Tasting with Matt Reynvaan last week I couldn’t overcome my excitement for his new wine. “This might just be the best white wine you have ever made,” I commented. As I tasted the 2019 ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier, I was stuck by not only the viscosity and tension of the wine but beautiful length and harmonious bent the wine takes you through. It is seamless, elegant wine that literally screams terroir.
It is no surprise that Matt crafts some of the best white wines in the Pacific Northwest. He has some serious pedigree, having helped make wines at Chateau Haut Smith-Lafitte — producer of some of the finest Bordeaux blanc on this planet. A limited production winery founded by Mike and Gale Reynvaan, Reynvaan Family Vineyards focuses on producing wines from their estate vineyards, both in the Walla Walla Rocks region and their ‘Foothills Vineyard’ set at roughly 1600 feet near their family home in the Bluewood Mountains. Matt Reynvaan, is making some of the best wines in Washington state. I am enamored by what he produces from these two outstanding vineyards. For years I have been massively struck by his ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah which is a wine unlike any other in North America. As I have stated before, wines from both vineyards show terroir, purity, elegance and range that rivals anything in North America.
2019 was generally a kind vintage for white wines, devoid of any major heat spikes and a relatively even growing season until a freeze rocked much of Washington in early to mid-October. Matt had mentioned that his wines had been picked before the freeze, so that did not impact his wines.I was blown away with the two new white wines that he has produced both from the 2019 vintage. They’re both exquisite and each their own. The 2019 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier (OB, 96) shows a stony edge and is silky, elegant and downright seamless. The 2019 Reynvaan ‘Foothills In The Sun Vineyard’ Viognier (OB, 95) is less stony and all about opulence with a silky texture and a finish that lasts forever. Put both of these bottlings up against the best of their kind in North America. Learn more about these amazing wines at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com Here the exciting 2019 Viognier wines by Reynvaan Family Vineyards
2019 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- Stony, savory, salty and downright profound, the 2019 ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier is a masterful effort by Matt Reyvaan. Right away a whiff of wet stone aromas catch your attention as saline drenched pear, apricot, banana and shades of nectarine all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and seamless, as the wine effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. This actually comes off more Corton-Charlemagne than Condriueu, with the lower oak influence but still showing plenty of weight and gobs of finesse alongside kumquat rind, orange zest, honeydew melon and wet slate flavors. This is up there with any of the best white wines of the Pacific Northwest that I have tasted in the past year and is drinking marvelously even at the two year mark. Be sure to give this an hour of air and please serve at a warmer temperature for the wine to show its massive range of aromatics and flavors. Drink 2021-2029- 96
2019 Reynvaan ‘Foothills In The Sun Vineyard’ Viognier- A touch more unctuous and rich than the ‘In The Rocks’ bottling, the ‘Foothills In The Sun’ Viognier is a sensational new wine that is done slightly riper than its stony nephew. Once on the nose this takes on apricot jelly and white peach tones alongside shades of star jasmine and starfruit with salted Macadamia nut undertones. The palate is silky and elegant with a beautiful sense of texture and weight. Starfruit, buttercream and wet stone flavors combine with minerals, Bartlett pear and suggestions of baking spice dusted Challah bread on the palate. Be sure to give this an hour of air if enjoying now, as this also shows considerably better warmed up a bit in the glass. Drink 2021-2028- 95