Winery - Novelty Hill
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Crisp, authoritative melon and mineral, limned with lime and citrus and pineapple. A lovely wine, concentrated and rich.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is the first release from an important new boutique winery. Consulting winemaker Mike Januik was Ste. Michelle’s white wine guru for many years; he now runs his own winery. The grapes, from Red Mountain’s top site, are superb. A hint of sweetness makes this mouthfilling, fragrant, fruit-loaded wine immensely appealing.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
From the first sniff you know it’s Viognier and you can’t wait to splash around in it—it’s just got that indefinable mix of flower, perfume, citrus rind and stone fruit that typifies the finest Washington Viogniers. The flavors are beautifully defined, racy and sharp, walking the high wire between bitter and hot with amazing grace and dexterity.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Boysenberry and raspberry fruit flavors are presented in a clean, tightly structured Syrah that does not overreach. If you want a Syrah that might be first cousin to a Dry Creek Zinfandel, with sweet chocolate wrapped into the finish, this is the bottle for you.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Novelty Hill’s vineyard-designated Syrah is bigger, darker and more aromatically complex than the companion Columbia Valley bottling. Cassis and blackberry fruit flavors are layered with chocolate and spice; immaculately clean, this does not display the earthy/meaty aspect of Syrah, but does have a pleasing minerality at the core.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This carries a whiff of mushroom in the opening aromas, followed by light strawberry and wild berry flavors. It’s graceful and light, despite the listed 14.4% alcohol, with a hint of minerality.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Lots of new oak showing here, with all the attendant flavors of vanilla and toasted coconut. But the firm, tannic Klipsun vineyard fruit stands up nicely, softer in ’03 than previously, but still sophisticated, bold and assertive.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
There is clear differentiation between this bottling and Novelty Hill’s other Columbia Valley Merlot; this has more complexity in the nose, a deeper color and denser extract. Pretty cherry fruit runs into sweet chocolate; be sure to give it ample breathing time to let it flesh out fully.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Rich, powerful and sappy, with a tarry core packed with fruit. Young, concentrated and spicy with whiffs of anise and plum.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A quality Bordeaux blend, nicely fleshed out with Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc components. Fine spices focus the core of raspberry and black cherry, and there’s a suggestion of cola running through the finish.
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