It is my pleasure to share one of the brilliant and novel producers of the Columbia Gorge AVA. A great family-run business, AniChe focuses on varietal blends that include rarely planted Italian varietals like Dolcetto, Barbera and Zinfandel (Primativo). For about a decade I have been tasting these wines. They have become more and more consistent. The novelty remains but the overall quality has improved. This is a stinking, unusually beautiful lineup of Washington wine. Taste through this lineup and it will open your eyes to something new.
Anais Mera, and Rachael Horn make some beautiful wines together. They have crafted some beautiful new wines which were seriously good across the board. I loved the new 2021 AniChe ‘Titania’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is 100% Marsanne and is truly one of its kind. A standout white wine, the 2023 AniChe Cellars ‘No. 5’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is vibrant and fresh with a beautiful texture. Learn more about this exciting small Washington winery at http://anichecellars.com/ and here are my reviews of the new AniChe Cellars wines.
2021 AniChe Cellars ‘Titania’ Sparkling Wine- The 2021 ‘Titania’ is a 100% Marsanne sparkling wine that was aged 20 months en tirage prior to disgorgement. Very round and generous on the mouth, you need to be enjoying this at a warmer temperature. This is really novel stuff in its flavor range from yellow plum to quince alongside baked apples. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2024-2028- 91
2023 AniChe Cellars ‘Puck’ Sparkling Wine- The 2023 Puck’ combines equal parts Riesling and Pinot Gris. Like the 2022 edition, this is wonderfully salty and stony, with saline drenched nectarine and Pink Lady apple flavors, alongside wet slate. Yeasty and showing plenty of body, this is clearly one of the finest Washington Pet Nets I have tasted in the past year. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2020 AniChe ‘Oberon’ Sparkling Wine- The really good 2020 ‘Oberon’ offers plenty of rich melon and orchard fruit flavors alongside a soft mouthfeel and pretty mousse on the palate, showing salty nuances. Medium-bodied and smooth, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2023 AniChe Cellars ‘Serafina’ Riesling- The 2023 ‘Serafina’ was sourced from the Hecate’s Key Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA.. It is delightful to consume in its mineral-laden youth. Beautifully textured stuff with Key lime, orange peel, and bergamot notes alongside wet stone, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2023 AniChe Cellars ‘The Devil’ Gruner Veltliner- The outstanding 2023 ‘The Devil’ is generous and rich on the mouth, delivering green papaya and kiwi flavors alongside cantaloupe and wet stone on the palate. Medium-bodied with good verve, enjoy this beauty now and over the next seven years. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2023 AniChe Cellars ‘No.5’ White Wine- The 2023 ‘No.5’ was fermented in clay amphorae and Italian cocciopresto. The Chardonnay was sourced from their home vineyard in the Columba Gorge AVA and opens with juicy nectarine, and kiwi alongside brioche bread. The palate is lithe with serious tension and salty minerals. A lengthy finish greets you, laden with minerals and vanilla cream. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next seven years. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2022 AniChe Cellars ‘Orlando’ Tempranillo- Nearly all Tempranillo with a splash of Grenache coming from the Ziegler Vineyard, this delivers tobacco, red currants and wet stone on the palate alongside a soft mouthfeel. The oak treatment really beautifully caresses the fruit. Medium to full-bodied, this is very Washington meets Ribera. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Well-done! Drink 2024-2032- 92
2021 AniChe Cellars ‘Moth Love’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Moth Love’ combines mainly Grenache (50%) wth equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre. Translucent in the glass, this delivers tobacco leaf notes on the nose alongside tar and black truffle alongside shades of red currants. The palate is soft and generous with rich fruits and a smooth mouthfeel. Delicious now, enjoy over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2021 AniChe Cellars ‘Barbariccia’ Sangiovese- The 2021 ‘Barbariccia’ is nearly all Sangiovese with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. It is nicely textured stuff, loaded with bright red fruits with menthol and orange peel notes. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2031-91
2020 AniChe Cellars ‘Goat Boy’ Red Wine- Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), the 2020 ‘Goat Boy’ has smaller portions Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot blended in. Coming from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, this offers juicy black plum with asphalt, black currants and shades of dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91