Latest Scores! -Dunnuck & Suckling
We have mixed thoughts on scores but we do submit some of our wines, some of the time. Regardless of the score I always appreciate their tasting notes. These professionals have such great palates and great wine vocabulary-reading their description of the wine always feels pretty spot on!
Here are Jeb Dunnuck's reviews:
2020 CIEL - 92PTS
I loved the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel Du Cheval, a pure, balanced, elegant 2020 with lots of character. Cassis, red plums, toasted spice, leather, and dried herb notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a pure, polished mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish.-JD
2020 YAKIMA - 92PTS
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Yakima Valley is slightly less expensive but offers a similar inky hue, terrific notes of red, blue, and black fruits, more classic Yakima Valley herbal and floral notes, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a great finish. I'm a fan, and this should have a decade of prime drinking.-JD
James Suckling Review:
2019 OLD GOAT - 92PTS
This has aromas of bitter chocolate, mint, blackcurrants and wild blueberries. Chalky minerality ensues on the palate, with a full body and firm, grainy tannins. Tangy acidity. Let it soften. 67% cabernet sauvignon and 33% merlot. Try after 2024.
2020 CIEL - 91PTS
This has aromas of spiced cherries, blackcurrants, plums, cedar and chocolate orange. Spicy, with full body, ripe tannins and a creamy finish. A little lean in the middle, but supple and tasty. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now.
2020 YAKIMA - 91PTS
Currants, orange peel, plums and spice box on the nose. Savory and juicy with medium to full body, ripe tannins and a savory, supple finish. 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot. Drink now or hold.
2022 SAUVIGNON BLANC - 90PTS
A fruity white with aromas of lime zest, lemon curd, guavas and green apples. Medium-bodied, sharp and refreshing with a zesty finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
Jul 25, 2023 at 5:56 PM
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2023 Fall Wine Club Offerings
2021 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Justin's Winemaking Notes:
Tech notes: 57% Elephant Mountain Vineyard, 29% Two Blondes Vineyard, 14% Red Willow Vineyard Assemblage: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon & 14% Merlot
2021 Ciel du Cheval Mourvedre
Every year we get a small amount of grapes from Ciel du Cheval that are not Cabernet Sauvignon that we release to wine club and then on our website. Last year we released a Syrah and this year we have a Mourvedre. Mourvedre is a medium bodied and rustic grape. It is typically used as a blending grape in the Rhone Valley, along with Syrah and Grenache. I love how this wine turned out, it is earthy with lighter tannins. I am really looking foward to enjoying this wine with roasted vegetables this fall.
2021 Two Blondes Cabernet Sauvignon
We have been working with Two Blondes Vineyard for over ten vintages and each year we are reminded why we keep coming back. The aromatics and elegance of fruit is so special and is such a great part of our program. The 2021 vintage was especially good so we decided to make two vineyard designate wines from that vintage. The 2021 Ciel Cab, which we will release next spring (the 2020 just received 92 points from Jeb Dunnuck and is tasting fantastic at the moment) and the 2021 Two Blondes Cab included in this release.
Tech notes:
2019 Old Goat
Justin's Winemaking Notes: The goal with the Old Goat is simply to craft the best wine we can with what the vintage gave us. It can be a blend of varieties and vineyards, whatever it needs to be. In 2019 the Merlot from Red Willow was outstanding. It helped to flesh out the Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing a somewhat rounder mouthfeel and filled in the gaps on the palette. On the nose it offered up a darker fruit component in the blend, but does not overwhelm the Cabernet. The goal with the concrete is to get the wine off of the wood and allow the components of the wine time to stew and come together before bottling.
Tech notes: 19 months in 67% new French oak (Boutes, Sylvain & Taransaud) and 33% neutral French oak. It was then blended and aged an additional 10 months in concrete tank. Unfined and unfiltered.
Alcohol – 14.0% TA – 6.4 g/L pH – 3.65
This wine was just scored by James Suckling:
2019 OLD GOAT - 92PTS
This has aromas of bitter chocolate, mint, blackcurrants and wild blueberries. Chalky minerality ensues on the palate, with a full body and firm, grainy tannins. Tangy acidity. Let it soften. 67% cabernet sauvignon and 33% merlot. Try after 2024.
Jul 25, 2023 at 4:44 PM
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