Since 2007 Reynvaan Family Vineyards has been one of Washington’s premier producers of Rhone style red and white wines. At the helm, a man not needing any introduction, Matt Reynvaan, deftly crafts wines that embody balance, weight, and range. Starting with their first vintage in 2007, Matt has taken the wine scene by storm and continues to make some of the most compelling wines on the west coast.
As part of my retrospective piece, I had a chance to revisit many of the 2012 Reynvaan wines, which was also the first vintage that Matt made his ‘MTR Productions’ Syrah which has a cult following. Matt has a very old world style of winemaking, training at famed Bordeaux house Chateau Smith Haut-Lafitte and also learning under eminent vigneron Christophe Baron. The wines that he made in 2012 have impeccable balance and are really peaking right now at the eight year mark. I was blown away with the 2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Grenache Blanc (OB, 94) which is one of the great Washington white wines I have tried all year and is getting to show lovely tertiary tones alongside the core of orchard fruits and stony terroir. I was completely blown away with the 2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah (OB, 95) which shows gobs of aromatic and flavor range, with plenty of bright acidity. Grab this wine if you still can. Learn more about these great wines at reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com Here are the 2012 wines by Reynvaan Family Vineyards.
2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Grenache Blanc- Deeply colored and deeply perfumed once in the glass, the thrilling 2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Grenache Blanc shows pink grapefruit blossom and starfruit tones alongside shades of wet stone and unripe honeydew melon on this complex bouquet. The palate is beautifully texture and elegant, showing a beautiful combination of length and verve. Even more complex as the wine warms up, layers of Meyer lemon buttercream and sweetened gooseberry mingle with wet gravel and Japanese pear on the palate. This is layered, elegant and highly novel Grenache Blanc that is amongst the best you will find on the West Coast. Drink 2020-2025- 94
2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- I adore the 2012 ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah for its ever-stony presence and good poise. Right out of the gate you can smell the rocky, indulgent aromatic profile with wet stone and horse manure, alongside green olive tapenade, beef fat, blood orange zest and iron tones that all sing in unison. The hedonistic, rather dazzling aromatic display brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Once on the mouth this takes on a soft, silky texture. You are immediately greeted to a very pretty red fruit core, alongside kumquat zest tones, woven together with bacon fat, cigar ash, and charcuterie flavors. Complex and absolutely irresistible now, this is peaking and won’t improve so grab a few bottles of these if you can. Drink 2020-2025- 95
2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- I have been fortunate enough to recently sample the 2013 and 2014 editions of this wine over the past several months from my personal collection. A deeper shade of purple than the ‘In The Rocks’ the 2012 ‘Foothills Reserve’ shows menthol tones that combine with shades of cigar box, blackberry compote, and bacon fat tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very elegant with a light vein of salinity that runs through the core of dark fruits alongside, citrus rind, flinty and minty undertones. The length and elegance of this wine is apparent as this is drinking beautifully now and has another five plus years to go. Drink 2020-2025- 94