TerAs we continue our march through Washington Wine Month, we bring you another Walla Walla winery, Tertulia Cellars. Founded in 2005 Tertulia Cellars is surrounded by their estate Whistling Hills Vineyard, set in the foreground of the Blue Mountains. In 2008 Tertulia Cellars completed their winery. Tertulia makes some intriguing wines including a very good Carmenere. They have three tasting rooms located in Woodinville, the Willamette Valley, and at their Walla Walla winery.
I had the chance to meet with their head winemaker, Ryan Raber, on several occasions. He has a penchant for crafting some gorgeous Rose wines and his 2019 Tertuliar Cellars Rose (WWB, 91) is every bit as good as any Rose has has crated wit its silky texture and really good range. I really loved his 2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Reserve’ Syrah (WWB, 92) which has marvelous terroir and deep dark fruit flavors with a good mineral backbone. Learn more about this Walla Walla winery at http://www.tertuliacellars.com/ Here are the new wines by Tertulia Cellars.
2019 Tertulia Cellars Rose- The 2019 Tertulia Cellars Rose shows the lovely red cherry candy and guava tones that collide with citrus rind accents on this exciting nose. The palate has great freshness and a soft texture. The minerality and bright red fruits with orange zest and peat moss tones really entice on the palate. Needless to say, the talented Ryan Raber can make a great Rose wine. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2019 Tertulia Cellars ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Marsanne- I have admired Marsanne wines from this exciting and dramatic vineyard which is drenched in broken basalt. The stony character of the wine really entices as does the long finish. With bight acidity and lovely lemon rind tones, this outstanding wine is best enjoyed in its youth. Drink 2020-2024- 90
2019 Tertulia Cellars ‘Whistling Hills Vineyard’ Viognier- Sourced from the Whistling Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, this shows good freshness with lighter cantaloupe and vanilla cream flavors. Drink 2020-2024- 89
2018 Tertulia Cellars ‘Whistling Hills Vineyard’ Viognier- The 2018 Tertulia Cellars ‘Whistling Hills Vineyard’ Viognier opens with bright citrus zest with peaches and cream that fill the aromatics. The bright acidity really makes this wine sing, as the long, lemon zest and mineral-driven finish lingers. Drink 2020-2024- 90
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Riviere Galets Vineyard’ Grenache- Sourced from this estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA, the 2017 Grenache shows light stony character with Hoisin sauce, black raspberry cordial and lighter flinty tones that round out the nose. The palate has great freshness and texture, unveiling bright citrus zest and straightforward, delicious red fruit flavors. I would enjoy this in the short-term while the brightness remains. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Estate GSM’ Red Wine- A blend of Grenache (48%), Syrah (42%) and Mourvedre (10%), this begins with aromas of smoked pork shoulder that mingles with the black plum and spicy undertones that all connect in the glass. Soft, plush and generous, with a lush mouthfeel, the wine delivers red raspberry, black tea, cigar box and shades of anise on the palate. The range here is really nice. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘The Great SchisM’ Red Wine- A blend of largely Grenache and Syrah, with smaller portions Mourvedre, ‘The Great SchisM’ was sourced from the Riviere Galets Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District AVA. Aged in French foudre (100%), this limited production bottling opens with red currants that mingle with lighter wet stone and Hoisin sauce aromas that all meld together in the glass. The freshness imparted is fantastic, as bright acidity runs through the core of red fruits, blood orange zest and damp wet stone and green olive tapenade flavors. This is utterly fantastic in its youth, but has another decade to go. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Whistling Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- Rich black fruits and chocolate tones round out the nose. The palate has good freshness with medium-bodied red and dark fruit flavors. While this is well-made and well-balanced, I would like a bit more richness considering the varietal and the vineyard site. Drink 2020-2024- 89
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Reserve’ Syrah by Tertulia Cellars was largely sourced from the Riviere Galets Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District AVA. Highly perfumed, the Syrah opens with smoked brisket that collide with lavender and violets on the nose. The palate has a good sense of elegance with a lovely mineral backbone. Black and red fruits dance with minerals and orange zest flavors with hints of tobacco leaf on this expansive palate. This finishes long with black fruits and minerals. A delight to enjoy in its youth, the 2017 ‘Reserve’ Syrah should cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2016 Tertulia Cellars ‘Phinny Hill Vineyard’ Carmenere- Sourced from the Phinny Hill Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2016 Carmenere opens with classic herbal tones of green bell pepper and dried sage with black fruits all connecting on the nose. The palate has good freshness with medium-bodied dark fruit and chocolate flavors, with green bell pepper accents. What this doesn’t have in weight it makes up for it in Bordelaise character and downright delicious black fruit flavors. Drink 2020-2026- 90
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Deeply colored in the glass, the 2017 ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc shows lighter wet stone with red bell pepper and blackberry cobbler aromas that all build together in the glass. The palate unveils a silky mouthfeel with bright acidity and black and blue fruits mingling with the lovely sense of tension that runs through the core of the wine. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2016 Tertulia Cellars ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The smoky tones entice on the nose which mingle with the blackberry pie and dried herbal aromatics which all meld in the glass. The palate shows off a silky texture, delivering generous dark fruits that mingle with the chocolate covered espresso bean tones. This is fantastic now and will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 91
2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Ryans’ Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2017 Tertulia Cellars ‘Ryans’ Reserve’ Red Wine is crafted by both winemaker Ryan Raber and winegrower Ryan Driver. The final blending was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Malbec sourced from the Elevation, Riviere Galets and Whistling Hills Vineyard. Deep and brooding dark fruits collide with milk chocolate and undertones of black licorice and red bell pepper aromas that all mingle in the glass. The palate unveils good freshness with medium-bodied dark fruit and milk chocolate with sagebrush flavors. The long finish is exceedingly gratifying. Drink 2020-2029- 91
2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Merlot- The 2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Merlot is a highly unique bottling by the talented Ryan Raber. Right out of the gate this shows bright red fruits that mingle with shades of dark plum, and exotic spices that all connect together in the glass. The palate has good freshness and acidity, delivering medium-bodied flavors of red licorice that mingle with the light citrus rind and red currant with red cherry puree flavors. This is best enjoyed in its youth while the wonderful brightness and high tones shine most brightly. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the esteemed Elevation Vineyard in the North Fork of the Walla Walla river, the 2017 Tierra Labrada Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromatic of Black Forest Cake, and dried sage that take shape in the glass. The palate shows excellent freshness, delivering medium-bodied blackberry pie, sagebrush, roasted date and dark chocolate shaving flavors. Like its evil twin, the 2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Merlot, the 2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is best suited to savor in the first five years of its development, while the wonderful brightness remains. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2017 Tierra Labrada ‘Elevation Vineyard’ Petit Verdot- Dense and massive, the 2017 Tierra Labrada shows soft and layered blackberry pie, mocha, anise and chocolate covered espresso bean flavors, with leafy undertones. Complex and downright delicious right now, the 2017 Tierra Labrada Petit Verdot will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2020-2027- 91