Coming out of 2017, 2018 was a bit of a breeze. 2017 had strange conditions with smoke overhead for a large portion of the summer, while 2018 had near perfect warm vintage conditions which led to long hang time for fruit in the fall. There was some serious buzz when these wines were released and I was thrilled to share the results of this amazing year. 2018 is sandwiched between two more difficult years — 2019 being a freeze vintage which saw more mixed results for reds and better for whites and 2017 also being slightly better overall for whites than reds. 2018 was a year where red and whites both really impressed. This was a marvelous vintage and up there with the finest I have witnessed like 2002 and 2005. For me it eclipses anything of the 2010s.
Andrew Will’s Will Carmada sees the 2018 vintage as “wines that are drinking marvelous younger and seven years in they are very youthful but they all continue to really produce drinking enjoyment.” He mentioned that “The year does so well in this kind of vintage and you have full-bodied wines that are showing good ripeness and are not alcoholic at all.” He mentioned that his wines from this vintage “produced ripe and juicy fruit flavors that show the ripe vintage well. Now we have the more mushroom and cigar character in the wines when it was just mainly fruit tones to begin with upon release.”
Similarly, Delmas’s Brooke Robertson saw 2018 as “great vintage. Coming off ’17 with so many issues, 2018 we were in the first full year in the head-trained system and the vines were adjusting. Climactically things hit on all cylinders. We didn’t have extremes which was great. It was a slightly earlier pick for us, the ripeness was there. Alcohols are mid-range, 14-14.5%. It was a beautiful year.”
Quilceda Creek made some otherworldly wines in 2018. Director of winemaking Paul Golitzin described the vintage as “A bumper crop. Weather wise this was a great vintage for us and you don’t have to sit around waiting and worrying. If you hit the ripening parameters, that is what it is all about.” He mentioned that “We controlled the yields and the fruit was really pretty. Harvest lasted all the way to November so we had some great hang time.”
I selected the for this retrospective tasting and was amazed by the overall quality and drinkability of the wines right now. Seven years into their development, the wines are really singing. Tasting through the wines you are just blown away from the overall quality of the vintage.
Several perfect wines were made in 2018. I am totally enamored by the 2018 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is absolutely one of the wines of the vintage. with its pillowy mouthfeel and deep core of dark fruits. Vigneron Christophe Baron hit a home run with his bevy of terroir-driven Syrah and Grenache wines. I have been fortunate to try the stunning 2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Grenache (OB, 100) several times in the past year. There is nothing quite like this made in the Pacific Northwest in terms of purity of fruit and flavor range.
Christophe Baron’s 2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 100) and the 2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 100) were perfect wines made this vintage. Truly scintillating in terms of intensity, tension and flavor density, these beauties are coming up still very primary and gradually moving into more earthy secondary characteristics.
There were many world-class wines made in 2018 as I initially reported for Vinous and Decanter. I adored the 2018 wines by Andrew Will Avennia, Corliss, Delmas, DeLille Cellars, Leonetti Cellar, Long Shadows, No Girls, Upchurch Vineyard and Reynvaan Family Vineyards. 2018 was a monumental vintage for Washington State and don't be afraid to open these beauties now. The top wines from this vintage show some serious aging potential with top class power and dazzling tension that assures they will cellar really well.
