The Buzz 2015
:Nota Bene Cabernet Franc - Dineen Vineyard
89 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
Made from 100% Cabernet Franc from a site in the Yakima Valley, the 2015 Cabernet Franc Dineen Vineyard offers a perfumed nose of candied cherries, blueberries, violets, and mint. It's juicy, medium-bodied, and lively on the palate, with a lifted yet fresh and enjoyable style. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
:Nota Bene Cabernet Sauvignon - Dineen Vineyard
Gold Medal from 2018 Tri-Cities Wine Festival
91 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
From the same vineyard as the Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dineen Vineyard is similarly colored and offers up a beautiful bouquet of crème de cassis, spicy oak, and crushed flowers. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, and nicely textured on the palate, it's a heck of a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon for not too much buck. Drink it any time over the coming decade or so. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
88 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
Dark ruby-red. Cassis, brown spices and a hint of herbs on the nose. A distinct step up in sweetness from the Cabernet Franc from Dineen Vineyard and more pristine as well, offering flavors of cassis and huckleberry and a more harmonious oak element. Finishes firm and subtly persistent, with lingering notes of dark berries and brown spices. (14% alcohol) Drink 2018 - 2023
:Nota Bene Cabernet Sauvignon - Heart of the Hill Vineyard
88 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
(aged in 50% new American and 50% used French barrels; reportedly made from the same fruit as the Betz Pere de Famille): Bright ruby. Inviting scents of blueberry, mocha and cocoa powder, plus some greenness from the American oak barrels. Displays a slightly creamy quality but also good energy to its dark berry, black olive and chocolate flavors. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins, a faint acid edge and a suggestion of pickle but good energy and length. (14.4% alcohol) Drink 2018 - 2023
:Nota Bene Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
89 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
(80% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate are lifted by exotic brown-spice oak tones and a note of violet. Concentrated and very ripe but with decent acidity giving shape to the dark berry and floral flavors and extending the finish. The wine's substantial firm tannins call for another year or two of patience. (15% alcohol) Drink 2020 - 2026
Mourvèdre - Heart of the Hill Vineyard
2015 Nota Bene Cellars "Heart of the Hill Vineyard" Mourvèdre - $30
A fun, spicy unfiltered wine made with grapes sourced from Heart of the Hill Vineyard on Red Mountain. It's lush with red fruits and spice and savory notes, with a zesty acid to keep it light on its feet. Only 75 cases produced. 90 Points in $25-$35 Category
- The Wine Panel.
89 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
The 2015 Mourvèdre Heart of the Hill Vineyard (100% Mourvèdre aged 22 months in 25% new American oak barrels) sports a ruby/purple-tinged color to go with a lifted bouquet of plums, violets, incense, and lead pencil. It's medium-bodied, has a rounded, supple texture, plenty of fruit, and a good finish. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
87+ Points
Tasting Date November 2018
(25% new American oak): Bright, dark red-ruby. Slightly high-toned aromas of blackberry, blueberry, tree bark and spices are complemented by an exotic oak element. Then penetrating and tightly wound on the palate, with a minty reserve--even a touch of Band-Aid--to its blue and black fruit flavors. Not my favorite style. Will this open in bottle? (14.5% alcohol) Drink 2019 - 2022
Merlot - Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
88 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
Good dark red. Musky aromas of redcurrant, darker berries, tobacco leaf, mocha and cocoa powder. A juicy, spicy wine with modest texture to its flavors of red berries, blueberry, dark chocolate, herbs and spices. Not particularly complex but shows good shape and energy. Finishes with decent length and a fine dusting of tannins that turned a tad dry with aeration. (13.9% alcohol) Drink 2018 - 2021
MCM Wine Company Majestica Red Blend
91 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
The 2015 Red Blend Majestica is another winner, checking in as 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, 14% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in barrel. Blue fruits, leafy herbs and tobacco, hints of spicy oak, medium body, and terrific purity all define this beauty and, as with the Syrah, it's a smoking value. Drink this beauty over the coming 5-7 years. There are 125 cases produced. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
MCM Wine Company Spectaculuxe
89 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
The 2015 Syrah Spectaculuxe (which includes 6% Viognier) offers an attractive, complex profile that carries plenty of spice-laced black and blue fruits, incense, candied violets, and hints of bay leaf. It's medium-bodied, has a layered texture, good acidity, and fine tannin, all making for a delicious, high-quality Syrah that offers loads of value. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
Syrah - Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
90 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
Saturated bright, dark ruby. Musky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, pungent spices and cilantro; very Red Mountain! At once dense and juicy, showing lovely texture and inner-mouth violet lift to the flavors of purple fruits and black pepper. Finishes with a restrained sweetness to its sappy dark berry flavors, and tannins that saturate the incisors while avoiding dryness. Not an animal style of Syrah, this wine boasts very good energy for the vintage. (14.5% alcohol) Drink 2021 - 2027 -- Stephen Tanzer
Syrah - Stone Tree Vineyard
93 Points
Tasting Date 04/11/2019
Deeper colored, the 2015 Syrah Stone Tree Vineyard (95% Syrah and 5% Viognier) comes from a site on the Wahluke Slope and was aged 22 months in barrel. It offers a meaty, bloody quality as well as lots of blueberry fruits, ground pepper, and leafy herb aromas and flavors. It's ripe, rounded, and sexy on the palate, with tons of character. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck
89+ Points
Tasting Date November 2018
(3.88 pH): Bright dark ruby. Inky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, minerals and bitter chocolate are lifted by a rose petal nuance. Intense but a bit youthfully unyielding, conveying good precision to its black fruit flavors. Firm acidity contributes to this wine's primary character. Finishes with firm tannins that saturate the palate, a touch of complicating earthiness, and noteworthy medicinal reserve. Give this a couple more years in the cellar. (14.8% alcohol) Drink 2020 - 2025
Una Notte
Gold Medal from 2018 Bellingham Northwest Wine Festival
Gold Medal from 2018 Tri-Cities Wine Festival
88 Points
Tasting Date November 2018
Full medium red. Cherry, raspberry, strawberry and musky tree bark on the nose. Juicy, lively, leanish wine with good energy to its flavors of blue fruits and spices. An impression of sound acidity contributes to this wine's inner-mouth lift. Finishes a touch dry but with good lift. Incidentally, the wine's Grenache component is done in stainless steel barrels, its Syrah and Mourvèdre in old French and American oak. (13.6% alcohol) Drink 2018 - 2022