One of the really exciting new wineries out of Walla Walla, August Forest was created by C.J. Augustine and Forest Rogers-Phillips who met while studying winemaking in Walla Walla. Both independently left careers and life on the East Coast seeking to further their wine knowledge and enrolled in Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture Program.
Forest Rogers-Phillips formerly worked in the Virginia wine industry, at Pearmund Cellars in the tasting room, and production from 2009 – 2016. Then in 2017 he was hired as assistant winemaker for The Winery at LaGrange. In fall 2018 he accepted a harvest internship at Cellar Door Winery in Maine, where he met Aaron and CC Peet, who had both graduated from the Enology and Viticulture program in 2009. He then started the Walla Walla program, moving across the country.
C.J. Augustine left a business career Washington D.C. to make wine, starting with the Capital Wine School in D.C. and earning his WSET Level 3. He then moved west to start the Walla Walla Community College EV Program just as Forest had done.
The new wines by August Forest were really good across the board. I love the 2022 August Forest Rose (OB, 91) which is neatly textured, showing good flavor range. Even better is the delicious 2021 August Forest Syrah (OB, 92) which is rich and delicious with great smoky and black fruit tones. Learn more about this electric new winery at https://augustforest.com/ and here are my reviews of the new August Forest wines.
2022 August Forest ‘White Bluffs’ Riesling- Coming from the Bacchus and Gamache Vineyards, this 2022 Riesling is made in the ‘Trocken style’ coming off very dry. Nicely textured, this delivers green papaya, sour mango and green apple flavors that combine with salty minerals on the palate. Nicely made, this can benefit from more underlying tension. Drink 2023-2027- 89
2022 August Forest Rose- Made from Cabernet Franc grapes which were sourced from the Eritage Vineyard, this 2022 Rose offers a good sense of weight and freshness on the palate. Delicate flavors of peach and red raspberry greet you, as this nicely textured bottling, with earthy accents, would be a tremendous fit at the Thanksgiving table. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2022 August Forest Merlot- The 2022 August Forest Merlot comes from the Dwelley Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Neatly textured, this comes off exceedingly soft and juicy with ripe red cherry, roasted figs, tobacco leaf and shades of anise on the palate. This is seriously well-done., nicely concentrated stuff that has both the stuffing and finesse to last for at least another decade. Drink 2023-2035- 92
2021 August Forest Syrah- The 2021 August Forest Syrah comes from the Eritage Vineyard as this wine saw 41% stem inclusion and was unfined and unfiltered. Soft, round and generous, this delivers a silky texture with coffee ground favors alongside potpourri, allspice, black cherry compote and smoked meat accents. This is exceedingly delicious stuff to savor now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 92