At the Walla Walla Cabernet Festival this past July I was not feeling the Saturday tasting but fought through it and sampled almost every table. At these large tastings I smell, swish and spit but when you have sampled over 250 wines prior in the week even that technique is tiring. Never really knew much about them but found two gems. One is drink now and the other a long term ager.
- 2021 Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (11/7/2024) $56 Retail
Day 2: Tight on day one and opening up nicely on day 2. Dust, cherry, tobacco, gravel, mild oak and dark currants. Nice concentration and medium plus finish. Should get better with age. 93 point
Day 3: Wood, spice, blueberries, cherry, saw dust, roasted coffee beans, minerals and dried flowers. This is a young wine and needs time unlike the BDX which is consume in the next 3 years. 93 points
Recommendation: Hold until 2026 and beyond. (93 points)
- 2021 Reininger BDX – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (11/6/2024) $40.00 Retail
Day 1: Natural cork. 29% Merlot, 29% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Franc, 21% Petit Verdot. My ship and try a bottle experiment continues and this wine is off the charts on delivery day. Just like I tasted it at the Walla Walla Cab Fest and was wine of the night for the price. Iron, blueberries, dust, earth, a touch of smoke, spice and plum. Nice concentration and medium plus finish. Everything you want in a blend and more. 94 points
Day 2: Very nice but less intense as day 1 with iron, minerals, sour cherry, floral, earth, spice and blueberries. Medium finish. 92 points
Day 3: Not bad but just a pop and pour wine. While this will age for 3 or 4 in the cellar I think drink soon. Sour cherry, minerals, iron, floral, earth, mint and floral notes. I like this unique blend and will be a top 10 wine of the year that is ready. 91 points
Recommendation: Really try a bottle. Such a great experience but not a long-term ager. (94 points)
