The Buzz 2008
Abbinare
90 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Abbinare is composed of 53% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec aged for 22 months in 25% new French oak. Notes of cedar, herbs, spices, a hint of chocolate, black currant, and blackberry set the stage for a savory, layered, ripe, black fruit flavored wine with excellent balance and length.This pleasure-bent effort has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years and will provide optimum drinking through 2023. — Dr. Jay Miller
91 points
Wine Spectator, May 2012
Vivid and rich, a real grabber, with juicy blueberry, plum and spice flavors riding on a velvety frame and pointing into the long, expressive finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2016. 237 cases made. ‚ÄìHS — Harvey Steiman
Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
90 Points
International Wine Cellars (IWC), November 2011
(15.3% alcohol; 43% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot and 28% cabernet franc): Ruby-red with blue tones. Blueberry, violet and minerals on the nose, complemented by sexy oak. Chewy, ripe and powerful, with an almost port-like quality to its black cherry and dark chocolate flavors. A plush blend that manages to hold its shape. I'd drink this on the early side. — Stephen Tanzer
19/20
Review of Washington Wines, October 2011
Composed of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Franc, this wine shows a deep brick red color and aromas of blackberries, black cherries, black currants, with seductive scents of rose petals, cigar box, sandalwood and smoldering incense. On the palate, the dark fruit flavors show an intriguing chewy/svelte texture that combines Red Mountain minerals and scorched earth with tones of licorice, bittersweet chocolate and French roast. The vivid fruits continue on the back, with notes of pencil lead, coffee grounds, cr?®me brule?© and roasted pecans, followed by a lingering, lightly spiced finish that is marked by sweet-dry tannins and toasty oak (86% new French). 19/20 points. — Rand Sealey
92 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Ciel du Cheval is made up of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Franc aged for 22 months in 86% new French and American oak. Notes of pain grille, pencil lead, herbs, spices, and black currant set the stage for an elegant, relatively forward, complex wine that will provide enjoyment through 2023. — Dr. Jay Miller
* (Excellent)
Washington Wine Report, December 2011
Medium ruby. Aromatically shows abundant toasty notes along with vanilla extract and herbal notes. The palate is medium bodied with dark cherry flavors and silky tannins. 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 28% Cabernet Franc. Aged 22 months in French and American oak. 15.3% alcohol. 175 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. — Sean Sullivan
Conner Lee Merlot
92 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Merlot Conner Lee Vineyard (100%) spent 22 months in seasoned French oak. Cinnamon, clove, earthy minerals, cassis, and black currants inform the nose of a complex, layered, concentrated wine. It conceals enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will provide prime drinking through 2020. — Dr. Jay Miller
Conner Lee Vineyard
18.5/20
Review of Washington Wines, October 2011
This is a combination of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one-third Merlot from Radar Hill, west of Othello. It exhibits a deep ruby color and sultry aromas of blackberry, cherry, cassis, tobacco, crushed roses, lavender and a hint of violets. The dark fruit flavors are lavish and savory, intermixed with tones of licorice, bittersweet chocolate, and espresso, wrapped around a firm core. The back picks up notes of earthy minerals, mocha, roasted nuts, fruit confit and dried orange peel, followed by a thick chewy tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. — Rand Sealey
91 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Conner Lee Vineyard is composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot aged for 22 months in 33% new French oak. Wood smoke, exotic spices, incense, damp earth, and assorted black fruits lead to a firm, slightly austere wine that will continue to blossom for several more years. Its drinking window extends from 2013 to 2023. — Dr. Jay Miller
Dineen Vineyard
19/20
Review of Washington Wines, October 2011
Owned by Patrick Dineen and managed by Patrick Rawn, this vineyard is situated north of Zillah. This 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon combination displays a deep ruby color and an intense nose of wild blackberries, cherries and currants, with whiffs of tobacco, rubbed sage, dried rose petals and violets. The flavors are thick and supple, with a lavish coating of licorice, Swiss chocolate, espresso and notions of spiced cherry pie. The saturation continues on the back, with tones of mocha, stony minerals, cr?®me brule?©, roasted nuts and semi macerated berries. Bright fruit acids (6.3 g/l) provide focus to the lingering, savory ripe tannin finish. High on the hedonism scale, hence 19/20 points. — Rand Sealey
91 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Dineen Vineyard is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 22 months in French and American oak.This elegantly styled wine displays an alluring bouquet of herbs, spices and black fruits, good depth and volume, and a lengthy finish. It will benefit from another 1-2 years of cellaring and will provide optimum drinking through 2023. — Dr. Jay Miller
Malbec - Verhey Vineyard
90 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The 2008 Malbec Verhey Vineyard (100%) was aged in barrel for 22 months, a small percentage new. Earthy, herbal, and complex, this slightly lean, elegant offering will evolve for another 1-2 years and deliver prime drinking through 2020. It compared favorably with the best Malbecs from Argentina. — Dr. Jay Miller
