For years I have admired the wines by Saviah Cellars, run by two of the nicest people you will find in Washington wine. It is hard to believe that Saviah Cellars was founded all the way back in 2000, starting with only 300 cases produced. Today they particularly gain fame from their Syrah wines that are sourced from their two estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Rocks District. Saviah was started by winemaker Richard Funk and his wife, Anita, who are both natives of Montana who moved to Walla Walla in 1991 and later planted their first vineyard in 2001. Saviah is a family name from Anita’s great-grandmother, a schoolteacher, artist and author, who settled in western Montana in the early 1900s.
I love spending time with Richard. He has such a vast knowledge for his land and the industry. He crafts truly outstanding wines that also age really well. He has two outstanding estate vineyards in The Rocks District, ‘The Stones Speak’ and ‘The Funk Estate.’ With a foundation in microbiology, Richard previously worked as the Environmental Health Specialist with the Walla Walla County Health Department and is a self-taught winemaker. Richard has assisted several wineries with their start-up processes and served as the winemaker for Watermill Winery from 2006-2009, àMaurice winery from 2005-2006 and also has served as a consulting winemaker for several new wineries.
I love the new wines across the board. Check out the 2019 The Jack Syrah (OB, 91) which is one of their value wines and this Syrah over performs for the price. I adored the new 2020 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah (OB, 95) which is a masterful effort from a tough vintage. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.saviahcellars.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Saviah.
2020 The Jack Syrah- Dense, chewy and delicious, the 2020 The Jack Syrah offers straightforward blackberry and black tea flavors alongside a smooth texture and nice poise. Drink now. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2022 The Jack Red Wine- The 2022 Red Wine shows juicy dark currant and cocoa powder dusted red cherry flavors alongside a nice sense of verve. Soft and round on the mouth, enjoy over the next few years to come. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2021 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon- Juicy and delicious, the 2021 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon shows off nice freshness and texture once on the mouth. Layers of red currants parade with salty minerals and shades of coffee grounds on the palate. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2022 Saviah Chardonnay- Coming from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, this beautiful 2022 Chardonnay was stored in a small portion of new French oak barrels before bottling. Salted Macadamia nut and lemon zest flavors combine with toasty brioche on the palate. Refined and elegant, this is drinking beautifully now. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2022 Saviah Viognier- Neatly textured and well-balanced, this stunning 2021 Walla Walla Valley Viognier shows off lychee and lemongrass notes on the nose alongside suggestions of white peach. The palate shows incredible mouthfeel and weight without coming off at all heavy. Dense orchard and melon fruits combine with citrus blossom/star jasmine water on the palate. Refined and sleek, this is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2021 Saviah ‘GSM’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘GSM’ offers heady aromatics of bulls blood, coffee grounds and red currants that parade with dried herbs. The palate is soft and rich with a smooth mouthfeel. Loaded with bright red fruits with smoked brisket, iodine and shades of charcuterie, this is drinking beautifully right now — and will live on for another eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2020 Saviah ‘Big Sky Cuvee’ Red Wine- Mostly Merlot, the 2021 ‘Big Sky Cuvee’ offers good richness with chocolate covered coffee bean, black currants and toasty oak alongside black tea notes. Nicely balanced, with a soft mouthfeel, enjoy now. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2021 Saviah ‘Une Vallee’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Une Vallee’ is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Walla Walla Valley. It is rich and mineral-laden, with good underling tension and refined tannins. Dark currants collide with coffee grounds, rabbit brush and shades of tar and black licorice on the palate. Drink 2023-2031- 92
2021 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 2021 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new bottling that shows the heat of the vintage. Sourced from a host of great sites including the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, this offers beautiful structure and balance on the palate. Not overly big despite the heat of the vintage, you can see each wonderful working part here. Sagbrush and stony notes combine with tilled soils, cigar box, ripe blackberry and dark chocolate shaving flavors. This is drinking beautifully in its youth. Drink 2023-2033- 93
2021 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- For an entry level Syrah, the 2021 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is a marvelous value. Aromatics of flint, iron and rich dark fruits all work seamlessly together on the nose. The palate is soft and round with great tension and flavor density. Layers of sandalwood mingle well with copious minerals, wild blackberry, black tea and exotic spices. Fresh and fragrant, this is already beautifully evolved stuff. Drink 2023-2031- 92
2021 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Syrah- Deep, concentrated and filled with stuffing, the 2021 ‘Reserve’ Syrah by Saviah is a gorgeous new bottling by Richard Funk. Deeply concentrated in the glass, this shows insanely good aromatic range from freshly picked red roses to potpourri, Asian spices, Umami, fresh sage and charcuterie notes alongside dense dark fruits.The palate is fresh and vibrant with great underlying tension and a smooth mouthfeel. As youthful as it is, this is really ready to go. Uncork one — you are going to be amazed. Drink 2023-2033- 95
2021 Saviah ‘The Funk’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘The Funk’ Syrah comes from this site set on ancient cobblestones. The nose is really expressive even at the two year mark, as potpourri and bacon fat notes combine with violets, fresh mint and suggestions of smoked brisket. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and great sense of weight. A glorious core of dark fruits greets you (think figs, dates, blackberries) alongside worn leather, menthol, wet stone and suggestions of cardamom laced prosciutto with green olive accents. Complex and highly delicious, this is drinking marvelously already. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2020 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Really great considering the challenges of the vintage, the 2020 ‘The Funk Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is shining brightly in its core of dark fruits with chocolate fudge and sagebrush with flinty accents. Drink this beautiful wine now and over the next several years. Neatly textured, with good volume and flavor density, drain this beauty now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2028- 93