Years ago one of Washington’s iconic winemakers, Chris Upchurch and his wife, Thea, got the nerve to create their own Upchurch Vineyard, one of the state’s great boutique wineries located in Red Mountain. Having visited the Upchurches last summer and toured the vineyard, there is something really special about this site. The expansive views of the Columbia Valley from their estate create an incredible panoramic effect. For those who have never visited Upchurch Vineyard, I implore you to visit if nothing else for the beauty of the site.
Chris Upchurch is one of the great pioneers in Washington wine, having crafted the finest Bordeaux style white wine for DeLille, the ‘Chaleur Estate Blanc’ in the mid-1990s. This wine has achieved incredible acclaim since that time and not only is one of the great white wines made in Washington but it rivals any Bordeaux Blanc style wines made in the new world.
Chris crafts one of the great Sauvignon Blancs in Washington, his 2017 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc (WWB, 94) which has massive aging potential and will cellar well for the next decade — but is nearly impossible to resist in its youth. I was blown away with the 2017 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 94) which is dense and layered, having some awesome cellaring potential. Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://upchurchvineyard.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Upchurch Vineyard.
2017 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc- One of the great Sauvignon Blancs produced in Washington State, the 2017 ‘Southwest Facing’ was entirely aged in concrete tanks for 18 months before bottling. The cornucopia of aromatics that hit you really take you back, ranging from buttered brioche to beeswax and ripe pineapple alongside melon tones that all sing in unison. The texture is simply stunning, as the silky mouthfeel effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. Layers of honeydew melon and Pink Lady apple connect with salted macadamia nut and suggestions of Japanese pear that all gain momentum on the palate. Showing marvelously in its youth, the 2017 ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2028- 94
2017 Upchurch Vineyard ‘LTL’ Red Wine- The ‘LTL’ or ‘Larger Than Life’ artistically displays superstar winemaker Chris Upchurch doing pump-overs on the label. Layers of toasty oak are woven together with chocolate covered espresso bean and sagebrush aromatics that all build in the glass. The palate is plush, delivering sweet pipe tobacco, anise, cassis and blackberry cobbler flavors, with herbal undertones. This delivers a serious punch for the price, as the 2017 ‘LTL’ is best enjoyed over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 92
2017 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Counterpart’ Red Wine- The 2017 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Counterpart’ Red Wine is a gorgeous new Merlot wine by this famed Red Mountain estate. A fantastic blend of 65% Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in French oak before bottling, the ‘Counterpart’ opens with layers of kirsch liqueur and milk chocolate that mingle with sagebrush tones on the nose. The palate has layers of dark fruits with a silky texture. Round and generous, this plush effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2017 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon- An outstanding follow up to the absolutely stunning 2016 bottling, the 2017 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new rich and layered wine that is meant for the cellar. On the nose this shows Black Forest Cake and exotic spices that collide with black olive and creme de cassis which all sing in unison. The palate has great freshness, verve and richness, with layers of dark fruits that mingle with light tannins and chocolate tones that all come together marvelously. Fantastic to enjoy in its youth, the 2017 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2038- 94