2016 Avennia Gravura

JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  4/21/2019, (See more on JamesSuckling.com...)

  (Avennia Columbia Valley Gravura, Red, United States) Login and sign up and see review text.

JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  The 2016s From Washington State, 4/11/2019, (See more on JebDunnuck.com...)

  (Avennia Gravura Red) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Focus on Washington: The New Normal (Nov 2018), 11/1/2018, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Avennia Red Wine Gravura Washington Red) Login and sign up and see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Avennia, 5/19/2019

  (Avennia Gravura) Hello friends. Avennia has moved from rising star to vaguely culty to established superstar in a very short amount of time. We consider ourselves lucky to have been supporters of Chris Peterson and Marty Taucher from the start; it means our list members get access to some of his rarer bottlings. And while the rarer bottlings—like Arnaut below—are exciting, the entire lineup is consistently impressive. The house style retains the character of Washington’s terroir and yet presents this sense of ribald, euro-styled earthiness that is a bit more unusual in these climes. These are stunning, ageworthy wines, and they continually offer excellent value compared to their peer groups in quality. Jeb Dunnuck: Copyrighted material withheld. When we talk about excellent value within the already excellent Avennia lineup, we’re talking about Gravura. Chris Peterson makes three Bordeaux blends: Gravura, Valery, and Sestina. Gravura is an homage to Graves and its intensely gravelly soil; it also asks the lowest tariff of the three. However, it does not feel entry-level in the slightest. The blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Franc are sourced from a tour de force grouping of vineyards, including: Sagemoor’s Dionysus and Bacchus, Red Willow, Boushey, and Klipsun. That is a lot of classy old-vine material for the tariff. Fermented with native yeast, Gravura is aged for almost 2 years in 60% new French oak. It clocks in at 14.8% listed alc and opens with a nose of blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, white flowers, dirt, café con leche, and gravel. The palate continues with a complex mix of red and black fruit, earthy mineral tones, and herbaceous florals. There’s an ideal balance of acid and tannin, driving home the elegance of this bottle, and ensuring it will age splendidly.