One of the outstanding producers in the Woodinville area, Avennia is led by the team of former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher and superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. For those less familiar with Avennia, Chris Peterson served as DeLille Cellars winemaker for many years prior to starting Avennia. Chris has a signature winemaking style that deftly walks the tightrope between richness and structure. He also has a tendency to truly shape a wine based on what the vintage provides — which is clearly evident in the rich, tremendous new lineup of wines from 2017 which was another warm vintage in Washington. I absolutely loved these new wines across the board.
The downright sexy new Rose, their 2019 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose (WWB, 92) has massive finesse and great length. Do not miss out on their new 2018 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 93) which is one of the best Sauvignon Blanc wines made from Washington. The same is true with their new Rhone white blend, the silky 2018 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White Wine (WWB, 93) which has tremendous texture and insanely good range. I was totally blown away with their Cabernet Franc wine, the 2017 Avennia ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc (WWB, 95) which is one of the best of its kind in the state and shows gorgeous violet aromatics. Learn more about these stunning new wines at avennia.com. Here are my reviews of the beautiful new Avennia wines.
2019 Avennia ‘L’Egerie’ Rose- Sourced from the Columbia Valley, this beautiful, salmon hued Rose opens with shades of wild mushroom and damp earth that mingle with delicate red cherry and cranberry aromas that meld in the glass. The palate is refined and marvelously texture, yielding a soft mouthfeel and a seamless quality. Copious minerals dance with delicate red fruits and rose water flavors on the palate. The length of the wine make this truly sing. Drink 2020-2025- 92
2018 Avennia ‘Oliane’ Sauvignon Blanc- Sourced from the esteemed Boushey and Red Willow Vineyards in the Yakima Valley, the ‘Oliane’ was aged in a combination of natural and new French oak as well as a small portion being fermented in concrete eggs prior to bottling. Aromatically this shows considerably better at a higher temperature as lemongrass, honeydew melon and layers of baked apple with baking spices all come together nicely in the glass. The palate is rich and viscous with a seamless quality that runs through the core of the wine. Layered and complex, this delightful wine will cellar well over the next decade, picking up earthy and nutty tones as it ages gracefully. Drink 2020-2029- 93
2018 Avennia ‘La Perle’ White WIne- A compelling blend of Roussanne (65%) and Marsanne (35%) the ‘La Perle’ shows beautiful aromatic range from beeswax to nectarine rind and shades of wild mushroom and honeydew melon. The mouthfeel and texture is just sensational as layers of cantaloupe, wild mushroom and nutmeg infused sourdough bread with a lovely mineral undertones all seamlessly come together on the palate. Every bit outstanding, the 2018 ‘La Perle’ is gorgeous now to enjoy in its youth and will surely have a long life ahead of it. Be sure to enjoy this at a warmer temperature as this great wine drinks better out of a Burgundy glass than a Rhone style glass. Drink 2020-2029- 93
2017 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- A gorgeous Right Bank style blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 ‘Valery’ opens with a highly perfumed bouquet of red currants and Black Forest Cake with a light dusting of white pepper and espresso bean that all come together in the glass. The palate is not only silky smooth but shows great elegance, finesse and viscosity. The weight of the wine really provides a layer of hedonistic enjoyment as bright Bing cherry and mocha flavors come together with shades of sandalwood, exotic spices and black tea on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, yet having great richness, this beautiful wine will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Try to give this a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2017 Avennia ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The gorgeous ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc is a certified heavyhitter by superstar winemaker Chris Peterson. On the nose this takes on layers of violets woven together with blackberry torte, black tea and Asian spices that sing in unison in the glass. The palate is silky smooth revealing good richness and tension, with a light salinity that runs through the core of the wine. Bright red and dark fruits combine with cocoa powder, violets and sagebrush tones on the palate. Every bit outstanding, this is as good as any Cabernet Franc produced in the state. Try to give this at least a two hour decant if enjoying in its nascent phase. Drink 2021-2038- 95
2017 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Sestina’ by Avennia is another sensational bottling from this famed Woodinville winery. A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine needs a two hour decant before enjoying. After some air the wine slowly unveils black currant aromatics that dances with nutmeg and cloves alongside tar and mocha tones that all meld in the glass. The palate shows marvelous freshness and richness, delivering layers of coffee grounds, tar, blackberry compote and black tea flavors. Sensational in its youth, the 2017 ‘Sestina’ will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2040- 95