This fall is seeing the release of quite a number of red wines from the 2009 vintage. It is turning out to be a vintage that has produced many attractive wines.

The 2009 growing season started off with a fairly cool spring, but was followed by a warm summer that saw a number of days with 100 plus degree temperatures. This enabled most red grapes to ripen quickly, with harvesting in late September and early October. Then, on October 9, weather started cooling considerably and then on the 10th, freezing weather set in, precipitating a rush to harvest the remaining grapes (one winemaker told me his winery crushed 35 tons in three days, working around the clock). Many grapes were left behind following freeze burn. Winemakers then put their attention on crushing and pressing their grapes.

The following spring and summer, I liked what I smelled and tasted from the barrels: fine fruit and aromatics. Not potential heavyweights, however, showing moderate tannins and acids. In November 2010, I attended the Reynvaan Family Vineyards preview of the 2009 Syrahs and found them even better than the 2008's (given another years' winemaking experience and vine maturity). So by the end of 2010, the 2009 vintage was shaping up to be another fine year.

In tasting the recent releases, I found the most common trait of the 2009's to be wonderful aromatics - lovely, true to variety, fruits and fragrant perfumes and scents, such as roses, lavender, violets, sage and incense. Some seemed exotic and oriental in character. They are, however, softer, plusher wines than their 2007 and 2008 counterparts (due to the quick ripening of the grapes in late September) with moderate acids and tannins. But it is the aromatics that make them lovely wines that will give much pleasure for mid-term aging, say up to five years or so. Of the wines I have reviewed so far, there is a goodly number of wines scoring 18.5 points or higher, with several 19 points plus wines, and one absolutely beautiful 20/20 points wine. Most of the wines up until now are Syrah and other "Rhone" varietals (which were harvested early), so if you like these wines, the 2009's are ones to buy. More reports on others, such as Cabernet Sauvignon (the most affected by the freeze of October 10-12) Cab Franc and Merlot are to come later on.

Here's a list of outstanding 2009's tasted so far (19/20 points or higher).

2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "The Unnamed" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($55) - 19/20 points (Reviewed March)

2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "In the Rocks" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($60) - 19+/20 points (March)

2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "The Contender" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($65) - 19.5/20 points (March)

The above wines have just been released and the supply will not last long. They are available at Esquin and McCarthy & Schiering in Seattle.

2009 Maison Bleue "Le Midi" Grenache, Snipes Mountain, Upland Vineyard ($35) - 19.5/20 points (September)

2009 Maison Bleue "Liberté" Syrah, Yakima Valley, Boushey Vineyard ($45) - 20/20 points (September)

2009 El Corazon/Rotie Cellars "Swordfight" Syrah, Columbia Valley ($50) - 19+/20 points (September)

2009 Sparkman Cellars "Ruckus" Syrah, Red Mountain ($38) - 19/20 points (October)

2009 DeLille Cellars "Metier" Rouge, Yakima Valley ($34) - 19/20 points (October)

2009 Obelisco Estate Reserve Merlot, Red Mountain ($45) - 19/20 points (October)

2009 Obelisco Estate "Electrum" Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain ($65) - 19.5/20 points (October)

2009 Kerloo Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley ($34) - 19+/20 points (October)

2009 Kerloo Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ($34) - 19.5/20 points (October)

2009 Kerloo Cellars Tempranillo, Columbia Valley ($34) - 19/20 points (October)