Today marks a two part series with winery and winemaker. For those who are not familiar with Gordon Estate, it is one of Washington’s historic wineries, dating back to 1980. In that year Jeff Gordon, his wife, Vicki, and brother Bill, planted vines in the southeastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. Dr. Walter Clore felt that the 200 acre parcel of land would be a great spot to grow wine which was nestled near the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Gordon Estate has been family owned and operated since 1983, and released their first wine in 1985, an estate Chardonnay wine produced from their estate vines. Rebranded in 2012 as Gordon Estate, the winery produces a host of different varietals, from Rose, to Ice Wine to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaker Victor de La Luz heads up winemaking for Gordon Estate. Originally Mexico, this professional dancer turned winemaker has quietly been making some seriously good wines. His new wines were every bit as good as the ones that I reviewed last year. Check out the new 2017 Gordon Estate Chardonnay (WWB, 90) which has really nice freshness and weight. I also was impressed by the 2014 Gordon Estates ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which is a late release wine that is absolutely singing right now. This wine will cellar well for the next decade. Learn more about these wines at https://gordonwines.com Here are the beautiful wines by Gordon Estate.
2017 Gordon Estate Chardonnay- The 2017 Gordon Estate Chardonnay opens with vanilla cream and brioche notes that fill the glass. The palate has good freshness and weight, unveiling whipping cream with orchard fruit flavors. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2015 Gordon Estate Merlot-The nose here is quite juicy, delivering copious red fruits that mingle with shades of black tea and herbal tones. The palate has good richness, delivering black and red fruits that collide with herbal and earthy undertones. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2016 Gordon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 Gordon Estates Cabernet Sauvignon delivers nice savory and herbal tones on the nose with dark fruits on the nose. The palate comes off a touch hot, delivering rich and slightly sweetened black fruit flavors with herbal undertones coming in strong. Drink 2019-2023- 89
2015 Gordon Estate ‘Tradition’ Red Wine- The ‘Tradition’ is a beautiful blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot with just a touch of Malbec. The wine was aged for 23 months in 45% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is deep and seductive with chocolate and copious dark fruits that enter the fray. The texture evokes elegance as sagebrush, milk chocolate covered raspberry and Black Forest cake flavors all shine brightly on the palate. While seriously good now, this will evolve well over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2014 Gordon Estate ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 ‘Reserve’ by Gordon Estates is a beautiful new wine by the talented Victor de la Luz. On the nose this takes on rich dark fruits that mingle with chocolate covered espresso bean aromatics that all collide in the glass. The palate is soft, showing a glorious texture. Black tea, exotic spices, dark chocolate shavings and blackberry pie flavors all mingle beautifully on the palate. Elegant and downright delicious, this beautiful wine will cellar well for the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92