Leave it here…and add:
Bookwalter Suspense
Efeste Tough Guy
Abeja Beekeeper’s
Substance Bx
Avennia Valery
Gorman The Devil You Know
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I know Dead Poplar Vineyard in YV produces wonderful Grenache. The only Grenache I have had from WA Seth Kitzke at Usidedown Wines makes. I know there is a lot of sandy soil in WA, but those areas are too hot for Grenache. I agree with you that the Merlot from WA is fabulous. I love what L’Ecole does with the grape.
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[quote=“Brandon_R, post:500, topic:283469, full:true”]
Would it be inappropriate for me to start a new thread so we can collect ideas for Washington Merlot-heavy blends? Or do it here? There are just not any clean ways to sort out Bdx blends that are Cab-heavy. A quick scan through Bordeaux blends from WA in CT (2019 vintage) that appear to be Merlot-dominant:
Cadence Coda[/quote]
If my recollection is correct, most vintages of Coda have not been Merlot-dominant. For example, both 2020 and 2021 have more Cab Franc than Merlot. I think some other years may have been at least majority Merlot or even Cab Sauv (but I suspect few vintages would be considered Merlot “dominant”). Great values wines, nonetheless – but not ones I’d throw in this category. Just my $0.02…
Michael
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The last Coda I bought, maybe 2020, was about 50% Merlot. Looking it up I see 3 different blends.
No love for Northstar? Merf makes some pretty good merlot.
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The blend definitely varies from vintage to vintage. More often than not, the ratio tends to be more “right bank” (Merlot and Cab Franc) than “left bank” (Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot). For example, 2016 was relatively equal blend of Merlot, Cab Franc & Cab Sauv, while 2021 is almost all Cab Franc (46%) and Merlot (42%), with only splash of the others.
Either way, in the context of Brandon’s question, I wouldn’t classify any of the Codas as “Merlot dominant”. More of a “well balanced, restrained, Right Bank-ish blend” (that ages much better than one has a right to expect at its price point).
Michael
He has certainly made some good/great Merlot, and some good beer, I still remember going to the Green to drink his latest beer with him that he brewed years ago before he became winemaker.
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A few years back the QC Palengat was mostly merlot, and IMHO was the best wine I’ve had from that estate. I wish they made more merlot-dominant wines to “round out” their portfolio
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I always thought the Mark Ryan wines were well made and serious… I’ve enjoyed multiple vintages of the Long Haul and less of the Little Sister both merlot dominant.
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Andrew Will’s Sorella is a Cab dominant blend every year. The other Andrew Will blends will feature Merlot to some extent, but it varies. I have some older Andrew Will wines from the late 90’s early 2000’s where the Merlot and or Cabernet, etc. were bottled separately from a specific site. Chris went to the blends and site specific releases to showcase the terroir. I’m sure that Kris has enjoyed some of these older Andrew Will bottles over the years…
James
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You’re right, Michael, looks like Coda is usually not Merlot-dominant. Good catch.
You’re right, James, Sorella is Cab-dominant each year. Good catch.
Let’s not get too hung up on my list…it was a very quick once-over. I like the list that we’re collectively building here, though!
Coincidentally, I just got an offer from Full Pull for a 2018 Covington Cellars Lawson Mays Discovery Vineyard that is 60% Merlot. I think I might just have to give it a go at $35.
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Not as many as I’d like. Chris was sorta the Randy Dunn of WA, made very structured wines that demanded time.
Definitely, Kris. I had a 2002 Ciel du Cheval from Andrew Will back in 2012 that was really young still.
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Looks like JJ Buckley has multiple bottles of the following from 2018:
Betz Clos de Betz (55% Merlot)
Wines of Substance Klein (41% Merlot)
Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval (57% Merlot)
I’m thinking of buying one or two of each and starting an offline around this. Anyone else interested?
EDIT: to avoid thread drift, check the “Event Planner” section.
Have only had the 2012 and 2014 vintages of the base Northstar Merlot in recent years, but I found them to be overly oak-driven and with very little varietal character. Went through 7 bottles of the 2012 last year, all with the same impression. Others that I shared with seemed to enjoy them more than I did, though.
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2014 Kerloo Cellars Syrah Upland Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Snipes Mountain (6/24/2023)
I’ve always found Kerloo wines too be always well made and have enjoyed them over the last few years. I stopped buying as my tastes are really in the N. Rhône these days for Syrah, and there is just so damn much stuff out there to compete for my $. But this was very, very good, one of the Better Syrah noses from WA I can recall in some time, very floral with bits of blackberry and pepper. repeats on the palate with plenty of gas in the tank, though no reason to wait I’d say. (92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
FWIW, we had a bottle of the 2005 Northstar Walla Walla Merlot in Jan 2021 and my note said it had no shortage of oak.
We recently had a bottle Andrew Will Right Bank Red, 2016 which is an even split of Merlot and Cab Franc. That was a beautiful wine.
W.T. Vintners Syrag Gorgeous, Destiny Ridge Vineyard, 2015. Didn’t take any detailed notes but really enjoyed it.
EFESTĒ Eléni Syrah, 2012. My wife tasted this and asked me to open a Pinot for her. It was fine, but big fruited and generic.
AniChe Cellars Atticus Syrah 2014 was showing very well with savory, briny, dark fruit.
Orr Wines Royal Slope Red (Merlot) 2020. This was a Berserker Day purchase with proceeds going to an excellent cause (Vineyard worker healthcare). And, it turns out, an excellent bargain. If you missed this one on Berserker Day go pick some up now. I’m really glad I have a couple more bottles.
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Late to the discussion on Grenache, but felt like I needed to weigh in. To answer the original question, I would say yes, Grenache is the “Pinot Noir” of Washington State, if what you mean by Pinot Noir is a wine that is pretty, elegant, food friendly, and has the possibility to elicit the types of responses you describe.
In my winemaking, I treat my Grenache the same way I would Pinot Noir, with the possible exception that I barrel age in 100% neutral French oak for 18-20 months instead of the usual 9-10 for Pinot Noir. Most of my winemaking mentors are Pinot Noir winemakers, so that has been the starting point of crafting what my style of winemaking is.
I don’t gravitate to tannic or overly extracted wines, and so Cabernet is rarely my first choice of wine. Syrah or Merlot are my first choices when pairing with a steak, for example. I wouldn’t say that Grenache would be the antithesis to bigger wines, but it definitely plays a different role in the wine marketplace. That is one of the reasons I only make Grenache (that, and to have a niche that makes me different). I love Grenache wines, and so that is what I make and the only variety I work with.
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I would strongly disagree that Grenache does not grow well in Snipes Mountain. I’d argue that the best Grenache grown in Washington comes from Upland vineyard, which is basically the entire Snipes Mountain AVA.
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It’s great to hear from someone with your winemaking knowledge on that. While all your wines were very good, the 2012 CV grenache you offered on Berserkers Day ranks up there with some of the best I’ve had from Washington and I’d offer that wine as evidence of my point in that post. Keep up the awesome work!
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