It sounds rather cliche to say that a winery is getting better and better. However, I think if you tried the first releases of W.T. Vintners wines, while very good, the new W.T. wines are simply of better quality. Their talented and charismatic winemaker, Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen co-founded W.T. Vintners in 2007. An advanced sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Jeff also serves as wine director at one of Seattle’s finest restaurants, RN74. Jeff is not only a man of many talents but is incredibly humble and down to earth.
Jeff’s winemaking style tends to be non-interventional, as he sources from some of the great vineyards in Washington including the Boushey Vineyard and the Stoney Vine Vineyard. I absolutely love wines from the Stoney Vine Vineyard and Jeff marvelously captures the essence of this vineyard, imparting wonderful aromatic and flavor range. The 2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah (WWB, 94) is one of the great wines made from this vineyard. The range imparted from this wine is sensational. Nearly as good was the 2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Rhone Blend’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which is a silky and soft with a wonderful mouthfeel and texture. Learn more about these beautiful new wines at http://www.wtvintners.com Here are the great new wines by W.T. Vintners.
2018 W.T. Vintners ‘Parasol’ Rose- Sourced from a new Columbia Gorge AVA vineyard for the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen, the 2018 Pinot Noir Rose opens with rose petals with delicate red fruits and blood orange zest that connects on the nose. The texture here really shines and provides a seamless quality to the wine. Sour red cherry candy, guava and ripe Mandarin orange with a slight salinity. This is fantastic stuff. Drink 2019-2023- 91
2018 WT Vintners ‘Underwood Mountain’ Grüner Veltliner- The nose here nicely evolves after some air with bright starfruit and gooseberry that connect with orange blossom accents. The palate has wonderful freshness and verve with nectarine rind, green apple and shades of wet stone that build on the mouth. Drink 2019-2024- 91
2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Grenache- The nose here is beautifully perfumed and lifted with Rose water, red cherry preserves and shades of hoisin sauce. The texture is just insanely good and marvelously coats the mid palate. Bright red fruits and orange zest dance with minerals on this outstanding wine. While marvelous now, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2027- 93
2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Rhone Blend’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Rhone Blend’ is a silky amalgamation of 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre all sourced from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA. The smoky and herbal tones on the nose almost catch you by surprise, as this displays a wonderful sense of aromatic elegance. The silky texture entices, as does the serious flavors range from guava to red cherry to blood orange zest and shades of thyme and sagebrush. Elegant and highly refined, this is a simply sensational new wine by the talented Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Syrah- Hints of bulls blood mark this expressive nose with green peppercorns and black fruits that enter the fray. The palate is lithe showing beautiful high toned red fruits with citrus zest and shades of wild blackberry cobbler. This pretty Syrah is very well made. Drink 2019-2027- 92
2016 W.T. Vintners ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah- One of they great wines in this excellent new W.T. Vintners portfolio, the 2016 ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ Syrah opens with seductive bulls blood with Mandarin orange rind, Umami, smoke and green olive tapenade aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness and a silky texture. Red and dark fruits mingle with shades of black truffle crudo, bacon fat, Umami and red cherry cordial. Absolutely impossible to resist now, I think this beautiful wine will show best in its youth while the brightness stays together. Drink 2019-2025- 94
2016 WT Vintners ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Mourvedre- Showing off a deep core, the ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Mourvedre begins with white pepper and shades of tar and blackberry aromatics that take shape in the glass. The palate has wonderful freshness with ripe red and dark fruits that mingle with wet stone and earthy undertones. Drink 2019-2027- 92
2016 Raconteur Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of 89% Cabernet with 11% Syrah, this Cabernet wine shows nice smoked meat tones that combine with dark fruits on the nose. The palate has a good combination of balance and richness with deep dark fruit flavors with exotic spices and chocolate. This is a seriously good value. Drink 2019-2024- 90