As I wrote last year, wines by the talented Seth Kizke continue to fly under the radar. A winery with a great cause, Upsidedown Wine gives back through every bottle of their wine sold. If you order direct or join their wine club, 20% of the proceeds go to support non-profit charity organizations. Seth and his wife Audrey run a great Instagram page (here) as they dive into the winemaking and business side of owning a winery together. Seth has a great background in wine, previously training with Brennon Leighton at K Vitners/Charles Smith Wines as well as Brian Carter Cellars with Brian Carter.
Seth has crafted a beautiful lineup of new wines. I absolutely loved his 2018 chooses to use indigenous yeasts as well as minimal intervention in his winemaking and he is truly one to watch in Washington State. He has crafted a gorgeous new Rose, the 2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Rescue’ Rose (WWB, 91) which unveils its silky mouthfeel and beautiful texture with delicate red fruit flavors. which has a silky mouthfeel and shows really nice red fruits. Check out his 2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Gold Drop Collection Mouvedre (WWB, 93), which has gorgeous range and smoky tones that really entice. Learn more about these great new wines at at http://drinkupsidedownwine.com Here are the beautiful new release wines by Seth Kizke and by Upsidedown Wine.
2018 Upsidedown ‘Rescue’ Wine Rose- One of the few Rose wines made from Nebbiolo grapes, this is a simply fantastic new effort by the talented Seth Kitzke. On the nose this shows really good range from pink bubblegum to melon and bright citrus zest tones that all impress. The palate shows a silky, almost Provencale style mouthfeel, unveiling delicate red fruits that connect with the wet stone and citrus blossom tones. Outstanding now, enjoy this a tad warmer for its full expression to truly shine. Drink 2019-2023- 91
2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2018 ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Viognier is a Rhone inspired blend of Viognier (70%) with smaller portions Marsanne and Roussanne. The high-toned aromatics really entice with bright star jasmine and nectarine that combine with baking spice and sourdough bread undertones. The palate shows off a silky, almost unctuous texture — all leading to the exceedingly long and gratifying finish. This is very serious stuff by the talented Seth Kitzke. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2018 Upsidedown Wine ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ Roussanne- The ‘Konnowac Vineyard’ is located in the Yakima Valley as this wine underwent native yeast fermentation prior to bottling. Toasty brioche and suggestions of toasted hazelnut marzipan all mingle together in the glass. Bright and fresh, yet showing a lovely texture, this yields lemon curd with nectarine rind and suggestions of freshly baked French bread that all sing in harmony on the palate. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Red Blend’ Red Wine- The ‘Red Blend’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon (45%) with equal part Nebbiolo and Malbec, with a touch of Cabernet Franc blended in. Forward and moderately tannic (most likely from the Nebbiolo), red and dark fruit flavors dance with the good sense of minerality. Give this an hour decant for the tannins to soften. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection Field Blend’ Red Wine- A blend of Mourvedre (60%) with Grenache (35% and a touch of Syrah (5%), the ‘Gold Drop Collection Field Blend’ shows lovely red fruit aromas that meld with the smoky undertones on the nose. The palate has a polished texture with wonderful freshness and verve. Enjoy this beautiful bottling over the next decades. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Mourvedre- Sourced from the Yakima Valley, the wine shows lovely smoked pork shoulder, bacon fat and black olive tapenade aromas that collide with suggestions of peat moss and red currant jelly on this expressive nose. The palate is lithe, showing wonderful freshness, tension and texture. Red and dark fruits dance with the smoky and earthy undertones of the wine. This is fantastic stuff by Seth Kitzke. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Grenache- Translucent in the glass, the ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Grenache opens with a bright bouquet of red rose petals that combine with Yakima cherry and lighter flinty undertones that all parade in the glass. Soft, round and generous, with beautiful texture, this elegant, almost Pinotesque, Grenache delivers delicate red fruits with shades of blood orange and wet stone on the palate. Enjoy this fantastic wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2017 Upsidedown Wine ‘The Artist Collection’ Syrah- Sourced from the Davis Block of the Candy Ridge Vineyard, the ‘Artist Series’ Syrah shows an expressive range of aromatics from bacon fat to horse manure to shades of Satsuma orange and dense dark fruits that all take their shape in the glass. The palate has a soft texture and wonderful structure, delivering ripe red and dark fruits with suggestions of blood orange, leather, and black tea. Lithe, and light on its feet, this expressive wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Black tea and licorice aromatics give you immediate appeal, while dense dark fruits also collect momentum on the nose. The palate is dense, chewy and shows light tannins that line dark fruit, sagebrush and chocolate flavors. This is delicious stuff. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2016 Upsidedown Wine ‘Gold Drop Collection’ Malbec- The ‘Gold Drop Collection Malbec’ opens with tar and leather tones that meld with ripe dark fruits on the nose. The palate screams Malbec as dark and blue berry flavors combine with shades of creosote, cigar ash and mocha. This is seriously good now but will continue to evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92