The weekend of December 2-4 was Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley. Most wineries and tasting rooms were decorated with festive holiday decor. Also, many poured barrel samples of their future releases from the 2015 and 2014 vintages. Here's a run down of what I tasted.

2015 Saviah Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Funk Estate Vineyard - Co-fermented with a bit of Viognier, this wine from the Rocks showed a deep ruby color and an intense nose of blackberry, blueberry and cassis, with scents  of crushed roses, lavender and incense. The flavors were thick and meaty with distinct Rocks minerality. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts and charcoal, followed by a rich, spicy finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Saviah Cellars Walla Walla Valley, Watermill Vineyard - One third foot stomped, this Syrah showed a deep crimson color and a rich nose of wild fruits - blackberry, pomegranate, cassis - with scents of orange peel, garrigue and incense. The flavors were thick and chewy, with notes of licorice, cocoa and earthy minerals. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts, leather, mocha and burnt charcoal, followed by a long chewy tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2015 Sleight of Had Cellars "Levitation" Syrah, Columbia Valley - Composed of 70% Lewis and 30% Les Collines and 30% whole cluster fermented, this displayed a deep crimson color and an intense perfumed nose of wild fruits, roses, mulberry, tobacco, violets and white incense. The flavors were mouth encompassing and lavish, replete with minerals, licorice and coffee, and pressed berries and creme de cassis on the back, followed by a long smooth tannin finish. 19+/20 points, possibly 19.5.

2015 Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Summit View Vineyard Block K1 - Deep crimson colored, this possessed a wonderfully perfumed nose of blackberries, cherries, plums, cassis, crushed roses, sweet pea flowers, sweet tobacco, sandalwood and violets. The flavors, as well, were seductive, with layers of lavish yet focused dark fruits, underlain with licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and Rocks minerals. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts, graphite and integrated oak (50% new French) on the way to a complex savory ripe tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2015 Aluvé Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley - Here, JJ and Kelly Menozzi have turned out a highly promising Cabernet. Deep ruby-crimson colored, it exited seductive aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, cassis, crushed roses, cedar, tobacco and violets. The flavors were lavish, yet focused, underlain with licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and loamy minerals. The back picked up macerated berries, roasted walnuts, mocha, toast oak, followed by a ripe yet firm tannins. 19+/20 points.

2015 Aluvé Winery Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley - This promises to be a real gem. It showed a crimson color and a perfumed nose of raspberry, cherry, cassis, crushed roses, sweet pea flowers, sweet tobacco and violets. The flavors, as well, were alluring, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, French roast and loess minerals, followed by pressed berries, framboise and kirsch liqueurs, graphite and toasty oak, all gliding into a velvety, yet well delineated finish. 19+, possibly 19.5/20 points.

2015 Tero Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, Windrow Vineyard - This looks to be a very nice Merlot. It showed a deep ruby color and a smoky nose of raspberries, cherries, black plums, black roses, mulberry, tobacco and incense. The flavors were supple, yet deep and focused, with notes of licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and distinct minerality. The back revealed sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, toffee, mocha and graphite, followed by a ripe grainy tannin finish that smooths out at the end. 19+/20 points.

2014 Tero Estates Windrow Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, Windrow Vineyard - A vineyard field blend, this showed a deep purplish color and a rich, smoky nose of blackberries, cherries, plums, crushed roses, mulberry, tobacco, cedar and incense. The flavors mirrored the aromatics with rich flavors that were underlain with licorice, cocoa, French roast and distinct minerality. The chewy textured back showed notes of pressed berries, nougat, mocha and oak, followed by a long, smooth tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2014 Waters Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley - Mostly from the Cold Creek Vineyard, this promises to be a real beauty. Semi opaque ruby colored, it possessed an intense, earthy nose of blackberries, cherries, black plums, crashed black roses, mulberry, tobacco, cedar and incense. The flavors were thick and bold, yet refined, underlain with black licorice, dark chocolate, espresso and alluvial minerals, followed by roasted berries and walnuts, toffee, mocha and charcoal pencil, all leading into a savory, spiced finish. 19+, possibly 19.5/20 points.

2015 Kontos Cellars "The Boss" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley - This blend was made with Chris and Cameron Kontos' Dad, Cliff, the Boss. It showed a deep ruby-crimson color and a rich, berried nose of raspberries, cherries, plums, black roses, tobacco, cedar and violets. The flavors were generous and supple, yet focused, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and minerals. The back picked pressed berries, kirsch and framboise liqueurs, followed by a long, slightly nutted finish. 19+/20 points.

2014 Kontos Cellars "Progeny" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley - This tribute to the Kontos kids, showed a deep crimson-ruby color and enticing aromas of wild blackberries, cherries and plums, with scents of roses, mulberry, tobacco,, cedar and incense. The flavors mirrored the aromatics with thick, fleshy, focused dark fruits, intermixed with licorice, dark chocolate, espresso and loam and gravel earth. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts, mocha and graphite, followed by a spice and herb dusted long finish. 19+/20 points.