2018 Andrew Will ‘Two Blondes’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2018 Andrew Will ‘Two Blondes’ Red Wine that was stored in roughly 33% new French oak before bottling. The blend is mainly Merlot (54%) with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pencil lead and dark florals combine with espresso bean and bright red plum notes. This comes off very weightless and smooth throughout the drinking experience. With elegant tannins and a light dusting of salinity, this is drinking marvelously right now. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Andrew Will ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Red Wine- This 2018 Horse Heaven Hills AVA bottling comes from the famed Champoux Vineyard. This combines 58% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Sandalwood notes combine with Arabica bean, blueberry compote and shades of tar and tobacco leaf. The palate is pillow and soft with a refined sense of structure and bright underlying acidity. Dense dark fruits parade with chocolate cake, sagebrush and anise seed on the palate. A glorious wine from a great vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 96
2018 Andrew Will ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- This is a one-time made wine that comes from the famed Champoux Vineyard. The 2018 Cabernet Franc was mainly stored in neutral French oak barrels before bottling. Juicy red plum and dark chocolate shavings combine with light red bell pepper tones and a dusting of white pepper on the palate. 100% varietal and completely delicious, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Aquilini ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 100% varietal 2018 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is individually numbered on the back of the bottle. Tar, dark currants and kirsch cordial with scorched earth notes all mark the palate, alongside good structure and weight. Medium to full-bodied, and filled with beautiful tension and refined tannins, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2018 Aquilini ‘Eroe’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The really good 2018 ’Eroe’ is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain and was barrel aged for 28 Months in 90% new French Oak. This is round, generous and beautifully-structured stuff that is even now quite tannic. Chocolate and garrigue notes combine with mocha and creme de violette notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Avennia ‘Gravura’ Red Wine- The really good 2018 ‘Gravura’ is a Cabernet-dominant blend, offering good concentration and verve. The smooth texture entices, with cassis and espresso ground flavors alongside black cherry compote and dried herbs. Fresh and at a great drinking window, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2018 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The gorgeous 2018 ‘Sestina’ is a sensational blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Right away this offers fresh sage and black rose petals that meld well with cassis, tar and shades of espresso bean. The palate shows a great concentration of concentration and freshness as this glides throughout the drinking experience. With great length, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2038- 96
2018 Avennia ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this famed site that was planted all the way back in 1985. This is refined and highly herbal stuff that is drinking marvelously at the seven year mark. Sweet pipe tobacco, sagebrush and bay leaf all combine with a glorious core of dark fruits and cocoa powder on the palate. Neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. . . but why wait? Drink 2025-2035- 96
2018 Avennia ‘Arnaut’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Arnaut’ is a glorious edition of this Syrah coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Tar and Middle Eastern spices combine with shades of bulls blood, iodine, dark currants and beef drippings on the nose. The palate is plush and pure with a meaty edge and great core of dark fruits, with chocolate, garrigue and coffee ground accents. Complex and highly delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. What a great spot to enjoy this! Drink 2025-2033- 96
CAYUSE VINEYARDS
2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Grenache- The 2018 ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine is nothing short of a perfect wine from a great vintage. Now at the seven year mark it is really peaking. Coming from the famed ‘Armada Vineyard’ the Grenache has a small portion of Syrah blended in. Red currents, iodine and Umami combine with blood orange zest, anise, exotic spices and shades of red cherry candy on this incredible bouquet. The palate is mineral-laden and heady with a pillowy texture and great sense of opulence. Seamless and thrilling to enjoy in your glass, enjoy this head-turning Grenache now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 100
2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah shows off its dark core in the glass. You are immediately drawn to the savory aromatics of fresh thyme and Provencale herbs that combine with black olive tapenade, beef drippings, and shades of boysenberry compote that all meld in the glass. This is weightless throughout the drinking experience. A literal kaleidoscope of flavors burst from the seams, delivering smoky and savory notes to wet stone, a beam of salinity, dark truffle crudo and Hoisin sauce accents. Full, round and generous on the mouth, enjoy this total stunner now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 98
2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Syrah- The stunning 2018 ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ was co-fermented with a small amount of Viognier. Beautiful red rose petals and honeysuckle notes combine on the nose alongside beef tartare, Middle Eastern spices, Cuban cigar and soy sauce notes. The palate is refined and elegant with a seamless texture that entices. Rich dark fruits parade with orange peel, white truffle shavings and cured meats on the palate. Highly novel and complex, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 98
