My friend Tim Narby has been making delicious Washington State red wine blends since 2001 at his small winery in south Seattle. For those looking for an ‘under the radar’ WA winery who is producing great wines that drink well above their price point, you should try some his wines. Tim has finally been getting some great recognition - last two years Wine Advocate he has had scores in the 90s…this year he rocked it out.
His web site takes online orders. I highly recommend his Syrahs and his wines from Ciel du Cheval and Conner Lee.
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Recent Reviews from Dr. Jay Miller of the Wine Advocate
2006 Una Notte - Columbia Valley – 90 Points (Sold Out)
The 2006 Una Notte is 65% Grenache sourced from the excellent Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA and 35% Syrah. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an alluring bouquet of cherry and garrigue notes reminiscent of a quality southern Rhone. Smooth-textured, spicy, and nicely concentrated, this well balanced, lengthy effort will provide pleasure over the next six years.
2006 Syrah - Columbia Valley – 88 Points
The 2006 Syrah contains 12% Stone Tree Grenache and spent 21 months in 22% new American oak. It yields a nose with notes of smoke, black pepper, game, and blueberry. On the palate it comes off as a bit compact but the flavors are savory and spicy leading to a medium-long, smooth finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years.
2006 Syrah: Ciel du Cheval Vineyard – Red Mountain – 90 points
The 2006 Syrah Ciel du Cheval contains 3% Stone Tree Grenache. The nose gives up attractive aromas of Asian spices, lavender, incense, game, and blueberry. Densely fruity on the palate, it sports a smooth texture, layers of spicy fruit, excellent balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink well through 2018.
2006 Malbec: Verhey Vineyard – Yakima Valley – 90 points (Sold Out)
Malbec is becoming a larger part of the mix in Eastern Washington and the 2006 Malbec Verhey Vineyard shows why. It is 100% Malbec aged for 21 months in 50% new French oak. Dark ruby-colored, the nose reveals fresh herbs, clove, sage, and plenty of black cherry fruit. Medium bodied, elegant, and potentially complex, this spicy effort will profit from another 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink well from 2011 through 2018.
2006 Abbinare – Columbia Valley – 91 points
The 2006 Abbinare is a blend of 61% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It spent 21 months in predominantly seasoned French oak. Its aromatic array includes cigar box, violets, red currents, and black cherry leading to a spicy, silky-textured wine with excellent grip and a lengthy, pure finish. This pleasure-bent effort has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years and will be at its best from 2011 to 2018.
2006 Miscela – Columbia Valley – 89 points
The 2006 Miscela is a Bordeaux style blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Malbec and Merlot. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an enticing bouquet of cedar, spice box (clove, sage, and cinnamon), cassis, and black currant. On the palate savory currant flavors stand out and the fruit has excellent sweetness. However, the wine is in need of a bit more depth and length which could emerge with a few more years of cellaring.
2006 Conner Lee Vineyard – Columbia Valley – 92 points
The saturated purple 2006 Conner Lee Vineyard is composed of 65% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc and was aged for 21 months in 50% new French oak. It has a superb perfume of pain grillé, pencil lead, vanilla, violet, and black cherry. Lush, velvety, and round on the palate, this sexy effort has tons of flavor no doubt aided by a pH of 3.9. It has the balance to drink well for a decade but there is no reason to defer your gratification.
2006 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard – Red Mountain – 92+ points
The 2006 Ciel du Cheval offers a different sort of personality. A blend of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec, It was aged for 21 months in 80% new French oak. Purple-colored and a bit more brooding aromatically, it has a quality perfume of tasty oak, pencil lead, espresso, black currant, and blackberry. Masculine and structured on the palate, it has layer of ripe black fruit, savory flavors, and enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. Impeccably balanced, it will offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2026.