• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Resources
Menu

Owen Bargreen

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Resources
Here I am pictured with Mark Ryan McNeilly back when we could still travel at a wine event in NYC.

Here I am pictured with Mark Ryan McNeilly back when we could still travel at a wine event in NYC.

Mark Ryan

December 8, 2020

A Woodinville winery that has maintained remarkable consistency, Mark Ryan is the brainchild of Mark Ryan McNeilly who has been a visionary in the Washington wine scene. I loved visiting their Woodinville outpost back when I was tasting wines more informally some fifteen years ago. The winery is just so much fun to visit, with their rock and roll theme — you would be hard pressed to not enjoy a visit there. Mark has an incredible story, founding his namesake winery back in 1999. He was mostly self-taught as a winemaker and has been creating some consistently good wines since that time. 

They offer some really good values in their portfolio. They source from some outstanding sites in the state but they keep their pricing very reasonable regardless of how much the fruit costs. I love the 2019 Mark Ryan ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is fresh and vibrant with a great sense of texture. Even better is their 2018 Mark Ryan ‘Dead Horse’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is sensational now and will only improve with a little bottle age. Learn more about this outstanding Washington winery at markryanwinery.com Here are the great new wines by Mark Ryan. 


2019 Mark Ryan ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Golden in color and simply delicious, the 2019 Mark Ryan ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning effort. Full-bodied, with great weight and length, the wine reveals buttercream flavors that mingle with minerals, Bosc pear and lemon zest infused sourdough bread on the palate. A complete wine, this gorgeous Chardonnay has a lot of life ahead of it, picking up nutty and earthy tones as it ages. Drink 2020-2027- 93



2018 Mark Ryan ‘Little Sister’ Merlot- Entirely sourced from Red Mountain, this beautiful new wine shows ripe red cherry dusted with cocoa powder and shades of black tea, anise and sagebrush tones that all mingle together. The palate is vibrant showing great weight and freshness. Layers of ripe dark fruits meld with chocolate, sagebrush and earthy undertones of the wine. Ripe and downright delicious to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine has another decade or more of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 93



2018 Mark Ryan ‘Long Haul’ Red Wine- The 2018 Mark Ryan ‘Long Haul’ Red Wine is mainly Merlot (72%) with the reminder smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and round, with a silky mouthfeel. Layers of chocolate covered cherry, cigar box, anise and sagebrush all collide on he palate. Showing good weight and vibrant minerality, the 2018 ‘Long Haul’ will enjoy anther decade or more ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 92



Mark Ryan 2018 Dead Horse.jpg

2018 Mark Ryan ‘Dead Horse’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Dead Horse’ Cabernet Sauvignon is an awesome wine that follows up a seriously good 2017 release. Once on the nose this takes on black cherry cordial and mocha tones that mingle with smoky minerals and tobacco tones on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is full-bodied but seamless texturally. Black Forest Cake and chocolate covered espresso bean tones mingle with minerals and the wonderful rich mouthfeel. Gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, this beautiful wine has another fifteen or more years ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 94

← XOBC CellarsPambrun →
 

Latest Posts

Featured
Jun 5, 2025
Frescobaldi
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
Bodegas Vilano
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 5, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
REVIEW: BRITISH AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS CLUB SUITES LONDON TO SEATTLE
Jun 4, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
Darioush
Jun 4, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
Jun 3, 2025
Fortuity Cellars
Jun 3, 2025
Jun 3, 2025
May 16, 2025
Royer Vineyard
May 16, 2025
May 16, 2025
May 2, 2025
Cellar Selection: 2008 Dom Perignon Champagne
May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
Cellar Selection: 2021 Chateau Branaire-Ducru
May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
May 1, 2025
Gramercy Cellars
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
Foley-Johnson
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
Apr 26, 2025
Dusted Valley
Apr 26, 2025
Apr 26, 2025
Apr 26, 2025
Review: British Airways Lounge Seattle, A Brilliant Refresh
Apr 26, 2025
Apr 26, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
Long Shadows 'Julia's Dazzle' Rose
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
TruthTeller
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 25, 2025
Apr 24, 2025
In Memoriam: Bill Stoller, Founder of Stoller Wine Group
Apr 24, 2025
Apr 24, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Open Claim
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Champagne Lanson
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Doubleback
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Revana
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
Bodega Hnos. Perez Pascuas
Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025