“When I met him I really liked him” winemaker Caleb Foster told me regarding his first interaction with the Hyatt owner. Foster came to Hyatt Vineyards in 2022. He stated “I had 700 barrels of this wine and I found a future here. Forget about the past, here is where you are going. The kids wanted to keep the winery and they live around the block. They saw the last 40 years of this place and they were here for the good times. Sean Hyatt told me that there were standing room only, 1000 people a weekend, this was in the ‘90s.” Hyatt once produced 30 thousand cases of wine years ago. They have 90 acres that they own and harvest as some of the fruit is sold. Ste. Michelle once bought two-thirds of the vineyard. They now make 20 thousand cases of wine.
Talking Riesling, he looked for the Kabinett style with the ‘Dry’ Riesling which was kept on the lees and then bottled in January 2024, as this was picked at roughly 20 Brix. With the ‘Lynda’s’ Riesling this was made in a Auslese style and is named after the founder’s wife. This also aged on the lees for a shorter period before bottling. The Rose was acutely made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that was gently pressed and then stored on the lees in stainless steel.
To my knowledge they are the only winery in our state that makes Saperavi which is a middle-eastern varietal that dates back eight thousand years. The Persian kings were drinking this varietal.”
The wines were very good across the board. I really enjoyed the 2023 Hyatt ‘Lynda’s’ Riesling (OB, 92) which is dense and has a sterling tension. Learn more about these great new wines at https://www.hyattvineyards.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Hyatt wines.
2023 Hyatt ‘Dry’ Riesling- Coming from the Rattlesnake Hills, the 2023 ‘Dry’ Riesling (4 G/L residual sugar) offers petrol and orange blossom alongside wet stone notes on the nose. The palate has good freshness and tension with a smooth texture, loaded with peach and melon flavors alongside a bright sense of minerality. Drink 2024-2029- 91
2023 Hyatt ‘Lynda’s’ Riesling- Perched in a blue bottle, the 2023 ‘Lynda’s’ is an Auslase-inspired bottling that is absolutely delicious. Sweet pear and nectarine flavors collide with honey and minerals on the palate. This shows some beautiful length as the Riesling is best consumed now and over the next six plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2023 Hyatt ‘Desert Rose’ Rose- The 2023 ‘Desert Rose’ is a beautiful wine that is showing brilliantly right now. Made from mainly Cabernet Franc grapes, the wine was lightly pressed and then was aged in stainless steel before bottling, as this was aged on the lees. Bright guava, green melon and red cherry with strawberry notes all complete this wine that shows damp earth accents. This is really good stuff at only 12.5% alcohol. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2022 Hyatt Saperavi- Saperavi is a middle-eastern varietal that dates back eight thousand years. The Persian kings were drinking this varietal. This was made by Caleb Foster prior to him tasting the varietal as this was stored in all natural oak barrels before bottling. Black currants, tar and huckleberry fruit notes mark the nose with graphite accents. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth texture. Juicy black and blue fruits mingle well with a smooth texture. Drink 2024-2032- 90
2022 Hyatt Syrah- The 2022 Hyatt Syrah has roughly 5% Viognier blended in and was stored in neutral oak barrels before bottling. Inky in the glass, this offers pencil lead and violets on the nose alongside smoke and shades of black licorice. The palate is very fresh and soft with a soft texture and good sense of weight and tension. Lithe and polished, this is really enjoyable stuff to enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2022 Hyatt Merlot- The 2022 Hyatt Merlot was also stored in neural oak barrels (French and American oak) prior to bottling. This shows loganberry and milk chocolate notes alongside garrigue notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture, loaded with juicy red fruits. Drink 2024-2032- 91
2022 Hyatt Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Hyatt Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious bottling that is already showing nicely at the two year mark. Stored in French and American used oak barrels, this offers creme de violette, tar, anise and shades of black currants on the palate alongside graphite accents. This needs a bit of time for the fruit to fully set in. Drink 2025-2035- 92
2023 Hyatt Black Muscat Dessert Wine- A Rose-colored dessert wine, the 2023 Black Muscat sets in at 7% alcohol. A beautiful floral bouquet greets you with potpourri alongside bright red fruits and candied orange notes. The palate has serious tension with lip-smacking acidity. Delicious now, don’t serve too cold! Drink 2024-2029- 91