Last night I tasted with the winemaking team of Tenor. The wines were so impressive that I had to immediately post on them. This program has been building and building since the winemakers from Quilceda Creek joined the Matthews and Tenor programs. Today the team is led by Alex Stewart and Hal Iverson. Stewart talked about the importance of incorporating single vineyard wines in this program.“We thought that the vineyards showcase what makes the vineyard special. In retrospect, Tenor is the soloist and so that makes sense.” Said Iverson “We can take our wines and blend it and it would be great, it would be a really nice wine but the Spice would not be the Spice, the Olsen would not be the Olsen. It spoke to us.”
Tenor owner Bryan Otis explained “When you have a brand like Tenor you sort of start it with the thinking that there is something here in the name, see how people respond. Coming back it was always destined to have its own set of single vineyards. The dots always connect backwards like Steve Jobs said.”
These are full-throttle wines that are not for the weary. If you do not like the wines of Aubert or Kongsgaard then they probably won’t speak to you. I’m full enamored by the 2022 Tenor ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is a rich and unctuous rendition of this varietal. I was equally blown away by the 2022 Tenor Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is the finest Washington State Pinot Noir that I have ever tasted. Learn more about these great new wines at tenorwines.com. Here are the beautiful new releases by Tenor.
2023 Tenor ‘Spice Cabinet Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Tenor ‘Spice Cabinet’ Sauvignon Blanc is a new wine for this brand coming from this Columbia Valley site. Toasty French bread and hazelnut aromatics combine with shades of green papaya and mango on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated stuff with a silky texture and loads of mouth-watering freshness. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next eight years. 100% new French oak. Drink 2024-2031- 95
2023 Tenor ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc comes from this slightly cooler site set in the Yakima Valley. Vines for this wine are located in the higher portion of the vineyard. The aromatics are gorgeous with passion fruit and mango giving this an exotic feel. The palate is weightless and dense with beautiful freshness. This is nothing short of a stunning new bottling that has some really good aging potential. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Tenor ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Tenor ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this site that is one of the oldest plantings for this varietal in the state. A brilliant golden hue, this delivers buttercream and roasted pineapple on the nose alongside cloves and shades of bananas foster. The palate is rich and unctuous with loads of underlying finesse. The flavor density here is outstanding, offering generous citrus, melon and tropical fruit flavors. Luxurious in its body and waxy texture, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Tenor ‘Solaksen Vineyard’ Chardonnay- This 2022 Chardonnay comes from the Solaksen Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. This utilizes clone 15 and 76 selections that were planted in 2015. Soft and supple on the palate, this offers saline drenched lemon curd flavors alongside juicy peach, walnut and shades of salty soils. Complex and delicious, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2022 Tenor ‘La Reyna Blanca’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2022 Tenor ‘La Reyna Blanca’ Chardonnay is set in the Royal Slope AVA, planted near the Solaksen Vineyard. Pink lady apple and creme brûlée notes meld well with baking spice dusted pie crust and shades of roasted pineapple on the nose. The palate is world-class in terms of depth and freshness with loads of mouth-watering acidity. A gorgeous bottling now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Tenor Pinot Noir- The world-class 2022 Tenor Pinot Noir is mainly sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard and was stored in 90% new French oak barrels before bottling. The wine yields knockout aromatics with exotic spices and generous red fruits alongside shades of bergamot, orange peel and a dusting of white pepper. The palate is complex and seamless with serious heft and underling finesse. Offering its plush texture and very pretty red fruit core, with flat out fabulous underlying verve, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Tenor Grenache- The 2022 Tenor Grenache was mostly sourced from the Corfu Crossing Vineyard as well as the Thunderstone Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA. Stored in nearly all new French oak, this delivers alluring red rose petals and potpourri notes on the nose alongside blood orange zest and fresh sage tones. The palate is plush and seamless, displaying great flavor range with concentrated pomegranate seed, strawberry and red cherry flavors alongside suggestions of Satsuma orange zest and menthol accents. Showing beautiful salinity, this comes off very heady and intense. Enjoy this gorgeous wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 96
2022 Tenor ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Syrah- Sourced from this famed site in the Royal Slope AVA, the 2022 Tenor ‘Stoneridge Vineyard’ Syrah is very concentrated in the glass and was given a touch of stem inclusion. Hoisin sauce and soy sauce character combine with roasted duck, bacon fat and stony accents on the nose. The palate is concentrated and fresh with serious texture and good underlying finesse. A knockout wine from 2022, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 97
2022 Tenor ‘Scarline Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Scarline Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this site in the Royal Slope AVA. Hedonistic and heady, this delivers mocha, black currants and Kalamatta olives on the nose alongside dusty soils and tar. The palate is beautifully structured and dense with lovely tension and a glorious core of black fruits. The salty nuances and soft mouthfeel really entice, as this is best consumed now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 96