Email came through today…they’re compelling wines from a compelling site on Red Mountain, but as with so many wines and wineries, the price is steep! I appreciate that they allow me to only buy single bottles. From the email:
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Summer release of our WeatherEye Vineyards Estate wines. This offer features four reds from the 2021 vintage, including three Rhone varietal wines – GRENACHE, SYRAH, and MOURVEDRE – and a new wine we are introducing this year: THE RAVEN’S SHARE.
2021 was a challenging growing season, as it was the second hottest year on record in Washington State. A “heat dome” in late June brought very high temperatures (up to 118° locally!), and July and August continued the trend. Fortunately, we had an ace up our sleeve: the vineyard blocks and farming techniques at WeatherEye were designed and developed with extreme temperatures and conditions in mind. From vine spacings to row orientation to vine training systems to clonal selections to nutrition and irrigation, Ryan’s vineyard team has been very intentional and meticulous (okay, obsessive) about the details that enhance fruit quality whenever Mother Nature decides to flex her muscles. We are pleased (and a little relieved) to report that all the planning, preparation, and hard work has paid off—these particular wines made by Todd Alexander are some of the best that we’ve released to date. Here’s what some respected wine critics have to say:
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2021 Grenache
“ Looking for a top-quality Grenache from Washington State that will compete on the world stage? Look no further than the 2021 Estate Grenache from Weathereye Vineyards.” – 98 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
“ This wine is a love letter to the Grenache grape. The aromatics are as fun as a cat purring in your ear, with macerated strawberries, orange zest and pine needle aromas holding court.” – 96 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
“ a brilliant example of Red Mountain Grenache.” 95 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
“If you love big, bold Grenache, this is the wine for you.” – 96 points, Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide
2021 Syrah
“it’s one of the standouts in the lineup, and while I love it today, I have no doubt it will evolve for 10-15 years if well stored.” – 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
“deep, viscous and downright stunning.” – 98 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
*“The wine opened up to blow me an aromatic kiss of blackberries, black pepper, bacon fat and a trace of granola.*” – 96 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
2021 Mourvèdre
“I always love the Mourvèdre from Weathereye year after year and I believe that Red Mountain produces the best fruit in the state of Washington for the variety.” – 96 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
“This is really dense and delicious wine with plenty of nuance. Very herbal with loganberry, beef drippings and wild blackberry fruit flavors, this is a gorgeous, generous effort that is drinking marvelously right now.” – 97 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
“To showcase what is often a blending variety and have it fulfill all the obligations of a center stage, single vineyard, single variety wine is akin to magic. It’s a rare experience to taste a Washington Mourvèdre this good.” – 95 points, Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide
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As mentioned earlier, we have a new wine in the lineup—The Raven’s Share. A blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot, this wine is flat-out delicious and comes from our love of Right Bank Bordeaux and our appreciation for the classic wines grown on Red Mountain. However, The Raven’s Share brings a unique twist: the blocks sourced for the blend are all found on our upper north-northeast facing slopes in high-density plantings. This aspect and strategy protect the grape clusters from the intense Summer sun, preserving the non-fruit elements in the wine’s profile while enhancing its savory character.
The result is something we’re excited to share, although, unfortunately, there isn’t a lot to go around. If The Raven’s Share interests you, please order soon, as allocations are first-come, first-served, and not guaranteed.
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2021 The Raven’s Share
“ I search in vain for a comparison; among the thousands of Washington state Bordeaux blends I’ve tasted, this hits different highlights and sets a different standard. The breadth and depth of flavor are impressive, and the layering of fruits, spices and delicate savory notes keeps the palate lively and changing by the second. It’s in constant motion, teasing and tantalizing, dense and juicy. Will it age? For sure. But right now, it’s sensational.” – 98 points, Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide
“This is one sexy Red Mountain Bordeaux Blend that will unquestionably put a smile on your face any time over the coming 10-12 years or more.“ - 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
“This powerful wine is a total stunner that will drink well for a decade to come.” – 99 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
“The 2021 Raven’s Share is a glorious Bordeaux Blend – another knock-out wine that is sometimes hard to put into words”- 99 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
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On another note, we had the pleasure of attending Hospice du Rhone this April (held in Walla Walla for the first time), as well as several wine events across the country in the Spring and early Summer. We love sharing our wines and never tire of the comments and encouragement we receive. We are so very grateful for your support, and we never forget that we simply cannot do this without you.
Thank you again. We hope that these wines will bring inspiration to your table as we continue to tell our story from the top of the hill.
With warm regards (literally—it’s 100° out there),
-The WeatherEye Team
Who’s buying? Anyone taste any of these yet?