One of the all-time greats out of Walla Walla, this spring I had the chance to sit down with second generation vintner, Sager Small and taste many of the old vintage wines. This was a spectacular tasting I will not forget — and I even tasted their first vintage. Sager described the 2022 vintage as being “more in line with historical temperatures. It steadily goes up and then it peaks and then comes down.” I tasted a range of new wines in their latest releases from ’21 and ’22. I was pleasantly surprised with what I tried from ’22 which were wines with plenty of richness and depth. Some producers struggled with producing depth in their ’22 wines but that was not the case with these.
I very much enjoyed their 2022 white wines and the new ’23 Chardonnay is a slightly richer style for them but on par in quality to their ’22 Chard. The 2023 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay (OB, 94) has beautiful richness and texture. It is definitely not best served cold. I really enjoyed the 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 95) which is one of the finest wines of its kind that I have tasted this year. Learn more about these fantastic new wines at woodwardcanyon.com and here are my reviews of the beautiful new wines by Woodward Canyon.
2023 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay- The 2023 Chardonnay is a deep and concentrated effort that was stored in a small amount of new French oak prior to bottling. Juicy nectarine and vanilla cream all mark the palate alongside shades of toasted brioche and salty nuances. Full-bodied, this is definitely best-served at a warmer temperature to take on the downright unctuous texture. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Barbera- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Barbera is a lithe and juicy effort hat was aged for 21 months before bottling. It is brimming with bright red fruits with orange rind and tobacco leaf notes on the palate. Really well-done, this could be the best edition of this wine that I have ever tried. Enjoy this medium-bodied bottling now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah was stored in in combination of French and Hungarian oak before bottling. It is rich and viscous with a neat texture. Milk chocolate flavors combine with sweet pipe tobacco, black currants and black olive tapenade on the palate. The balance between poise, richness and fruit/non-fruit flavors is seriously fabulous. Very delicious now, watch this beauty evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah/Malbec’ Red Wine- The 2022 Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah/Malbec’ Red Wine is a one of a kind offering that is already nicely evolved. Baking spices and black tea with cocoa powder all mark the nose alongside shades of black licorice and wintergreen. The palate is big and bold with a juicy core of black and red fruits alongside thyme, chocolate and hints of scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied with good texture and verve, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Merlot was stored in 40% new French oak prior to bottling. It is a knockout wine showing beautiful depth and concentration. Milk chocolate dusted black cherry and red raspberry combine with garrigue notes on the palate, alongside sandy soils. Beautifully poised and balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. This is every bit as good as the 2021 edition. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series #31’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous wine, the 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series #31’ Cabernet Sauvignon dawns the work of Mary Crane Nutter, as this was stored in 60% new French and Hungarian oak before bottling. Black currants and black tea mark the palate alongside toasty oak, espresso grounds and shades of black licorice candy. Full-bodied and filled with mouth-watering acidity, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well for another ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 94
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Clone 4’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Estate Clone 4’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a site planted back in 2003, located on a south-facing slope of the vineyard. The location is set on loess soils and silts. Red bell pepper and fresh thyme hit the nose alongside allspice and shades of creme de cassis. The palate is laden with finesse and richness, showing excellent verve and texture. A total stunner, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Clone 191’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Clone 191’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a northern block of the estate vineyard. Stored in 60% new French and Hungarian oak, this offers fresh herbs and blackberry compote on the nose with shades of creosote and Black Forest cake. The palate is fresh and polished, just slightly more reticent than the ‘Clone 4’ but showing some great aging potential with its poise and body. Try to hold this beauty for another year. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc- The 2022 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc was stored in mainly neutral oak barrels. It opens with white peppercorn and shades of black licorice and bay leaf, with orange bell pepper notes. Very herbal and tension-laden, the plush texture really adds to the enjoyment here. On par with the world-class 2021 edition, this is a stunning rendition of Washington Cabernet Franc that will easily age for another fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Estate Reserve’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Estate Reserve’ unlike the 2021 edition is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), utilizing five Bordeaux varietals. It is rich, viscous and beautifully textured stuff that is drinking marvelously right now. A massive wall of dark fruits greet you alongside graphite, loamy soils, sweet pipe tobacco and shades of dried herbs. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The sensational 2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from estate blocks that were planted in the early 90s. This is deep, rich and filled with mouth-coating acidity. A great core of black and blue fruits collide with pencil lead and Earl Grey tea notes. Not fully developed — but showing some incredible potential — let this rest for at least another year. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2022 Woodward Canyon ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Old Vines’ is another fabulous edition of this wine and comes from vines that average for years old. Asian spices and black tea mark the nose alongside wild huckleberry and shades of red bell pepper giving this a light herbal edge. The palate is full-bodied and filled with nerve and weight. Give this beauty another year to settle. Drink 2025-2040- 95