One of the great Walla Walla houses that continues to somehow fly under the radar, Saviah Cellars was founded back in 2000, starting with only 300 cases produced. Today they particularly gain fame from their Syrah wines that are sourced from their two estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Saviah was started by winemaker Richard Funk and his wife, Anita, who are both natives of Montana who moved to Walla Walla in 1991 and later planted their first vineyard in 2001. Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother, a schoolteacher, artist and author, who settled in western Montana in the early 1900s.
I love spending time with Richard Funk who is one if the nicest people in Washington wine. Long before Covid hit we climbed in his new Jeep and took off towards the Walla Walla Rocks District, taking a gander of his two great vineyards, ‘The Stones Speak’ and ‘The Funk Estate’ vineyards. With a foundation in microbiology, Richard previously worked as the Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department and is a self-taught winemaker. Richard has assisted several wineries with their start-up processes and served as the winemaker for Watermill Winery from 2006-2009, àMaurice winery from 2005-2006 and also has served as a consulting winemaker for several new wineries.
I have been consistently impressed with these wines over the past five years. I was blown away once again with the 2018 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Syrah (OB, 95) which has insanely good flavor and aromatic range and is just sensational in its vibrant youth. Do not miss out on the utterly fabulous 2018 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is one of the great wines from this region. Burly and marvelously textured, yet having insanely good range, this is truly one for the cellar. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.saviahcellars.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Saviah.
2019 Saviah Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Viognier- Fresh and vibrant, with lots of energy, the 2019 Saviah Cellars Viognier shows a soft texture with loads of lychee, Pink Lady apple and green papaya with mango flavors, alongside a great core of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, this is delightful in its youth and will make a remarkable foil for citrus glazed Halibut. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2019 Saviah Cellars ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay- One of the great sites now in the Royal Slope AVA, the ‘Stillwater Creek Vineyard’ has gained a serious reputation for great Chardonnay. The wine is vibrant with a exceedingly long finish, melding buttercream, Bosc pear, and creme brûlée flavors marvelously. Seamless and soft, this is really gratifying stuff. Gorgeous in its youth, this will develop nutty and earthy tones as it ages gracefully. Drink 2020-2027- 93
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Big Sky Cuvee’ Red Wine- The ‘Big Sky Cuvee’ an homage to Montana, is mainly Merlot, showing roasted dates, kirsch cordial and smoky undertones on the nose. Medium-bodied and beautifully balanced this reveals a deep core of red and dark fruits with chocolate and coffee ground tones on the palate. This is seriously good stuff. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Une Vallee’ Red Wine- the 2018 ‘Une Vallee’ is a compelling blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc sourced from a host of great vineyards sprinkled throughout the Walla Walla Valley. Graphite and anise entice immediately on the nose with raspberry cordial and black tea tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is sinfully good with its deep core of dark fruits and chocolate covered espresso bean tones. Full bodied and decadent, this gorgeous effort will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2032- 93
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah- I have long admired wines from this singular, high elevation site in the Yakima Valley. The nose is smoky and savory with bacon fat, green olive tapenade and iron tones alongside the core of dark currants. The palate is classic ‘Lewis Vineyard’ with its smoked brisket tones, blackberry cobbler and gamey tones. I adore this wine that deftly walks the tightrope between richness and finesse. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2028- 93
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah-The 2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is another gorgeous effort by the talented Richard Funk. Showing off its deep core, this opens with kirsch cordial and cigar box tones that mingle with smoked meats and shades of wild mushroom on this wonderfully complex bouquet. The palate is wonderfully balanced, showing hoisin sauce and blackberry cobbler flavors that meld with milk chocolate and shades of smoked pork shoulder, adding to the complexity. The long finish adds to the enjoyment as this beautiful Syrah will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘Reserve’ Syrah-The utterly stunning 2018 ‘Reserve’ Syrah is sourced from the Watermill Estate and the Funk Estate Vineyards. The nose is wonderfully stony with bulls blood and charcuterie tones that mingle with red cherry candy, coffee grounds and potpourri tones that all dazzle in the glass. The palate is seamless and remarkably textured. Layers of roasted figs, milk chocolate and black olive tapenade collide with smoked brisket, pipe tobacco and iron on the palate. Sinfully good in its youth, this is a spectacular Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley that will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2032- 95
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah is a gorgeous effort by Richard Funk that brilliantly captures the heart of the Rocks District AVA. Right away a heavy dusting of white pepper impresses, alongside Hoisin sauce, Umami, blackberry compote and shades of baking spices all mingle in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, showing off its soft, voluptuous texture. Layers of Umami and roasted duck mingle with dark currants, bulls blood and boysenberry cordial. This finishes exceedingly long. Gorgeous in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to twelve years. Drink 2020-2032- 95
2018 Saviah Cellars ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah is a stunning follow-up to one of last year’s best wines of North America. Aged in only 20% new French oak, once on the nose this takes on gobs of wet stone that mingle with ripe blueberries, cigar ash, nori, smoked BBQ beef ribs and espresso bean tones, giving off serious aromatic complexity. The palate is soft and inviting with its generous texture and marvelous length. The wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering a rich core of dark fruits that collide with wet stone, rose water, anise, Hoisin sauce and Umami tones. Utterly sensational in its youth, this marvels new Syrah bottling will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 96