-Reviews-

The winery is situated on a picturesque property, surrounded by its’ estate vineyards and the vineyards of their neighbors. It is exactly the type of winery I seek out; low profile yet beautiful, down to earth, small production, approachable, filled with knowledgeable staff and where the owners can be found on site, getting their hands dirty and fully involved in the entire process of a winery. The owners Shae and Greg were personable and kind, with a great story behind starting their winery venture. After being greeted warmly, we were offered a seat outdoors in a comfortable setting and a tasting with great wines where our many questions about the wines were answered by the host. A focus on education is evident, rather than simply offering a high-class drinking experience, something I look for when selecting new favorite wineries. I also appreciate the lack of pretentiousness alongside the high-end experience they are offering.

The tasting itself was very enjoyable and I had a difficult time narrowing down the wines to take home with me. One of the bottles I chose was the 2019 Malbec. Right away, the nose of the Malbec stands out for its brightness and liveliness. While it does carry some of the traditional Malbec aromas such as plum, cherry and black pepper, they are less jammy and cooked than other versions, and have more of a fresh-cut fruit profile. I find the freshness to be more enticing and typically leads to a more balanced acidity. The riper and more jam-like aromas and flavors tend to have a sweeter finish, more viscosity, and be more fruit-forward than I prefer. There is also a strong presence of blackberry and currant, highlighted by a delicate floral nose, a slight minerality, and hints of tobacco which builds the complexity of the wine. It is far from one-note and boring, and as it opens up in the glass, the more subtle aromas emerge and I am able to appreciate the fruit, mineral, and other nuanced aromas. However, the oak is present and begins to overtake some of the fruity aromas after a more extended time in the glass, and is too pronounced to my taste. I do appreciate the use of the more subtle French oak. It's evident by now that I am quite a scent-oriented taster, often able to identify characteristics of a wine more by the aromas than the palate. Many of the notes I have listed here also carry over to the flavor profile when tasting the wine.

This Malbec is dark in color, as most Malbecs are, but not as inky as some others I have encountered. I cannot quite see the stem through the wine when I look straight down through it, marking its intensity as deep. As you swirl the glass, you can see through the vibrant, ruby color of the wine.

The tannins are present but are fine and do not dominate, and the acidity brings a freshness to the glass that balances the fruitiness and boldness of the wine. For being so dark, the body is not overly heavy or viscous yet still manages a richness. I do not find the wine to be over-extracted; it maintains some delicacy for being such a big wine. The blackberry and tobacco jump out at me, and the pleasantly smooth but not too sweet finish is something I have difficulty finding in a bold, Washington red. I also pick up on subtle baking spices and a slight hint of black pepper on the finish. This wine is well balanced, bright and bold, with an even mouthfeel and pleasant finish.

The 2019 is drinking nicely in September 2022. Overall, I would give this wine 8.9/10. The texture and brightness are outstanding for a wine that can so easily be overdone. I love the nose and the refreshing acidity that balance the wine beautifully. The tannins are present enough to cut through the richness without overwhelming the wine. With the acid and tannin structure of the wine, I think it will age gracefully over the next 5+ years, developing more of its tobacco and leathery flavors. The only drawback to me is the oak profile: it's a little prominent for my nose and palate. That being said, it may play a part in the delicate and fine tannins that I am so pleased with. Definitely worth checking out this winery and if you can’t get there for a tasting, order some from their website.

SCORE - 8.9/10