Winery - Walla Walla Vintners
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is 100% Malbec, so inky it is black in color. The flavors echo the color, with amazing density. Black fruits, black olives, smoke and spice are structured around thick tannins. A minute-plus finish adds licorice and mint; even after being opened for a full 48 hours this wine remained fresh and balanced. It’s the first varietal Malbec ever from Walla Walla Vintners, but certainly one hopes it is not the last.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is Walla Walla Vintners’ signature wine, and it is a classic: rich and oaky, sculpted but also chewy, with big cherry and baking chocolate flavors. There is an unusual flavor streak running through that tastes a bit like Thanksgiving turkey, believe it or not, but it’s good. Tannins are polished and the toffee and chocolate finish ends things on a sweet and creamy note.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The blend is 84% Merlot, the rest split evenly between Cabs Franc and Sauvignon. It’s a dark and smoky wine, with tight, buttoned-up scents of cassis, raspberry and pomegranate. The fruit broadens into ripe cherry in the mouth, with generous dusty/toasty flavors of new oak. As the wine breathes there are suggestions of mushroom, tobacco and lead pencil. Rare indeed is the domestic Merlot that can and should be aged, but this is one.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Walla Walla Vintners wines generally offer a sophisticated blend of vineyard sources and mixed varietals, and this Cab includes modest proportions of Merlot, Cab Franc, Carmenère, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It rounds out into a broadly flavorful bowl of chocolate-covered cherries, with a whiff of tobacco and forest coming through as well. Powerful and seductive, it will please those who love ripe black fruits and plenty of sweet and creamy new oak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This rare release of a single-vineyard Malbec from Pepper Bridge grapes is a classy, evocative, beautifully realized effort. It begins with violets and raspberries, on the nose and in the mouth, and moves into more full-bodied plum and cherry fruit, surrounded with thick milk chocolate. Some of the particular character of the grapes is sacrificed—this could be Merlot, or Cab Franc, or a blend of all three—but it tastes so good that it really doesn’t matter.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
They first made Sangio in 1999, but blended in Malbec and Syrah this year. The Malbec muscles it up; it’s almost crunchy, with acidic, well-defined cranberry and cherry fruit flavors. The oak is understated; it’s the fruit and acid that shine here.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Morrison Lane Vineyard Syrah is one of the highlights of the lineup from K Vintners, but has not previously been made by Walla Walla Vintners. Here it is shown unblended and wrapped in a generous amount of cinnamon, baking spice, milk chocolate and hazelnut flavors from barrel aging. The juice is a little overpowered, though the acids punch through with some tart raspberry fruit.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Though it is a mix of eight different varietals from as many vineyards, this wine does not lose focus. It transcends the kitchen sink/field blend genre by virtue of its polish and definition. Bright red fruits mingle with light spice and sweet tannins. This is a good all-purpose bottle of fruit-driven red for near-term enjoyment.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Bursting with delicious raspberry and cherry fruit, as sweetly sappy as if it came right off the tree, this sets up the flavors with vivid acidity, and finishes with buttery caramel. Smooth and fruity, beautifully ripe and ready to drink.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This will surprise some lovers of chewy, tannic, earthy Cabernet Franc, because it is rather light in color, sweetly fruity and loaded with fresh strawberries—really ripe strawberries. It has none of the raspy tannins so often found with the grape. A thoughtful addition of Merlot helps broaden the midpalate.
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