David Shaw

9.2

Columbia Valley. 43/42/8/7 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (a Meritage by any other name?). Raspberry, blackberry and herbal notes in nose, red fruit with cherry in mouth. Rounded mouthfeel initially with minimal tannin expression. Just enough acid, lighter alcohol though label states 14.5% alc/vol. Menthol-eucalyptus on finish. Winery tasting notes mention red plum, currant and cranberry aromas and flavors; no doubt they will emerge as I bide my time sipping. An allusion to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream rests in the Wild Thyme name; best do an online search for the whole passage. 24 hours later the red plum, black currant and cranberry emerge alongside a moderate level of skin astringency. Best decant for drinking sooner. — 4 months ago

David Shaw

9.2

Such a fragrant wine on the initial pour: raspberry, cherry, blackberry, white pepper and herbs! Similar flavors, fine weight seed tannins on finish that bring out a white pepper aftertaste. Length of red fruit, herbs and the depth of white pepper, black pepper and phenol and wood in the finish. Lovely wine for such a dreadful year. After an hour, tart red plum and a light cola note emerge. — 2 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

337 cases made, 75% Wallula Vineyard Malbec (clone 9), 25% Champoux Vineyard Malbec (clone 4). Purple, highly extracted, unfined and unfiltered but very good clarity considering. Blackberry and plum on the nose, wood, blackberry and black currant in the mouth. Some skin astringency on finish with muddy seed tannins on initial pour. Decanting. 24 hours later, plum flavor with undertones of cherry, raspberry and even a touch of cranberry. There’s also a hint of tobacco in there, with some muddy seed tannins for texture, but much subdued versus the initial pour. Good value, fairly fruit forward, and distinct from your typical Malbec from Argentina, for instance. — 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Second encounter with this vintage. Paired well with steamed fish, ginger and olive paste with a side of veggie stir fry. Side project: propagating rosemary for a pot of culinary flavor magic. Perhaps we’re becoming Roman… — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Been awhile since I had one of these; the label looks promising: 38/28/21/7/6 blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, aged in used oak, 325 cases made. Dark garnet red, very good clarity, moderate to high pigment extraction. Blackberry, raspberry and butter aromas, red fruit flavors, followed later by a note of tobacco and cooked vegetable, quite rounded mouthfeel, soft, not much tannin expression initially. Mint, wintergreen and white pepper aftertaste. A light skin astringency emerges after 30 minutes. A decent flavor-dense, almost syrupy red table wine, balanced perfectly for whatever hearty winter dishes you are consuming. Roasted root veggies and cheese or red meat entrees seem the best match to me at the moment. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

New vintage. Ruby red, excellent clarity. Moderate pigment extraction. Red fruit, cherry peel and berry flavors with a graphite, black pepper, black olive and seed bitterness finish. Tangerine peel aftertaste. Dense flavor profile, good acid, not your typical WA state Grenache. — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.3

Wallula Vineyards, Horse Heaven Hills. Winery tasting notes mention Bing cherry, blueberry, citrus and sage flavors. Not sure I get the floral character on the initial pour. Dark red, high pigment extraction. Tannins are fine grained and mostly seed tannins initially though skin astringency starts emerging after 15 minutes. Elegant. Bright acidity. Some white pepper finish. A perennial favorite for me, with less herbal expression than some previous vintages, but there is definitely sage going on. 24 hours later,the fruit is fully forward, tannins mellowed, with brightness intact. — 4 months ago

Jennifer G

9.1

Obscure purple, strong flavor but quite smooth. Smells of sour cherries. — 2 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Dense purple-red, high pigment extraction. Aromas of black currants, blackberries and white pepper, flavors of blackberries with length, white pepper finish. Slightly tart on initial pour. Still assessing — 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Last bottle of the 2020 vintage, 130 cases made. Orange with a hint of pink, excellent clarity. Floral and stone fruit aromas, subtle. Lactic, citrus and subdued orchard fruit flavor. Some skin astringency on finish but less than you would expect after a 72 cold soak before fermentation in used wood. An orange wine with finesse, or at least a light touch. Refreshing — 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Columbia Valley. 368 cases produced. Inky purple red, medium-Hugh pigment extraction. Blackberry and floral aromas. Cherry blackberry flavors on initial pour. Light to moderate astringency on finish. White pepper aftertaste with a hint of tobacco leaf and eucalyptus. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

A collaboration between Isenhower Cellars and a Seattle-based food coop. Purple red, moderately extracted pigment, excellent clarity. Light cherry nose, orange-cherry flavors with length, some wood (and later plum and warm baking spices), bright acidity, plum, cherry, wood and spice finish. Nice everyday red, but better after decanting two hours. Paired well with tortellini, oven roasted veggies, country miche and homemade pâté from a family friend. 297 cases made — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.3

Gift from a family member. See my previous tasting notes, still largely on point — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Isenhower Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Wallula Vineyard Washington state. Deeply extracted pigment. Aromas and flavors of red fruit, spice and wood. Well made but I’d prefer it with less wood, my bias these days. Few better Cabs in state, however. — 8 months ago

David Shaw

9.0

Purple, cloudy, dense, high pigment extraction, meatier style here: viscous, blackberry, tobacco leaf, cigar box aromas, similar flavors with light ethanol heat and mint-eucalyptus on the finish, aftertaste. Minimal tannins after three hours decant. — a year ago

David Shaw

9.1

Horse Heaven Hills, 325 cases made. Purple red, moderate pigment extraction. Light herbaceous nose, call it tobacco light. Blackberry flavor with length on initial pour, nice round mouthfeel with fresh blackberry aftertaste. Just a tad tart. Tobacco leaf aftertaste emerges after 20 minutes with some fine seed bitterness. I might have popped this one open too early as it’s got plenty of tannins for further aging. Still, it’s got fruit to spare… — 2 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Ah, summer… — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Alas, my last bottle of this vintage. Holding up well; previous tasting notes still hold. Winemaker suggests it’s good through 2028, seems on track — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

A collaboration between a Seattle food coop and Isenhower Cellars. 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Konnowac Vineyards, Rattlesnake Hills. 220 cases made. Aged in used French oak barrels. Garnet red, very good clarity, moderate pigment extraction, cherry and light wood aromas. Cherry flavor, rounded mouthfeel, balanced, soft, not overly alcoholic with moderate acidity and some bitterness on finish from seed and wood. Tasty vin de table, Washington state style. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Revisiting vintage. Tart cherry and plum with hints of herbs and spearmint. Slightly tart with plenty of tannins, skin mostly. Still age worthy but drinking well now — 5 years ago