Reynvaan Family VinIt was a modestly warm spring afternoon as I pulled up to Reynvaan Family Vineyards. I was immediately greeted by Matt Reynvaan and his new assistant winemaker as we dove right into the new wines. I was told the the wines had been opened for several hours which was no surprise how remarkably well each wine showed. My 2018 Washington Wine Blog Winery of the Year, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, is a small production winery founded by Mike and Gale Reynvaan. Reynvaan Family Vineyards focuses on producing wines from their estate vineyards, both in the Walla Walla Rocks region and their ‘Foothills Vineyard’ set at roughly 1600 feet near their family home in the Bluewood Mountains. Matt Reynvaan has been consistently making some of the great wines out of Washington. Not only does he make some stunning red wines but his white wines are not only some of the top in Washington but rival the best in North America. Matt’s wines exude class with their amazing combination of terroir, viscosity, tension and range.
The new release wines come from a slightly cooler vintage, 2017. This was a vintage that was slightly cooler than vintages 2013-16, as bloom was slightly delayed and wildfires created a layer of smoke which kept sunlight down, resulting in grapes taking their time to achieve phenolic ripeness. The harvest ended up being quite late with lower temperatures in September.
I am absolutely blown away with the white wines by Reynvaan, none more so than the 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier (WWB, 96) which is the highest rated white wine I have ever sampled from Washington. This wine is simply magical with its incredible range and elegance as well as rich texture. Just as good is the 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (WWB, 96) which has insanely good range and depth at its early stages in development. This wine will only get better with a few years of bottle age. Learn more about about these stunning wines at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com Here the exciting new release wines by Reynvaan Family Vineyards
2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc- The absolutely dazzling 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Grenache Blanc saw 60% new French oak prior to bottling. The wine takes on beautiful aromas of roasted hazelnuts, lychee, white peach and freshly cut white flowers that all meld together marvelously in the glass. The texture is simply marvelous as the wine takes on a silky mouthfeel that glides through the mid-palate. Bright cantaloupe, lychee, citrus zest and shades of wet stone all come together marvelously on the palate. This is the best rendition of this varietal in the state. Drink 2019-2029- 94
2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Viognier is a dazzling new wine by superstar winemaker Matt Reynvaan. The silky mouthfeel is downright unctuous and creates a sensational, mouth-watering effect with an incredible sense of minerality. The salinity and stony character in the wine is marvelous as the wine seamlessly glides through the mid-palate. Wet stone, honeydew melon, lychee, and exotic tropical fruits all mingle together effortlessly in the glass. A show-stopping wine that is truly up there with the upper echelon in North America white wines, this tour de force Viognier is marvelous now in its youth but will evolve gracefully over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 96
2017 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ Marsanne- (95-97 barrel sample)
2016 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Queens Road’ White Wine- The a blend of 55% Marsanne and 45% Viognier, the ‘Queens Road’ was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling, as this was released Fall 2018. The wine takes on a hedonistic nose with banana, buttercream, green papaya and suggestions of nutmeg infused hazelnuts that all marvelously combine in the glass. Mouth-watering acidity and a sensational texture greet you alongside a strong salinity. The palate is seriously seductive, revealing layers of orchard fruits and dense tropical fruits with nutty and stony undertones that complete this sensational wine. Drink 2019-2029- 94
2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- The ‘In The Hills’ Syrah has 10% Viognier co-fermented in. The nose is hugely complex with horse manure, blood orange, bulls blood, iodine and fresh tobacco and sage that all fill the nose. The aromatic range here is simply exceptional. The palate is currently displaying gobs of mouth-watering acidity with remarkable freshness and tension. The weight of this Syrah entices as the wine seamlessly glides across the mid-palate. Suggestions of dried herbs, white truffle, blackberry jam, pipe tobacco and peat moss flavors all collide on the palate. This show-stopping Syrah is seriously good right now but will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 95
2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah is a simply magical new wine by Matt Reynvaan. The nose takes on highly hedonistic tones, showing beautiful range from orange zest to Umami to bacon fat and roasted dates with fresh sage that all collide in the glass. Silky smooth on the mid-palate the wine unveils a remarkable depth and salinity. The elegance here is extraordinary with a sensational mouthfeel. Hoisin sauce, blood orange, bulls blood and Umami with wild blackberry cobbler flavors all combine marvelously in the glass. The exceedingly long finish lingers long on the palate. Drink 2019-2033- 96