Liminal WeatherEye Vineyard The Mountain Tower is made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot.

All three of these blocks lie quite close together on the steep north-facing side of WeatherEye. Here, full ripeness is reached while preserving great varietal character and lively acidity.

Elegant and evocative aromas of red and black currants, dark plum, violet, Ugandan chocolate, wild tobacco, crushed vanilla bean, and dried thyme. Suave and poised on the palate, with beautifully complex black and blue fruit compote, crushed wild roses, clean tilled dark earth, and windblown herbs. This wine, though drinking great now, is still gathering power, and will age gracefully for many years to come.

Review:

The 2023 ‘The Mountain Tower’ combines Cabernet Franc (48%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is study, well-structured wine with outstanding flavor and aromatic range. Tar, anise seed, dark chocolate shavings, red bell pepper and black rose petals all mark the nose. The palate is lush and soft on the tongue, with good underlying tension. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038-

-Owen Bargreen 96 Points

Avennia Sestina Red Blend is made from  76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc.

The Sestina is a poetic form from Medieval France. Just as a contemporary poet can use an old form like the Sestina to express modern ideas, we use the traditional Bordeaux blend to make modern wines that express Washington fruit. Sestina is our vision for an old vine blend where the focus is on structure, balance, and complexity. This wine is designed for the cellar, but is enjoyable now.

Sestina: This wine is a blockbuster, with black currant, black raspberry, saddle leather, freshly tilled earth, vanilla, and violet on the nose. Exceedingly rich and balanced on the palate, with great poise and structure for long aging. The finish echoes with fresh black fruits, minerally touches, and floral notes.

Review:

  Toast, black and blue fruit, graphite and tobacco on the nose, followed by a firm, compact and full-bodied palate. Sturdy tannin frame. Slightly hard at the moment. Try from 2027.

-James Suckling 92 Points

Lima Xisto (Schist) Vinho Verde is made from 100 percent Loureiro.

his special project from the Adega Ponte de Lima highlights the diverse soils of the Vinho Verde region. Made from 100% Loureiro grapes, both the Granite and Schist varieties boast a crisp acidity and expressive minerality.

Lima Schist Vinho Verde displays subtle yet more complex aromas. Full bodied, persistent and engaging.

Sushi, fish, seafood, cheeses and salads.

Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot is made from 82% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot.

Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.

With its intense color and inviting aromas of dark berries, licorice, baking spice and a hint of smoke, the Pedestal is a bold wine that leaves a lasting impression. Dark fruit flavors integrated with sweetness from the barrel and richness from the tannins come together seamlessly, lingering across a structured mid-palate and lengthy finish.

Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes were double-sorted to remove green material that might impart harsh tannins, then most of the lots were cold soaked to build richness and flavor before undergoing whole-berry fermentation in 55L upright French wood tanks. This, combined with gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation, enhanced the wine’s color, texture and mouthfeel. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels.

Review:

A blend put together by the incredibly talented Michel Rolland, the 2021 Merlot Pedestal is based on 80% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep plum/purple hue is followed by a brilliant, full-bodied, unctuous beauty that has loads of darker currant and black cherry fruits, some chocolate and leafy herbs notes, velvety tannins, and a layered mouthfeel that just begs to be drunk. It's easily one of the finest expressions of Merlot in the state, and it would stand up just fine to some of the top Merlot releases from France and Napa. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.

- Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points

Long Shadows Sequel Syrah is made from 95% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

An intensely colored wine with spicy aromas of cassis, smoked meats and a hint of olive tapenade woven throughout layers of black currant, blueberry and a trace of licorice.  Wonderfully balanced, with a broad mouth-feel and soft tannins that hold together seamlessly.

Winemaking: Syrah’s delicate skin requires gentle handling during fermentation to extract richness without imparting bitter tannins, so winemaker John Duval uses a variety of techniques to produce a wide spectrum of flavors. A portion of the grapes were fermented using an Australian method known as “rack and return” that requires draining the tank twice daily and gently putting the juice back over the top of the skins. Whole-cluster fermentation was also used to enhance richness and dimension on the palate. Lastly, some of the lots underwent submerged cap fermentation to add structure and enhance the mouthfeel of the finished wine. Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels, 65% new.

