Saviah

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 2023 The Jack Red Wine (OB, 91) which is a total steal for the price.  I adored the new 2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah (OB, 96) which is very stony and savory with a terrific mouthfeel. Learn more about this outstanding winery at https://www.saviahcellars.com/ Here are the outstanding new wines by Saviah.

2023 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 The Jack Sauvignon Blanc has 14% Viognier blended in. This is smooth with copious minerals on the palate showing melon and gooseberry notes. Enjoy this outstanding value now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2028- 91

2023 The Jack Red Wine The 2023 The Jack Red Wine is mainly Merlot (77%) with the remained Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Toasty oak combine with a smooth mouthfeel and rich black and red fruits, with pencil lead and chocolate notes. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2029- 91

2023 Saviah Chardonnay- The brilliant 2023 Saviah Chardonnay comes from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. Vanilla cream and pie crust mark the palate alongside Meyer lemon zest and shades of baked apple. Beautifully balanced and big on the mouth, don’t serve this beauty too cold! Drink 2024-2032- 93

2023 Saviah Viognier- Sourced from the Saviah Estate Vineyard, this brilliant 2023 Viognier offers peach and honeysuckle on the nose with star jasmine and shades of ripe Japanese pear. The palate shows a smooth mouthfeel and is loaded with tension. Delicious now, watch this evolve over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 93

2022 Sarah Barbera- The 2022 Barbera comes from the Dugger Creek Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  Medium-bodied and very red fruit-driven, this offers bright strawberry and red cherry flavors that mingle well with damp earth and shades of Earl Grey tea. Drink 2024-2032- 92

2021 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Tempranillo- The 2021 ‘The Stones Speak’ Tempranillo has 10% Syrah blended in. Oyster sauce and red currants parade with shades of charcuterie and red cherry on the palate. Showing a soft mouthfeel and good tension, enjoy this beauty now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2021 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak’ Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% varietal, the 2021 ‘The Stones Speak’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this 10 acre site littered by large cobblestones in the Rocks District. This is dense and delicious stuff, showing savory herbs and coppa meat flavors alongside Hoisin sauce, creme de violette, tar and smoldering stone on the palate. Very complex and delicious, enjoy this nicely evolved stuff now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 94

2022 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah- The really good 2022 Saviah ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Syrah is another great release from this beautiful producer of Rhone varietals. Smoked brisket, boysenberry cordial and rich chocolate flavors mark the palate alongside violets and tar notes. Enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2024-2031- 93

2022 Saviah ‘Reserve’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Reseve’ comes from the Stones Speak and Funk Estate as well as the Watermill Estate and Waterstone Estate Vineyards. The nose is stunning with iodine and charcuterie notes alongside shades of black cherry compote, soy sauce and shades of wet stone. The palate is plush and seamless with great weight and texture. A gorgeous wine to enjoy now, savor this over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2021 Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah- A great showing in 2021, the Saviah ‘The Stones Speak Vineyard’ Syrah really shines in its depth, concentration and stony essence. Salty herbs and Oyster sauce notes combine with seaweed, violets, tar and shades of black currant jelly on the palate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2024-2032- 95

2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- Another world-class release, the 2022 Saviah ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this slightly cooler year in The Rocks District. This edition has 4% Viognier blended in. The beautiful white florals from the Viognier are singing now as wet rock and prosciutto aromatics combine with red currants, orange peel and shades of smoked brisket. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth mouthfeel and generous sense of weight. A total stunner, this is amongst the finest editions of this wine from Saviah that I have tasted. Drink 2024-2034- 96

2020 Saviah ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this Columbia Valley site set at 1250 feet. Jet black in the glass, this delivers loads of dense dark fruits with chocolate fudge, tar, anise and Cuban cigar notes. Complex and delicious, no reason to cellar this beauty. Cheers to Rich Funk and his team for making a world-class wine in this more than difficult vintage. Drink 2024-2030- 93

2022 Saviah ‘Une Vallee’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Une Vallee’ combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Green herbs and shades of black currants combine with blackberry compote and creme de violette on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a smooth texture. Medium-bodied and soft, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 92

2022 Saviah Malbec- The 2022 Saviah Malbec was sourced from the Anna Marie and Summit View Vineyards. Stored in mainly new wood, this shows off its inky core in the glass, offering violets and chocolate on the nose alongside shades of cassis and black licorice. The palate is deep and concentrated with firm tannins that frame a brilliant core of black and blue fruit flavors, with spice box and milk chocolate undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, watch this evolve over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94