Today we share one of the jewels of the Walla Walla Valley. Gramercy Cellars was founded by master sommelier, Greg Harrington. The program focused on Rhone style wines initially but has been making some top class Bordeaux style wines in the past five or so years. They have been making what I consider to be one of the top Rose wines in North America over the past several years. 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. These are wines that scream both finesse and terroir. I love the consistency of the wines that I have tasted from them over the past eight plus years. They also make a killer Oregon Pinot Noir for their wine club that is definitely worth seeking out.
I really admire the new wines by Gramercy. Check out the 2021 Gramercy Cellars Viognier (OB, 92) which is fresh and vibrant, showing a wonderfully soft mouthfeel. I adored the new 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’Idiot du Village’ Mourvèdre (OB, 93) which is savory and smoky, with killer tension. 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.
2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier- Coming from the Antoine Creek and Forgotten Hills Estate Vineyards, the 2021 Gramercy Cellars ‘Columbia Valley’ Viognier was stored for eight months in stainless steel (60%) and neutral French oak (40%) before bottling. Lime zest, honeysuckle water and suggestions of nectarine all combine with lovely freshness on the palate. Drink 2022-2027- 92
2018 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lagniappe’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Lagniappe’ underwent 98% whole cluster fermentation and was sourced from the Red Willow and Forgotten Hills Vineyards. Stored in 500L puncheons for 18 months before bottling, this offers garrigue notes alongside green peppercorns and blackberry cobbler. The palate is very fresh, showing a polished texture and wonderful feel of tension. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2017 Gramercy Cellars ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah comes from Block 49 at the Les Collines Vineyard. Winemaker Brandon Moss has blended in a touch of Holly Roller Vineyard Syrah, as this aged in a combination of neutral French puncheons and 225L oak barrels before bottling. The nose is very herbal with freshly cracked white pepper and boysenberry notes. The palate is very fresh and vibrant, with a soft sense of mouthfeel. This is seriously good stuff to consume over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘L’ Idiot du Village’ Mourvedre- Always one of the unique Mourvèdre bottlings made in Washington State, this 2019 edition was mostly sourced from the Olsen Vineyard (80%) as well as the Alder Ridge Vineyard (20%). Aged in neutral puncheons and 225L barrels for 18 months, this delivers orange rind and smoked brisket aromas alongside suggestions of soy sauce with white pepper. The palate is smooth and beautifully textured, with good length and concentrated red and dark fruits. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- The 2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Les Collines’ Syrah is a blend of blocks 36, 46 and 49 at this high elevation site in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stored in a combination of natural oak barrels, Stockinger foudre and 500L puncheons for 17 months, this offers ripe red currants with dried sage and suggestions of wet stone on the nose. The palate is very fresh and shows a great mineral backbone with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Gramercy Estates’ Red Wine- It has been now several years that Gramercy Cellars has been making this Cabernet Sauvignon based blend. This edition is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot all sourced from the Gramercy Estate and Octave Vineyards. The herbal notes from the Cabernet Franc are really shining now. Showing a seamless texture, this shows plenty of freshly tilled soils with ripe dark fruit and tobacco leaf flavors. This has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2035- 93