One of Walla Walla’s great wineries, today we share the wines of Gramercy Cellars. Originally purely a Rhone house, Gramercy was founded by winemaker and master sommelier, Greg Harrington, MS. Today he and partner Brandon Moss create highly structured Rhone and Bordeaux varietals that evoke a very old-world feel. They make some of the finest Rose wines that you will find in North America that capture the art of blending a GSM style wine. Both Moss and Harrington focus on prime fruit and minimal intervention, showcasing the typicity of the individual varietal. I am always amazed how well they fare in difficult vintages.
This is none more true than the latest wines that came from the 2020 vintage. These are clean wines without smoke impact. I love the 2020 Gramercy ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 93) which comes from old vines and has a very pretty red and dark fruit profile, with loads of herbs and non-fruit character. Even better is one of the best Rhone style wines I have tasted from 2020, their 2020 Gramercy ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah (OB, 95) which really needs an hour of air before consuming. Beautifully textured, this is a stunning example of Washington Syrah.
Learn more about these amazing wines at gramercycellars.com Here are the fantastic new wines by Gramercy Cellars and the superstar winemaking team of Greg Harrington, MS and Brandon Moss.
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lower East The Bowery’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘The Bowery’ combines 67% Syrah with 14% Mourvèdre, 14% Carignan and a splash of Grenache. The wine is named after a rougher side of Manhattan — a former location for my favorite wine bar, Pearl and Ash. This has nice smoky tones on the nose alongside black olives, oyster sauce and shades of blackberry pie. The palate is smooth and medium-bodied with a great sense of texture. The balance here is outstanding. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2020 Gramercy Cellar ‘Lower East’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Lower East’ Syrah comes from vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Tar and tobacco leaf flavors mingle well with milk chocolate and shades of dark currants on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2028- 90
2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘Red Willow Vineyard’ Syrah- This 2020 ‘Red Willow’ comes from this old site that is set on windblown loess soils, with underlying sandstone. Salty soils with ripe red currants, tobacco leaf and shades of milk chocolate fill the nose. The palate is smooth and refined with light tannins that frame a fantastic core of red and dark fruit flavors, with salty and herbal accents. Drink 2024-2031- 93
2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘Forgotten Hills Vineyard’ Syrah- The Forgotten Hills Vineyard is a small, 7.5 acre site that was planted back in 1999 on cobblestone soils at 1000 feet elevation. This comes off clean with black raspberry and black tea flavors alongside loamy soils on the palate. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy this beautifully evolved wine now and over the next seven years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 93
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Olsen Vineyard’ Mourvedre- The Olsen Vineyard is a famed Yakima Valley site that has a sterling reputation for Rhone varietals but also Chardonnay. Translucent in the glass, this offers a silky mouthfeel, and is loaded with rich red fruit flavors with an opulent texture and beautiful sense of balance. Showing no rough edges, this is truly one of the great wines of its kind in the state. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘John Lewis Reserve’ Syrah is a barrel selection wine coming from the Les Collines Vineyard which is a high elevation site that falls below the Bluewood Mountains. Still very closed and youthful, this really need an hour in the decanter to get going. Once aroused, this shows incredible flavor and aromatic range, with plenty of bright black fruit flavors, alongside tar, bulls blood, menthol and stony accents. Very mineral-laden and refined, showing loads of fresh herbs, enjoy this rich and savory Syrah now and over the next eight years to come. Drink 2024-2032- 95
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers juicy red currants and red cherry flavors alongside a smooth texture on the palate. Forward and delicious, with chocolate and sagebrush accents, enjoy now and over the next seven years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 91
2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘Gramercy Estates’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Gramercy Estates’ is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) with the remainder Merlot. Coming off very clean, this offers a silky texture once on the mouth. Black currants and sweet pipe tobacco with black licorice flavors all meld together on the palate, with salty and flinty accents. Elegant and medium to full-bodied, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 93
2019 Gramercy Cellars ‘Estate’ Merlot- This cooler vintage Merlot bottling comes from the Gramercy Estate Vineyard, located in the Walla Walla Valley. This wine club only bottling is really fantastic, showing good poise and richness from this slightly cooler vintage. Red bell pepper and rich dark fruits mark the palate alongside chocolate covered espresso bean. Freshly tilled soil accents complete this outstanding new bottling that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2024-2036- 93
2020 Gramercy Cellars ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a barrel select wine coming from several sites throughout the Columbia Valley. This is a world-class wine made in a tough vintage. Showing a deep core in the glass, this delivers a seamless texture producing a weightless effect on the mid-palate. Ripe loganberry preserves alongside wild blackberry pie mingle well with garrigue, wet stone and shades of chocolate pie on the palate. Especially after an hour of air this is absolutely dazzling stuff. Drink 2024-2034- 96