Tasted and reviewed every wine at the Vintage Pour. Smell, Swish and Spit pays off again.
Here is the amazing lineup of wines.
OK to say this event was great would not do it justice. My mission taste and review every wine at this event. Smell, swish and spit! Palate was fresh the entire event.
Top 5 Wines
1. 2011 Sleight of Hand Syrah The Funkadelic
2. Tie: 2008 Watermill Winery Syrah & 2011 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Tall Tales Stoney Vine Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
4. 2010 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Walla Walla Valley
5. 2012 Foundry Vineyards Artisan Blend
- 2008 Abeja Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Pepper, blueberries, earth and spice. Still fresh and plenty of life left on this one. Medium plus finish. (92 pts.) - 2012 Adamant Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Dark fruits, charcoal, earth and minerals. Good but not in the league of many of the other Syrah’s tasted on this night. (90 pts.) - 2009 Adamant Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker’s Select – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Heavy on the bell pepper otherwise this would have scored better but also features sour cherry, earth, coffee beans and a buttery finish. Good use of oak on this one. (91 pts.) - 2011 Balboa Winery Syrah Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
One of the more disappointing wines at the tasting but still solid. pepper, red currants and spice. Short to medium finish. Drink now. (89 pts.) - 2012 Bledsoe Family Winery Syrah Stolen Horse – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Three main rows at this tasting and this was in the lead as wine of the night but there were two other rows that changed that. Good acidity Stone, mild funk, minerals, blueberries and meat. Medium plus finish. Drink now to 2028. (93 pts.) - 2011 Amavi Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Blueberries, earth, white pepper, spice and floral notes. This is well put together and will drink well for at least another 5 years. Medium plus finish. (92 pts.) - 2009 Browne Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Nearing its peak of drinking window. Chewy wine with pepper, spice and dark currants. Medium finish. Drink soon. (90 pts.) - 2012 Browne Family Vineyards Merlot – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Once again proving the best Merlot in the US is from Walla Walla. Dusty wine with sour cherry, plum, dark chocolate and floral notes. Nice minerality on the lengthy finish. (91 pts.) - 2011 Caprio Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Red pepper, spice, dill, cherry and earth. The dill added to the wine in a good way. Medium finish. Drink now o 2026. (91 pts.) - 2008 Cavu Cellars Barbera – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
This proves there is potential for Barbera in Washington. Cherry, spice, floral, rustic edge to the wine and nice finish. Drink now. (90 pts.) - 2008 Cavu Cellars Malbec – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Really liked this Malbec. Dusty with blue fruits, spice, earth and minerals. I could drink this often. (91 pts.) - 2012 Corliss Estates Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Red currants, dust, minerals, black pepper and earth. Good concentration and no hurry on consuming these. (93 pts.) - 2013 DaMa Wines Syrah Stoney Vine Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Solid although a lighter style. Red currants, spice and subtle pepper. Short to medium finish. (89 pts.) - 2011 DaMa Wines Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Spice, floral, minerals, dried herbs and mild smoke. Medium finish. (90 pts.) - 2021 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
The best of the 3 Dama Wines. Floral, spice, stone orchard fruits and a touch of lemon. Good acidity and well made. (91 pts.) - 2010 Dunham Cellars Riesling Lewis Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Surprise wine of the night. German like. Slate, peach, pear, sour apple and great minerality on the finish. Good acidity. Wow! (92 pts.) - 2010 Dunham Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Wish they would have poured something a bit better as I love Dunham. This was fine but paled in comparison to the other offerings. Light red fruits, spice and dust. Drink now. (87 pts.) - 2011 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Tall Tales Stoney Vine Vineyard Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
OK this was great and showing really well. Tasted twice. Later pour was even better. Black olives, raspberries, spice, roasted meat and buttery finish. Concentration and long finish. Yes please! Drink now to 2028. 94 plus (94 pts.) - 2007 Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah Reserve Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Dusted brought it tonight with 2 great wines. Dark fruit, oak, smoke, roasted meats and earth. Concentration is there and long finish. Drink now to 2027. (92 pts.) - 2011 Five Star Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Blueberries, minerals, spice and earth. Well-made effort and drink now. (90 pts.) - 2012 Five Star Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Raspberries, black pepper, dust and minerals. Good effort overall. (89 pts.) - 2012 Foundry Vineyards Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Good but not in the league with the Artisan Blend. Red fruits, blueberries, earth and lighter finish. I liked it overall. (89 pts.) - 2012 Foundry Vineyards Artisan Blend – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Really stood out with funk, floral, raspberries, cherry and earth. Medium to long finish and concentrated wine. Drink now to 2030. (94 pts.) - 2009 Gifford Hirlinger Petit Verdot Estate Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Well made with floral, spice, toast points, dust and cherry. Medium finish. (91 pts.) - 2010 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
