As you sit out on the porch at Reynvaan Family Vineyards you ponder whether the stunning Walla Walla Valley view or the Syrah is more magical? They are both truly special. Reynvaan is a limited production small winery founded by Mike and Gale Reynvaan, Reynvaan Family Vineyards focuses on producing wines from their estate vineyards, both in the Walla Walla Rocks region and their foothills vineyard set at roughly 1600 feet. Reynvaan has experienced incredible success in an extremely short period of time. Mike and Gale’s son, Matt Reynvaan, serves as winemaker and his wines are some of the best in Washington state. His wines are sourced from the Reynvaan’s ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ and their ‘Foothills in the Sun Vineyard.’ Both vineyards show wonderful diversity and impressive range. Their ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ is located next to Cayuse and shares the similar stony and mineral aspects in their wines, while their ‘Foothills In The Sun Vineyard’ shows a different terroir and rich, pure fruit profiles while maintaining balance.
Their red wines will be released in November 2017. Do not miss out on their 2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In the Rocks’ Syrah (WWB, 95), which shows gorgeous range, focus and minerality. Not to be outdone was their 2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Stonessence’ Syrah (WWB, 96) which shows a downright scintillating aromatic and flavor profile. These wines are incredibly difficult to find, with availability only through their mailing list, as well as some specialty Northwest wine shops. Learn more about Reynvaan Family Vineyards at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com. Here are the fantastic new release wines that I recently sampled at Reynvaan Family Vineyards.
2012 Reynvaan ‘Queen’s Road’ White Wine- This library wine is a gorgeous blend of 60% Marsanne and 40% Viognier. This has beautiful floral notes, showing beeswax, white flowers, nectarine and lychee. The acidity and focus is outstanding. This has wonderful weight and texture while maintaining an elegant side. The texture is marvelous as the wine shows off white peach, pink grapefruit, lychee and Pink Lady apple. This white wine is impossible to resist right now and is truly one of a kind in Washington. Drink 2017-2024- 94
2015 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- This is a 100% Viognier wine crafted by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. The Viognier was primarily aged in neutral oak (25% new prior to bottling). Honeysuckle, white flowers and lychee aromatics impress. This leads to deep flavors if white peach, pink grapefruit oil and hints of Pazzaz apple. This has nice poise considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2017-2025- 92
2015 Reynvaan ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- This gorgeous Syrah weighs in at 14.4% alcohol and has 5% Viognier cofermented in. This has a highly perfumed nose with red cherry, sagebrush, smoked pork shoulder and suggestions of bulls blood with orange rind. The aromatics are downright sexy. This has wonderful minerality considering the heat of the vintage. Umami, black cherry, smoked brisket and suggestions of spice box flavors impress. This has marvelous tension and texture. Drink 2017-2027- 94
2015 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- This stunning wine weighs in at 14.2% alcohol and was aged in 30% French oak prior to bottling. The wine has a deep core, showing off bulls blood, Mandarin orange rind, Asian spices, black olive and black cherry preserves. The texture is absolutely stunning, as the wine glides along the mid-palate. Black tea, black blood orange, olive tapenade, cigar box, black cherry pie as well as wild blackberry pie flavors impress. This has marvelous range and is drinking beautifully at this juncture. This heady and intense Syrah that will pair marvelously with a juicy ribeye steak. Drink 2017-2027- 95
2015 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- This compelling wine has 5% Viognier blended in. The wine is sourced from a 22.5 acre vineyard in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. The Syrah was aged for 30% new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. Smoked meats, bulls blood, Satsuma orange, Umami and Chinese black tea as well as black olive tapenade aromatics fill the glass. You have to admire the aromatic range at play. The wine has a wonderful elegance, showcasing Asian spices, black truffle, black tea, bacon fat, ash and blood orange elements. The range here is stunning and the mouthfeel is downright silky. Enjoy this delicious wine over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 95
2015 Reynvaan ‘The Contender’ Syrah- Reynvaan’s ‘The Contender’ was initially a project blending in Marxsanne. When Matt Reynvann was talking to Christophe Baron, they both decided that Marsanne would be a good approach to co-ferment with Syrah. These great minds have crafted another stunner. Standing at only 13.4% alcohol, this wine has 4% Marsanne blended in. This wine has lovely savory aromatics of bacon fat, cigar box, black olive tapenade and blood orange. There is a lovely salinity to this wine. Bacon fat, cigar box, smoked brisket, and blood orange flavors impress. This has fantastic weight and an oily textrure, as this wine finishes very long. Drink 2017-2027- 94
2014 Reynvaan ‘Stonessence’ Syrah- This awesome Syrah weighs in at 13.6% alcohol and is a stunning effort by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. The wine is brooding in color, showing off smoked brisket, blood orange, Umami, and horse manure aromatics that impress. The palate is plush and mineral driven as the purity of fruit is apparent. There are deep flavors of Chinese black tea, black olive tapenade, black cherry and bulls blood with suggestions of black truffle. The weight and salinity is wonderful, as the wine has a marvelous sense of place. Drink 2017-2027- 96