2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah- A total stunner, the 2018 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ is the only Syrah in Christophe’s collection of wines that was stored in a 20% new large-format French oak prior to bottling. Pipe tobacco, soy sauce, venison and tar notes fill the nose alongside wild blackberry and shades of cardamom. The palate is seamless with no rough edges. Deep and concentrated in terms of its core of dark fruits, with gorgeous stony accents, this is very salty and savory wine that flirts with perfection. Enjoy this otherworldly bottling now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 99
2018 Cayuse ‘The Widowmaker’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ the 2018 ‘Widowmaker’ is composed of all Cabernet Sauvignon from this stony location outside of Milton-Freewater. On the nose this takes on shades of black truffle shavings and soy sauce, alongside black plum and suggestions of white pepper dusted bacon. The aromatic range is incredible for the varietal. Elegant and sleek, this glides throughout the drinking experience which is weightless and beautifully poised. A joy to drink now, consume this outstanding bottling over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 96
COL SOLARE
2018 Col Solare Red Wine- The ebullient 2018 Col Solare Red Wine is a really great edition of this wine. Mocha, tar, anise and dark currants with scorched earth notes all fill the nose, alongside toasty oak. The palate is plush and rich with good texture and tension. Dense and delicious, with a great espresso ground and chocolate core, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon- The incredible 2018 Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning edition of this wine that was stored in 70% new French oak before bottling. It is dense and delicious on the mouth, with serious tension and flavor density. A great melange of black and blue fruits greets you, alongside cocoa powder, scorched earth and dried herb notes. Give this beauty about an hour in the decanter prior to enjoyment. This is clearly one of the best wines made this vintage. Drink 2025-2045- 98
2018 Corliss Red Wine- The incredible 2018 Corliss Red Wine is equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored in mainly new French oak barrels, this is inky in the glass, offering violets, tar and sweet pipe tobacco alongside shades of creme de cassis and dusty soils. The palate is plush, soft, lithe and generous, with a serious tension and flavor density. A world-class wine from this warm vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2043- 97
2018 Corliss Syrah- This is now the fourth time I have tasted this stunning Syrah from this great vintage. The 2018 Corliss Syrah is a hedonistic edition of tins wine coming from Red Mountain. This edition has a dash (3%) of Viognier blended in. Gorgeous red florals combine with coffee bean, iodine, kirsch cordial and shades of huckleberry compote on the nose. The palate is big, bold and downright delicious. This is voluptuous Red Mountain Syrah that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2037- 97
DELMAS
2018 Delmas Syrah- The drop-dead gorgeous 2018 Delmas Syrah was co-fermented with higher percentage of Viognier (9%). The wine saw some stem inclusion and is texturally gorgeous on the palate. Leafy greens and smoldering stones mark the nose with gorgeous red florals on the nose. The palate is wonderfully stony and salty with serious tension and depth, with soy sauce and seaweed accents. Complex, dense and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight. Drink 2025-2033- 96
DELILLE CELLARS
2018 DeLille Cellars ‘D2’ Red Wine- A really good showing from 2018, the ‘D2’ is dense, decadent and delicious right now. Black tea and Asian spices mark the nose alongside chocolate cake and shades of black licorice. The palate is big and bold with a gorgeous mouthfeel and lovely flavor density. This is one to enjoy now and over the next several years to come. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2018 DeLille Cellars ‘Chaleur Estate’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Chaleur Estate’ Red Wine is a gorgeous offering that maintains really good freshness and flavor density now at the seven year mark. Blackberry compote, dark chocolate shavings and tobacco leaf mingle well with shades of baking spices the palate. Medium to full-bodied, this is drinking beautifully now at the seven year mark. Drink 2025-2033- 94
DOUBLEBACK
2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon- It is a joy to revisit the beautiful 2018 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon which has 5% Malbec and 5% Merlot blended in. Sagebrush and black tea combine with dense dark fruits and graphite on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous, offering a silky texture and marvelous drinking experience throughout. Opened from my cellar, this is really getting into its sweet spot right now and offers some serious drinking enjoyment. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2018 Dunham Cellars ‘Trutina’ Red Wine- The fabulous 2018 ‘Trutina’ combines 52% Melrot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and small parts Petit Verdot and Malbec. This leads with chocolate covered red cherry on the palate, alongside shades of tobacco leaf and tiled soil accents. Medium to full-bodied, you can really see each working part here. Enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2018 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers beautiful balance between richness and verve. Rich date and sweet pipe tobacco flavors mingle well with blackberry cobbler and shades of dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead on the palate. Rich and viscous, with terrific tension, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. What a wine! Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Dunham Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- coming from the Lewis Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, the 2018 Dunham Cellars Syrah offers violets and tar on the nose with blackberry compote and chocolate. The palate is dense and decadent with a great underlying finesse. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2018 FIGGINS ‘Figlia’ Red Wine- The 2018 Figgins ‘Figlia’ Red Wine is a world-class wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Chocolate covered date and black currants mark the nose with beautiful green herbs and violets. The palate is dense and rich with serious tension and firm tannins that hold in place a gorgeous core of black and blue fruits. Full-throttle and fully delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 97
