What is firmly a Walla Walla mainstay, amongst the vines Pepper Bridge Winery has one of the most gorgeous rooftop views in the Walla Walla Valley. I have long loved these wines that show serious tension and aging potential, which is a hallmark of Jean-Francois Pellet’s winemaking. Born and raised in Switzerland, Winemaker Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation wine grower. Working alongside his father,Pellet came to the Walla Walla Valley back in 1999 after working in the Napa Valley. Pepper Bridge founder Norm McKibbon saw the potential in Pellet and made him Pepper Bridge winemaker. The brand has been going strong ever since. In addition to being winemaker at both Pepper Bridge and Amavi, Pellet is a partner in Artifex, the largest custom crush facility in Walla Walla, as well as the Octave Vineyard.
I loved the new red wines by Pellet, who seems to thrive during challenging vintages like 2015. The 2019 wines by him show excellent structure and fruit density. Check out the downright delicious 2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which is an amazing achievement in this vintage, showing gorgeous flavor range and lots of aging potential. These wines start around 50 dollars in price, rising to 75 and up. Learn more at pepperbridge.com and here are the gorgeous new red wine releases by Pepper Bridge.
2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot-The 2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot has a relatively large portion of Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (8%) blended in, as this was aged in 44% new French oak before bottling. Very sturdy and well-structured, this offers a wall of rich kirsch and black raspberry flavors, with flinty and salty undertones. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035- 92
2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- The 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ is a blend of 43% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller portions Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sourced mostly from the Seven Hills Vineyard, this delivers sandalwood and red bell pepper notes alongside rich dark fruits and espresso bean on the nose. The palate is very lithe and polished with a silky texture. Finishing long with black fruits and salty minerals, this is a fantastic Washington red blend that will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 93
2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from mostly the Seven Hills, Octave and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 55% new French oak prior to bottling. Inky in the glass, the wine shows off heady dark currant and tobacco leaf flavor alongside shades of anise. The palate reveals plenty of flavor density despite the coolness of the vintage. Rich and layered, with firm tannins and a greta acid backbone, this is delicious, well-structured wine that will cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2039- 94
2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- A delicious blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc, with small portions Malbec and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine is a gorgeous new effort by the talented Jean-Francois Pellet. Once on the nose this takes on violets with blackberry compete and creme de cassis aromas that sing in unison. The palate is polished and refined with firm tannins that frame a deep core of black fruits. Really good now, try to resist this beauty for at least another year. Drink 2023-2039- 94
2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2019 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine combines near equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, with 8% Petit Verdot. Aged in 57% new French oak, this unveils ripe boysenberry and chocolate covered espresso bean aromas alongside suggestions of black rose petals and wet gravel. Once on the mouth, this is very elegant with silky tannins that mingle well with heady dark fruit and Turkish coffee flavors. Finishing long with black cherry and minerals, this is delicious wine that is best enjoyed in a year or two. Drink 2023-2039- 94