My first visit to Matthews was roughly 20 years ago. I was a graduate school student and I loved the rustic and relaxed setting that they curated in Woodinville. Today the space has been remodeled into a much larger and much more modern place to taste their beautiful wines.
A winery with deep roots in Woodinivlle, Matthews began all the way back in 1992. After floundering for several years the Otis family took over ownership of the winery and has totally transformed the program. This is in large part due to the abilities of proprietor Bryan Otis, who studied communications in college and had previous stints in tech as well as banking prior to taking over for his family winery. In 2021 he made national news, taking a huge splash by hiring the winemaking team from Quilceda Creek.
It has now been more than two years since they have been hired and I was extremely eager to see their hands in their wines. Their first vintage making the wines from start to finish came with the 2021 vintage. The 2021 wines are by far the finest Matthews wines ever produced. Do not miss out on the 2022 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 95) which would surely rival anything of its kind in the state. I am enamored by the right bank inspired 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cuvee (OB, 97) which is dense and heady, yet shows off a seamless mouthfeel and is loaded with dense dark fruit flavors. Learn more about these amazing new wines at http://www.matthewswinery.com/ Here are the great future releases by Matthews.
Matthews is represented by Winebow Imports (USA) and Enoteca (Japan).
2022 Matthews ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2022 ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc was stored mostly stored in stainless steel with a small portion of neutral oak
before bottling. The wine had some lees stirring while in tank. Honeysuckle and green papaya notes combine with shades of mango and cantaloupe. The palate is rich and viscous with a sensational sense of mouthfeel and smooth texture. This is heady and delicious Sauvignon Blanc that is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2029- 93
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc- The totally stunning 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc is an outstanding wine that shows off the warmth of the vintage. Stored in roughly 35% new French oak, this saw extended battonage. On the nose this shows baking spice dusted brioche, papaya and shades of roasted pineapple on the nose. The palate is smooth and beautifully textured, with outstanding weight and length. Unfined and unfiltered, this beauty will live on for another eight plus years and is just sensational to enjoy now. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2022 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Sauvignon Blanc- Set to be released in November 2022, this has several new vineyards as well as the Olsen and Spice Cabinet Vineyards. The wine saw some extended battonage and is also unfined and unfiltered. 100% varietal, and picked later during the growing season, the nose shows incredible richness and depth. Banana, lush melon fruits and starfruit tones mark the nose. The palate is rich and layered with a seamless texture that makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. This is a Chardonnay lovers Sauvignon Blanc that will live on for another eight to ten years. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Columbia Valley Cuvee’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Cuvee’ combines 68% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This shows solid concentration with a soft mouthfeel. Layers of ripe dark figs with sweet chocolate and allspice dusted blackberry all combine on the palate. This is a forward and delicious, solid showing from this warm vintage. Drink 2023-2031- 92
2021 Matthews ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming out strong out of the gate, the 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is nearly all varietal. Dark chocolate shavings, baking spices and anise come together on the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced with a seamless texture and great sense of weight, with heady roasted date and black currant flavors. Generous and rich, this is a gorgeous showing from 2021. This is a serious value to purchase by the case. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Matthews ‘Columbia Valley’ Claret- Every bit outstanding the 2021 Claret combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with smaller parts Malbec and Petit Verdot. Chocolate and espresso grounds mark the nose alongside shades of huckleberry and dried herbs. The palate is soft and well-balanced with a smooth texture. Showing salty and earthy undertones, this is a fantastic showing that displays each varietal working in seamless motion. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Cuvee’ Red Wine- The really good Merlot dominant 2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Cuvee’ Red Wine offers garrigue and blackberry notes on the nose alongside shades of tar, with stony undercurrents. The palate is soft and enticing with good richness and a seamless texture. Layered with its core of dense dark fruits, tobacco leaf and coffee grounds, this is a beautiful showing that is already drinking nicely at the two mark. Savor this beauty now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sensational and heady, the 2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant showing in this warm vintage. Violets and tar notes mingle well with shades of dark currants and mocha on the nose. The palate is seamless and inviting with serious concentration and good underlying verve. This is a joy to consume right now. