A harvest visit to Two Vintners brought me some really great smelling ferments across their brand new space in Maltby. My gracious host for the afternoon, Morgan Lee is one of the nicest guys you will meet. A former Purdue grad, Morgan is fun loving but very serious in his winemaking. There’s a good reason why Paul Ziterelli connected with him to craft wines for Block Wines — Morgan’s an incredibly talented winemaker. Previously interning at Columbia Crest, Morgan makes a range of outstanding wines, including one, if not the best, Zinfandel in Washington.
I loved the new 2018 Two Vintners ‘WeatherEye Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc (OB, 93) which is truly one of the great wines of its kind in North America. This wine has a silky texture and marvelous veil of tension. A great value, the 2018 Two Vinters ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache (OB, 92) is fresh and vibrant with a soft mouthfeel and pillowy texture. I was crazy for the 2017 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah (OB, 94) which is wonderfully stony and shows amazing range from the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Learn more about these great new releases at https://twovintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Two Vintners.
2017 City Limits Red Wine- A touch sweet, this delivers straightforward blackberry and black cherry flavors with a good mineral backbone. Drink 2020-2024- 88
2017 City Limits ‘Detour’ Red Wine- The ‘Detour’ shows good concentration from the 10% Petite Sirah blended into Caberent Sauvignon. Medium bodied dark chocolate and mocha flavors connect with minerals on the palate. Drink 2020-2024- 89
2018 City Limits Syrah- The terroir here really shines as medium bodied red cherry and smoked brisket tones connect with shades of citrus rind on the palate. This shows really good balance and value. Drink 2020-2024- 89
2018 City Limits Chardonnay- The balance here is really good as buttered popcorn and lemon curd flavors mingle with shades of Pink Lady apple on the palate. This is a really good value. Drink 2020-2024- 89
2019 City Limits Roussanne- The freshness here really makes this shine as lip-smacking acidity connects with kiwi, pink grapefruit and melon tones on the palate. Seriously good, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2020-2023- 90
2018 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon shows sagebrush tones with the core of dark fruits and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate is well-balanced with its dark fruit flavors but lacking a bit in concentration, coming off a touch sweet. Drink 2020-2024- 87
2017 McCarthy & Schering Red Wine- A blend of mostly Grenache (75%) with smaller portions Cinsault and Syrah this shows wonderful high tones from the lemon blossom and sour red fruits that dance with smoky minerals on the nose. The palate has good freshness and a lovely sense of mouthfeel. Layers of pomegranate seed and red cherry candy dance with the salty, earthy and smoky undertones of the wine. Enjoy this fantastic value wine over the next seven years. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2018 Make Haste Cinsault- Smoky and bright, this shows orange rind and bacon fat tones that collide with shades of wet asphalt on this evocative nose. The palate is wonderfully fresh, with great acidity and a light dusting of salinity that falls upon the very pretty red fruit profile. This definitely punches above its weight class. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2019 Two Vintners ‘Das Riesling’ Riesling- Sourced from the ‘Olsen Vineyard’ this ‘Trocken’ style Riesling shows bright lemon zest and kiwi with gooseberry and green apple tones on the palate, with wet stone accents. The minerality here is fabulous. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2019 Two Vintners Grenache Blanc- The 2019 Two Vintners Grenache Blanc shows fantastic vibrancy with great acidity and a light veil of salinity that runs through the core of kiwi, lemon rind, Gravenstein apple and gooseberry flavors. Fresh and vibrant, enjoy right now on a hot day. Drink 2020-2024- 92
2019 Two Vintners ‘Weather Eye Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc- the 2019 ‘Weather Eye Vineyard’ Grenache Blanc is a sensational effort, unlike any other Washington Grenache Blanc that I have sampled. The texture, mouthfeel and weight of the wine is gorgeous, as is the bright acidity at its core. Honeydew melon, green papaya and lychee flavors come to mind. This is nearly impossible to resist right now but given the weight and acidity, I can imagine this cellaring well for another seven years. Drink 2020-2027- 93
2018 Two Vintners ‘From Mars’ White Wine- The 2018 ‘From Mars’ blends Picpoul (55%) with Marsanne (44%) and Grenache Blanc (3%). The wine opens up incredible flavor and aromatic range. Tropical fruits mingle with melon, wet stone, and even wild mushroom flavors. The vibrant acidity and seamless texture really make this sing. Drink 2020-2025- 92
2019 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’ Gewurtztraminer- The ‘O.G. is an orange wine crafted from ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Gewurtztraminer. Highly fragrant, chamomile tea and banana leaf tones connect with pretty star jasmine and green apple on the nose. The texture and length of the wine is every bit outstanding as highly gratifying tropical tones mingle with cantaloupe and minerals on the palate. The weight and acidity suggest some nice cellaring potential here. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2018 Two Vintners ‘Claire’ Grenache- Sourced from the esteemed Boushey Vineyard, this limited production bottling shows wet stone and Umami tones that connect well with the core of pretty pomegranate seed and red raspberry tones aromatically. The palate is lithe with its silky mouthfeel and great feeling of elegance. Bright red fruits dance with blood orange, charcuterie and damp stone flavors alongside the good feeling of tension. Bright and delicious to enjoy right now, this has another seven to ten years of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2028- 93
