Last weekend, December 1 and 2, I tasted several 2016 reds during Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley. It is shaping up to be a highly promising vintage. Here are my notes in order of tasting.

2016 Woodward Canyon "Artist's Series" Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State - Deep purplish colored, this possesses an intoxicating nose of young fruits - blackberries, cherries, black currants - with scents of roses, sweet tobacco, cedar, spice, sage and incense. Well structured and focused this should develop into an elegant Cabernet. 19+/20 points.

2016 Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, XL Vineyard - This shows a deep purplish color and an intense nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, crushed roses, bayberry, tobacco, cedar, mint and incense. The flavors, as well, are deep and penetrating, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts and ripe tannins. 19+/20 points.

2016 Saviah Cellars "The Stones Speak" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley - Deep ruby colored, this possesses an intriguing nose of raspberry, blueberry, cassis, crushed red roses, tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors are generous and ample, red focused, with red licorice, cocoa, French roast and Rocks minerals. The back picks up pressed berries, creme de cassis and ripe tannins. 19+/20 points.

2016 Saviah Cellars "The Funk" Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley - Fermented with 10% Viognier, and one third whole cluster, this showed a deep ruby color and a perfumed nose of raspberries, cherries, blueberries, black currants, crushed roses, tobacco and violets. The flavors are well structured, wth loads of black and blue fruits and distinct Rocks minerality. The back picks up pressed berries, nuts, toffee, leather and ripe tannins. Great potential. 19.5/20 points.

2016 Devium Mourvèdre, Yakima Valley, French Creek Vineyard ($34) - Devium is Sleight of Hand assistant winemaker Keith Johnson's project. Just bottled, it shows a ruby color and a sultry, smoky (typical of Mourvèdre) nose of raspberry, blackberry and cassis, with scents of roses, mulberry, brambles and spiced incense. The medium bodied flavors mirror the aromatics with supple, yet forceful fruits, minerals, charcoal and dryish tannins. To be reviewed in February. 19/20 points.

2016 Sleight of Hand Cellars "The Illusionist" Red Wine, Columbia Valley - To be bottled in June, this displayed a deep ruby color and an intriguing nose blackberry, cherry, plum, cassis, rose petals, mulberry, mint and incense. The flavors are full bodied and well endowed, with notes of licorice, bittersweet chocolate, French roast and minerals. The back picks up roasted berries and nuts, toffee and graphite, followed by a long, long ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2016 Time & Direction "Old School" Syrah, Columbia Valley, Solaksen Vineyard ($36) - This is Alleromb assistant winemaker Steve Well's project. From part of the Lawerence Vineyard in the Frenchman Hills and fermented with 5% Viognier, this showed an inky purple-ruby color and an intense, unmistakable Syrah one of wild blackberries, blueberries, cassis, black roses, tobacco garrigue and violets. The flavors are deep and well structured with notes of chocolate, coffee and minerals. Being sold as futures, with release in May. 19/20 points.

2016 Ardor Cellars "Quaternarium" Syrah, Columbia Valley - Brandon Kubrock's plan is to make this the winery's flagship wine and produce less of the single vineyard bottling. A combination of Lawrence, Den Hoed, Red Heaven and Stoney Vine vineyards, this shows a deep crimson-ruby color and a rich, spicy nose of dark wild fruits - blackberries, blueberries, black currants - with scents of roses, tobacco, garrigue and incense. The flavors are well packed and multi layered, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and minerals, followed by a long, complex finish. 19.5/20 points.

2016 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Lewis Vineyard - Semi opaque ruby colored, this possesses an intense, classic nose of blackberry, cherry, plum, cassis, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, cedar, olive and incense. The flavors are deep and penetrating, with layers of dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, French roast and minerals, followed by a lengthy, deftly naked satiny tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2016 Aluvé Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, Lewis Vineyard - Blended with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this shows a brick red color and a lovely, perfumed nose of raspberry, cherry and currant, with scents of red roses, mulberry, red lilac, olive and sage. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with supple medium bodied yet deep and focused red fruits, underlain with licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee and minerals. The back picks up pressed berries and roasted nuts, followed by a sweet-dry Tuscan like finish. 19/20 points.

2016 Aluvé Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley - The Menozzi Vineyard produced enough Merlot in 2016 to produce a varietal bottling. It shows a crimson-ruby color and lovely floral aromas of wild berries, cherries and plums, with scents of red roses, mulberry and wet stone. The flavors are pleasingly bright and ample, yet focused, with underpinnings of licorice, cocoa, French roast and varietal minerality. With ripe, silky tannins and a long complex finish, this will be a real beauty. 19+/20 points.