A longstanding Woodinville winery, Gorman is founded by Chris Gorman who began his winery shortly after graduating from college in 1991. Before starting he spent 3 years working for a small Italian importer which carefully trained his palate. During that time Chris traveled extensively in the wine areas of Italy, Spain and Germany and finally started his winery in 2002. The winery has been a small operation, crafting consistently good wines from the Columbia Valley. Currently producing roughly 8,000 cases a year Chris focuses on the terroir from Red Mountain and works with great vineyards such as Kiona, Shaw and many others. They also make an excellent Chardonnay called their ‘Big Sissy.’
Speaking of Chardonnay, I have long admired his Ashan Cellars project which crafts limited production Chardonnays that showcase some of the state’s top vineyards. All three Ashan releases from the Cold Creek, Connor Lee and Celilo Vineyards are sensational across the board and are meant for serious lovers of not only Washington white wine but Sonoma and Napa Chardonnay.
Learn more about these outstanding wines at gormanwinery.com. Here are the great new wines by Chris Gorman and his Gorman Winery and Ashan Cellars.
Gorman
2019 Gorman ‘The Devil You Don’t Know’ Red Wine- A Columbia Valley blend of 55% Syrah and 41% Grenache with 4% Mourvedre this opens with garrigue notes alongside bacon fat and huckleberry preserves on the nose. The palate is plush, soft and generous with a pillowy mouthfeel. Dense dark fruits parade with chocolate and dried herbal undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2019 Gorman ‘The Devil You Know’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘The Devil You Know’ is a proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot that was aged in French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. The wine is fresh and soft, delivering ripe blackberry, roasted fig and coffee ground flavors with nice green bell pepper undertones coming from the Petit Verdot. Drink 2021-2029- 91
2019 Gorman ‘Old Scatch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Gorman ‘Old Scratch’ is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine sourced from Red Mountain. Inky dark in the glass, this evokes graphite, scorched earth and intense dark fruits aromatically. The palate shows a velvety texture with black currants and tilled soils that march on with minerals and smoky undertones. This is really good stuff for the price. Drink 2021-2033- 92
Ashan
2019 Ashan ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from this famed high elevation site in the Underwood Mountain region, the wine shows off saline drenched pear and toasted almond notes alongside shades of honeydew melon. The palate is plush and beautifully textured, creating a seamless effect throughout the drinking experience. Wait for the exceedingly good and long finish as this beauty has some cellaring power. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2019 Ashan ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Cold Creek VIneyard’ grows literally everything from Cabernet and Merlot to Chardonnay — however, the site has gained a really strong reputation for Chardonnay over the past decade or so. With a plump mouthfeel, seamless texture and great fruit weight, the wine shows off Golden Delicious apple, vanilla creme brulee, and nutmeg infused Challah bread flavors, finishing very long. This is very Washington meets Sonoma. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2019 Ashan ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Over the years the ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ has become one of Washington’s premier sites for Chardonnay. Suggestions of smoke and ripe nectarine come together with baked apple and salted brioche on the nose. The palate is dense and shows great viscosity and tension, reveling in orchard and citrus fruits with vanilla cream tones. Drink 2021-2031- 93