2018 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine- The dazzling 2018 Force Majeure ‘Parvata’ Red Wine is mainly Mourvedre (57%) with the remainder Syrah and Grenache. This is marvelously smoky and meaty with brisket and BBQ beef ribs alongside Hoisin sauce, blackberry compote and lavender essence notes on the palate. Showing good finesse and depth, with a silky mouthfeel, this has aged marvelously and will provide drinking enjoyment for another ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2018 Force Majeure ‘Estate’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Syrah is an inky, concentrated rendition of this wine that is built to age. Once on the nose this takes on concentrated black fruits that mingle well with suggestions of mountain huckleberry and cloves alongside scorched earth notes. The palate is rich and lithe with a silky texture, as this is seamless throughout the drinking experience. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. This is world-class Red Mountain. Drink 2025-2036- 98
2018 Force Majeure ‘Epinette’ Red Wine- A totally stunning edition of this wine, the 2018 ‘Epinette’ combines 79% Merlot, with small parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Coming from this small Red Mountain Vineyard, this is rich and viscous on the nose, showing black rose petals alongside tar and Cuban cigar notes on the nose, offering alluring red bell pepper accents. The palate is full-bodied and delicious with a silky texture and great sense of tension that runs through the core of black and blue fruits. Right now the Petit Verdot really seems to be shining in terms of its herbal character alongside blue fruit essence. Highly enjoyable now, no need to pull this beauty from the cellar immediately. Enjoy over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2042- 98
HORS CATEGORIE
2018 Hors Categorie Syrah- This is now the fourth time I have tasted the world-class 2018 Hors Categorie. Translated as 'a place of its own,' this comes from a rocky hillside, two-acre plot at 1,400 feet of densely planted 11 years old Syrah vines. This a seamless colossus of a wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Smoked brisket, creme de violette, wintergreen and seaweed flavors beautifully meld together with a light dusting of salinity and smoldering stones on the palate. A perfect wine from 2018, enjoy this if you can find one. Drink 2025-2035- 100
2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache- A very special wine, the 2018 ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ Grenache comes from this tightly spaced parcel just south of ‘En Chamberlin’ and ‘The Tribe’ vineyards which was planted back in 2015. ‘Fiddleneck’ is an ode to the Fiddleneck flowers that were growing on this land before planted to vines. The wine is so good that it is sheer alchemy that the Grenache from this site is in its fourth leaf. This takes on a completely different character than the ‘Sur Echalas’ as it offers extreme purity of red fruits on the palate. Guava puree, strawberry Starburst candy, and Bing cherry flavors all combine with salted Satsuma orange zest, Nori, and shades of prosciutto on the palate. Seamless throughout the drinking experience, this is nothing short of perfection in a great vintage. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 100
2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache- A joy to consume right now, the world-class 2018 ‘Sur Echalas’ Grenache is amongst the finest wines of its kind that you will taste in North America. The Grenache saw 100% stem inclusion and was stored in used demi-muids before bottling botting. Umami and fresh wintergreen notes combine with red raspberry coulis, green olives and wet stone, with shades of pomegranate puree. The tension created here is otherworldly. The palate is salty and savory as this lands fat and viscous on the mouth. Wait for the extremely long finish, laden with stony minerals. A total heavyhitter of a wine, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 100
2018 Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah- Coming from the High Contrast Vineyard which was planted five years prior to this bottling, the site has diverse soil types including large cobblestones and also silky loam soils. This comes off very rocky on the nose, alongside Kalamatta olives, dark currants, espresso grounds and shades of violets on the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a smooth mouthfeel, as this offers gobs of tension and loads of loamy/rocky soil character. Delicious now, this still has a decade of life in front of it. Drink 2025-2033- 96
