Isenhower Cellars
Rara Avis Columbia Valley Red Blend
Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
New vintage to taste, 75/21/4 blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah. Purple red, very good clarity, moderate pigment extraction. Raspberry and slight herb and funk in nose on opening. Raspberry and tart cherry pulp flavors with menthol and slight phenol finish, light to moderate skin and seed tannins, fine grained astringency. Good balance overall with immediate depth of flavor expression. Blackberry flavor and something slightly vegetal emerge 30 minutes later. Ripe but not overripe character overall, an atypical but tasty GMS.
New vintage to taste, 75/21/4 blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah. Purple red, very good clarity, moderate pigment extraction. Raspberry and slight herb and funk in nose on opening. Raspberry and tart cherry pulp flavors with menthol and slight phenol finish, light to moderate skin and seed tannins, fine grained astringency. Good balance overall with immediate depth of flavor expression. Blackberry flavor and something slightly vegetal emerge 30 minutes later. Ripe but not overripe character overall, an atypical but tasty GMS.
Nov 18th, 2019Last bottle of the vintage. Purple red, medium extracted, excellent clarity. Strawberry, cassis and mint notes in nose. Same flavors (plus blackberry and cherry) with depth, rounded mouthfeel, somewhat thin body, some skin astringency and lactic acid on finish. Flavors are well integrated, tasting nicely now. 68/32 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Washington state - the new epicenter of wine. You heard it here first
Last bottle of the vintage. Purple red, medium extracted, excellent clarity. Strawberry, cassis and mint notes in nose. Same flavors (plus blackberry and cherry) with depth, rounded mouthfeel, somewhat thin body, some skin astringency and lactic acid on finish. Flavors are well integrated, tasting nicely now. 68/32 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Washington state - the new epicenter of wine. You heard it here first
Fireworks night as Mariners defeat Red Sox. Ruby red in color, dense pigment extraction. Fruit leather with floral, white pepper and slight prune note in nose. Strawberry jam with seeds and cola flavors with spice finish. Dusty aftertaste. Syrupy fruit flavors dominate. After two-to-three hours, the cool blue and black berry flavors of the Mourvèdre emerge. Two days later, green notes and cherry cough syrup flavors emerge alongside a bitter finish. 68/26/6 blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Flavors are more integrated than last tasting 22 months ago. Tannins are just right for drinking now. Decant or give it time
Fireworks night as Mariners defeat Red Sox. Ruby red in color, dense pigment extraction. Fruit leather with floral, white pepper and slight prune note in nose. Strawberry jam with seeds and cola flavors with spice finish. Dusty aftertaste. Syrupy fruit flavors dominate. After two-to-three hours, the cool blue and black berry flavors of the Mourvèdre emerge. Two days later, green notes and cherry cough syrup flavors emerge alongside a bitter finish. 68/26/6 blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Flavors are more integrated than last tasting 22 months ago. Tannins are just right for drinking now. Decant or give it time
Jun 16th, 201865% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah. Brick red with some purple in color. White pepper, raspberry and mustard greens in nose. Flavors of cherry fruit leather, strawberry jam and a spearmint note in mouth, moderate seed tannins across front of tongue. Increased complexity, plenty of tannins for further aging. Impressed with development of this wine since initial tasting at their Woodinville tasting room
65% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah. Brick red with some purple in color. White pepper, raspberry and mustard greens in nose. Flavors of cherry fruit leather, strawberry jam and a spearmint note in mouth, moderate seed tannins across front of tongue. Increased complexity, plenty of tannins for further aging. Impressed with development of this wine since initial tasting at their Woodinville tasting room
Dec 19th, 2017Rara Avis, GSM. Purple red in color. Dried cherry and white pepper/dust in nose. Cherries and strawberries with length in mouth. Some medium weight seed tannins in finish. Well balanced
Rara Avis, GSM. Purple red in color. Dried cherry and white pepper/dust in nose. Cherries and strawberries with length in mouth. Some medium weight seed tannins in finish. Well balanced
Aug 21st, 2016
