Today we highlight a great producer of traditional Spanish varietals in Washington State. Pomum was founded by the husband and wife team of Javier and Shylah Alfonso. Originally from the famed Ribera del Duero region in Spain, winemaker Javier Alfonso arrived in Washington in 1995 in pursuit of an aeronautical engineering degree at the University of Washington where he met his future wife Shylah. Pomum’s first commercial vintage was in 2004 and in 2009 they founded their sister winery, Idilico, which focuses on Spanish varietals.
Wines are made in an old-world style, towards balance and a limited amount of new oak. This was a delightful new lineup — the best I have seen from them. I really enjoyed the 2023 Idilico Albarino (OB, 91) which is fresh and shows a smooth mouthfeel. The same is true with the 2021 Pomum Syrah (OB, 92) which has excellent acidity and balance. Learn more about this excellent winery at https://pomumcellars.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Pomum.
2023 Idilico Albarino- Coming from the Yakima Valley, this 2023 Albarino offers a smooth mouthfeel with layers of rich kiwi and melon flavors that meld well with a good sense of tension backing things up. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2022 Idilico Monastrell- A seldom planted varietal in Washington State, Monastrell is mainly found in wines from Rhône and Provence regions of France, as well as Valencia and Jumilla in Spain. Juicy strawberry and guava fruit flavors parade with citrus rind, tobacco leaf and a smooth texture on the mouth. Novel and complex, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2024-2031- 91
2021 Idilico Tempranillo- This 2021 Yakima Valley Tempranillo opens with a beautiful bouquet of fresh sage and damp earth alongside black raspberry tones and wild mushroom on the nose. The palate is soft and neatly textured, with good structure. Delicious now, enjoy over the next few years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 91
2020 Idilico ‘Reserva’ Graciano- Coming from this highly challenging vintage in the Yakima Valley, the 2020 ‘Reserva’ Graciano offers black cherry and tar notes on the palate, with firm tannins holding things in place. With more air this gains momentum with wet stone and wild strawberry nuances, showing good viscosity. Dense and chewy, enjoy now. Drink 2024-2029- 92
2021 Pomum Syrah- The 2021 Pomum Syrah is deeply perfumed in the glass, offering tar and pipe tobacco leaf aromatics alongside milk chocolate and suggestions of black cherry cordial. The palate is soft and elegant with a smooth mouthfeel, showing good verve and viscosity. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2021 Pomum ‘Shyra Red’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Shyra Red’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off good concentration with black tea and exotic spices on the nose alongside blackberry compote and shades of black rose petals. The palate is refined and elegant with good minerality and richness in its black fruit core. Enjoy over the next eight to ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 92