Today we present one the great wineries featured tomorrow for our 3rd Annual Washington Wine Blog Critic’s Choice of Washington. Amavi is a limited production Walla Walla winery located in the southern end of town. With sweeping views of the valley and mountains, Amavi is a modern facility that is a unique, picturesque setting to try their beautiful wines. Family run, Amavi sources from vineyards such as Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Les Collines to create their rich and ready to drink wines. Head winemaker Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation winemaker and grape grower. Pellet also makes wines for Amavi’s sister property, Pepper Bridge, in which he crafts a more Bordelaise style of wines.
The Amavi red wines come from the warm 2017 vintage that show wonderful poise and typicity. These wines have slightly less structure than the Pepper Bridge wines as they are made for early enjoyment. Pellet has crafted some gorgeous new Syrah and Cabernet bottlings. He also crafts a sensational Rose wine that is not yet released. The 2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah (WWB, 92) is beautifully textured and shows lovely depth and complexity. I absolutely adored 2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrahn (WWB, 93) which has amazing earthy terroir with dense dark fruits from this very special property in the Walla Walla Valley. Learn more about Amavi at http://www.amavicellars.com
2018 Amavi Cellars Semillon- Aromas of cut grass, honeydew melon and shades of beeswax all entice on the nose. The palate has really good freshness with a silky texture and soft mouthfeel. This is enticing stuff now with its baking spice and ripe orchard fruit and melon flavors but I can imagine this cellaring well for at least another seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 92
2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah-Plush and rich on the nose, the wine unveils ripe blackberry cobbler aromas that meld with shades of milk chocolate and black tea on this expressive nose. The palate has good freshness, weight and acidity, as light tannins line a core of deep dark fruits with chocolate undertones. Downright delicious to enjoy now, this will cellar well for at least another seven years. Drink 2019-2027- 92
2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- Over the past decade the ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ has become one of the great vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley for Syrah. The prototypical dried herb profile of the wine entices, as does the blackberry cobbler and shades of wet stone aromatics that mingle in the glass. The palate has a wonderful freshness and lifted texture with light tannins that mingle with the black fruits, dried thyme and citrus rind accents. This impresses with its mouth-watering acidity that brings you back to the glass for more. The long finish accentuates this beautiful bottling by superstar winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 Amavi Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another impressive bottling from this outstanding Walla Walla producer. On the nose this takes on ripe blackberry jam with shades of mocha, black lire and spicy undertones that all march on command in the glass. The bright sense of minerality is one of Pellet’s hallmarks here, as the gobs of acidity combines with the black fruits to give off a Bordelaise effect. Balanced and highly poised in its youth, be sure to give this a one hour decant if enjoying in its nascent phase. Drink 2019-2029- 92