Today we share one of the jewels of Walla Walla. One of the famed and most beautiful sites in the valley, Reynvaan Family Vineyards was founded by two of the nicest people in the Washington Wine Industry — Gale and Mike Reynvaan. At the help is 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.
I love the new 2020 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier (OB, 95) which is wonderfully stony and shows great richness and verve. Don’t miss out on the 2020 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is one of the most impressive Syrahs that I have tasted from this vintage. Coming off very clean, with herbal, wet rock and glorious black fruits, this is a must-try for any lover of Washington Syrah. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the new wines by Reynvaan.
2020 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Viognier- A gorgeous effort considering the challenges of the 2020 vintage, the new ‘In The Rocks’ was sourced from this stony site outside of Milton-Frreewater, Oregon. It comes off aromatically very pretty with honetsuckle, dried apricot and shades of nectarine rind on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a downright oily texture and loads of mouth-watering acidity. This comes off very clean with beautiful stony and salty tones that make this truly impossible to resist right now. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next five years — and don’t serve too cold! Drink 2023-2028- 95
2020 Reynvaan Grenache Blanc- Really impressive from this vintage, the 2020 Grenache Blanc is truly one of the great wines of its kind that you will find in North America. Lychee and green papaya notes mark the nose alongside suggestions of white peach and Pazzaz apple. The palate is concentrated and also beautifully textured with plenty of stony minerality. Wait for the near minute-long finish as this beauty will cellar well over the next five years. Like the Viognier, this is best consumed at a slightly warmer temperature to take in the thrilling flavor and aromatic range. Drink 2023-2028- 94
2020 Reynvaan ‘In The Hills’ Syrah- The outstanding 2020 ‘In The Hills’ is co-fermented with 10% Viognier. This shows outstanding aromatic range with purple rose petals, creosote, iodine and charcuterie alongside shades of menthol The palate is very fresh and polished wth a smooth texture and good length. Ripe dark fruits combine with copious minerals and flinty undertones, with tobacco leaf on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next five years. Drink 2023-2028- 94
2020 Reynvaan ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah- Really energetic and very stony, the 2020 ‘In The Rocks’ Syrah zombies a small amount of Viognier. It is very floral and fragrant with potpourri and black currants that combine with smoldering stones. The palate has good freshness and texture, alongside mouth-watering acidity. Suggestions of beef drippings, tar and crushed wet rock combine with orange rind tones on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years, as this is really outstanding wine considering the vintage. Drink 2023-2027- 93
2020 Reynvaan ‘The Contender’ Syrah- You have to admire the 2020 ‘The Contender’ which blends in 5% Marsanne. Aged in oak for 18 months, this offers white pepper dusted bacon, wild blackberry, tar and shades of anise that all come together nicely on the nose. The palate shows good weight and concentration with plenty of bright acidity. Very salty, stony and savory on the palate, this is really good stuff that will be best enjoyed in its vibrant youth. Drink 2023-2027- 94
2020 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- I have long admired the ‘Foothills Reserve’ which is a barrel select Syrah coming from the Reynvaan ‘Foothills In the Sun Vineyard. This 2020 edition is the finest wine in the new lineup. The nose takes on really good range with green peppercorns, wintergreen and wild blackberry notes alongside wet rock and Umami notes. The palate is lithe with great underlying finesse, coming off very clean. This is super novel stuff with iodine, wintergreen and graphite notes that combine with the beautiful core of black fruits and black florals. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2028- 96
2020 Reynvaan ‘Stoneessence’ Syrah- You have to be impressed with the 2020 ‘Stoneessence’ which comes from the ‘In The Rocks Vineyard.’ Right away very alluring on the nose, this takes on layers of damp stones that combine with violets, bulls blood and huckleberry cordial notes that all meld in the glass. The palate comes off very soft and nicely textured with a smooth mouthfeel. Layers of toasty oak combine with a beautiful core of dark fruits, seaweed, and stony accents. This is fantastic with its weight and tension, as this is best enjoyed over then ext few years. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2020 Reynvaan Merlot- This is only the second edition of this wine, which comes from the ‘In The Rocks Vineyard’ outside of the town of Milton-Freewater. Roasted dates, tobacco leaf, tar and shades of red rose petals all show well on the nose, with light flinty undertones. The palate is polished and smooth with plenty of toasty oak that caresses the core of bright red and dark fruits, with pipe tobacco and scorched earthy accents. Showing off a silky texture, this is seriously good and is best consumed now and over the next few years. Dirnk 2023-2027- 94
2020 Reynvaan ‘The Classic’ Red Wine- The 2020 Reynvaan ‘The Classic’ is a really good Left-Bank inspired wine from their estate ‘In The Rocks Vineyard.’ Smoldering stones and shades of tar combine with Black Forest Cake, black tea and scorched earth notes all mingle well on the palate. Medium-bodied with a smooth texture, this is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2027- 92