Tasted blind. I'll echo my note from 2012 except this bottle was particularly stinky and more awkward with coffee and wood notes obscuring the sweet fruit.
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Tasted blind. Subtle, oaky nose with sugar cookie and boysenberry. Soft, delicious fruit and good acidity. Well-crafted and serious, but also short in length and incomplete. When this was unveiled, I was surprised because this doesn't compare to how good Sorella has been in the past.
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Wow, still very young and perhaps even a little backward. Sweet fruit, great structure and very good depth, but not very revealing, and surprisingly unevolved and not showing much complexity. Still an interesting wine, but to my palate it is in need of further cellaring.
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Drank over two days and best on days two. Still plenty of life left as the fruit, acid and tannins are all still in the foreground. Dark wine with a grainy texture dominated by earthy taste components. Long finish. Would score higher if more harmonious even though all the pieces keep it interesting.
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Opened an hour prior. Poured looking fresh and young with no discoloration at the edges. Initially gave off aromas of raspberry, cassis, black cherry, tobacco, and graphite. With time open, darker fruits of blackberry and darker cherry aromas emerged along with hints of leather. Tannins were perfectly in balance with pleasant acidity and full but not excessive fruit. In perfect balance right now, though those who prefer secondary and tertiary characteristics can stand to wait two to three more years. Amazed how youthful this still tastes. Yum.
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Blackberry, espresso, mocha, berry compote, very ripe but restrained. Stout structure with a mineral underpinning and lots of cassis on the palate. Surprisingly good.
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The last bottle of this I had a few years ago was disappointing and I was not too hopeful. But this bottle was singing, very impressive. Deep palate, really hit the sweet spot along with some elk tenderloin.
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This bottle was very nice. We opened it and let it sit for about an hour but did not decant. I think the thing I consistently like about Sorella is that the grape mix seems to harmonize well. I don't pick out a lot of the individual components; just a well balanced whole. This vintage is now mature but I think it can go a bit longer if desired. Having said that, I think it wise and enjoyable to drink soon.
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An excellent, mature wine but not quite memorable or outstanding. The body was a tad thin and the acid dominated the red fruits. A touch of creaminess and white pepper in this lighter red colored wine. Had a 2 hour decant - maybe too much as I detect it was falling apart somewhat over time. Long acid dominated finish. Food wine.
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Dark. Ripe herbal chocolate/cherry cab fruit but not expressive. Elegant in the mouth, medium weight, bright, light tannin still, a slight dip in the middle and an average finish. Could use some time but drinks nice with air. Good wine but lacks class. Now or wait.
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Popped and poured, drank over an hour. Dark ruby in color with very minimal bricking on the edge looking younger than its age. The bouquet was showing great red fruits; cherries, raspberries with leather, milk chocolate, and floral aspect in the background that was just gripping. On the palate were blackberry, dried fruits, and chocolate. This was medium bodied with tannins and acidity still there but well integrated. The finish was absolutely striking, very long, and had layers of complexity that never stopped. Still drinking bright and showing amazing finesse, an outstanding wine that can be described as beautiful.
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Tasted over 3 hrs. (first without food and then with a meal of gas BBQ'd top sirloin marinaded w/harissa sauce, herbed rice and salad of baby greens/olive oil vinaigrette) in a blind against a 2000 Sineann Block One, an Andrew Will Sorella 2000, a 1997 Sterling RSV cab, a 1999 Girard Red and a 1999 Dunham IV.
All were surprisingly good with the Apex tasting the most Bordeaux like; dry with hints of cedar, cassis, blackberry and a touch of scorched earth and a fairly long finish. The Sineann was the biggest,ripest and fattest of the group with a rich thick mouth feel, scents of super ripe Italian plums and blackberry jam and lottsa sweet tannins that had fully resolved. The Sorella was much more elegant in its lengthy finish and finesse, had more of a red fruit character and went well w/the dinner. The '97 Sterling RSV was another surprise since some of the '97's we've had in the recent past were tiring out and this still had much of its fruit intact and was well liked by all. The '99 Girard Red had great mouth feel, black cherry/cassis w/vanilla overtones and a medium finish...tasty on its own and good with the food. Finally, the '99 Dunham IV showed its stuff as well: rich blackberry/cassis with well integrated but noticable oak. Nice to know that WA juice can age well if stored well, as all of the above had been. Despite any protestations as to which was best the four of us had no trouble finishing the lot, save for a little of the Sineann, which I took home and polished off the next day.
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NIce. Dark blue/purple fruit. On the P&P nose not giving up much, then consumed fairly quickly. Still robust, sweet/dry fruit, not big on fruit, reserved, nice layers, but in the end forgetable.
