What a enjoyable evening with some surprising results from the group of 11 voting. My vote was out as host and it was interesting knowing what each wine was and hearing discussions on each.
CellarTracker! Washington Tasting with Cayuse and Quilceda Dead Last.
Starter Wines
- 2022 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Glasvin Kane. Another great showing with grass, floral, lemon, flint, dust, tropical fruit and minerals. Love these wines. (92 pts.)
Syrah Blind Challenge
All wines with some age on them with the two oldest winning 1st and 2nd. Interesting how a group of wine enthusiasts picked Cayuse last. I think a lot of people try and get on their waiting list and list without even trying the wine hence the reason for the massive amounts being moved on Winebid. I was a little worried at first with the 2009 In the Rocks but with a solid 2 hours of decanting it opened up nicely. The 2011 Unnamed is ready to drink on a pop and pour and so much for the poor vintage (Yes critics wrong again). The Result is my last 17 and showed well at by far the lowest cost, K was the most intense of the bunch and the 16 Cayuse was my favorite along with Tom and Bruna but the rest of the group a lot of last place votes. Here are the results in order of finishing.
5-first, 4-second, 3-third, 2-fourth and 1-fifth
First Place: 5+5+5+5+4+4+4+4+2+1+1= 40 points
- 2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Kane. Well those who said over the hill are wrong here as this just one the blind tasting of five Syrah’s from the Walla Walla Region. White pepper, mild funk, blueberries, menthol, green olives and stone. Still plenty left in the tank and had this one several times. 93 points
Total Votes: 40 points (93 pts.)
Second Place: 5+5+5+5+4+3+3+3+2+2+1= 38 points
- 2011 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Kane. Great showing from the group of 11. My vote was not included as ran this tasting. Savory wine with spices, white pepper, earth, dried flowers and dust. 92+
Finished second with 38 points (92 pts.)
Third Place: 5+4+4+4+4+4+2+2+2+2+2+1= 36 points
- 2015 K Vintners Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Snipes Mountain
Glasvin Kane. Liked the wine and the biggest of the bunch. Black pepper, earth, dark currants, cherry, minerals and underbrush. Medium plus finish. 92+4
36 points and finished 3rd in voting (92 pts.)
Fourth Place: 3+3+3+3+3+3+3+2+2+2+1= 28 points
- 2017 Result of a Crush Syrah The Unnamed Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Kane. No first or second place votes and still finished ahead of the Cayuse. White pepper, spices, earth, tar, blue currants, dried cherries and grilled meats. Intense wine and still kicking well. Loved it. 93 points
28 points and finished 4th (93 pts.)
Fifth: 5+5+4+3+1+1+1+1+1+1+1= 24 points
- 2016 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Kane. My favorite along with Tom and Bruna’s but this got a ton of last place votes. White pepper, green olives, celery, wood, tar and minerals. Very elegant showing and my favorite but my votes tonight were not included. 94 points
24 points and last place in the voting. (94 pts.)
Blind Cabernet Results
Well this featured five of the top wineries producing Cabernet or Blends in the state. Sheridan continues to be the most impressive overall Cabernet producer in the state and won by a landslide. Quilceda Creek finished dead last and I knew if everyone did this non blind it would have finished first.
First Place: 5+5+5+5+5+5+5+4+4+4+4=50 points
- 2009 Sheridan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1 – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Glasvin Kane. Might have to say Sheridan Block 1 is the best Cabernet in Washington. Not every vintage of course as the 21 something went wrong but these with 10 to 15 years are rocking. Blueberries, cassis, perfume, coffee beans, gravel, funk and wood. Rocking this wine is and 10 plus years left. Get some on auction.
Landslide victory with all first and second place votes. 50 points (96 pts.)
Second Place: 5+4+4+4+4+4+3+3+2+1+1= 35 points
- 2014 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Walla Walla Valley – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Glasvin Kane. My second favorite and great showing. Menthol, spices, cherry, coffee beans, cassis and perfume. Complex and medium to long finish. Outstanding. 94+
35 points and finished second among 11 voters. My second favorite and groups second favorite. (94 pts.)
Third Place: 4+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+2+2+1= 30 points
- 2010 Mark Ryan Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Horse – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Glasvin Kane. Outstanding quality. Finished 3rd overall against 5 outstanding Cabs. Most Bordeaux like with cassis, earth, cigar, dust, minerals, blueberries and leather. Medium plus finish. Easy 10 more years. 94 points
My third favorite and groups third favorite . 30 points total. (94 pts.)
Fourth Place: 5+5+3+2+2+2+2+2+2+1+1= 27 points
- 2014 Upchurch Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
Glasvin Kane. Very good but finished 4th out of 5. Menthol, spices, cherry, earth, floral and a bit hot. These need more time and are better on day 2/3. 92 points
27 points and 4th place. My least favorite but was not in voting. (92 pts.)
Fifth Place: 5+4+3+3+2+2+1+1+1+1+1+1= 22 points
- 2010 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Glasvin Kane. Wood, earth, chocolate, perfume, dust and mint. Big style and over 15% alcohol and this finished dead last of a group of 11. I liked it overall but for the money we can do far better. 93 points
22 votes and last place as a group. My 4th place wine. (93 pts.)
Wrap Up: Blind tastings are the way to go with no biased on names and producers. Again Quilceda Creek is one of the most influenced wines in America. All those critics giving these 97 plus points need to check their palates.