The Buzz 2011
Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
89+? Points
International Wine Cellars (IWC), December 2014
(14.7% alcohol; 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc; aged in 50% new French oak): Bright medium ruby. Sexy aromas of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha and minerals; the ripest of these cabernet blends from Nota Bene. Dense and sweet, offering lovely purity to its dark berry and dark cherry flavors. Complicating notes of licorice, graphite and mint. Good solid material here. Coats the tongue on the building finish, which features nicely ripe tannins. — Stephen Tanzer
19/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, April 2015
This blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc exhibits a deep crimson-ruby color and intoxicating aromas of wild blackberries, mountain blueberries and black currants, with scents of crushed roses, mulberry, sandalwood, juniper berry, tobacco and black violets. The flavors, as well, are seductive, with layers of black and blue fruits that are intermixed with black licorice, dark chocolate, French roast, and Red Mountain scorched earth and minerals. The saturation continues on the back, with sensations of pressed berries, sweet nutmeats, kirsch and cassis liqueurs, and blueberry preserves, followed by a deftly oaked (50% new French) lightly spiced lingering sweet-dry tannin finish. 19/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Dineen Vineyard
18.5/20 points.
Review of Washington Wines, April 2015
From a vineyard located near Zillah, this combination of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Cabernet Franc shows a deep purplish ruby color and a rich nose of blackberry, cherry and plum, with scents of crushed roses, mulberry, juniper berry, tobacco and incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with an abundance of red and black fruits that are intermixed with licorice, Swiss chocolate, French roast and earth minerals. The chewy textured back picks up notes of roasted berries and nuts, dried cherries, plum preserves and graphite, on the way to a lingering "old world" like dryish tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Malbec - Verhey Vineyard
18.5+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, April 2001
From a southwest-facing vineyard near Union Gap, this wine offers a deep crimson-ruby color and an intense nose of blackberry, blueberry and cassis, with scents of crushed roses, mulberry, tobacco, violets, cracked pepper and spiced incense. On the palate, the dark fruit flavors are deep and well saturated, intermixed with black licorice, dark cocoa, coffee grounds and minerally earth. The back reveals sensations of roasted berries and nuts, dried blueberries, toffee and charcoal, followed by a lingering sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Miscela
18+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, April 2015
Owner-winemakers Tim Narby and Carol Bryant call this, "Washington in a glass" and that is appropriate, being a multi vineyard blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec. It shows a deep ruby color and an engaging nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, black roses, mulberry, cigar box and incense. The flavors are full and direct, with plenty of dark fruits that are underlain with licorice, chocolate, roast coffee and earth. The chewy textured back picks up roasted berries and nuts, toffee and dried cherries, followed by a moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Mourvedre - Heart of the Hill Vineyard
18.5+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, March 2015
This 100% Mourvédre offers a deep, brilliant ruby color and rich, spicy aromas of wild raspberry, persimmon, black currant, bayberry, brambles and spiced incense. On the palate, the red and black fruit flavors are thick and generous, intermixed with licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and Red Mountain earth minerals. The saturation continues on the back infused with macerated berries and roasted nuts, framboise liqueur, creme de cassis, and baking spices, all culminating in a long, savory moderate acid and tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Syrah
18+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, March 2015
Mostly from the Wahluke Slope, this Syrah offers a deep purplish ruby color and rich, smoky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, anise, black roses, tobacco and lavender. The red and blue fruit flavors are deep and direct, intermixed with licorice, cola, coffee grounds and Wahluke scorched earth. The back picks up macerated semi-dried berries, roasted nuts and charcoal on the way to a spiced sweet-dry chewy tannin finish. 18+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Syrah - Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
90+? points
International Wine Cellars (IWC), December 2014
(14.2% alcohol; from a Tablas Creek clone; no new oak): Bright full ruby. Musky perfume of black raspberry, blackberry, tar, mocha and black olive, plus a whiff of leather. Densely packed, solid and tactile, boasting very good energy and breadth to its blackberry and violet flavors. Offers the best mouth coverage by far of this producer's 2011s from Rhone grapes. Plenty of Syrah character here, as well as the depth to support several years of bottle aging. — Stephen Tanzer
19+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, March 2015
From Jim Holmes‚Äô vineyard in the heart of Red Mountain, and sourced from the Tablas Creek clone, this is an exemplary Syrah. It exhibits a semi-opaque ruby color and intoxicating aromas of wild blackberries, mountain blueberries, black currants, black roses, bayberry, dark tobacco, lavender, black violets and oriental incense. The dark fruit flavors match the intensity of the aromatics, with thick layers of dark fruits that are intermixed with black licorice, bittersweet chocolate, dark roasted coffee beans and Red Mountain chalky earth. The intensity continues on the back with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, toffee, creme de cassis, dried orange peel, cinnamon bark and charcoal, all leading into the long, savory dryish moderate tannin finish. 19+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Syrah - Stone Tree Vineyard
18.5+/20 points
Review of Washington Wines, March 2015
This is a richly flavored rendition of Wahluke Slope Syrah. It displays an inky crimson color and an intense, smoky nose of wild blackberry, black roses, anise, mulberry, lavender, and spiced incense. On the palate, the flavors are thick and lavish, bathed with ripe, sweetish fruits that are imbued with black licorice, cola, dark chocolate, French roast and Wahluke scorched earth. The richness continues on the back with sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, mocha, creme de cassis and blueberry preserves, followed by a lingering spiced sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. — Rand Sealey
Una Notte
18.5/20 points.
Review of Washington Wines, March 2015
This is a tasty blend of 72% Grenache and 14% Syrah from Stone Tree, and 14% Mourv?®dre from Heart of the Hill. It shows a brilliant ruby color and attractive aromas of raspberry, pomegranate and red currant, with scents of crushed roses and garrigue (lavender and Proven?ßal herbs). The medium bodied flavors are generous, yet focused, intermixed with cocoa, medium roast coffee and Wahluke scorched earth. The back picks up pressed semi dried fruits‚ orange peel, pomegranate seeds, grape skins, followed by a ripe, savory sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. — Rand Sealey
88 points
International Wine Cellars (IWC), December 2014
(14.5% alcohol; 72% Grenache, 14% Syrah and 14% Mourvedre): Bright medium red, the least saturated of these 2011s. Aromas of strawberry, red raspberry, cherry, coffee, tree bark and rose petal showcase the wine’s Mourvedre component. Perfumed in the mouth, offering easygoing red fruit and floral flavors framed by fine-grained tannins. An open-knit wine of moderate depth and lowish acidity, this southern Rhone blend makes a very pleasant drink.
— Stephen Tanzer