pleasant, but only medium depth and less complex than you'd expect for a great year in the WW Vly. It set the table for the wines to follow.
Flight 3 - The Rhonies Flight #1 (5 notes)
Red
2012 K Vintners Syrah River Rock Vineyard
94 points
Wow! What a turn around after the Anne Amie! Big, black fruit with hints of tar, leather, smoke, pepper and licorice. Loads of time!
Here's my note from 7 years ago:
"This wine has almost as much of the non-fruit flavors as fruit. Black and blue fruit framed by earth, pepper, leather, and spices that linger nicely. Tannins are substantial and if I only had 1 left (!) it'll be 4-5+ years from now (see my 2022 Retro Tasting notes...). (2446 views)"
Here's my note from 7 years ago:
"This wine has almost as much of the non-fruit flavors as fruit. Black and blue fruit framed by earth, pepper, leather, and spices that linger nicely. Tannins are substantial and if I only had 1 left (!) it'll be 4-5+ years from now (see my 2022 Retro Tasting notes...). (2446 views)"
Red
2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender In the Rocks
93 points
Blind, I thought this was a Cayuse because of its funk. Black and red cherries, red plum, meat, earth and pepper.
Borderline QPR at $70 in 2015. One of 2 wines (out of 35) that were undrinkable on day 3. Don't wait TOO long...
Borderline QPR at $70 in 2015. One of 2 wines (out of 35) that were undrinkable on day 3. Don't wait TOO long...
Red
2012 Gramercy Cellars Mourvèdre L'idiot du Village
91 points
This is a savory wine! Meat, leather, and pepper were the initial hits and I guessed right in this blind tasting. Transports you to the south of France (where something like this would be $30). Drink.
My note from 2015:
This wine resembles a 5-7 yr old pinot in color, but so much more earth, stone, and leather. Nice, elegant, and reasonably complex. The fruit is there but like a lot of southern French wines it takes a back seat to some non-fruit flavors. The etoh is hidden and the tannins are moderate. Now-2020. (3552 views)
My note from 2015:
This wine resembles a 5-7 yr old pinot in color, but so much more earth, stone, and leather. Nice, elegant, and reasonably complex. The fruit is there but like a lot of southern French wines it takes a back seat to some non-fruit flavors. The etoh is hidden and the tannins are moderate. Now-2020. (3552 views)
Red
2012 No Girls Grenache
93 points
Lightest color of the entire tasting of 32 reds, yet beautiful for it's layers and complexity. Black and red fruit with underbrush, flowers and loam going on and on. Drink now, this is resolved!
Red
2012 Two Hands Shiraz Bella's Garden
92 points
A ringer in this event. This almost came off as a little sweet after the Mourved in this blind tasting. Black cherry and berries, pepper, herbs and oak on the palate. A smidge of glycerin enhancing the texture and dueling with the 16% etoh combined to give this away as the Aussie. Now-2024.
Flight 4 - The Rhonies Flight #2 (5 notes)
Red
2012 K Vintners Syrah Rock Garden
95 points
This was amazing start to the second flight! "Sweet", but big and lush with blackberry, currant, and black cherry on stone and floral notes. New World written all over it, but still fun! Now-2027.
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Doyenne Aix
92 points
One of the higher QPR's in this group of 32 wines. A little tight on the nose, but big on the palate with some big black fruit notes, then stone, oak and earth. Still "hanging" on day 3 w/o gas. Now-2025.
Red
2012 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard
94 points
In this blind tasting, I gave the same score as almost 2 years ago:
"There's a little "C-funk!" Only bottle I was willing to commit to in this blind flight. Almost "sweet" with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plums. Funky leather, smoke, espresso, olive and pepper dance around on the finish. Polarizing, but I love it! Now-2025. (3112 views)"
The "funk" is still there on this afternoon (leading to a correct guess, after thinking the Reynvaan was this wine in a previous flight). Similar CdP notes of Kirsch, kelp, and anise notable on the long finish. BEWARE! this bottle was one of two that did not survive to day 3...