2018 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache- The 2018 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache is an awesome wine for the price. Right away the guava and red currant tones entice, woven together with Asian spices and earthy undertones on this complex bouquet. The palate is complex and rich, with an err of decadence. Bright red fruits dance with shades of orange rind, wild mushroom and damp earth in this highly Pinoesque Grenache. Fantastic in its youth this will provide drinking enjoyment over the next eight years. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2017 Two Vintners ‘Lola’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Lola’ is a Provence style blend of 64% Syrah with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine comes of quite fresh with layers of red currant jelly, cigar box, and bright red florals that mingle with shades of smoked meats. Delicious in its youth, enjoy this great wine over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2017 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- Inky once in the glass, the 2017 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah sheds rich dark fruits that are woven together with anise, baking spices and shades of smoked brisket on this fantastic nose. The palate is elegant and wonderfully balanced. Ripe dark currants mingle with sage, blackberry compote and exotic spices on the palate. The length and bright acidity really makes this tick. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2017 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Diamonds’ Syrah- Sourced from the ‘Discovery Vineyard’ this shows potpourri tones that provide immediate appeal, with its core of dark fruits and tar on the bouquet. The palate is fresh and vibrant with racy acidity and good weight. Bright blueberries collide with smoke, minerals, sagebrush and blackberry cordial on the palate. The length makes this really imrpessive. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2017 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah- The ‘Some Days Are Stones’ is sourced from the esteemed ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. The wonderfully stony character really impresses as pretty red currants dance with blood orange rind, Umami and green olive tapenade on this seductive nose. The palate is fresh, vibrant and elegant, with a soft mouthfeel and silky texture. Wild blackberry and Yakima cherry flavors connect well with the wet stone, Hoisin sauce and charcuterie tones on the palate. The mouthfeel and finish really provide an added layer of decadence, as this gorgeous new Syrah is singing at the three year mark and will provide drinking enjoyment for another eight plus years. Drink 2020-2028- 94
2017 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Nicely balanced, the 2017 ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot reveals a good core of dark fruits with milk chocolate and sagebrush tones alongside the veil of tension. Medium-bodied, enjoy this over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2028- 91
2017 Two Vintners ‘Legit’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Legit’ starts off with layers of mocha, cassis and sagebrush tones that all meld in the glass. The palate has good vibrant tension that cutes through the core of dark currants, blackberry compote and coffee grounds, with firm tannins holding everything in place. This is beautiful stuff that has another decade or more ahead of it. Drink 2020-2032- 92
2017 Two Vintners ‘Sal’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 ‘Sal’ was sourced from the ‘Discovery Vineyard’ in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The nose is glorious with the cassis tones, woven together with exotic spices, sagebrush and espresso bean. The palate has firm tannins that connect the core of dark fruits, dark chocolate shavings and Turkish coffee tones. With great length, this deep yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 93
2017 Two Vintners ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Despite weighting in at 16.5% alcohol, the bright acidity doesn’t make you notice the high levels. Fresh and vibrant, the core of red and dark fruits mingle with smoky and earthy undertones of the wine. Lightly tannic, this downright awesome, one of a kind Zinfandel will enjoy a decade of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2019 Covington Cellars ‘Boushey Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Lemon zest and vanilla cream brûlée tones fill the nose. The palate is rich and nicely textured, with great poise, orchard fruits and an extremely long finish that gratifies. This will cellar well for the next seven years, picking up nutty and earthy tones as it rests. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2017 Covington Cellars ‘Lawson’ Red Wine- Mostly Merlot with smaller portions Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2017 ‘Lawson’ Red Wine shows sandalwood with garrigue and blackberry cordial on the nose. The palate has good freshness and length with medium bodied dark fruit flavors with chocolate and sagebrush undertones. Drink 2020-2028- 91
2017 Covington Cellars ‘Franc’ Cabernet Franc- Lovely red bell pepper tones connect with the core of dark fruits and chocolate fudge on the nose. The palate is silky and soft, with a great feeling of elegance. The length really entices as layers of bell pepper and dark chocolate shavings connect with boysenberry compote on the palate. This is fantastic stuff that can cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2016 Covington Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Franc- The 2016 Covington Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Franc shows fresh herbs that combine with red bell pepper, blackberry pie and mocha tones on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, with good length and verve, this beautiful wine has a long way to go. Drink 2020-2028- 91