Would go well with steak in Sammamish. Just sayin’.
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Decided to Pobega a 24 Kobayashi Marsanne/Roussanne (think the cepage was 76/34). Deep honey color out of the bottle which when I’m pouring an older Loire or Chablis scares the shit out of me but obviously no worries here. Absolute dead ringer for a high end white Hermitage or Saint Peray. Oodles of stone fruit and white flowers all buffeted with a decently sturdy backbone for a white Rhone blend. Could most likely improve with a bit of time but who has the patience for that! 94pts.
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Received an email with deep discounts as the folks at RR Poet are closing up shop. Most wines are in the $25-$40 range now.
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Drank an Edith Rose’ for the first time in forever. Stunned at how much I enjoyed it.
2021 Cayuse Grenache Edith Rose’ Armada Vineyard
Popped and poured. Haven’t had this particular bottling from Cayuse in over a decade and it seems I’ve been missing out. Gorgeous nose of strawberry shortcake and just a touch of what I will now dub the “Rose’ funk!” The ever so slight aroma of je ne sais quoi that buoyed nose and kept me swirling and smelling. More linear on the palate with juicy huckleberry and quince accented by a saline streaked finish. One of the better Rose’s I’ve had in years. Not as much depth as say a Heredia Rosato or Clos Cibonnes Vingettes but pretty darn close. 93pts.
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2018 Quilceda Creek CVR red blend. Opened up pretty well after a short decant. Modern and all that, but it does it pretty well, and at the $50ish I paid for this on release, the value is pretty good.
Some menthol and violets add character to the dark fruit / mocha profile. The alcohol doesn’t poke out.
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I worked wit Paul Zitarelli on wines for my son’s wedding last year. I got a large parcel of the 2019 RR Poet Allusion Red from Rattle Snake Hills (2/3 Merlot, 1/3 Cab Franc) for price in that range.
It was a huge hit and, thankfully, I have a couple of cases to enjoy over time.
I don’t know the story of that winemaker but am sorry to hear they are ending the endeavor.
I have long been a fan of WA Syrah, but am appreciating more and more the Bordeaux blends.
RR Poet made a high quality wine in that iteration!
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The CVR is consistently a solid wine.
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After buying two bottles blind after reading Sean Sullivan’s glowing review, this was my first time opening one, outside of a tasting with Ryan back in July. This really reminded me of a Sky Zinfandel or a Beta Cab Sauv, but with the variety different, if that makes any sense at all. This was 13.2% alcohol with his as low as I can remember for a Syrah from Washington, let alone Red Mountain.
- 2022 MTN/ART Syrah The Edge of the Wild WeatherEye Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (11/5/2025)
Pop and pour, no decanting. This is a style with which I am more unfamiliar: minimal intervention, low brix, no new oak, etc. I ended up liking this, and it really hadn't changed one iota from my tasting with RJ in July of 2025. Savory and a bit funky, but not bretty, with a little fruit with the earthiness. This is better with food than on its own. A very unique and singular WA Syrah for me so far. Many will love this for its transparency to variety and site, but those seeking a bunch of fruit will be disappointed.
Posted from CellarTracker
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Thanks (again) for that note @Brandon_R . I have not yet picked up my MTN/ART purchase from this summer, but did get the chance to taste this, along with other current wines at Stems in downtown Yakima a few weeks ago. This one really was a headscratcher for me, particularly as you say, not easily identifiable as either Syrah or Red Mountain. I much preferred the World’s gone mad blend. Pet Nat was good, though not really my thing, and the new white blend felt overoaked for my palate. This Syrah needs a few years at least to knit together, I think/hope.
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Appreciate you Steve.
Trey
There’s been some Woodward Canyon Old Vines on WineBid for fairly cheap, was wondering what vintages of the 00s were worth picking up. Any thoughts on this 06?
speaking of WeatherEye, their Estate L’Atomique is a super fun white–just recently had it for the first time and really enjoyed it.
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This wine is always good. Any vintage of Old Vines is great as weather isn’t ever a huge issue in WA.
2005 and 2007 were probably the best two of the 00s, followed by 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 in the next tier. 2000 and 2003 were solar years but Old Vines does well in those too.
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Hahaha. I was thinking that Kris would be a great resource for your question. He knows best about these wines.
I have plenty of aged Washington red wines, mostly Andrew Will, but some Cadence, Woodward Canyon and DeLille. It’s not apples to apples, but the WC and DeLille are dryer to my taste. It could be vintage related, but generally the Cadence and Andrew Will wines are more pleasing to me.
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Dang, I’m not thrilled I paid $60 just a week or so ago, but that’s not a big deal. Had I paid the $250?!? Eesh. Maybe I’ll open them this weekend.
Thanks for the heads up - haven’t had a chance yet to try one but I’m back in WA in early December, so looks Kirkland Costco will be the first place to check.
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If it makes you feel better Costco paid $38.75 for it. 
Please do open one…very curious.