Over the past couple of weeks, we've had a couple of tastings of wines to be released at later dates. Here are my notes:

Reynvaan Family Vineyards

On Saturday, November 5, during Fall Release Weekend, we drove up to the end of Cottonwood Road in Walla Walla for the Reynvaan's annual preview tasting, this year, of the 2021 vintage. The wines are being sold at pre release pricing in three bottle packs. 

2021 Reynvaan Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, In the Hills Vineyard ($255) - Fermented with a bit of Viognier, this displays a deep ruby color and rich, smoky aromas of blackberry, currant, peach (yes), roses, violets and oriental incense. The flavors rich and generous, brimming with bright fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa and foothills silt. The back picks up roasted berries, nuts and meats, followed by an approachable ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points. 

2021 Reynvaan Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Foothills Reserve ($285) - This shows a beep ruby-crimson color and a perfumed nose of raspberries, blueberries and currants with scents of crushed roses, tobacco, olive tapenade, violets and incense. The flavors are thick and mouth filling, with layers of black and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa and silty earth. The back picks up red liqueurs and charcoal, followed by a lengthy sweet-dry tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2021 Reynvaan Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, "The Contender" ($285) - Deep ruby-crimson colored, this emits intoxicating aromas of blackberry, black currant, fig, black roses, pipe tobacco, truffles, wild violets and incense. The flavors are simultaneously massive and velvety, with layers of dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, French roast and Rocks minerality. The finish is long and complex, accompanied by touches of mango and creme fraiche. 19.5/20 points.

2021 Reynvaan Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, "In the Rocks" ($300) - This displays a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, black roses, tobacco, smoked meats, lavender and incense. The flavors are bold with distinct, but not too assertive Rocks minerality. The back builds up with roasted fruits, blueberry preserves and crème brulée, followed by a long, savory finish. 19.5/20 points.

2021 Reynvaan "Stonessence" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($330) - This is Reynvaan's Reserve Syrah from the Rocks. It exhibits a nearly opaque ruby-crimson color and perfumed aromas of wild black and blue berries, black roses, dark tobacco. lavender and oriental incense. The flavors are massive but elegant and refined, marked by licorice, cocoa and Rocks cobblestone and silt. The richness goes on and on on the back into a seamless, ultra long ripe, spiced tannin finish. 19.5+/20 points.

Adams Bench

On Sunday, November 15, we visited Adams Bench in the new tasting room on Winery Alley in the Woodin Creek Village, a complex of apartment, restaurants, shops and wine tasting rooms. We tasted these wines with winemaker Erica Blue, co-owner with husband Tim Blue.

2019 Adams Bench "Ursula" Sangiovese, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($60) - Named for Erica Blue's sister, Ursula, this is a world-class Sangiovese. It displays a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of raspberry, cherry, currant, crushed roses, sage, rosemary and incense. The flavors are forceful, yet satiny, with red fruits that are interwoven with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, Italian roast and gravelly earth. The back picks up red liqueurs, toast and light spiced, followed by a lengthy firm yet ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2019 Adams Bench "Reckoning" Red Wine, Columbia Valley ($52) - This blend of 47% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot offers a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, currant, crushed roses, mulberry and stick incense. The flavors are supple yet deep, with layers of red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and earth. The wine enriches on the back with pressed fruits, kirsch and cerise liqueurs, followed by a lengthy ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2019 Adams Bench "the V" Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($65) - Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this shows a deep ruby color and seductive aromas of Marionberry, cherry, currant, crushes roses, pipe tobacco, cedar, sandalwood and incense, The flavors, as well, are appealing, with velvety yet authoritative fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa, French roast and earth. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, roasted pecans, kirsch and cassis liqueurs, followed by a lengthy, sext ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points. 

2019 Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, Mays Discovery Vineyard ($88) - Semi opaque ruby colored, this 92% Cabernet, 8% Merlot combination displays a semi opaque ruby color and sultry aromas of wild blackberry, cherry, currant, plum, crushed roses, tobacco, sandalwood, juniper, olive and oriental incense. The flavors are full and fleshy, marked by licorice, Swiss chocolate, roasted coffee beans and Horse Heaven scorched earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured with roasted berries and nuts, kirsch and cassis liqueurs and plum preserves followed by an ultra long lush, ripe yet firm tannin finish. 20/20 points.

2019 Adams Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, Red Willow Vineyard ($88) - Deep ruby-crimson colored, this 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 9% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc possesses seductive aromas of blackberry, old tree cherry, black plum, crushed roses, sweet tobacco, cedar, black olive, juniper berry, sandalwood and smoldering incense. The flavors are supple (typical of Red Willow) yet deep and authoritative, with black and red fruits that re interwoven with licorice, cocoa, orange pekoe tea and Red Willow earth and strewn rocks. The allure continues on the back with pressed fruits, roasted pecans and creme de cassis, all followed by a long, almost decadent ripe tannin finish, marked by precise fruit acids. 20/20 points.

All wines were unfiltered and unfiltered, with 100% new French oak for the Cabs, 80% new in Merlots and 100% neutral for Sangiovese. The 2019 wines will be released in Fall 2023.