“We have a few wines for you” said winemaker and owner Jared Burns. “A few meaning more than 30” I replied. For years I have been enjoying the value wines in the Revelry portfolio but this tasting was going to be showcasing their top wines over many years. We focused this tasting on the even years which were truly fantastic from 2012-2018. I think what I was most impressed with was how Burns handled 2020. All of the 2020 wines came off clean and had good richness. They are wines to buy with confidence.
Revelry was founded by Burns all the way back in 2005. I went to college with him at Whitman and shortly after his graduation he founded his winery. He initially began this process by creating three wines that he felt were as good or better than those being offered at much higher prices. Since that time, they have expanded considerably their range of wines.
They range from their top AERIALS wines to their Columbia Valley wines that over-deliver for the price. Several years ago they built an incredible, modern facility on the south side of Walla Walla roughly 15 minutes from downtown. This is an extraordinary beautiful facility, with sweeping views of the Blue Mountains. I tend to champion this sentiment that good wine does not have to be expensive. A perfect example of this is their 2023 Revelry Rose (OB, 91) which is amongst the best editions of this wine that I have tasted. Showing a smooth mouthfeel and loads of minerality, this is going to be downright awesome to consume on a hot summer day. I loved the range of Grenache wines none more so than the 2018 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache (OB, 94) which shows beautiful purity of fruit. Even better was the 2018 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is generous and bold with a fantastic sense of weight and verve from this fabulous vintage in Washington. Learn more about this great story at revelryvintners.com and here are my reviews of the wines from Revelry Vintners.
2023 Revelry Rose- Neatly textured and lithe, this is a beautiful, very pretty rendition of the Revelry Rose from 2023. Red currants and watermelon flavors combine with orange peel and salty minerals on the palate. Stored in all stainless steel, the texture makes you think this has some barrel age. Very well-done! Drink 2024-2030- 91
2022 Revelry Grenache Blanc- The 2022 Grenache Blanc shows serious tension with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Gooseberry and kiwi flavors mingle well with cantaloupe tones on the palate. Drink 2024-2029- 92
2022 Revelry ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay was stored in stainless steel with extended lees contact. This comes off very fresh with a smooth texture. Showing rich orchard fruits and lemon zest notes alongside shades of salted French bread, this is a delicious rendition of this wine that has some good aging potential. Drink 2024-2031- 92
2012 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- The 2012 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache offers burnt orange and pretty red florals on the nose alongside suggestions of tobacco leaf. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2016 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- This 2016 Grenache did not see any new French oak. Beautiful potpourri and red currants combine with shades of baking spices and orange peel on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a smooth texture and is loaded with bright red fruit character. This still has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2018 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- The beautiful 2018 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache was stored in all natural oak before bottling. This displays red rose petals and citrus blossom notes that combine with shades of damp soils and blood orange zest notes. The palate is plush and shows beautiful balance and shows beautiful flavor density with it is purity of pomegranate seed, strawberry and Yakima cherry fruit flavors. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2020 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- This plush 2020 Grenache offers red cherry candy notes alongside dusty soils and shades of bergamot. The palate is refined and soft with smooth tannins that combine with orange peel and damp earthy notes. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2021 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache- A beautiful new wine, the 2021 Revelry ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Grenache is heady and dense on the nose alongside red rose petals and suggestions of cloves and kumquat zest notes. The palate is refined and smooth, showing good weight and length. Finishing long with bright strawberry and pomegranate seed flavors, with copious minerals, this is a beautiful wine that has a long way to go. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2012 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The excellent 2014 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah takes on baking spices and tar notes with sagebrush tones aromatically. The palate is soft and refined with good richness and dense blackberry, black cherry with ash notes. Roughly 20% new French oak, this is texturally beautifully. Enjoy now. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2014 Revery ‘Block 18’ Syrah- This outstanding 2014 Revery ‘Block 18’ Syrah was stored in all neutral oak before bottling. Garrigue and black tea and anise notes combine with dense dark fruits. The palate is fresh and lifted with beautiful richness and underlying finesse. Wild blackberry and marionberry fruit flavors combine with coffee grounds and dried green herbs. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2016 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- Very lifted and intense aromatically, the 2018 ‘Block 18’ Syrah is a gorgeous wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Once on the nose this offers black florals and allspice notes that combine with salty soils and Earl Grey tea. The palate is fresh and refined with a soft texture and good underlying finesse. This is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2018 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The 2018 ‘Block 18’ Syrah is a soft and approachable wine that is already neatly evolved. On the nose this shows rich dark fruits with coffee grounds and dusty soil notes, with herbal accents. The palate is soft and rich, showing good finesse and refined tannins that combine with shades of sagebrush and black currants. Drink 2024-2034- 93
2020 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Block 18’ Syrah utilizes a northern rhone clone, 174 selection. Right away this shows good flavor density and comes off very clean on the palate. Loganberry and black currant cordial mark the palate alongside coffee grounds and shades of milk chocolate. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2021 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah- An inky and rich wine, the 2021 Revelry ‘Block 18’ Syrah delivers fresh sage and dark chocolate shavings on the nose alongside suggestions of iodine. The palate is fresh and refined with good richness and salty undertones, alongside the core of huckleberry and black currant fruits. While youthful this is nearly impossible to resist now. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2020 Revelry ‘Block 19’ Syrah- A wine made from clone 877 (southern Rhone based), this 2020 Syrah offers beautiful herbal notes on the palate, alongside a heady core of black and red fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied and very delicious, enjoy now and over the next several years. Stored in all neutral oak. Drink 2024-2030- 94
