There was immediately a captive audience for one of the biggest events in Pacific Northwest wine back in 2021. News spread that the winemaking team from Quilceda Creek was going to join Matthews and Tenor. This was huge news and the Northwest wine scene eagerly awaited to see their hands in the Matthews and Tenor programs. It is hard to believe that it has now been more than two years since they have been hired —an all-star team of Alex Stewart, Hal Iverson and Jesse Schmidt.
Tasting yesterday with Alex and Hal, they shared their thoughts on the new Tenor wines. “These are a bigger style for us” said Hal. “And we don’t like lean wines” Alex explained. “I’m not a huge fan of lean Cab either” I explained. For years I have reviewed wines highly based on novelty and typicity. Does a Washington Cab taste like a Washington Cab? Is there something special about the wine? I take my knowledge of benchmark wines of the world whenever I taste new wines.
Tasting through the Tenor wines I felt that each was made with very special intention. Are they full-throttle? Absolutely. Are they delicious? Absolutely. While deep and rich, each bottling possesses an excellent underlying poise. There is no doubt that these are the finest Tenor wines that I have tasted. I am honored to be the first wine critic to taste these wines, which were tasted twice over several hours.
I adore the 2021 Tenor Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is very Kongsgaard meets Washington. I don’t know a Chardonnay lover that will not adore this wine. The finest Washington Pinot Noir made yet, the 2021 Tenor Pinot Noir (OB, 95) is rich and layered with a Sonomaesque flavor profile. This beauty is going to really impress you. Learn more about these great new wines at tenorwines.com. Here are the beautiful new releases by Tenor.
2021 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc comes from the La Renya, Bacchus and Connor Lee Vineyards. Aged in 80% new French oak he wine saw extended lees contact, as this shows off cantaloupe and papaya aromatics that combine with Brazil nut and shades of sweetened gooseberry. The palate is rich and concentrated with good underlying tension and saline drenched nectarine and green apple flavors. Finishing long this is a beautiful expression of Washington Sauvignon Blanc. Drink 2023-2031- 94
2022 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc- The 2022 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc is a seamless wine made by the new Tenor winemaking team. Coming from this slightly cooler vintage, this saw a touch more cigar barrel aging. Coming from the Spice Cabinet and Olsen Vineyards, this offers lychee and pineapple notes alongside dense pear and stony undercurrents. The palate is rich and layered with a soft mouthfeel and glorious sense of length. Delicious even its youth, this beauty will show well for another eight to ten years. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2021 Tenor Chardonnay- The 2021 Tenor Chardonnay comes from a combination of sites including Connor Lee, Solaksen and La Reyna Blanca Vineyards. The resultant bottling is a total stunner, being very Kongsgaard meets Washington. Baking spice dusted Japanese pear with creme brûlée, honeydew melon and shades of sweetened gooseberry all mark the nose. The palate is rich and dense with incredible texture and weight — yet not coming off at all heavy. Big and bold, with bright underlying acidity, this is a joy to consume right now. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2021 Tenor Pinot Noir- The 2021 Tenor Pinot Noir comes mainly from the Connor Lee Vineyard which produces berries with think skins. Stored in 90% new French oak barrels with varying format size, this offers generous black and red fruits on the nose with toasty oak, and suggestions of violet rose petals. The palate is plush and concentrated with a seamless texture. Showing good weight and underlying verve, this is quite simply the fines Washington State Pinot Noir that has been produced. Drink 2023-2033- 95
2021 Tenor Grenache- The 2021 Tenor Grenache was sourced from the Thunderstone and Corfu Crossing Vineyards in the Royal Slope AVA. The nose comes off very pretty with potpourri aromatics, followed by guava puree, orange blossom and suggestions of ripe Yakima cherry. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. While stored in 100% new French oak, this does not display major oak influence. Finishing long, showing mouth-watering acidity with pretty red fruits and exotic spices, this beauty is absolutely singing now. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2021 Tenor Syrah- The 2021 Tenor Syrah was mainly sourced from Scarline Vineyard, with the remainder from the Stoneridge Vineyard. Stored in 100% new French oak, the wine was almost entirely de-stemmed during the fermentation process (roughly 10% whole cluster fermented). The aromas of green olives, and black currants grip you alongside violet rose petals and dense dark fruits. The palate is extremely concentrated with outstanding flavor density and serious complexity. Bulls blood and black olives combine with dense blackberry and black currant flavors, with salty undertones. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy this beauty over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2021 Tenor Merlot- The 2021 Tenor Merlot is a rich and deep bottling that is amongst the finest renditions in the state. Right away the wine is very alluring with its high-toned red florals that mingle well with cigar box, and concentrated dark fruits with chocolate tones. The palate displays some glorious concentration with refined tannins that frame a heady core of huckleberry and black currant fruits, with graphite and espresso ground notes on the palate. This is already a beautiful wine to consume now. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Tenor Cabernet Franc- The 2021 Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines of its kind that I have tasted over the past year. It shows a high-end Napa level of concentration with lovely nuance. Once on the mouth this displays lovely weight with a pillowy texture and strong underlying finesse. Freshly roasted coffee bean flavors mingle well with sagebrush, boysenberry fruits and hints of red bell pepper. This is highly refined Cabernet Franc that will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2021 Tenor Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is the finest wine in the Tenor collection of wines. Coming from the Wallula Gap, Canyons, Quintessence, and Stoneridge Vineyards, this comes off deep and voluptuous once on the mouth, as layered tannins combine with a seamless texture. Bright underlying acidity combines with the core of blueberry compote, creosote, creme de violette, Turkish coffee, crushed mint and graphite notes on the palate. Extremely complex and novel, this is a stunning new wine that really needs about two hours in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2024-2040- 97