One of the great spots in Woodinville, Lauren Ashton was founded around ten years ago by highly talented winemaker and dentist Dr. Kit Singh. Dr. Singh’s impressive winemaking continues to evolve nicely with each vintage. He crafts wines that are technically very well-made, with wonderful texture and mouthfeel. While he continues to manage his dental practice, Dr. Singh studied 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. He thoughtfully named this great winery after his children, Ashley Lauren and Ashton Troy as the self-described ‘control freak’ has marvelous attention to detail with each wine release.
Dr. Singh 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. He crafted a stunning new Rose, the 2017 Lauren Ashton Rose (WWB, 91) which is an amazing stand alone wine that has wonderful texture and tension. I loved his new release 2014 Lauren Ashton Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which is showing marvelously now but will have a long life in the cellar. Learn more about the winery at http://laurenashtoncellars.com/
2017 Lauren Ashton Rose- 2017 Lauren Ashton Rose- The 2017 Lauren Ashton Rose is a fantastic wine that shows some sterling minerality. Lighter rose petal and watermelon aromatics fill the nose. The palate has a nice texture with red cherry, red raspberry and guava flavors. This crisp wine is a gorgeous effort by superstar winemaker Kit Singh. Drink 2018-2022- 91
2017 Lauren Ashton Riesling- This bright colored Riesling starts off with a bouquet of white grapefruit, Granny Smith apple and cut grass with a touch of wet stone. Tree and citrus fruit flavors fill the palate. The texture to this wine is silky smooth, as is the finish that rounds out this wine marvelously. This is just an exceptional effort by superstar winemaker Dr. Kit Singh. Drink 2018-2024- 92
2016 Lauren Ashton Roussanne- This starts off with aromatics of ripe cantalope, green papaya and a touch of honey. Bright and light on its feet, the wine shows off a wonderful astringency. Gravenstein apple, unripe mango and brioche accents complete this lovely Roussanne by the talented Kit Singh. Drink 2018-2024- 92
2014 Lauren Ashton ‘Cuvee Arlette’ Red Wine- The ‘Cuvee Arlette’ is a compelling blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The wine starts off with bright aromas of black raspberry fudge, with a touch of coffee grounds and baking spices. The mouthfeel here is generous and downright voluptuous as the wine shows off dark cherry, cigar shavings, milk chocolate and Asian spice flavors that connect with nice tension. A long ager, this can be enjoyed over the next fifteen years but is nearly impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2030- 92
2014 Lauren Ashton ‘Cuvee Estelle’ Red Wine- The 2014 ‘Cuvee Estelle’ is a blend of largely Merlot with lesser parts Cabernet Sauvignon and the faintest hints of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Dark and brooding in the glass, this shows a highly perfumed aromatic profile of black tea, Asian spices, cigar shavings and mocha with lighter dark fruit tones currently secondary. The palate shows a marvelous texture, as Dr. Kit Singh has captured a wonderful mouthfeel here that beautifully compliments the Merlot character. Milk chocolate covered cherry, spicebox, tar and blueberry compote flavors come to mind. A complete wine, this is nearly impossible to resist right now but the ‘Cuvee Estelle’ will cellar marvelously for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2030- 93
2014 Lauren Ashton ‘Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 ‘Upland Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Dr. Kit Singh is a fantastic new wine. The nose is gorgeous with rose water, creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and blackberry cobbler aromatics. The palate shows good tension and structure with boysenberry cordial, black forest cake and black olive tapenade. Seductive and gorgeous, this has a long life in the cellar. Needless to say, this is another stunning wine made by Dr. Singh. Drink 2018-2030- 92