Today we share one of the outstanding Walla Walla houses that somehow manages to fly under the radar. Saviah Cellars was founded 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.
Richard is one of the great people in Washington wine. I had such a nice visit with him before he did a little pre-harvest trip to Italy. Rich makes some truly outstanding wines. With him I toured his two great estate vineyards, ‘The Stones Speak’ and ‘The Funk Estate’ vineyards. 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.
2022 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc- Very fresh and smooth, the 2022 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc shows gooseberry and kiwi notes on the palate, with stony undertones. Showing good richness and persistence, enjoy this great value now and over the next several years. Drink 2023-2026- 90
2021 The Jack Chardonnay- Another really good value, the 2021 The Jack Chardonnay displays Meyer lemon cream, brioche and shades of banana on the palate, with good underlying. verve. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2019 The Jack Syrah- The 2019 The Jack Syrah shows nice stuffing considering the coolness of the vintage. Black olives and brisket notes collide with black currants and stony undertones on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2020 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon shows off blackberry compote and black licorice notes alongside allspice on the palate. Medium-bodied, with a neat texture, enjoy now. Drink 2023-2026- 90
2020 Saviah ‘GSM’ Red Wine- Mainly Grenache (75%) with smaller portions Syrah and Mourvedre, this offers an ebullient core of bright red fruits alongside wet stone, and blood orange zest. With a polished texture, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2023-2029- 93
2020 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The beautiful 2020 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is another standout bottling from this longtime producer. Smoked meats and bulls blood flavors combine with ripe boysenberry on the nose. Drink 2023-2029- 93
2020 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah- The brilliant 2020 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah is a beautiful showing that comes off very clean from a challenging vintage. Crème de violette, smoldering stone, black truffle, Oyster sauce and Nori notes all combine on the palate. This is hugely complex stuff that will satisfy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2029- 95
2020 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- Not to be outdone, the gorgeous 2020 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this difficult vintage and is a standout wine of The Rocks District. Black currants combine with espresso grounds, wet gravel, Kalamata olive and smoked short rib on the palate. Delicious and also very fresh, enjoy this beauty over the next few years. Drink 2023-2029- 95
2020 Saviah ‘Hunt & Gather’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 Saviah ‘Hunt & Gather’ Red Wine combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah all sourced from The Funk Estate Vineyard. Salty and savory, the 2020 ‘Hunt & Gather’ shows off black tea and loganberry notes on the nose alongside seaweed and shades of Hoisin sauce on the nose. Generous, with good length, this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2029- 94
2019 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A barrel select wine sourced from the Walla Walla Valley, the 2019 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes off wonderfully stony on the palate with rich black cherry and black raspberry flavors with salty river rock alongside Earl Grey tea and garrigue notes. Drink 2023-2029- 94