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This gets an outstanding just for the nose. I couldn't stop breathing in this wonderfully fragrant wine. The color was slightly bricked and body was light to medium with red fruits dominating. Fairly well balanced despite no decant. A food wine right out of the bottle due to the tannins and acid. Outstanding.
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Classic Andrew Will; very Bordeaux-like. We drank this without decanting. The wine was dark and rich in color and taste. The palate was of dark berry fruit, plum and earth. Fortunately it did not have any of the residual sweetness that many Washington red wines have. The tannins were strong but balanced with the fruit. I think wine has the structure to age several more years. This is an excellent wine.
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Popped and poured, drank over 3 hours. Dark red color. Nose of faint blackberry, currant, tobacco, forest floor, green pepper, pencil lead, and a little ink. The palate had a nice mouthfeel with dark fruit including blackberry, currant, green pepper, and a little ink on back. A nice long finish to this wine, tannin and acidty still present, and nice overall balance. Good stuff that could go a few more years since the tannins are present, but I would enjoy it in the short term if I had more. Drink or hold short term. 50+5+12+17+8
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This is a fabulous young wine - still primary with very young plum cherry colour, nary a tinge of brown on the rim. Nose is not that expressive, dark fruit, notes of tobacco, treacle and acetone, palate is better loads of crisp blackberry and blackcurrant fruit fruit, strong tannins, juicy acidity and a really long expressive finish. Some hints of coffee, tobacco and cassis. Aftertaste is really persistent and lovely. This is a really good wine, just let down by the lack of expression on the nose. Decanted about 2 hours at this tasting note.
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Solid red cabernet blend, tastes just right after a couple hour decant. Definitively Washington, structure, firm, rounded, and vibrant. Could do well for another five years!
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Quite dark in color, persistent to the rim. The most old world of any of the Will wines I've tasted, but still showing a striking amount of fruit. Ulltra-complex with aromas of earth, currant, leather, and fall leaves. Supple but still quite soft on the palate. Very long on the finish with linger notes of chocolate. Shows touches of structure on the finish, but a remarkably smooth wine.
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A lovely wine indeed. Very balanced and smooth. Certainly a Bordeaux-like blend in profile and highly enjoyable. Would seem to have several years yet to run. Delightful.
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This was a very interesting wine. Purple/ruby color, with a nose of funk, skittles and stewed prunes/tomatoes when first opened. The nose really threw me for a loop, and wasn't at all what I was expecting. The palate, however, was very elegant, soft, and had many flavors. These included prunes, cherries, stewed tomatoes, dark chocolate, and vanilla. Tannins are nicely integrated and medium acid works well with the wine. Possibly a poor bottle,but it did improve on day 2. Very interesting wine.
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More like 91+; Deep purple in color with a reddish rim; This wine had good concentration and balance. The aromas and flavors were interesting ranging from blackberries and raspberries to a touch of vanilla oak. Also present was a smoky aroma and flavor along with a core of minerals. This was not as unique as I had hoped with the purchase but it did present quite well. Notes from the bottle: Fruit is from the Champoux Vineyard and is 70% Cab/15% Merlot/12% Cab Franc/3% Petite Verdot; The vines in Block 1 are 30 years old. [~$45 on release; Drinking well now but could hold and possibly improve a few more years]
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Washington wine offline with Chris Cook (Bellevue, WA): Tar with a hint of volatility, very oaky. As is the theme, this is vibrant and racy, another sleek wine. 7 of 12 tasters called it as their favorite wine of the flight.
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This is an absolutely beautiful wine that is already starting to blossom. Very deep color, glowing purple. The nose is extremely saturated with crushed raspberry and a hint of tobacco. The palate is gorgeously structured and very fresh with excellent balance and perky acidity. The wine is deeply concentrated and still playing it close to the vest, showing dusty, silky, mouth coating tannins in the glorious finish. Wow, this is delicious stuff!
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11/1/2016 - andtheodor wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind. I'll echo my note from 2012 except this bottle was particularly stinky and more awkward with coffee and wood notes obscuring the sweet fruit.
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10/30/2016 - Doc90 wrote: 89 Points
Tasted blind. Subtle, oaky nose with sugar cookie and boysenberry. Soft, delicious fruit and good acidity. Well-crafted and serious, but also short in length and incomplete. When this was unveiled, I was surprised because this doesn't compare to how good Sorella has been in the past.
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10/29/2016 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
Wow, still very young and perhaps even a little backward. Sweet fruit, great structure and very good depth, but not very revealing, and surprisingly unevolved and not showing much complexity. Still an interesting wine, but to my palate it is in need of further cellaring.
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9/22/2014 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank over two days and best on days two. Still plenty of life left as the fruit, acid and tannins are all still in the foreground. Dark wine with a grainy texture dominated by earthy taste components. Long finish. Would score higher if more harmonious even though all the pieces keep it interesting.