2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Apogee’ Red Wine- This edition of the ‘Apogee’ is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) with 27% Merlot and smaller parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The wine was entirely sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard and this bottling was first made all the way back in 1993. It shows off a dense core in the glass, exuding class with cigar box aromatics that parade with dark currants, coffee grounds and loganberry liquor notes. The palate is round, generous and refined, with serious structure still brimming through a core of deep dark fruits. Delicious and savory, with an herbal edge, enjoy this gorgeous bottling now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Perigee’ Red Wine- Another resounding success in 2018, the ‘Perigee’ combines 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with 16% Merlot and smaller parts Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sandalwood and black florals mark the nose alongside a generous core of dark fruit tones. This is beautifully-structured stuff, showing good concentration and is loaded with espresso bean, black currant and cigar ash flavors that combine with refined tannins. Nervy and tense, this still has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ combines 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 24% Merlot and smaller almonds of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Coming from this high-elevation, stony site, this exudes class with wet rock, scorched earth and blackberry compote flavors alongside shades of chocolate pie and creme de violette. Complex and loaded with beautiful terroir and finesse, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 96
2018 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon- A stunning wine from a great vintage the 2018 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon is a compelling blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon alongside small portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Stored in oak barrel and oval botti for 22 months prior to bottling, this offers creme de cassis and sweet pipe tobacco notes on the nose alongside chocolate pie and suggestions of blueberry compote. The palate is beautifully structured and still quite primary, showing velvety tannins and lovely espresso ground, fresh sage and tobacco leaf notes. A joy to consume now at the seven year mark, this has at least fifteen years ahead of it. Drink 2025-2040- 97
2018 Long Shadows ‘Pedestal’ Merlot- The 2018 ‘Pedestal’ is made by famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland and Long Shadows winemaker Gilles Nicault. The wine combines Merlot with 14% Cabernet Savignon and a touch of Malbec. Inky dark in the glass, this was stored for 22 months in Sylvain and Millet French oak barrels (85% new), this delivers kirsch cordial, scorched earth and fresh thyme on the nose with bitter chocolate. The palate is round, generous and velvety, with refined tannins. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2018 Long Shadows ‘Pirouette’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Pirouette’ combines 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Merlot and the remainder Petit Verdot. This also stands inky dark in the glass, offering alluring aromatics of green bell pepper and pencil lead from the PV, alongside black florals, and shades of graphite with black currant cordial. The palate is impeccably balanced, with serious power and concentration as well as underlying tension, with salty nuances. A total stunner, enjoy this beautiful wine now and love the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 97
2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Grenache is a totally dazzling wine that is thriving at the seven year mark. Aged in neutral large-format oak and given more than 50% stem inclusion, this opens brightly with pomegranate seed and Mandarin orange zest that mingles well with smoldering stones, charcuterie and shades of bulls blood. The palate is dazzling in terms of tension and weightless throughout the drinking experience. Drinking slightly better upon release, this wine could only be from one place and made by one producer. A total masterpiece, enjoy now and over the next few years. But why wait? Drink 2025-2032- 98
2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Syrah- A world-class Syrah the 2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ shows a scintillant range of aromatics and flavors. Stored in neutral oak puncheons, the wine saw roughly 70% stem inclusion. Right away beef drippings and fresh sage aromatics collide with kumquat rind, cigar ash and shades of clove dusted wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is elegant and refined with a smooth mouthfeel and bright sense of acidity and finesse. Round and generous, with good viscosity and a gorgeous core of dark fruits, with stony essence, this is drinking beautifully now at the seven year mark. Drink 2025-2032- 97
2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Tempranillo- One of the great new world Tempranillos, the 2018 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Tempranillo comes from this cobblestone-laden vineyard near the town of Milton-Freewater. Oyster sauce, umami dipped BBQ beef ribs and orange peel flavors combine with silky tannins and a pillowy texture on the palate. Very stony and savory, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 96
2018 Pepper Bridge ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Pepper Bridge ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous edition of this wine that has 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot blended in. Mainly coming from the Seven Hills Vineyard, this offers a deep core with Arabica bean and dark currants that combine with mocha, tar and wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is soft and seamless with beautiful structure to age. Complex and delicious now, with impeccable balance, enjoy over the next twelve to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 95