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Claret’ Red Wine- The amazing 2021 Matthews ‘Royal Slope Claret’ Red Wine is already drinking beautifully despite its youth. It comes off layered aromatically with baking spices, cocoa powder and shades of boysenberry puree on the nose. The palate is refined and smooth, showing good flavor density and solid underlying finesse. Flavors mocha, tar and black currants all meld together, finishing long with minerals, dark fruits and chocolate. Drink 2023-2036- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- You are going to love the 2021 Matthews ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon that was mainly sourced from the scenic Wallula Vineyard with a small portion coming from the Phinny Hill Vineyard. On the nose this takes on very classic violet rose petals that you see from this varietal grown here. A touch of green herbs add to the intrigue, as the palate displays a dazzling array of texture, weight and underlying verve. Very soft on the mouth, this is downright delicious stuff to consume now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Matthews ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Claret- The 2021 Matthews ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Claret combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) with the reminder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet is really shining here. Deep espresso ground and cassis notes combine with suggestions of baking spices, chocolate covered black cherry and light herbal accents on the palate. This offers good freshness with a smooth texture as this is going to satisfy for at least another twelve years. Drink 2023-2038 -95
2021 Matthews ‘Red Mountain Cuvee’ Red Wine- The 2021 Matthews ‘Red Mountain Cuvee’ Red Wine is mostly composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that comes from largely the Red Mountain Vineyard. The wine is absolutely singing in its full-throttle youth. Very deep and brooding with good concentration, the palate delivers tar and anise flavors with scorched earth and heady blackberry and black currant flavors. This is very true to the region and vintage. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Matthews ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon has just a touch of Merlot blended in. It shows off its very deep hue in the glass, slowly unveiling creosote and garrigue aromatics that parade with concentrated black fruits. The palate is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Layers of espresso grounds and tar mingle well with blueberry pie, sagebrush and dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Really good now, this will live on for another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Red Mountain’ Claret- Another brilliant wine in the Red Mountain lineup, the 2021 Red Mountain Claret is silky smooth on the mouth, already reveling in its richness and bright mineral backbone. The palate is dense with plenty of dark fruit flavors alongside suggestions of cardamom, sandalwood and creme de violette. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and copious minerals, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years to come.
Drink 2023-2038- 95
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Merlot- One of the finest wines of its kind in the state, the incredible new 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Merlot is soft and refined on the mouth with a seamless texture. This weightless beauty displays great elegance and weight, with mouth-watering acidity holding everything neatly together. Light tannins combine with shades of Turkish coffee, freshly tilled salty soils, violets and lighter green herbal nuances on the palate. This quite literally glides throughout the drinking experience as it is already showing beautifully — and is sure to live on for at least another fifteen years. Give this an hour in the decanter if enjoying in its bold youth. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cuvee- The 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cuvee combines mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc with small parts Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a world-class effort by the new Matthews winemaking team that shows all three working parts in seamless motion. Stored in 100% new French oak, this hedonistic beauty shows red bell pepper and mocha flavors that collide with anise, black currants, Chinese five spice and loamy soil accents. Very complex, this could easily be a 20 year wine. But why wait? Drink 2023-2038- 97
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The blockbuster 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a world-class effort that is already drinking beautifully at the two year mark. Once on the nose this offers a massive wall of black and blue fruits that are complimented by graphite and tilled soil accents. The palate comes off balanced and well-poised, with firm tannins holding everything in place. Turkish coffee grounds and creme de cassis notes mingle well with dried sage and shades of Black Forest Cake on the palate. If enjoying now, be sure to give this at least an hour in the decanter. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc- The sensational 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc will quite frankly rival anything of its kind from Washington or California. It is a sensational, elegant effort that is already drinking beautifully. The wine displays a fantastic herbal character alongside the massive more of dark chocolate and heady dark fruits. This is a wow-factor, heavyhitter of a wine that is a must-purchase for any lover of Cabernet Franc. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Claret- The incredible 2021 Matthews ‘Reserve’ Claret is mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%). The wine is a thrilling joyride of texture, weight and bright underlying tension. The palate shows opulent creme de violette, espresso and garrigue notes that combine with boysenberry pie and shades of scorched earth. The underlying structure seems to match perfectly with the weight, as this beauty really needs an hour or two in the decanter if enjoying in its full-bodied youth. Drink 2023-2038- 96