To begin our Friday spotlight on Woodinville, we bring you one of the outstanding newer wineries in Washington. A standout in Woodinville, Lauren Ashton was founded less than ten years ago and is led by highly talented winemaker and dentist Dr. Kit Singh. Having sampled the past four vintages of these wines, Dr. Singh’s winemaking style continues to evolve and impress. His wines have a marvelous texture, structure and mouthfeel. He has a background of viticulture and enology education at South Seattle Community College and also took classes at University of California at Davis enology program before spending two years interning at famed DeLille Cellars in Woodinville. You can tell how he has been taught by one of the best in Chris Upchurch of DeLille Cellars. His background in science also shows as he clearly has an upper hand in the winemaking process, as he is constantly measuring the wine and tasting for variances. A self-described ‘control freak,’ you can taste Dr. Singh’s attention to detail in the glass. The winery is named after his children, Ashley Lauren and Ashton Troy.
Kit sources from a range of fruit from Columbia Valley to Red Mountain. These are some of the best vineyards in the state including Quintessence, Weinbau, Sagemoor, Ambassador and Dineen vineyards. His new releases were gorgeous none more than his 2016 Lauren Ashton Rose (WWB, 91) which is an absolutely impossible to resist Rose that is a fantastic value. Look for the 2013 Lauren Ashton Cabernet (WWB, 93) which is a massive wine that will cellar marvelously for more than a decade. Learn more about the winery at http://laurenashtoncellars.com/
2016 Lauren Ashton Rose- This gorgeous Rose wine opens with aromatics of white peach, grapefruit, rose petals and candied red cherry. The palate has a wonderful mouthfeel and a plush texdture. The aromatics are fabulous and bring you back to the glass for more. There is a firm structure at play with bright flavors of starfruit, red cherry, red raspberry and hints of guava and cranberry. This is lithe and light on its feet. Drink 2017-2021- 91
2016 Lauren Ashton Chenin Blanc- This is head winemaker Kit Singh’s first Chenin Blanc wine which is sourced from the Rockworth Farms Vineyard in Yakima which is an old vine, cool site for the varietal. The wine opens with bright aromatics of starfruit, red delicious apple, Bartlett pear and hints of nutmeg. There are rich flavors of starfruit, Pazzaz apple, cantaloupe and hints of beeswax. This has wonderful poise and weight on the mid-palate while maintaining great structure. Drink 2017-2021- 90
2014 Lauren Ashton Riesling- This excellent Riesling wine was sourced from Dineen Vineyard. The aromatics of petrol, red delicious apple, nutmeg and green papaya coat the glass. This leads to bright flavors of white peach, New York apple, crushed white flowers and suggestions of petrol. This has wonderful dense mouthfeel and a plush texture. You can see the maturity of the wine, as it has evolved into something beautiful as the viscosity is there. There is a wonderfully long finish with green apple and minerals. This is just an outstanding effort from a hot vintage. Drink 2017-2024- 92
2013 Lauren Ashton Malbec- Having a dense core, Dr. Kit Singh has crafted this Malbec in a softer, more Bordealaise style. The wine was sourced from the Upland Vineyard and opens with a bouquet of violets, rose petals, blackberry cobbler and suggestions of baking spices with milk cbocolate. This leas to rdnes flavors of black cherry, blackberry pie, creosote, and milk chocolate shavings. This has wonderful structure weight and minerality. This lovely Malbec will be released in Fall 2017. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2013 Lauren Ashton ‘Cuvee Arelette’ Red Wine- This wine is a Right Bank Bordeaux style blend made of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a touch of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The Merlot was sourced from the Upland Vineyard and the Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau and Dineen Vineyards. The wine opens with a bouquet of rose petals, black cherry, black olive, and milk chocolate. There is lovely weight and minerality. The texture is gorgeous. This wine will be released in June 2017. Drink 2018-2030- 93
2013 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Sauvignon- This awesome Cabernet wine was sourced from the Ambassador and Quintessence Vineyards. This gorgeous wine begins with sandalwood, black cherry, black olive, milk chocolate and suggestions of baking spices. Dr. Kit Singh mentioned that it was challenging not to make the wine too massive, so he did some early pressing. This wine has a wonderful minerality and poise with flavors of black cherry, black olive, baking spices, and boysenberry preseves. The mid-palate weight is gorgeous. Drink 2018-2030- 93
2013 Lauren Ashton Proprietor’s Cuvee- The 2013 'Proprietor's Cuvèe' Red Wine is an incredible release by winemaker Kit Singh of Lauren Ashton. While this needs extended air contact to fully unwind, the wine slowly begins with dark aromatics of black tea, black olive, black cherry and pencil shavings. There are ripe flavors of blackberry cobbler, mocha, black tea and anise which resonate on across the palate. This has wonderful poise and weight, showcasing this warm vintage. Drink 2017-2028- 93