A proper visit was in order as Morgan Lee and I missed each other last year. However I most certainly did not miss out on the wines he is making with Paul Zitarelli for Block Wines and Full Pull & Friends which are some of the finest values you will find in the state. This time I descended upon Lee’s somewhat new space that seems to be ever-evolving. There is little doubt that Morgan Lee is one of the nicest guys you will meet in the Washington wine industry. A former Purdue grad, Morgan is fun loving but very serious in his winemaking. There’s a good reason why Paul Ziterelli connected with him to craft wines for Block Wines — Morgan’s an incredibly talented winemaker. Previously interning at Columbia Crest, Morgan makes a range of outstanding wines, including one, if not the best, Zinfandel in Washington. He also makes a killer orange wine called ‘O.G.’
His value collection of wines were the best that I have tasted from him yet. The 2022 City Limits Chardonnay (OB, 91) comes from the esteemed Evergreen Vineyard and has great freshness, good poise and lovely pear and kiwi notes. This would make for a killer glass pour. Don’t miss out on the 2022 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’ Gewurtztraminer (OB, 93) which is a dense and heady orange wine that is both geeky for the some community and downright delicious for everyday wine consumers. I was very impressed with the very pretty and downright sexy 2021 Two Vinters ‘Claire’ Grenache (OB, 95) which shows a soft mouthfeel and unveils a gorgeous array of red fruit flavors with plenty of nuance. Learn more about these great new releases at https://twovintners.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Two Vintners.
2022 City Limits Chardonnay- Mostly coming from the Evergreen Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA, the 2022 City Limits Chardonnay offers bright pear and kiwi notes on the nose alongside shades of cardamom. Mostly stored in stainless steel, this shows a smooth mouthfeel with good flavor density. A stunning value, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 91
2022 City Limits ‘Detour’ Red Wine- Mainly Merlot, the 2022 ‘Detour’ shows bing cherry and cola notes on the nose alongside dried herbs. This comes off a bit lean on the mid-palate, alongside good freshness. Drink 2024-2030- 89
2021 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon- Bottled in summer 2023, the 2021 City Limits Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth on the mouth.Red licorice and black currants mingle well with copious minerals on the palate. Medium-bodied, enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2024-2030- 90
2022 City Limits ‘The Citizen’ Red WIne- A Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel blend with a touch of Syrah, the 2022 ‘The Citizen’ offers juicy red fruit flavors alongside black tea and dried herbs on the palate. Drink 2024-2030- 90
2022 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’ Gewurtztraminer- This 2022 Gewwurtztraminer comes from the Olsen Vineyard and saw extended maceration (8 weeks) and is a brilliant yellow hue in the glass. Big and bold on the mouth, this shows lychee and peach tones on the palate, alongside good freshness and a seamless mouthfeel. For the price this one is a total steal. Drink 2024-2031- 93
2021 Make Haste Cinsault- This 2022 Make Haste 100% Cnisault from the Olsen Vineyard. Given roughly 30% whole cluster fermentation, this was stored in neutral puncheons before bottling. Beautiful wt stone and red cherry candy combines with shades of green olives on the nose. This is very elegant and Pinoesque on the palate, showing beautiful pure red fruit flavors. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache- The brilliant 2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Grenache shows red florals on the nose alongside shades of white pepper and orange peel on the nose. The palate is juicy and bright with a great core of pomegranate seed, red cherry and guava flavors. Sourced from the Boushey, WeatherEye and Olsen Vineyards. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2021 Two Vintners ‘Claire’ Grenache- The stunning 2021 Two Vintners ‘Claire’ Grenache comes from the Boushey Vineyard. Beautiful red rose petals mark the nose alongside citrus zest, red currants and guava tones. The palate is refined and elegant with silky tannins and serious richness. Deep and concentrated, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, this is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2021 Two Vintners ‘Oliver’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Oliver’ by Two Vintners is composed of 85% Grenache with the remainder Petite Sirah and Syrah. Very dark in the glass, this comes off refined and elegant on the mouth, with loamy soils and salty accents. Hoisin sauce, black currant jelly, white pepper dusted brisket flavors combine with shades of black licorice on the palate. This is already beautifully evolved stuff. 40% whole cluster fermented and blended before bottling. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2021 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah- This 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Syrah is inky in the glass and has a touch of Viognier and Roussanne blended in. Smoky tones fill the glass alongside cigar ash, black cherry compote and shades of tangerine zest on the palate. The palate is soft and refined texture. Rich dark fruits collide with copious minerals mingle well with salty tones. This is a killer value from this warm vintage. Drink 2024-2034- 92