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8/3/2014 - VinoPKM wrote:
This wine is on the decline (IMHO), but is still tasty and fun to try. Lots of sweet fruit and a little 1 dimensional but still a good fun wine.
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7/20/2013 - GSW wrote: 92 Points
Still a delightful wine. Very smooth
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12/13/2012 - liberlibri Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened an hour prior. Poured looking fresh and young with no discoloration at the edges. Initially gave off aromas of raspberry, cassis, black cherry, tobacco, and graphite. With time open, darker fruits of blackberry and darker cherry aromas emerged along with hints of leather. Tannins were perfectly in balance with pleasant acidity and full but not excessive fruit. In perfect balance right now, though those who prefer secondary and tertiary characteristics can stand to wait two to three more years. Amazed how youthful this still tastes. Yum.
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7/10/2012 - Mark wrote: 85 Points
An off bottle perhaps? Astringent and sour, low fruit, tannins forward and center. I can't say this was very enjoyable. Have one more and will try.
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6/4/2012 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Blackberry, espresso, mocha, berry compote, very ripe but restrained. Stout structure with a mineral underpinning and lots of cassis on the palate. Surprisingly good.
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5/31/2012 - robmatic wrote: 93 Points
The last bottle of this I had a few years ago was disappointing and I was not too hopeful. But this bottle was singing, very impressive. Deep palate, really hit the sweet spot along with some elk tenderloin.
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2/26/2012 - Redteeth wrote:
This bottle was very nice. We opened it and let it sit for about an hour but did not decant. I think the thing I consistently like about Sorella is that the grape mix seems to harmonize well. I don't pick out a lot of the individual components; just a well balanced whole. This vintage is now mature but I think it can go a bit longer if desired. Having said that, I think it wise and enjoyable to drink soon.
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2/18/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 89 Points
An excellent, mature wine but not quite memorable or outstanding. The body was a tad thin and the acid dominated the red fruits. A touch of creaminess and white pepper in this lighter red colored wine. Had a 2 hour decant - maybe too much as I detect it was falling apart somewhat over time. Long acid dominated finish. Food wine.
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12/19/2011 - esb wrote: 88 Points
Dark. Ripe herbal chocolate/cherry cab fruit but not expressive. Elegant in the mouth, medium weight, bright, light tannin still, a slight dip in the middle and an average finish. Could use some time but drinks nice with air. Good wine but lacks class. Now or wait.
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7/11/2011 - uncorkwashington wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured, drank over an hour. Dark ruby in color with very minimal bricking on the edge looking younger than its age. The bouquet was showing great red fruits; cherries, raspberries with leather, milk chocolate, and floral aspect in the background that was just gripping. On the palate were blackberry, dried fruits, and chocolate. This was medium bodied with tannins and acidity still there but well integrated. The finish was absolutely striking, very long, and had layers of complexity that never stopped. Still drinking bright and showing amazing finesse, an outstanding wine that can be described as beautiful.
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5/8/2011 - GSW wrote: 92 Points
Still a delight.
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1/2/2011 - Adonisd1956 wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark ruby color, Prunes, raisin on the nose, blackberry, dark cherry, nice firm tannins, juicy dark fruits on the palate. A tasty bottle of wine.
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9/14/2010 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over 3 hrs. (first without food and then with a meal of gas BBQ'd top sirloin marinaded w/harissa sauce, herbed rice and salad of baby greens/olive oil vinaigrette) in a blind against a 2000 Sineann Block One, an Andrew Will Sorella 2000, a 1997 Sterling RSV cab, a 1999 Girard Red and a 1999 Dunham IV.
All were surprisingly good with the Apex tasting the most Bordeaux like; dry with hints of cedar, cassis, blackberry and a touch of scorched earth and a fairly long finish. The Sineann was the biggest,ripest and fattest of the group with a rich thick mouth feel, scents of super ripe Italian plums and blackberry jam and lottsa sweet tannins that had fully resolved. The Sorella was much more elegant in its lengthy finish and finesse, had more of a red fruit character and went well w/the dinner. The '97 Sterling RSV was another surprise since some of the '97's we've had in the recent past were tiring out and this still had much of its fruit intact and was well liked by all. The '99 Girard Red had great mouth feel, black cherry/cassis w/vanilla overtones and a medium finish...tasty on its own and good with the food. Finally, the '99 Dunham IV showed its stuff as well: rich blackberry/cassis with well integrated but noticable oak. Nice to know that WA juice can age well if stored well, as all of the above had been. Despite any protestations as to which was best the four of us had no trouble finishing the lot, save for a little of the Sineann, which I took home and polished off the next day.
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7/2/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 90 Points
NIce. Dark blue/purple fruit. On the P&P nose not giving up much, then consumed fairly quickly. Still robust, sweet/dry fruit, not big on fruit, reserved, nice layers, but in the end forgetable.