"There's a little "C-funk!" Only bottle I was willing to commit to in this blind flight. Almost "sweet" with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plums. Funky leather, smoke, espresso, olive and pepper dance around on the finish. Polarizing, but I love it! Now-2025. (3112 views)"
The "funk" is still there on this afternoon (leading to a correct guess, after thinking the Reynvaan was this wine in a previous flight). Similar CdP notes of Kirsch, kelp, and anise notable on the long finish. BEWARE! this bottle was one of two that did not survive to day 3...
Red
2012 Ojai Syrah Special Bottling Solomon Hills Vineyard
92 points
A ringer in this event.
My wife and I were the only ones who had tasted at the winery and knew their style, leading to a correct guess (with only 5 choices...). Stoney black fruit and iron notes (Crozes-Hermitage anyone?) and less "overdone" than the bigger wines this afternoon.
Just a great wine, that could even use another year or two. Wow!
My wife and I were the only ones who had tasted at the winery and knew their style, leading to a correct guess (with only 5 choices...). Stoney black fruit and iron notes (Crozes-Hermitage anyone?) and less "overdone" than the bigger wines this afternoon.
Just a great wine, that could even use another year or two. Wow!
Red
2012 Efeste Emmy Stonetree Vineyard
90 points
My score might be overly enthusiastic in a blind tasting... this was big but a bit hot. Nice mix of black and red fruit with some spice and a nice mouthfeel. Drink or the etoh might win even bigger...
Flight 5 - First Ice Skater for the BDX type wines (1 note)
Red
2012 Patterson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
89 points
This was a palate cleanser for flights to come. Pleasant and correct, berries and wet stone/ minerals of decent length. Tuesday night perfection. Drink.
Flight 6 - Washington Cabs and blends Flight 1 (5 notes)
Red
2012 Betz Family Clos de Betz
91 points
Blind, this was initially underwhelming. Blackberry, black cherry and plum notes supported by some spice and earth. Medium length. It actually gained some complexity on day 2 = 92pts. Now-2027.
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Comment
Red
2012 Pepper Bridge Trine
92 points
More depth and tannins than the Betz before it. Really enjoyable for its black fruit, spice, florals, and earth that linger nicely. Tannins winning a bit more on day 2 = 90. Now-2025.
Red
2012 Ridge Monte Bello
96 points
I'm so bummed the donor of this wine to the tasting woke up sick and couldn't attend! Of course we drank his wine!
IT. WAS. FANTASTIC! One of the best Cab / blends I've had in a while (until later this pm). Deep Purple ("Smoke on the Water"?) and black fruit with plum, cocoa, stone and espresso in layers so deep it's like tasting in quicksand! You just get swallowed up. Great "mountain grown" feel to it. I correctly guessed California, but thought it was from Howell Mtn. Now-2037.
IT. WAS. FANTASTIC! One of the best Cab / blends I've had in a while (until later this pm). Deep Purple ("Smoke on the Water"?) and black fruit with plum, cocoa, stone and espresso in layers so deep it's like tasting in quicksand! You just get swallowed up. Great "mountain grown" feel to it. I correctly guessed California, but thought it was from Howell Mtn. Now-2037.
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Comment
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate
93 points
Super pleasant and smooth after the almost smash mouth Monte Bello. Blackberry liqueur, plum, cocoa and spice sing. Great balance of acid and tannins. 93 on day 2. now-2027.
Red
2012 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen Brothers Vineyard
92 points
This bottle stood out for its blue fruit, stone and tannins. Easy to guess in a blind tasting when you knew it was coming at some point. Fell off a bit on day 2 => 90. Drink now-2024.
Flight 7 - Cab Flight 2 (5 notes)
Red
2012 Fidelitas Optu Red Mountain
92 points
Blind, I thought to myself of Led Zep's "Whole Lotta Love". Lots of everything w/o being over the top. I actually guessed "blend" because it was so smooth with a mix of currant, mocha and floral notes. Structure and layers were even more obvious on day 2 = 93! Now-2028.
Red
2012 Upchurch Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch
94 points
Nice and stern for a 10 yr old Cab with deep dark currant and oak notes up front. Blackberry, loam and cigar on the long backside. 94+ in the blind tasting, 93 on day 2. Now-2027.