Review:

 All Syrah from a mix of sites in the Columbia Valley (Bacchus, Boushey, and Red Heaven), the 2021 Syrah Sequel is deep purple-hued with a rocking nose of cassis and blackberry fruits interwoven with notions of smoked meats, chocolate, and peppery herbs. It's full-bodied, rich, mouthfilling and textured, with ripe tannins and a great finish. It's another sensational Syrah from winemaker Gilles Nicault that will keep for 10-15 years if well stored.

-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points

Long Shadows Dance Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Allen Shoup and winemaker Gilles Nicault have experimented with Chardonnay since the beginning of their collaboration on the Long Shadows Vintners project. The wine was fermented using a proprietary process to achieve a wonderful balance of richness and minerality. Two of Washington’s oldest Chardonnay vineyards provide the grapes for this limited production wine. Wente clone Chardonnay from French Creek Vineyard, east of Prosser – including a selection of old vine Chard (40%) – and Boushey Vineyard, north of Grandview, were chosen for the vibrant, lively character that defines Chardonnay grown on both these sites.

A layered, aromatic wine that displays minerality and white blossom fragrances with flavors of white peach, apple and a hint of baking spice woven throughout a subtle, creamy texture.

Long Shadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Washington State Cabernet. 

Acclaimed Napa Valley vintner Randy Dunn has a reputation for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. He brings more than four decades of winemaking experience to the Columbia Valley to produce Feather, his only wine made outside of California.

Tasting Notes: Deep crimson colored with pure and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon character. Generous aromas and flavors of dark fruits, violets, coffee and toasted herbs combine with a textured mid-palate to deliver a big, yet focused, wine with polished tannins and persistent finish.

Winemaking: Grapes were hand-harvested at the peak of ripeness, then lightly crushed and fermented in small stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation was underway, the cap was pumped over aggressively to extract color and structure. As fermentation neared completion, pump overs were handled more gently to further extract color and flavors without imparting harsh tannins. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 90% new Vicard French oak barrels (Randy's cooper of choice at Dunn Vineyards as well).

 -Review:

A stunning wine from 2022, the Long Shadows ‘Feather’ comes from Sonnet Vineyard as well as Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyards. This cool vintage beauty really needs several hours in the decanter to be fully evolved right now. On the nose this takes on bay leaf and red bell pepper alongside cassis and shades of black licorice. The palate is lush and dense with a terrific mouthfeel and smooth texture. Considering the coolness of the vintage, this has a beautiful combination of finesse, viscosity and flavor density. Drink 2025-2040-

Owen Bargreen 95 Points

Zenato Amarone is a blend of Corvina and Rondinella, with a touch of Croatina and Oseleta. Corvina is prized not only for its intense marasca cherry flavor, but also its ability to withstand the drying process.  Used in small quantities Rondinella also fares well in drying, and contributes dark color and an alluring floral note.  Oseleta provides tannic structure and minerality; while Croatina is introduced to add youthful fruitiness. All this attention to detail pays off in a wine that is immediately approachable yet unmistakably ageworthy.

Ruby red in color, intoxicating aromas of dried black cherries, cassis, truffles, and chocolate fudge leap out of the glass. The resulting wine is silky, luscious, and complex, with a lingering finish.

Pair this wine with osso bucco, Bordelaise sauces, wild boar ravioli, or grilled cowboy ribeyes.

Review:

Restrained fruitiness with aromas of raspberries and earth, alongside a complex spicy blend of freshly ground black pepper, milk, mint, bay leaf and cocoa powder. Very youthful. Full-bodied, dense and balanced, with savory flavors of chocolate and cherries, super-tasty style, tight, chalky yet ripe tannins and a fresh, cleansing acidity. Toasty finish. Drinkable now, but best in a year or two.

-James Suckling 96 Points

Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Rouge Cuvee Nicolas is made from 100 percent Syrah. 

Deep ruby red color. Nose of red and black currant fruits, pepper, spring flowers, new leather and mineral/earthy nuances. Medium bodied palate of red fruit and spice. Nice balance. Long finish and velvety.

