This feature is made for Syrah lovers. One of the best Syrahs in on the West Coast that still seems to creep under the radar, the ‘Foothills Reserve’ is a barrel select wine made by the talented Matt Reynvaan. Years ago Matt and his parents Gayle and Mike Reynvaan took a leap of faith and planted their estate vineyard in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. There were several people who suggested that their site was not a good place to grow Syrah but the Reynvaans have proved them wrong. If you have never visited the Reynvaan property, their ‘Foothills In The Sun Vineyard’ is one of the most scenic sites that you will find in the Walla Walla Valley.
This location is is one of the highest elevation vineyards in Washington at1600 feet with a gradual western and southwestern exposure. The high elevation allows the site to have extreme diurnal shifts, as temperatures can range from 100 degrees to 50 or even 40 degrees at night. This impact improves the natural acidity in the wines. The soils consist of deep silty loam, with small amounts of clay, iron and pockets of rocks. There is a distinct stony character in the wines that is unlike those produced in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. I recently had a chance to taste through the last three vintages of the ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah. This bottling has been one of the finest Syrah wines produced in the Pacific Northwest and is a former #1 on my Top 100 list.
I am amazed what Matt Reynvaan did with the 2020 ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 96) as the wine comes off very clean and revels in its fantastic flavor range and bright black fruits. Like any red wine from 2020, I recommend enjoying this beauty early. The 2019 ‘Foothills Reserve’ (OB, 98) and the 2018 ‘Foothills Reserve’ (OB, 98) are equally excellent but could not be more divergent at this moment. The 2019 bottling is nervy and tension-filled, with brighter acidity and less depth, yet shows insanely good flavor and aromatic range. Conversely, the 2018 bottling is dense, heady and plush with silky tannins and a gorgeous deep concentration of dark fruit flavors. Both wines will surely satisfy any lovers of Pacific Northwest Syrah. Learn more at reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah wines from 2018-2020.
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
2019 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- The 2019 ‘Foothills Reserve’ is one of the great wines made in a challenging vintage for red wines. Coming from the ‘Foothills In the Sun Vineyard’ which neighbors the the Blue Ridge Mountains and is several miles outside the town of Walla Walla, this shows amazing aromatic range from Cuban cigar, wet stone, black currants and shades of exotic spices with red floral undertones. The palate is less-fleshy than the 2018 but more fresh and leans considerably more old-world. Showing good length, like I wrote several years ago, this is about as close as you will get to Washington meets Cote Rotie. Downright thrilling with its brightness, and its red fruit-driven core with citrus rind and tilled soil accents, enjoy his beautiful wine now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 98
2018 Reynvaan ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah- I have long admired this Syrah that comes from one of the great vintages that Washington has seen over the past two decades. The 2018 ‘Foothills Reserve’ Syrah offers a literal cornucopia of aromatics. Bulls blood, Mandarin orange blossom, Nori, white pepper dusted bacon and shades of creme de violette all collide on the nose. The palate is silky smooth and beautifully textured, with impeccable balance and weight. This is just marvelous stuff to savor right now. Find this wine, buy it and you will thank me later. Drink 2023-2033- 98