Red
2012 Cadence Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
flawed
Just enough VA to call "off" though the palate was ok. The other Cadence in this event was similar -- yikes!
Red
2012 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lampyridae Vineyard
96 points
Ooooh! Another Juan Valdez / "Mountain Grown" wine in this tasting. It did stand out for the deep dark rocky currant and tobacco notes. Super long and luxurious. The other CA wine had already been revealed in this blind tasting so I knew this one! 95 on day 2. Now-2032! or longer...
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill
93 points
This was like an actor who says, "I'm age appropriate!" This stood out for being sleek and smooth, integrated and deep. All the usual WA Cab flavors and one of the few out of 30+ bottles that I wrote, "tastes 10 years" in this tasting. It has the stuffing to go longer. 93 on day 2. Now-2027.
Flight 8 - Cab Flight 3 (5 notes)
Red
2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick
94 points
This bottle overperformed in this blind tasting! Standing out for being smooth but big, layered and complex. Mostly black fruit with hints of Rainier cherry, spice, florals, cigar and stone. Missed it when guessing, as it was better than a bottle THE PREVIOUS NIGHT! Now-2025.
Red
2012 Quilceda Creek Palengat Red Wine
96 points
One of the top wines this afternoon! Deep blackberry, boysenberry vs. black raspberry, coffee, flowers and stone. Really nice acid and tannin base. Just goes on and on! 94 on day 2. Now-2030
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags
94 points
First word in my notes for this blind tasting was, "beautiful". Not a bad start. More obviously tannic than the Palengat before it, this leaned into its creme de cassis, stone, tobacco, cocoa and spice with no apologies! 94+ down to 93 on day 2. Now-2027.
Red
2012 Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Force Majeure Vineyard
93 points
As can happen in a long blind tasting, my notes got shorter..."Big Cab". More black than red fruited with some oak and anise / fennel. 90 on day 2, tannins winning. Drink sooner than later.
Red
2012 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
95 points
This was somehow familiar, but I haven't bought Leonetti in 15 years (Thanks Joe/Kyla for this one). Great texture, but on a very solid base. Currants, black plum, coffee, earth/ stone, and oak that linger like a political ad (but this was pleasant!). 95+ down to 93+ on day 2. Now- 2027.
Flight 9 - Cab Flight 4 (5 notes)
Red
2012 K Vintners The Creator
flawed
Weird and pruney, this bottle was bought in 2015, stored perfectly with many others in this event, but tonight? Drano...
Red
2012 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series
93 points
One of the few bottles today that gave an immediate palate impression of sweetness due to glycerin. Then the big beautiful spicy black fruit hits and all is ok in the world (OK, not). 93+ down to 92 on day 2. Now-2025
Red
2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard
97 points
My WOTN (thanks Kyla and Joe!), this bottle was both silky and dense, deep and dark, fruity and savory. Blackberry, cassis, stone, leather, cocoa and spice just go, go, go...tannins there but nicely hiding for Halloween. 96 on day 2. WOW! Now-2030.
Red
2012 Cadence Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard
flawed
Second Cadence that had JUST enough VA to call off and down the drain. Very drinkable and many wouldn't notice but there were too many other good wines out tonight!
Red
2012 Fidelitas Cabernet Sauvignon Quintessence
92 points
A very nice but not spectacular end to a long afternoon! Blackberry, black plum, chocolate, tobacco and earth don't linger too long, darn! 90 on day 2. Drink soon.
Flight 10 - Dessert (1 note)
foie gras, figs, Rogue Creamery blue cheese and/ or fruit thumbprint cookies...let's see...
White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Envy Wines Late Harvest
91 points
A nice west coast "Sauternes" from late harvest Sauv Blanc and Semillon. Very sweet / rich and that may have cost it a point or two. The fruit is tropical and citrus with a smidge of spice making it interesting. Now-2030 (see if it mellows...).
Closing
I'm not sure saving Washington wines makes them any more delicious, but it sure was fun to try!