As we continue the final week of Washington Wine Month, we bring you one of the great boutique wineries out of Walla Walla. A’Maurice Cellars is a winery dedicated to Maurice Schafer who built one of the largest and most successful timber companies in the Pacific Northwest. The Schafers, Tom and Kathleen, created the first registered sustainable vineyard in Washington State as Tom Schafer spent several years surveying the Walla Walla Valley, until he found the perfect land for his vineyard — a south-facing parcel located up Mill Creek.
Tom and Kathleen Shafter’s daughter, Anna Schafer, serves as aMaurice winemaker. She is a highly talented and has worked previously under superstar winemaker Paul Hobbs's Viña Cobos in both 2006 and 2007. Anna crafts beautiful wines across the board — from Syrah to Viognier. Her winemaking style artfully walks the tight rope between elegance and viscosity. Look to the 2017 aMaurice Cellars ‘Sparrow’ Viognier (WWB, 92) which shows brilliant weight and minerality. The ‘Sparrow’ is one of the great Viognier wines of Washington. I adored the 2014 a'Maurice Cellars ‘Night Owl’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which is rich and drinking marvelously now but has a decade or more left in the cellar. Learn more about these great wines at https://www.amaurice.com Here are the excellent new wines from a’Maurice Cellars
2017 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Sparrow’ Viognier- This estate Viognier shows intense aromas of banana, roasted pineapple and lychee with hints of vanilla cream. The palate is bright, showing a rich mouthfeel. Pineapple upside down cake, lemon zest and with buttercream flavors all nicely combine. This is seriously good Viognier. Drink 2018-2024- 92
2017 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier- The nose shows green apple, kumquat and lemon zest aromatics that build in the glass. Lithe and light on its feet, the wine reveals bright green apple, green papaya and unripe cantaloupe flavors. This is best enjoyed on a hot summer day. Drink 2019-2023- 91
2017 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Marsanne- The nose is reminiscent of beeswax, mango and hints of unripe papaya. The palate is lithe and refreshing, showing a brilliant minerality. Cantaloupe, white peach and beeswax flavors all nicely combine. This is highly satisfying. Drink 2019-2022- 90
2016 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache- This shows brighter aromas ranging from blood orange to rose water to ripe red cherry candy. The palate reveals a silky texture. Round and generous the wine reveals bright red fruits with citrus and wild mushroom undertones. Forward and intense, enjoy this over the next five plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 91
2016 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah- This wine was sourced from the esteemed Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. The wine shows nice smoky tones on the nose with with red and dark fruits and herbal undertones. The palate shows good freshness with blackberry pie, sagebrush and smoked brisket flavors. Drink 2019-2026- 91
2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Fred’ Syrah- Sourced from their estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, this begins with aromas reminiscent of smoke, tar, citrus rind and black fruits with lighter earthy tones. Lithe and light on its feet, this shows good mid-palate weight as the wine reveals black tea, blackberry cobbler, orange rind and earthy undertones. This is drinking nicely right now. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2014 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon with 37% Cabernet Franc. The nose is quite earthy from the Cabernet Franc with sage and red belll pepper with cedar and dark fruit aromas that build i the glass. There is a good sense of balance with black tea, licorice and blackberry cobbler alongside light earthy tones. There is a good sense of balance here. Drink 2019-2026- 92
2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Artist Series’ Red Wine- This is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon with 37% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc. The nose opens with sandalwood with black tea and blackberry aromas with red bell pepper. The palate is lithe, showing medium bodied black tea, milk chocolate and boysenberry cordial flavors. Drink 2019-2026- 91
2014 a'Maurice Cellars ‘Night Owl’ Red Wine- This Bordeaux style wine is a blend of 43% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The nose is quite powerful with sagebrush, black tea, mocha and copious dark fruits that all impress. The mouthfeel is plush, bordering decadent. Black tea, Asian spice, blueberry compote and chocolate covered blackberry flavors. Delicious now, this has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2019-2028- 93
2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Night Owl’ Red Wine- The 2015 a’Maurice Cellars ‘Night Owl’ is an intriguing blend of 32% Merlot, 30% Petit Verdot, 28% Cabernet Franc and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose shows sandalwood with black fruits and red bell pepper. The palate is well-balanced with black fruits that connect with chocolate and herbal undertones. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 92