Ryan Crane is one talented guy. “Hard to believe its been twelve years since we started,” Ryan proclaimed as I tasted through his new wines. Ryan’s winemaking has evolved since he began many years back. His boutique style of winemaking involves crafting very precise, small production, single vineyard bottlings that have an err of the old world. Years back Ryan got his start at Animale Cellars in Seattle, and then later trained under Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College.
He makes some of the best Grenache in the state. His 2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (WWB, 94) deftly walks the tight rope between tension, richness and terroir. He has a new wine that I was totally blown away with, his 2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Princess’ Syrah (WWB, 95). The wine is sourced from the Resurgence Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. This stony property yields a lighter wet stone profile alongside a beautiful range of flavors and aromatics. Ryan admitted 'I was never sure I wanted to do a Rocks [AVA] wine but I found the right site for this one.” He certainly did. This wine is limited production so grab it while you can.
Learn more about this great SoDo winery at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great new releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- This was nearly entirely aged in 500L barrels for 18 months prior to bottling. The wine was 50% whole cluster fermented under native yeast. Very pretty aromatics greet you with red rose petals that collide with blood orange zest and smoky undertones that all take their shape in the glass. The soft texture really entices as the freshness also adds pleasure. This refined Grenache has a big, exciting finish at the end. Gorgeous now, showing gobs of mouth-watering acidity and a light saline streak, this will continue to develop over the next decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 94
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Majestic’ Red Wine- Sourced from the Upland, Les Collines and Lonesome Springs Ranch Vineyards, the wine is largely Grenache (67%) with smaller portions Syrah and Mourvedre. The wine shows wonderful herbal tones from the Les Collines Syrah combining with smoky and red fruit driven accents that come together in the glass. The palate has great viscosity and tension that runs through the wine. Bright red fruits with smoked brisket and white pepper tones all combine marvelously on the palate. Fantastic now, showing good brightness and acidity, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next seven plus years. This is truly an outstanding value at only $26.00. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Princess’ Syrah- A new wine to the Kerloo portfolio, the 2017 ‘The Princess’ Syrah is Ryan Crane’s first soirée into the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. The wine is sourced from the Resurgent Vineyard and was co-fermented with 4% Syrah. The wine was aged for eighteen months in neutral oak prior to bottling. The wine shows great stony character with dried Provencale herbs, bulls blood, orange zest and Umami and white pepper that all mingle brightly in the glass. The palate has incredible elegance and verve with a seamless quality that runs through the wine mid-palate. Wet stone, bulls blood, lavender puree and shades of Hoisin sauce all combine with a bright sense of minerality on the palate. A serious salinity runs through the core of the wine. Showing a gorgeous texture and great length, this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next decade. Only 120 cases of this beautiful wine made. Drink 2019-2029- 95
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2017 Les Collines Vineyard Syrah was largely sourced from Block 50 on the top of the vineyard where there were no head training, as Ryan Crane has been sourcing from this site since 2007. Entirely aged in concrete tanks, the wine opens with aromas of dried herbs, black raspberry cordial, black tea and exotic spices that alll sing in the glass. The palate shows great weight, brightness and acidity as a beam of salinity dashes through the mid-palate. Lithe, with a wonderful texture, this beautiful wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 20190-2029- 93
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon by Kerloo Cellars is a fantastic bottling from this great SoDo winery. Largely sourced from the Red Willow Vineyard, the wine was aged in 69% new French oak before bottling. The nose is expressive with its red fruits and red bell pepper tones with a chocolate edge. Elegant with a soft mouthfeel and generous texture, the wine leads with black fruits and mocha with tar flavors that all impress on the palate. Fantastic now, with some light tannins, this great new Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another seven plus years. Drink 2019-2027- 92
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from an older vineyard block at this site (1998), this wine club only wine was aged in 100% new French oak before bottling. The aromatic range is seriously good from dried sagebrush to shades of violets, espresso bean and blackberry pie that all mingle together in the glass,. The length, density and seamless quality of the wine is fantastic here. The minerality and salinity that runs through the core of the wine also impresses. Lightly tannic and packed full of dense dark fruits, this beautiful and elegant wine will cellar well for the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2019-2035- 93
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ was entirely sourced from this vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA. This shows a really dense core of fruit that mingles with the light tannin profile and salinity that runs through the wine. Deeply concentrated and rich, with layers of chocolate and sagebrush, this is beautiful now and will continue to impress for the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2035- 93
2017 Kerloo Cellars ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Malbec- The 2017 ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Malbec is another fantastic bottling by the talented Ryan Crane. This 100% Malbec wine was aged in 40% new French oak before bottling. The nose is gorgeous with lovely smoky aromatics that mingle with shades of black tea, licorice and violet laced dark chocolate that all shine together in the glass. Dense and chewy, with a lovely mouthfeel and texture, this marvelously elegant wine is truly one of the best in the state. Drink 2019-2029- 93