2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Diamonds’ Syrah- Coming from the Discovery Vineyard, this 2021 100% varietal Syrah offers fresh sage and smoked pork shoulder on the nose alongside oyster sauce, charcuterie and shades of black olive tapenade. The palate shows plenty of non-fruit nuance with iodine and steak drippings alongside wild blackberry flavors. Very fresh and fragrant, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah- Coming from the Stoney Vine Vineyard, the 2021 Two Vintners ‘Some Days Are Stones’ Syrah is an awesome new bottling by winemaker Morgan Lee. Smoldering stones and green olives mark the nose alongside Umami and bacon fat notes. The palate is very fresh and soft, showing a refined texture. This is elegant Rocks District wine that is already drinking marvelously right now. For my palate this might be the best rendition of this wine that I have tasted. Drink 2024-2032- 95
2021 Two Vintners ‘The Waiting List’ Syrah- The 2021 Two Vintners ‘The Waiting List’ Syrah is entirely sourced from the Boushey Vineyard. Potporri and a dusting of white pepper mark the nose alongside shades of boysenberry on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with good underlying tension and a loaded core of black fruits. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2021 Two Vintners ‘Lola’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Lola’ comes from the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks District. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Syrah, this shows off great stony character on the palate, with a smooth mouthfeel. Layers of boysenberry and black cherry fruits combine with salted meats and orange rind notes on the palate. The flavor range is sensational. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2021 Two Vintners ‘Alice’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Alice’ is a very elegant and refined wine that is drinking marvelously right now. Mainly Merlot, this shows a silky texture with generous black fruits alongside black tea, milk chocolate covered espresso bean, garrigue and sagebrush notes. Drink 2024-2040- 93
2020 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- Smooth, forward and ripe, the 2020 Two Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot offers juicy red and dark fruits alongside a ripe texture on the mouth, with milk chocolate accents. Drink 2024-2032- 91
2021 Two Vintners ‘Legit’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Pepper Bridge, Dineen, Discovery, Stone Tree and Pollard Vineyards. The wine has 20% Zinfandel and 5% Petit Verdot blended in. Dense dark fruits parade with chocolate and espresso grounds on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 92
2021 Two Vintners ‘Sal’ Cabernet Sauvignon- All Discovery Vineyard, this 2021 red blend has smaller portions Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blended in. Showing good freshness, this offers green bell pepper, mocha, tar and anise noise on the palate alongside salty nuances. With refined tannins and a rich mouthfeel, this is already refined stuff at the three year mark. Drink 2024-2038- 93
2021 Two Vintners ‘Stone Tree Vineyard’ Zinfandel- Ripe and round, weighing in at 16.5% alcohol, the 2021 Zinfandel offers a refined mouthfeel with chocolate, dried herbs and espresso ground flavors alongside a smooth texture and rich dark fig and blackberry notes. This is big, burly and delicious Zin that is already drinking marvelous. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2021 Covington Cellars ‘Prima’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Prima’ is winemaker Morgan Lee’s version of a Super Tuscan, as this is Sangiovese dominant. Damp earth and worn leather notes mark the nose alongside shades of dark currants and coffee grounds. Fresh and lithe with a smooth mouthfeel, this is really well-done. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2020 Covington Cellars ‘Ode’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Ode’ spent three years in neutral oak puncheons, as this is 100% Sangiovese wine. Very smooth on the mouth, this displays tobacco leaf and dark cherry on the palate alongside wet stone and soft tannins. This is a really refined Sangio that is both dense and light on its feet. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2021 Covington Cellars ‘Lawson’ Red Wine- Mostly Merlot (85%) from the Discovery Vineyard, 2021 ‘Lawson’ shows a smooth mouthfeel with black currants and sagebrush notes alongside coffee grounds on the palate. Really good, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 93
2021 Covington Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon- A really good effort from this warm vintage, the 2021 Covington Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its dark core in the glass. Black cherry and green herbs on the nose alongside blackberry tones on the palate. Juicy and rich, with refined tannins, this is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2024-2038- 93
2021 Two Vintners ‘Late Harvest Olsen Vineyard’ Riesling- One of the outstanding dessert wines from Washington that I have tasted over the past year, the thrilling 2021 Two Vintners ‘Late Harvest Olsen Vineyard’ Riesling shows both poise and weight, with fabulous flavor range. Honeysuckle and beeswax notes alongside ripe pineapple mark the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with unbelievable texture and sense of length. Finishing exceedingly long, this is going to satisfy any lover of dessert wine. Drink 2024-2035- 95