Good match with red meat (beef, lams) or white meat (veal) in sauce, poultry and game meat. Perfect with most cheeses.

Review:

Domaine Jean-Claude et Nicholas Fayolle Hermitage Les Dionneres Blanc is made from 100% Marsanne.

Fayolle Hermitage Blanc Les Dionnieres boasts a superb golden yellow color and extraordinary smoothness and creamy, honeyed aromas of hazelnut, peach and apricot developping into scents of iris, narcissus and lime blossom. Pure and crisp, a solid texture and a clean finish.

Grand Veneur Cotes Du Rhone Les Champauvins is made of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre

Intense, brilliant garnet-red colour. It reveals lovely fruit, loads of body and a heady bouquet of ground peppers, raspberries cherry liqueur, currants, and spice box. Full-bodied and dense, it tastes more like a "baby Châteauneuf" than a Côtes du Rhône.
A complete wine, rich and elegant, thanks to the harmony of all the elements which make it up.

Drink between 1 and 6 years.

Soil type DOMAINE GRAND VENEUR “Les Champauvins” stretches on 34 ha classified in Côtes du Rhône. The plots are located in the northern border of Châteauneuf du Pape, exactly from 3 meters outside the appellation. A small lane of rocks going through the rocky plateaux has been decided to be the AOC limit in 1936. Here, soils are made of red clay and rocks (pebbled stones of quartz). The quantity of rocks can be amazing as they can completely cover the soil (see picture). In summer and during the day, the rocks temperature will increase to 55°C. This accumulated heat will be get back to the vines during nights . Day after day, this unique phenomenon allow the grapes to reach a perfect maturity and produce a unique wine. Winemaking & Ageing Traditional, in stainless steel vats. Harvest crushed and destemmed. Fermentation in temperature controlled vats at 28°C. Eighteen-day vating period with “pigeage”. Grenache is aged in concrete vats, Syrah and mourvèdre in 4 year old barrels. Intense, brilliant garnet-red colour. It reveals lovely fruit, loads of body and a heady bouquet of ground peppers, raspberries cherry liqueur, currants, and spice box. Full-bodied and dense, it tastes more like a “baby Châteauneuf” than a Côtes du Rhône. A complete wine, rich and elegant, thanks to the harmony of all the elements which make it up.

Thierry Mortet Gevrey Chambertin Vigne Belle is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

The wine is produced from 20 different parcels (3 hectares total). The soils are a mix of clay and silt.
The age of wines varies between 15 to 60 years.
Yield: 45 hl/ha
Production: 15,000 bottles on average.
Manual harvest with a selection of the grapes; sorting table; 100% destemming; maceration for 15 days, cold stabilization for 4-5 days; M-L.; racking twice a day. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 4 months.  Aging in oak barrels for 12 months (new and 1 or 2 year old barrels). Kieselguhr filtration before bottling.

The wine offers a subtle and complex nose. It displays a sweet and delicate mouthfeel. Very nice wine with black fruit aromas. Dense, good concentration. Good length and well integrated oak.

Thierry Mortet Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Beaux Bruns is made from a single vineyard. (0.55 acre). 30 years old vines, planted on clay, limestone and flint based soils.

The wine is produced from a single vineyard (0.55 acres) planted on clay, limestone and flint based soils. It shows a dark color, ripe black fruit and pepper aromas. Long and intense flavors. Smooth tannins, good length and red fruits on the finish. An elegant wine with a delicate, beautiful structure.

Very fine wine, delicate, beautiful structure.

Mortet Bourgogne Cote d'Or Rouge is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

A parcel of 90 ares, one part is 20 years old and the other part is 55 years old. Its is called Les Pressonniers, in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Bourgogne Rouge Côte d’Or comes from a plot of Gevrey-Chambertin vines, giving delicate fruit and body, as well as the character and complexity of the Gevrey-Chambertin terro

Chateau Arnauds des Bordeaux Rouge is made from 100% Merlot.

