Valo Cellars
Today we share the outstanding wines of Valo Cellars, a relatively new winery which was started by Matias Kusulas and Michael Ruhland. For years Matias served as production winemaker at M&L Productions and has been Viticulturist for Lawrence Vineyards since 2017. Hailing from Chile, Kusulas has masters degrees in enology and viticulture from both Bordeaux and Montpelier. Kusulas has worked a range of jobs spanning the globe including stints in New Zealand and Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. Matias works with Taylor Ramsey, who handles Valo operations, as Taylor formerly served assistant winemaker at Sleight of Hand in Walla Walla.
These are beautiful new wines that showcase the Connor Lee Vineyard. I love the new 2022 Valo Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which his very fresh and beautifully textured. hails from the Connor Lee Vineyard and has really nice length. Just as good is the 2022 Valo Cellars ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is dense and rich with serious texture. Learn more about these excellent new wines at valocellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the new Valo Cellars wines.
2022 Valo Sauvignon Blanc- This comes from the Connor Lee Vineyard as this is Sauvignon Blanc which was grafted over Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in stainless steel, this is highly perfumed with white peach, gooseberry and white grapefruit blossom on the nose. The palate is soft and round on the mouth with a smooth texture. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2022 Valo Rose- Made from Tempranillo grapes from the Desert Wind Vineyard, this shows nice earthy notes on the nose with freshly tilled soils, red raspberry and kiwi notes. Fresh and showing good verve, this is beautiful wine to enjoy on the cooler side on a hot summer day. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2020 Valo ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak, this was sourced from the famed Connor Lee Vineyard. Toasted hazelnut, brioche, roasted pineapple and shades of cardamom on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and wonderful sense of length. Delicious and generous, enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2020 Valo ‘Laura Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The Laura Lee Vineyard is located in the Royal Slope AVA as this was planted back in 2010 and set on sandy loam soils with a high stony content. The palate shows beautiful tropical fruit notes on the palate with salty soils, Pink Lady apple and shades of apricot. Drink 2023-2029- 93
2020 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a beautiful edition of this wine. On the nose this shows ripe red cherry and red raspberry notes in this forward wine. Fresh and lithe with a soft texture, enjoy this really good wine now. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2020 Valo ‘Right Bank’ Red Wine- Entirely sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this an enticing blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Very smooth on the mouth with good viscosity. Salty and savory notes combine with a great core of black fruits, garrigue, espresso grounds and chocolate. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2020 Valo ‘Reserve’ Merlot- Coming from old vines from the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2020 ‘Reserve’ Merlot is a stunning new edition of this wine. The mouthfeel is fantastic here with layers of espresso grounds, toasty oak, mix chocolate covered black cherry and shades of sage. Outstanding and dense, with serious tension underlying this is beautiful wine to enjoy right now. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2020 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from these old 1990s plantings in the Connor Lee Vineyard, this offers beautiful herbal notes on the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins. A delight to savor now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2020 Valo ‘Bacchus Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from a warmer site, the 2020 ‘Bacchus Vineyard’ shows wonderful herbal notes on the nose and on the palate. Showing concentrated blackberry and black cherry notes, with great finesse and salty undertones, this is showing beautifully now. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2020 Valo ‘Mono Uva’ Cabernet Franc- The 2020 ‘Mono Uva’ combines fruit from the Connor Lee and Bacchus Vineyards. Garrigue, black currants and potpourri notes all combine on the nose. The palate is plush with a smooth texture and wonderful sense of weight. Forward and showing dense dark fruits with pencil lead and sagebrush notes, this is drinking so well right now. Drink 2023-2030- 93
2020 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Seriously delicious, the 2020 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was made by having two picks, one early and one late. Stored in a combination of barrel and concrete, this shows menthol and graphite notes alongside ripe boysenberry flavors on the palate. This is exceedingly well-balanced. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2020 Valo ‘In Temporal’ Red Wine- This is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Very smooth on the mouth, this shows a polished texture with iron and salty accents on the palate, with dark currants and coffee ground notes. Drink 2023-20230- 93
2020 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah- Concentrated, heady and intense, the 2020 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah comes off as very Cote Rotie. The wine is an incredibly expression of Syrah. Juicy huckleberry combines with charcuterie, bulls blood, black olives, anise, violets and shades of soy sauce all meld brilliantly on the palate. Complex and delicious, this is unlike anything you will find in Washington State. Drink 2023-2031- 94