This year, Lynn and I took in Fall Release Weekend (November 5-8) in a quick, short pace. Due to having been in Seattle on Friday, we started making our rounds on Saturday. First, at Reynvaan Family Vineyards, the 2014 Syrahs were previewed. It was an interesting vintage: the wines came on as being elegantly styled, with perfumed aromas and classic structure. A full report will be in the January 2016 issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

After Reynvaan, we went to Jon Meuret's Maison Bleue downtown. There, the 2011 "Le Midi" Upland Vineyard Grenache and the 2012 "Bourgeois" Walla Walla Valley Grenache (reviewed May) were poured. The 2011 was more aromatic and structured, and the 2012 more openly fruity and fleshy, characteristic of the respective vintages. We also stopped at Kerloo Cellars where we tasted the 2013 Upland Vineyarrd Grenache and the 2013 Stone Tree Vineyard Malbec (both fine wines, to be reviewed in January). Lynn stayed on at Maison Bleue to help out while I drove over to Long Shadows to taste the superb (19.5/20 points) 2013 Pedestal Merlot, Pirouette Red and Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, to be reviewed in the December issue.

In the afternoon, I went over to Billo and Pinto Naravane's Rasa Vineyards on Powerline Road. There, I tasted the outstanding (19+ to 19.5 points) 2012's: QED Convergence GSM Red, Principia Reserve Syrah, Plus One Cabernet Sauvignon, Creative Impulse Cab-Merlot, and in Order to form a more perfect Union Red, all to be reviewed in January. In the evening, Lynn rejoined me at the Corliss Fall Release event. Previews of the 2013 Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were served from the barrels. Library magnums of the 2005 Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabermet Sauvignon were also poured, delicious, elegan wines, just maturing. I especially liked the rich, earthy, aromatic Cabernet Franc. The newly released 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (reviewed November) was also poured.

The turnout and activity for Fall Release was excellent, particularly on Saturday afternoon when the tasting rooms were crowded. Wineries also said Sunday was busy as well, and even on Monday.