For years I have loved the balanced wines of Gramercy Cellars which was founded by master sommelier, Greg Harrington. For years they were only making Rhone style wines but several years back they began crafting top class Bordeaux style wines. For years they have been mastering what is one of the great Rose wines in North America. Greg works closely with partner and co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, in crafting minimal intervention wines that are sourced from some of the great vineyards in the state. They also make a great Oregon Pinot Noir as well for their wine club. I am still waiting on their Provence Red Wine!
I loved the new releases which are in their ‘Reserve’ series. These are barrel select wines that are a must for any serious collector of Washington wines. Do not miss out on the downright killer 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 95) which really needs another year or two in the bottle. Very reticent initially, this shows insanely good aromatic and flavor range with a ton of air, utilizing the garrigue and stony tones of this famed site in the Walla Walla Valley. Learn more about this fantastic new lineup at gramercycellars.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah- For many years I have admired the incredible John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah. I fondly recall the 2012 edition being one of the finest wines that I tasted in my vintage retrospective several years back. 2019 has been a really nice vintage for Rhone varietals and this new ‘Reserve’ comes entirely from the high elevation Les Collines Vineyard that sits in the foothills of the Bluewood Mountains. It embodies the stony and herbal aspects of Syrah from this site, as the wine shows impeccable balance and finesse, with silky tannins that frame a brilliant core of red fruits, with tobacco leaf, leather, wet stone and iodine notes that all meld on the palate. Give this an hour of air before enjoying. Drink 2022-2036- 95
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another release from from this illustrious Walla Walla house that really needs 1-2 hours in the decanter to fully evolve. Soured from the Bacchus, Loess and Phinny Hill Vineyards, this spent 22 months in 45% new French oak before bottling and has 5% Merlot blended in. Once aroused, this leads with pencil lead and creme de violette aromas that combine with black cherry compote, freshly tilled soils and suggestions of espresso grounds. The palate is soft and inviting, with great poise and stuffing. Light dried herbal undertones and chocolate covered Arabica bean flavors combine with a rich core of dark fruits. Pillowy and soft on the mouth, this finishes very long with minerals and blackberry notes. Enjoy this beauty over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2036- 95