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6/1/2010 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
This gets an outstanding just for the nose. I couldn't stop breathing in this wonderfully fragrant wine. The color was slightly bricked and body was light to medium with red fruits dominating. Fairly well balanced despite no decant. A food wine right out of the bottle due to the tannins and acid. Outstanding.
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2/20/2010 - Redteeth wrote:
Classic Andrew Will; very Bordeaux-like. We drank this without decanting. The wine was dark and rich in color and taste. The palate was of dark berry fruit, plum and earth. Fortunately it did not have any of the residual sweetness that many Washington red wines have. The tannins were strong but balanced with the fruit. I think wine has the structure to age several more years. This is an excellent wine.
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7/9/2009 - manonthemoon wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured, drank over 3 hours. Dark red color. Nose of faint blackberry, currant, tobacco, forest floor, green pepper, pencil lead, and a little ink. The palate had a nice mouthfeel with dark fruit including blackberry, currant, green pepper, and a little ink on back. A nice long finish to this wine, tannin and acidty still present, and nice overall balance. Good stuff that could go a few more years since the tannins are present, but I would enjoy it in the short term if I had more. Drink or hold short term. 50+5+12+17+8
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11/29/2008 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
This is a fabulous young wine - still primary with very young plum cherry colour, nary a tinge of brown on the rim. Nose is not that expressive, dark fruit, notes of tobacco, treacle and acetone, palate is better loads of crisp blackberry and blackcurrant fruit fruit, strong tannins, juicy acidity and a really long expressive finish. Some hints of coffee, tobacco and cassis. Aftertaste is really persistent and lovely. This is a really good wine, just let down by the lack of expression on the nose. Decanted about 2 hours at this tasting note.
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10/28/2008 - 9 and 3/4 wrote: 93 Points
Solid red cabernet blend, tastes just right after a couple hour decant. Definitively Washington, structure, firm, rounded, and vibrant. Could do well for another five years!
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9/19/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 93 Points
Quite dark in color, persistent to the rim. The most old world of any of the Will wines I've tasted, but still showing a striking amount of fruit. Ulltra-complex with aromas of earth, currant, leather, and fall leaves. Supple but still quite soft on the palate. Very long on the finish with linger notes of chocolate. Shows touches of structure on the finish, but a remarkably smooth wine.
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8/16/2008 - GSW wrote: 93 Points
A lovely wine indeed. Very balanced and smooth. Certainly a Bordeaux-like blend in profile and highly enjoyable. Would seem to have several years yet to run. Delightful.
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4/5/2008 - last chance wrote: flawed
It was either cooked, corked, or just plain jacked up. Something was far from right here. Big time bummer!
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2/3/2008 - cmbond wrote:
This was a very interesting wine. Purple/ruby color, with a nose of funk, skittles and stewed prunes/tomatoes when first opened. The nose really threw me for a loop, and wasn't at all what I was expecting. The palate, however, was very elegant, soft, and had many flavors. These included prunes, cherries, stewed tomatoes, dark chocolate, and vanilla. Tannins are nicely integrated and medium acid works well with the wine. Possibly a poor bottle,but it did improve on day 2. Very interesting wine.
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11/10/2007 - Redteeth wrote:
A deep, dark and concentrated Bordeaux style wine. The other posted reviews are right on point. this wine appears to have a lot of bottle age left.
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10/18/2006 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
More like 91+; Deep purple in color with a reddish rim; This wine had good concentration and balance. The aromas and flavors were interesting ranging from blackberries and raspberries to a touch of vanilla oak. Also present was a smoky aroma and flavor along with a core of minerals. This was not as unique as I had hoped with the purchase but it did present quite well. Notes from the bottle: Fruit is from the Champoux Vineyard and is 70% Cab/15% Merlot/12% Cab Franc/3% Petite Verdot; The vines in Block 1 are 30 years old. [~$45 on release; Drinking well now but could hold and possibly improve a few more years]
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4/11/2006 - Spencer wrote: 90 Points
Very young. Showing a bit of heat on the nose. Long finish. Give it a couple of years.
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6/1/2005 - Eric wrote: 90 Points
Washington wine offline with Chris Cook (Bellevue, WA): Tar with a hint of volatility, very oaky. As is the theme, this is vibrant and racy, another sleek wine. 7 of 12 tasters called it as their favorite wine of the flight.
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7/14/2004 - Eric wrote: 93 Points
This is an absolutely beautiful wine that is already starting to blossom. Very deep color, glowing purple. The nose is extremely saturated with crushed raspberry and a hint of tobacco. The palate is gorgeously structured and very fresh with excellent balance and perky acidity. The wine is deeply concentrated and still playing it close to the vest, showing dusty, silky, mouth coating tannins in the glorious finish. Wow, this is delicious stuff!
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