+/* (Good/Excellent)
Washington Wine Report, December 2011
Medium purple. This wine has all the hallmarks of Washington Malbec with peppery spices, plum, and light green notes. The palate is tart and on the lighter side of medium bodied tart with chocolate flavors, grainy tannins, and a silky smooth finish. Occasionally shows a bit of heat. 100% Malbec. Aged 22 months in French and Bulgarian oak. 15.2% alcohol. 75 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. — Sean Sullivan
Wines Northwest: Wines of the Week, August 28 2011
Winemaker/owner Tim Narby crafted this Malbec from grapes grown at Verhey Vineyard near Union Gap, Washington in the western Yakima Valley. The inspired combination of terroir-driven fruit with just the right oak-barrel regimen produced a unique and appealing wine. Look for aromas of earthy eucalyptus and rich boysenberry leading to a palate with berry flavors with notes of herbs and citrus. A pleasant finish of cherry and herbs makes for a great combination with rich meats and sauces. Needs breathing time to develop full character. — Chuck Hill
Miscela
90 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
This wine is made from Bordeaux grapes. The deep purple-colored 2008 Miscela is composed of 47% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec aged for 22 months in 33% new French oak. It exhibits an expressive nose of spice box, herbs, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. This is followed by a succulent, spicy, black fruit flavored wine with excellent balance and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give this well- balanced wine 1-2 years to fill out and drink it through 2020. — Dr. Jay Miller
Mourvedre - Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Top 10 Red of 2011
Compass Wines Newsletter, January 2012
Thanks to Doug Charles of Compass Wines in Anacortes, WA for voting our 2008 Mourvedre as one of the Top 10 Washington State Red Wines of 2011. — Doug Charles
18.5+/20
Review of Washington Wines, September 2011
From a cool site, this wine displays a purplish color and aromas of wild blackberry, black cherry and black currant, Provencal lavender, incense, pepper and spice. The dark fruit flavors are deep and penetrating, infused with black licorice, minerally earth and mocha. The back reveals sensations of roasted cherries, graphite, coffee grounds, dried orange peel and toasted almonds, followed by bright fruit acids on a lingering sweet-dry tannin finish that is dusted with pepper and spice. Only 25 cases produced. 18.5+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
89 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
The 2008 Mourvedre Stillwater Creek Vineyard (100%) was aged for 22 months in seasoned French oak. Underbrush, brier, dried herbs, blueberry, and black cherry aromas lead to a chunky wine with a solid core of fruit and plenty of palate presence. All it lacks is complexity, but that could emerge with another 1-2 years of bottle age. — Dr. Jay Miller
Syrah
18.5/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, December 2011
This is an exceptional Syrah for the price. Blended with 13% Mourvedre and 8% Grenache, it offers a deep ruby color and aromas of raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, lavender, sage and pepper. The red/blue flavors are well saturated, underlain with notes of licorice, chocolate, mocha and stony minerals and earth (Stone Tree and Stillwater Creek). The flavors thicken on the back, with senszxzZXations of macerated berries, graphite, dried orange peel and a squeeze of blueberry juice on a spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. ($25) — Rand Sealey
Syrah - Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
91 points
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Fall 2011
The 2008 Syrah Ciel du Cheval Vineyard contains 5% Grenache (from the Stone Tree Vineyard). It was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak It delivers considerably more complexity than the Columbia Valley cuvee as well as alluring aromas of smoked meat, game, lavender, and blueberry. Round and savory on the palate, this nicely proportioned, lengthy effort will drink well through 2018 if not longer. — Dr. Jay Miller
+/* (Good/Excellent)
Washington Wine Report, December 2008
A perfumed, expressive wine with Stargazer lilies, blueberries, and mineral notes. The palate is broad and fruit filled with chalky tannins and a lingering finish. 95% Syrah, 5% Grenache (StoneTree). Aged 22 months in French and American oak (50% new). 15.0% alcohol. 50 cases produced. Sample provided by winery. — Sean Sullivan
Una Notte
18.5/20
Review of Washington Wines, October 2011
Composed of 52% Grenache (Stone Tree) with 38% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, this is an engaging wine. Deep purplish colored, it offers an entrancing nose of sweet raspberries, cherries and black currants, with scents of garrigue (French lavender), orange peel and whiffs of incense and pepper. The supple flavors are lavishly fruited, intermixed with licorice, Swiss chocolate and minerally earth. The back picks up notes of macerated berries, sweet spices and recurring orange peel, followed by a lingering moderate tannin and acid finish. Stainless steel barrel and neutral oak aging maintain the fruit‚Äôs purity. 18.5/20 points. — Rand Sealey
+/* (Good/Excellent)
Washington Wine Report, December 2011
Pale ruby. An aromatic, appealing wine with red fruit, blueberries, white pepper, spice, and game. The palate is lush and fruit filled with a drawn out finish. A slight bitter note on the finish is all that holds this wine back. 52% Grenache, 28% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. StoneTree, Stillwater Creek, and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. Aged 22 months in stainless steel (Grenache) and French and American oak (Syrah). 15.2% alcohol. 131 cases produced. Sample provided by winery — Sean Sullivan