At one point wine of the night. Black olives, funk, white pepper, blueberries, smoke and earth notes. Long and powerful finish. This will age through 2030 if cellared properly. Wow! (94 pts.) - 2009 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon MTA Phinny Hill Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Spice, floral, red currants and medium plus finish. Drinking well now. Good through 2025. (92 pts.) - 2012 Kontos Cellars Progeny – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Very good! Bright fruits, spice, minerals, baking chocolate and earth. Medium plus finish. (93 pts.) - 2009 Kontos Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Cherry, earth leather, cigar smoke and buttery finish. Nice use of oak. (91 pts.) - 2012 L’Ecole No. 41 Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Solid wine with good fruit, floral and earth. Chewy on the finish. (91 pts.) - 2001 L’Ecole No. 41 Schoolhouse Red – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Red currants, earth, spice and leather. For sure drink now but cool to try. (90 pts.) - 2007 Locati Cellars Innovation – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Red currants, spice and floral. Lacks personality and finish. Should have already consumed these. (85 pts.) - 2005 Locati Cellars Sangiovese – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
This wine was past peak and not sure why it was at this tasting. A disappointing showing for Locati. Mushrooms, minerals and earth. Fruit not present and has faded. (83 pts.) - 2006 Northstar Merlot Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
I had to try all of the wines at this tasting which mission accomplished. Not excited with NorthStar but this showed well with some age. Cherry, plum, earth and minerals. Still life left in this. (90 pts.) - 2010 Otis Kenyon Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Cherry, minerals, dust and earth. Medium finish. Well made. (91 pts.) - 2010 Otis Kenyon Petit Verdot – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Nice Petit Verdot. Floral, rose petals, game and earth. Medium plus finish. Drink now to 2026. (92 pts.) - 2010 Pepper Bridge Merlot – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Cherry, floral, spice, plum and mild peppery finish. Good length and balanced wine. (92 pts.) - 2007 Reininger Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Hello. Top 5 wine at this tasting. Bright fruits, olives, minerals, bacon fat and scorched earth. This picks up some nice peppery notes on the long finish. Drink now to 2027. (94 pts.) - 2006 Reininger Syrah Pepper Bridge Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Black pepper, tar, blackberries and smoke. Concentrated and medium plus finish. Drink now. (92 pts.) - 2011 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Funk Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Nice talking with Rich Funk! Very well-made wine. Tasted twice with equal impressions. White pepper, scorched earth, minerals, raspberries, Bing cherry and a nice rustic edge on the finish. Medium plus. (93 pts.) - 2011 Sleight of Hand Syrah The Funkadelic – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Wine of the night! Stone, black and green olives, white pepper, funk, blue currants and earth. Super concentrated wine and long finish. Drink now to 2030. Outstanding wine and top 10 of the year candidate. (95 pts.) - 2010 Sleight of Hand Syrah Levitation – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Smoke, roasted meats, black cherry, white pepper and earth. Very good overall and medium finish. Not as good as the experience a few years back but close. (92 pts.) - 2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Spice, floral, earth and plum. Nice wine but after following Sleight of Hand and Saviah it is hard. (89 pts.) - 2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc Katherine Corkrum – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Again good but following Sleight of Hand and Saviah. juicy fruit, spice, rose petals and dust. (90 pts.) - 2007 SYZYGY Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Middle of the round for this tasting. Cherry, floral, spice and earth. Medium finish. (90 pts.) - 2006 Tamarack Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Dust, earth, cherry and minerals. A bit tired overall. (88 pts.) - 2009 Tamarack Cellars Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Wist they poured the Ciel. Better than the 06. Spice, plum, smoke and floral notes. Medium finish. (90 pts.) - 2012 Tranche Cellars Syrah Estate – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Very nice with spice, cherry, floral, minerals, earth and mushrooms. Medium finish. Drink now. (92 pts.) - 2008 Watermill Winery Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Very good wine and great value. This wine has help up really well. Blackberries, blueberries, earth, floral and mild spice. Medium plus finish. Highly recommend drinking this now. (92 pts.)
- 2009 Watermill Winery Syrah – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
To say this was the QPR of the tasting would not be an understatement. This was showing amazing. Stone, floral, green olives, earth, menthol and white pepper. Long and concentrated finish. If you have one of these decant and hour and see what you think! (94 pts.)
- 2012 Woodward Canyon Erratic Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Cool wine alert! Most unique wine at this tasting. Rhubarb, spice, bright fruits and earth. Medium finish and a good conversation wine on what you are tasting. Excellent. (93 pts.)
This event was well run and I loved having one or two wines per table. Very efficient and loved having the spit cups. Food was good overall but who goes to these events to eat food.