Today we share one of the outstanding producers of Washington. Founded by two of the nicest people in the Washington Wine Industry, Gale and Mike Reynvaan, Reyvaan Family Vineyards is set in a storybook setting in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Matt Reynvaan who has been consistently producing some of the finest wines you will taste in the entire Pacific Northwest. Matt Reynvaan has long made world-class Syrah but I have found in more recent years that he is also making some of the most compelling Viognier and Grenache Blanc that you will find anywhere in North America. He has a deft touch with white wines.
Last Friday I tasted with Matt as we ran through his latest set of releases coming from the warm 2021 vintage. These are arguably the finest overall wines that he has made and are quite literally all wines to buy by the case. I adored his new 2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier (OB, 96) which is amongst the finest white wines that I have tasted from the Pacific Northwest this year. Even better is the drop-dead gorgeous 2021 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 99) which is the finest edition of this wine yet — one that will land on my Top 100. Rich and layered with massive flavor complexity, this shows a very La Landonne level of depth. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Reynvaan.
2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Grenache Blanc- Coming from the In The Rocks Vineyard, this was stored in roughly 30% new French oak before bottling. Aromatically this is already really popping with bright honeysuyckle, white rose water and starfruit notes alongside cashew nut and shades of green papaya. This comes off vibrant, fresh and wonderfully stony with a smooth texture and beautiful salty/stony tones. Finishing long wth cream and copious minerals, enjoy this beauty now and over the next seven to eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 94
2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- A knockout white wine, the 2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier is a total stunner. Kiwi, star jasmine and honeysuckle with shades of gardenia. The palate is fat and downright unctuous on the mouth with a refined texture, showing incredible salty snd stony tones. Very concentrated with its melon and citrus fruit flavors. This shows remarkable weight without coming off as heavy. Finishing very long with honeydew and starfruit flavors alongside vanilla cream, this beauty is already hitting its stride at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2031- 96
2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘In The Hills’ Syrah is a captivating new bottling by Reynvaan that has 5% Viognier blended in. The nose is beautifully meaty and high-toned showing bright orange blossom and fresh sage notes alongside smoked brisket and suggestions of black licorice. The palate is beautifully fresh with serious texture and length. Green peppercorns, bacon fat, creme de violette and suggestions of charcuterie all seamlessly combine on the palate. This is a stunning wine that is drinking beautifully right now and will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2023-2023- 96
2021 Reyvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- A total masterclass, the 2021 ‘Foothills Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that comes from the Reynvaan’s high elevation estate Foothills In The Sun Vineyard. The site is set on Loess soils with deep basalt deposits and I have been writing about the potential of this site for more than a decade. Today, wines from this high-elevation location are every bit as good as those from their Rocks District vineyard. Hoisin sauce, beef drippings, menthol, and shades of wild blackberry all combine on the nose. The palate is utterly seamless with serious tension, weight and mouth-watering acidity. It offers La Landonne levels of flavor complexity, yielding blood orange zest notes alongside red cherry candy, cigar ash, wet stone and pipe tobacco that all brilliantly meld together on the palate. Showing seriously good flavor and aromatic range, enjoy this simply stunning Syrah now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2037- 99
2021 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘In The Rocks’ is a stunning bottling that is already showing marvelously. Having 5% Viognier blended in, this offers beautiful lemon blossom tones alongside roasted meats, black tea and Chinese five spice notes with nori and soy sauce notes. The palate shows incredible texture, weight and underlying finesse. The stony character shining through this wine is fantastic. This is up there with the finest ‘In The Hills’ ever done. Drink 2023-2037- 97
2021 Reynvaan ‘The Contender’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘The Contender’ has roughly 5% Marsanne blended in. This comes off super fleshy and delicious with a great mineral backbone. BBQ beef ribs, white pepper, coffee grounds and dusted milk chocolate alongside green olive tapenade flavors all combine on the palate, with a bright red and dark fruit profile. Showing rocking savory and salty tones, this is already beautifully evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2033- 96
2021 Reynvaan ‘Stoneessence’ Syrah- This 100% varietal wine comes from the In The Rocks Vineyard. Always a barrel selection the nose is unabashedly stony, screaming terroir. Once on the mouth this comes off incredible elegant, yet being very broad shoulders. Fleshy and fresh with a fantastic underlying tension, this is dark and decadent Syrah that shows a literal cornucopia of flavors and aromatics. Asian spices, black olive tapenade and suggestions of black licorice parade with salted meats, roasted figs, menthol and wet stone. This is right up there with the finest Stonessence bottling that I have ever tasted. Drink 2023-2035- 99