2014 Kerloo Cellars Mourvedre Boushey Vineyard- USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (10/13/2016)
P&P. Old world sensibility delivered by a new world format. Specifically, while this wine wouldn’t fool anyone as Rhone it would still satisfy by its dominant spice and orange peel notes, superb verve and energy, and zero point zero indication of any wood treatment. Really curious were this goes in 5 to 10 years. Terrific Mourvèdre. (93 pts.)
I didn’t get a chance to taste the upland vineyards pinot nor the chard as I was out of town that weekend, not a note yet on CT, really curious to see what Ryan did with Burg grapes, have you by chance had a chance to taste them?
I know I didn’t taste the Pinot and I don’t believe/recall tasting the Chard. I really wonder how conducive the Upland climate is for burgs as I assume it is on the very warm/hot side for making a balanced Pinot/Chard.
Edit - it looks like the Pinot is from the Underwood Mountain Vineyard, which is in the Columbia River Gorge. Apparently the Chard is from the Columbia Gorge too. I bet that area has a more mild climate more conducive to Burgs. Regardless, very interesting.
Yeah I meant Underwood, and that area of the gorge is much cooler and Ceilio is as as good a Chard vineyard as the state can offer. I’ll probably open a Chard in the next week or so and will report back.
Ryan gave me a glass of the unoaked Chard at the Spring CC party. Liked it as much as any other Gorge Chard I’ve had. I also missed the Fall CC party so have yet to try the oaked Chard or Pinot. Although I did taste the 2016 Pinot and Chard from barrel when I swung by a few weeks back. Interesting, even at an early stage.
Always thought Ryan would do well to make some wines from Gorge. Interested to see how he does with Pinot and Chard.
My only reservation is the pricing. With the exception of Cameron top end or AM Maresh, I can get stellar WV Chard for quite a bit less than the Kerloo offerings. Ditto for most OR Pinot I buy.
I’ve always found the Kerloo wines open for business upon release. Although some get better with age, Unless it is the most recent vintage, I would not hesitate to dive in now.
Agreed on all counts, pricing is still ok, but approaching a point were I will have to think hard about it. Clos Electric Blanc is my fav domestic chard and Walter Scott (i know u are a fan too) has been a revelation to me this year on the Chard front.
Cameron CB Blanc and AM Maresh are my co-favorites, but the Crowley 4 Winds, Goodfellow Richard’s, Cameron AR and Walter Scott Vojtilla, Cuvée Anne and X-Novo aren’t too far behind.
Just ordered '15 Walter Scott futures - 3 of each of the Chards and a few Pinots. The Chards will go fast!
To avoid total thread drift, I do like the Kerloo Mourvèdre. Doesn’t obviate my need for Bandol , but with Gramercy my favorite WA version.
Picked up a bottle of a 2014 kerloo malbec this weekend. Usually I’m completely indifferent to domestic Malbec, but this had a lot going for it. I’ll say that it was not particularly great qpr at upper $40s, but I was on vacation and ignoring such things.
Thanks for the note as I buy more WA mourvedre and like it better than syrah or granache. Kerloo syrah being an exception, so will be interested in trying some of their mourvedre when Full Pull presents an offer.