Gary and Nancy Figgins to be Inducted into the Hall of Fame

On August 9, at a gala dinner at the Walter Clore Center Nancy and Gary Figgins will be inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame. This is an honor well deserved for the Figgins who founded the Leonetti Cellar winery in Walla Walla in 1977. The prestige of the Walla Walla Valley AVA is largely due to this iconic winery. Congratulations Nancy and Gary!

Jason Gorski takes over as DeLille Winemaker

Jason Gorski, formerly Assistant Winemaker, has taken over as Winemaker at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville. Chris Upchurch becomes Founding Winemaker at DeLille, a culmination of 27 years. Before coming to DeLille in 2011, Gorski was assistant winemaker at Spring Valley Vineyards in Walla Walla. This change coincides with the winery's move to the former Redhook Brewery facility. I have known Jason for several years and have gone through a number of productive wine tasting sessions with him. Congratulations!

Derick Vipond takes the Reins at Walla Walla Vintners

Another winemaker transition is at Walla Walla Vintners where Derrek Vipond takes over as winemaker. Derrek comes to WWV from Long Shadows where he was assistant winemaker. Former winemaker, Bill VonMetzger will continue working at Walla Walla Vintners through a transition period. Congratulations to Derrek and all the best to Bill.

Lagana Cellars moves to South Second in Walla Walla

When Kerloo Cellars left its tasting room in Walla Walla to focus on its SODO facility in South Seattle, Lagana Cellars moved around the corner into that Second Avenue location. There, Jason Fox and Todd Bernave are pouring their current releases. 

Washington Wines Revisited

Over the past few weeks, I have been reorganizing my wine collection. In doing so, I have retasted some wines that have been lying around for years, and some recently acquired. Here are my notes on some of these wines. 

2017 Abeja Viognier, Walla Walla Valley ($35) - This was reviewed in June 2018 (19/20 points). Retasted a week ago, it showed a lovely nose of pear, peach, passion fruit, wildflowers honeysuckle and white incense. The flavors were exquisitely wrought and vibrant with crystalline minerality and a long ripe finish. It paired nicely with liguine with mushrooms and Alfredo sauce. 19/20 points.

2017 Aluvé Estate Chardonnay, Walla Walla Valley, Menozzi Vineyard ($35) - This is another fine example of how the 2017 vintage is shaping up beautifully for white wines. It showed a brilliant lemon gold color and a floral nose of Asian pear-apple, white peach, grapefruit, apple blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors came on as true to variety and balanced, with notes of pear skin, peach stone and minerals. The back picked up poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of vanillin and lanolin, followed by a long finish. 19/20 points.

2015 March Cellars "Come Hell or High Water" Red Wine ($35) - This blend of 39% Grenache, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Mourvèdre, 11% Counoise and 2% Syrah was reviewed December 2017 (18.5+/20 points). Last tasted, it showed a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of blackberries, blueberries, black currants, black roses, pipe tobacco, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors were thick and supple yet focused, with notes of cocoa, coffee beans and earth, followed by a satisfying pepper and spice dusted finish. 18.5+/20 points. This vintage is sold out, but the 2016 (reviewed October 2018 - 19/20 points) is available under Ashley Trout's Brook & Bull label. 

2015 DeLille Cellars "Signature" Syrah, Yakima Valley - I tasted this with Jason Gorski, now DeLille Winemaker (see above) in May 2018 (reviewed June, 2018 - 19+/20 points. "Signature" suggests an elegantly styled Syrah, which this fitted beautifully in our retasting. It exhibited a deep ruby-crimson color and seductive aromas of blackberry, blueberry and cassis with scents of crushed roses, tobacco, violets and oriental incense. The flavors were simultaneously velvety and authoritative, with notes of licorice, cacao and minerals, followed by a long, smooth yet invigorating finish. 19+/20 points., 

2012 LaRata Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley - La Rata is a project of Elizabeth Bourcier, Assistant Vigneronne at Cayuse. This vintage is comprised of 60% Grenache and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It showed a brick red color and seductive aromas of wild raspberries, cherries, black currants, crushed roses, tobacco, orange peel and spiced oriental incense. On the palate, the wine was simultaneously broad and focused, comprising layers of black and blue fruits that were intermixed with licorice, cocoa powder and Rocks minerality. On the back, the wine acquired a velvety texture, from the Grenache, bolstered by the Cabernet, along with sensations of pressed fruits, creme de cassis, orange peel, nougat and graphite, all flowing seamlessly into a long savory smooth tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2013 College Cellars Carmenère, Walla Walla Valley, Clarke Vineyard - I found this on the floor in the wine storage room. The last release of Carmenère was the 2016 (sold out), with the 2017 coming spring. This vintage showed a ruby color and a developing bouquet of semi dried fruits, spices and wood smoke. The flavors came on as being full and supple, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and silty minerals. The back picked up pressed berries, dried orange peel and roasted nuts on the dryish tannin finish. It drank very nicely. Purchased for $25. 18.5/20 points.

2014 Xenolith Vintners Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley - Xenolith is Rasa Vineyards cellar master Noé Martinez's wine. I reviewed it in November 2017 (19/20 points). Tasted last night, it showed a brick red color and enticing aromas of raspberry, bayberry, red currant, orange peel and spiced incense. The flavors were deep and supple, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and Rocks minerals. The back picked up macerated berries, roasted nuts and mocha, followed by a ripe tannin finish that was beginning to smooth out. Still available on Xenolith's website. 19/20 points.

2008 TL Cellars "Release No. Five" Grenache, Walla Walla Valley - A few days ago, I ran across a call on Facebook from Troy Ledwick asking, "Still some TL Cellars out there...Let me know how it's drinking...." So I got out a bottle of this wine to try. It has held up well for Grenache which typically and a medium bodied Pinot Noir like profile. It had been stored in a Eurocave for the last five years. It showed a red-garnet color and maturing aromas of semi dried fruits, orange peel, dried herbs and oriental incense. The flavors were well developed, with notes of chocolate, mocha and silty earth (Minnick Vineyard), spices and toasted nuts, followed a dryish tannin finish. Reviewed October 2010 (19/20 points). Yesterday, 19/20 points.

2015 Walla Walla Vintners Dolcetto, Walla Walla Valley, Dwelley Vineyard - This dates back to the Myles Anderson, Gordy Venneri, Bill VonMertzger era at Walla Walla Vintners. Tasted today, it showed a ruby-garnet color and enticing aromas of Boysenberries, cherries, plums, partially dried roses, orange peel and incense. The flavors came on as being generous yet serious, with notes of Toberlone chocolate, Italian roast and Dwelley silty loam. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts on a sweetish ("dolce") yet dry finish. 18.5/20 points. Reviewed May 2017 (18.5/20 points). The current vintage is 2016 (reviewed November 2018 - 18.5/20 points).