2018 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ is a reined blend of 38% Merlot, 31% Malbec, and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot. This is beautifully structured stuff with refined tannins on the mid-palate. Tar, espresso grounds and shades of creme de cassis mingle well with sandalwood notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, with good weight and a light herbal accent that is intriguing considering the heat of the vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2018 Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘CVR’ is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and offers gorgeous purple rose petals alongside dense black fruits and suggestions of Arabica bean. The palate is pillow-soft and excellent flavor density and good sense of weight. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Palengat’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2018 ‘Palengat’ comes mainly from the Champoux and Mach One Vineyard and is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Cabernet Franc blended in. Beautiful red rose petals and red bell pepper notes collide with boysenberry cordial and walnut accents on the nose. The palate is extremely velvety and weightless, with fabulous depth and concentration. Gorgeous and soft now, with a light dusting of salinity, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 99
2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A knockout wine from this outstanding vintage, the 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect wine from this benchmark producer. The palate is opulent and texturally luxurious as this is round and generous, full-throttle stuff that maintains beautiful freshness. A deep melange of black and blue fruits greets you, with serious flavor density. A wow-factor Cabernet Sauvignon, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 100
2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2018 Quilceda Creek ‘Galitzine Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a head-turning bottling from this incredible vintage. Once on the nose this takes on layers of scorched earth and sagebrush alongside heady black and blue fruits, with shades of creme de violette. This is nothing short of perfection in the glass. Drink 2025-2040- 100
2018 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- I have long admired this Syrah that comes from one of the great vintages that Washington has seen over the past two decades. The 2018 ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah offers a literal cornucopia of aromatics. Bulls blood, Mandarin orange blossom, Nori, white pepper dusted bacon and shades of creme de violette all collide on the nose. The palate is silky smooth and beautifully textured, with impeccable balance and weight. This is just marvelous stuff to savor right now. Find this wine, buy it and you will thank me later. Drink 2025-2033- 98
2018 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Syrah- Coming from this cobblestone-laden vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District, the 2018 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Syrah offers smoldering stone notes on the nose with black tea, Asian spices, soy sauce and suggestions of bacon fat on the nose. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more decadence. Round, fat and generous on the mouth, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2032- 95
2018 Saviah ‘The Funk’ Syrah- Coming from the famed ‘The Funk Estate’ Vineyard in the Walla Wall Rocks District, this 2018 Syrah has 4% Viognier blended in. It offers beautiful white florals from the Vio, alongside seaweed, oyster sauce and shades of coppa ham. The palate is big, round and voluptuous in terms of weight and texture. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 96
2018 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The stunning 2018 ‘Reserve’ Syrah is a dense and massive bottling that has fabulous push-pull in terms of richness and underlying finesse. The palate is brimming with bright acidity that connects with the generous core of red and dark fruits, with charcuterie and shades of milk chocolate. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 95
2018 Saviah ‘Hunt & Gather’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Hunt & Gather’ comes from the Rocks District, combining 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah. Smoked brisket and black olive tapenade mark the nose alongside violets and shades of lavender oil. The palate is round and fresh with good texture and tension. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2018 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- inky in the glass, the 2018 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers soy sauce and BBQ beef ribs on the nose alongside suggestions of Earl Grey tea and boysenberry cobbler. The palate is beautifully weighted and balanced, as this is really entering its prime right now. Drink 2025-2033- 95
2018 Tranche ‘Estate’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Syrah comes from the high elevation Blue Mountain Vineyard. This has really good viscosity and verve, showing mountain huckleberry and black cherry compote flavors with smoke and shades of beef drippings on the palate. Flinty and herbal accents add to the intrigue, as this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2031- 94
2018 Tranche ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows black raspberry cordial and garrigue notes that mingle well with shades of pencil lead and light green bell pepper notes, with black rose petal accents. The palate is rich and layered with good freshness and tension that runs through the core of dense dark fruits, with chocolate and anise notes. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2018 Tranche ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc offers red bell pepper, dark chocolate shavings and red cherry compote that combine with red rose petals on the nose. The palate is plush and refined with good richness and verve. A delight to savor now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 95
2018 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon- Pulled from my cellar, the 2018 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a massive, dense and heady effort that is amongst the best that you all find on Red Mountain. Blackberry compote, anise and scorched earth tones mark the nose alongside exotic spices and black licorice notes. The palate is loaded with texture and flavor density, as this seamlessly glides as you take in every delightful sip. Full-bodied and rich, this is really starting to come into its own. Initially a bit reticent upon release, don’t be afraid to uncork this beauty. Drink 2025-2040- 96
