As we continue down the line of great wines from Washington, as part of Washington Wine Month, we bring you the latest from Gramercy Cellars, located in Walla Walla. Founder, winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS, crafts both Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, as he sources from some of the top vineyards in the state. He also makes some of the best Rose in the Pacific Northwest, as his 2017 bottling was towards the top of my 2018 Pacific Northwest Rose Report. Harrington incredibly passed the master sommelier exam at the age of 26 in 1996, a remarkable feat. Partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, shares Greg’s focus on prime fruit and minimal intervention, showcasing the typicity of the individual varietal.
The new Gramercy Cellars wines were stunning. Look to the 2017 Gramercy Cellars Rose (WWB, 92), one of the top Washington Rose wines on the retail market that shows a wonderful combination of tension and weight. An absolutely stunning new wine is their 2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 95) which shows marvelous texture and a silky mouthfeel. This is one for the cellar. Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.
2017 Gramercy Cellars Rose- The 2017 Gramercy Cellars Rosé is a blend of 44% Cinsault, 31% Grenache and 25% Syrah, all sourced from the Olsen Vineyard. This pale colored Rose begins with a bouquet of white peach, red cherry candy and watermelon with a slightly smoky edge. The minerality is fantastic, as is the gorgeous mouthfeel. Balanced, showing good weight, the Rose unveils red cherry, cran-orange and rose water flavors. This is another outstanding wine made by the talented winemaking team of Greg Harrington and Brandon Moss. Drink 2018-2024- 92
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Le Pre Du Col Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is an absolutely stunning Pinot Noir made by the talented team of Brandon Moss and Greg Harrington at Gramercy Cellars. The Le Pre Du Col Vineyard is located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA in the Willamette Valley. This gorgeous Pinot Noir starts off with pretty aromatics of red cherries and strawberries followed by rose petals and a touch of guava. The palate is beautifully structured with a gorgeous silky mouthfeel as flavors of red berries are accented by forest floor undertones. This is an impressive offering that will cellar marvelously over the next decade. Drink 2018-2030- 93
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2015 Olsen Vineyard Red Wine is a spectacular effort by the talented winemaking team of Greg Harrington and Brandon Moss. This Rhône style blend is composed mostly of Syrah. Viscous and delicious this wine needs more than an hour of air contact befire it fully begins to express itself. After some time the wine opens with aromatics of smoke, red and dark fruits and white pepper on the nose. Blackberry cobbler, oaky vanilla, sandalwood and blueberry compote flavors finish this outstanding wine. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘The Third Man’ Grenache- The 2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘The Third Man’ Grenache has a touch of Syrah and Mourvedre blended in. Sour cherry, rose petals and citrus rind aromatics dominate the nose. The weight and acidity of the wine is really good, as this shows red cherry candy, blood orange, rose water and wet stone flavors that all dance in the glass. The brightness here suggests some good aging potential. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- The ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah bottling is another outstanding value wine made by the talented team of Greg Harrington and Brandon Moss of Gramercy Cellars. The smoky and savory aspects on the nose entice with smoked pork shoulder, bacon fat, blood orange zest and red cherry preserves. Once in the mouth, this shows a wonderful rich texture with blackberry, red cherry, dried thyme and smoked brisket flavors. This great effort will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘The Deuce’ Syrah- One of my perennial favorites by Gramercy Cellars, the 2015 ‘The Deuce’ Syrah begins with lovely smoky aromatics with red and dark fruits interplaying. The palate shows a leaner profile than typical vintages, more Bordelaise with bright acidity and red and dark fruits interplaying with some good complexity. Drink 2018-2028- 91
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah- Largely comprised of Syrah sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the ‘Lagniappe’ shows a beautiful bouquet of red rose petals, red cherry preserves, bacon fat and violets. The palate shows wonderful minerality and a good combination of weight and tension. Red and dark fruits flavors dominate with roasted figs, earthy tones and a touch of chocolate. This is a beautifully complex bottling by Gramercy. You have to admire the freshness in the glass. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Forgotten Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- Located in the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the ‘Forgotten Hills Vineyard’ Syrah begins with aromatics reminiscent of blackberry cobbler, huckleberry preserves, and milk chocolate with hints of horse manure. There is a wonderful purity of fruit aromatically, as the lighter earthy tones also delight. Once in the mouth you are greeted by some racy acidity. Wild blackberry cordial, red currant, peat moss and milk chocolate shaving flavors all mingle nicely in the glass. A complete wine, this Syrah will cellar well over the next decade. This is a gorgeous wine by the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington and Brandon Moss. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis’ Syrah- No longer sourcing from Walla Walla Rocks AVA fruit, the ‘John Lewis’ Syrah was entirely sourced from a single block in the Les Collines Vineyard. Speaking to winemaker Greg Harrington several months back he mentioned how he loved the purity of fruit that comes from this vineyard. The wine was aged for 19 months in a touch (7%) of new French oak puncheons prior to bottling. The ‘John Lewis’ needs more than a one hour decant to fully develop in the glass. After some time this shows off dried sage, wet stone, wild blackberry and mint aromatics with a touch of chocolate. The mouthfeel is generous, as racy acidity greets you. This has a very old-world, Northern Rhone feel with lovely earthy tones on the palate, combining with bulls blood, boysenberry cordial, crushed mint and sage with lighter wet stone character. This beautifully showcases this great vineyard. Drink 2018-2028- 93
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot Du Village’ Mourvedre- This outstanding Mourvedre was sourced from both the Alder Ridge and Olsen Vineyards. The nose entices with a beautiful combination of red and dark fruits with smoky, earthy and citrus driven undertones. The silky mouthfeel entices, as does blood orange, red cherry cordial, peat moss and wild blackberry puree flavors that all mingle in the glass. This is one of the best of its kind in Washington. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Densely packed aromas of creme de cassis, milk chocolate and sagebrush await you in this great entry level Cabernet Sauvignon by Gramercy. The palate is plush and decadent, revealing black tea, mocha, and wild blackberry cordial flavors. With good minerality, tension and weight, this outstanding wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2030- 92
2015 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Gramercy Cellars is a stunning wine that can benefit from a two plus hour decant at this point in its development. It shows an inky color, unveiling layered black fruits, smoky and earthy tones and Asian spices on the nose. The mouthfeel is sumptuous, as the silky wine glides through the mid-palate. Cigar ash, blackberry compote, black tea, Asian spice and mocha flavors all marvelously combine in the glass. This heavyhitter will cellar well for decades but it is highly gratifying in the glass right now. Drink 2018-2035- 95