For years I have admired the wines of Kerloo Cellars. Owner/head winemaker Ryan Crane focuses on boutique style of winemaking involves crafting very precise, small production, single vineyard bottlings that are very old-world, with limited oak usage. Many years ago Ryan got his start at Animale Cellars in Seattle, and then later trained under Marie-Eve Gilla at Forgeron Cellars while completing his degree in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. These are wines that show great finesse with rich fruit flavors and wonderful terroir. Ryan also has a deft touch for Rose and white wines.
I adored his 2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 95) which iis one of the finest wines I have tasted from this portfolio. The wine has nothing short of insanely good flavor and aromatic range and will thrill anyone who loves Washington Grenache. I also adored the new 2021 Kerloo Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay’ (OB, 93) which is very fresh and racy with a soft mouthfeel and good length. d Learn more about this outstanding winery at www.kerloocellars.com. Here are the great new releases by the talented Ryan Crane and his Kerloo Cellars.
2021 Kerloo Cellars ‘Celilo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The really good 2021 ‘Cello Vineyard’ Chardonnay saw four months of battonage. Roasted hazelnuts with lemon zest and dusted brioche fill the nose, with suggestions of white peach. The palate is very seamless and soft, as this shows both a great sense of tension, mouth-watering acidity and brilliant stony undertones. This is very old-world and would easily pass for a world-class Montrachet. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Upland Vineyard’ Grenache- Stored in a combination of puncheons and concrete, as this saw no new French oak before bottling. This shows very pretty and clean with guava puree, green olive tapenade, Mandarin orange rind and suggestions of horse manure. The utterly sensational aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The sensational sense of texture really drives this wine, as does the underlying acidity and salty tones. Complex and delicious, with incredible flavor complexity, this is up there with the finest wines that I have tasted from Ryan Crane and Kerloo Cellars. Drink 2022-2032- 95
2019 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Ninja’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Ninja’ is a knockout blend of Rockgarden Vineyard Mourvèdre with Red Willow Vineyard Syrah, this one of a kind wine shows salted red meats, green olives, blackberry cordial, garrigue and smoldering stones on the nose. The balance on the mouth is impressive. Very salty and savory on the palate, with rich dark fruit flavors, this is a downright delicious Rhone style wine that will impress for any lover of Washington Rhones. Drink 2022-2032- 94
2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Legends’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The seriously good 2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘The Legends’ Cabernet Sauvignon combines Red Willow Vineyard and Dionysus Vineyards. This comes off very salty and savory with sagebrush and salted black fruits alongside coffee grounds on the palate. Finishing long with blackberry and minerals, this is delicious wine to consume now and over the next twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 92
2020 Kerloo Cellars ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very dusty and earthy, the 2020 ‘Dionysus Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new wine that is already beautifully evolved. Stored in 100% new French oak for 24 months and coming from this site very near to the Columbia River, once on the nose this shows dusty soils and garrigue notes alongside milk chocolate and black currants on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture. This is very well-balanced with beautiful flavor density. Try to resist this beauty for another year. Drink 2023-2042- 94