It was 2008 and I was back in Walla Walla tasting at Walla Walla Vintners, one of the older places to taste in the valley. At the time there were few guests in this rustic, unpretentious setting. I was really impressed with the overall quality of the red wines, wines that had good structure but also good depth, concentration and varietal typicity. Walla Walla Vintners was the town’s eighth bonded winery. Founded in 1995, the, Scott and Nici Haladay were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they were excited to get the chance to be the new stewards of the iconic red barn and Cut Bank Estate vineyard as Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse.
At the helm is winemaker Derrek Vipond, is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019. Their estate vineyard, the ‘Cut Bank Vineyard’ is set in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. at 1467 ft. along the Mill Creek Valley.
Derek’s new wines were beautiful across the board, including their entry level red wine, the 202- Walla Walla Vintners Rose (OB, 90) which is fresh and vibrant with a soft texture. Even better is they 2018 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 92) as this is a beautiful wine to enjoy now with plenty of richness and will cellar well for at least another decade. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners.
2020 Walla Walla Vintners Rose- This shows off nectarine with ripe pear and melon tones. On the nose. The freshness, finesse and soft mouthfeel does its thing marvelously as melon, kiwi and wet stone flavors nicely combine with minerals. The length and texture is great. Drink 2021-2025- 90
2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The soft texture is inviting here as white peach, gooseberry and pink grapefruit tones all fill the palate. Fresh and nicely fleshy, enjoy this wine over the next several years. Drink 2021-2025- 90
2020 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Sagemoor Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- Aged on the lees for six months and receiving some battonage, the 2020 ‘Sagemoor Vineyard’ Sauvignon yields ripe melon and citrus fruits with toasted brioche and baking spice notes on the palate. Drink 2021-2027- 91
2018 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot-Aged for 22 months in 65% new French oak the 2018 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Merlot shows ripe chocolate covered red cherry and cigar box accents aromatically with a good core of dark fruits. The palate is sturdy with good fruit weight and acidity, unveiling ripe blackberry and black plum flavors alongside the air of freshness. This has some good cellaring potential considering the combination of weight and finesse. Drink 2021-2033- 92
2018 Walla Walla ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Walla Walla ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new wine from this house. Dense dark fruits parade with tobacco leaf, mocha and tar on the palate. Fresh and vibrant with a good feeling of weight, this beautiful wine will be best enjoyed over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2021-2033- 92