The wine shows a deep red purple color and intense aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, black cherry) with hints of liquorice. Very fruity and well-balanced. It is powerful and well structured in the mouth with round and silky tannins, ripe flavors of black fruits. Strong and a slightly spicy finish.

Grapes are coming from 30 year old vines planted on gravelly soils. 

The land benefits from sun exposure, warmth and humidity that are strong assets for the vine culture.

The wine pairs well with game meat and beef on the grill.

Siegel San Elias Merlot is 100 percent Merlot

Soft, rich and concentrated with juicy plum and blackberry fruits, soft tannins and a velvety texture.

Try with hearty stews, pasta and roast red meats.

Siegel Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. 
Pre-fermentative cold maceration for 5 days, with alcoholic fermentation occurring at 27-29 degrees C to better extract polyphenols from the wine. Post-fermentative maceration for 2 to 3 weeks. Once the wine has been blended it is smoothly clarified. Aged in French oak barrels for 10 to 12 months.

The grapes for the Gran Reserva wines are the product of a careful selection of Siegel's best vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, harvested by hand, and revealing a strong expression of the land.

Deep ruby red with aromas of cassis, red fruits, black pepper, black cherries, tobacco, cinnamon and chocolate. On the palate it is highly concentrated with juicy notes of red fruits and spices. Structured & complex from the oak aging.

Serve with red meat, braised stews, grilled pork and flavorful cheeses.

Siegel San Elias Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

This Chardonnay has a light yellow color with green highlights. The nose shows fresh and intense tropical fruit aromas of pineapple, citrus, herbs and a touch of honey. On the palate it is lush, smooth and well-balanced with good acidity and lovely tropical fruit flavors.

Siegel Hand-picked Selection Carmenere is made from 100 percent Carmenere.

The handpicked Reserva wines are born out of a strong desire to offer the very best expressions of terroir from El Crucero vineyard, located at 360 meters above sea level. These carefully handpicked grapes deliver superb varietal characteristics and exceptionally well-balanced fruit concentration. The manual harvest behind the handpicked Reserva Wines, a stage prior to a second triage, highlights Siegel's commitment to delivering uniquely hancrafted wines from Curico Valley.

The wine shows an intense violet - red color, aromas of black fruits, pepper and mild notes of violets. The tannins are soft, and notes of black fruits linger through the palate with long persistence.

Pair with pastas, spices foods.

Chakana Estate Malbec is made from 100 percent Malbec.

hakana is the name of the Southern Cross constellation. Its rotation in the sky throughout the year made it an effective agricultural calendar for the ancient Andean people.

The "yaguarete" (jaguar) on the label was known by the ancient Andean people as the "lord of the starred night"; the wildest known animal.

Chakana Estate Malbec is from Chakana's Altamira (3,200 ft elevation) and Gualtallary (5,500 ft elevation) vineyards.

Clear and deep ruby in color, lightening at the rim, with light staining in the glassand moderately thick tears. Medium intensity on the nose with rich red plum, blackberry jam, cocoa powder, and savory tea leaf. A vein of earthy minerality brings complexity to juicy fruit and autumn spice. Oak lends warm vanilla, caramel, and allspice. Dry and full-bodied with intense, youthful red fruit on the palate. Bing cherry and blackberry notes are layered with leather, espresso, and nutmeg, and the long finish is accented with well-integrated tannin and an element of acidity that keeps the wine from being heavy.

The bold fruit and spice character of this 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon would pair perfectly with balsamic braised beef with creamy parmesan polenta, or an earthy, complex dish such as eggplant moussaka.

Review:

Here is a big, powerful Cabernet that pushes the envelope. The 2022 vintage was another drought year, and Paso Robles experienced late season heat waves. Made from 100% Cabernet that was aged for 21 months in French oak, 50% of it new, it clocks in at 15.5 % alcohol. However, when tasted blind, it offers an aroma of ultra-ripe black berries, chocolate, and spices that by the final swirl is absolutely gorgeous. Full-bodied with very juicy black fruit flavors and spice backed up by toasty oak, it all holds together seamlessly thanks to integrated tannins. The finish ends on a light toasty oak note. The real challenge is to pair it with a comparably robust main course. 

-Wine Review Online 93 Points