2021 Revelry ‘Block 19’ Syrah- A beautiful wine from this warm vintage, the 2021 ‘Block 19’ Syrah is a fantastic wine with fantastic flavor density and balance. On the nose this takes on milk chocolate and herbal accents that combine with black currant cordial. The palate is plush and refined with good verve and richness. This is a total stunner, revealing beautiful salty and garrigue accents. Drink 2024-2036- 95
2009 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The 2009 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ was stored in slightly less than 50% new French oak before bottling. This is still showing beautifully right now. Beautiful red rose petals combine with loamy soils, black currants and espresso ground flavors. Soft and elegant, this is right at its peak. Drink 2024-2029- 92
2010 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from this cool vintage, the 2010 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc shows really nice stuffing considering the vintage. Rich blackberry and coffee ground flavors combine with damp soils and shades of milk chocolate. Well-structured, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2012 Revelry ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc- The nicely aged 2012 Cabernet Franc shows beautiful herbal tones on the nose alongside blackberry compote, black licorice and cigar box. The palate is soft and refined with soft tannins that frame a beautiful core of dark fruits, with herbal accents. This is absolutely killer stuff. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2014 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- This 2014 ‘Weinbau Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc was stored in roughly 40% new French oak before bottling. This is very fresh wine with salty minerals that make your mouth water. Boysenberry and black currant flavors combine with good structure and chocolate notes on the palate. Drink 2024-2032- 94
2016 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The downright awesome 2016 ‘Aerials’ comes from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. Once on the nose this takes on layers of chocolate and sagebrush noise alongside shades of red bell pepper. This comes off very fresh and shows a smooth texture alongside layers of wild blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, with chocolate and fresh mint. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2018 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2018 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a soft and generous bottling that is drinking great now — and has a long way to go. On the nose this offers pipe tobacco and dark chocolate notes alongside coffee grounds. The palate is fresh and soft, delivering good flavor density and plenty of herbal tones. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2020 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2020 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a great showing from this tough vintage. Red bell pepper and potpourri combine with shades of coffee grounds and black tea. The palate is soft and refined, with good density and a great core of dark fruits. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2021 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc- The 2021 Revelry ‘Aerials’ Cabernet Franc is a really pretty wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. The palate is lithe and fresh with a savory edge, showing salty undertones. Rich huckleberry and wild blackberry fruit flavors with Earl Grey tea and notes of cocoa nibs. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2020 Revelry ‘The Limited Edition Reveler’ Red Wine- A new wine utilizing all 5 Bordeaux varietals, the 2020 ‘The Reveler’ offers ash, dark currants and tobacco leaf notes on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with a smooth texture. This is seriously good for 30 dollars retail. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2012 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Coming from Block 11 in the Dionysus Vineyard, this 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers black currants, anise, and Black Forest cake flavors that combine with espresso ground notes on the palate. Rich and viscous, this is beautiful wine that is right in its wheelhouse. Drink 2024-2030- 94
2014 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Outstanding in this warm vintage, the 2014 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers sagebrush, dark currents and shades of violets on the nose. The palate is seamless and rich with a smooth texture and gorgeous sense of length. This is drinking so well now. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2016 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A fantastic wine from this vintage, the 2016 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers mocha, dark currants and salty soil notes on the nose. The palate is viscous and soft with a smooth texture. Generous and well-balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2018 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers pipe tobacco and mocha notes alongside dark currants. The palate is viscous and neatly textured with good length and salty as well as earthy nuances that combine with a deep core of dark fruits. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2020 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2020 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows good flavor density with mocha, tar and allspice flavors that combine with a deep core of dark currants and wild blackberry. Drink 2024-2030- 94
2021 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very heady and well-structured, the 2021 Revelry ‘D11’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers a beautiful core of blackberry and dark currant fruit flavors that mingle well with loads of minerals and good verve. Drink 2024-2038- 95
2009 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Red Wine- Coming from Red Mountain Vineyard, this offers beautiful herbal notes on the nose with red bell pepper and black florals. The palate is ver yfresh considering its age with blackberry and black cherry flavors. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2010 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2010 ‘Red Mountain’ by Revelry is well-structured showing dried herbs with black currants and black cherry notes on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2014 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2014 ‘Red Mountain’ is a dense, voluptuous bottling that has a great core of black currants and anise notes alongside huckleberry tones. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2016 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is another great warm vintage showing. A beautiful core of black and blue fruits line this wine with espresso ground flavors and graphite. Enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2018 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A glorious wine from a great vintage, the 2018 ‘Red Mountain’ is plush and soft on the mouth, with great density and sandalwood tones. Refined and elegant, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95
2020 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘Red Mountain’ is soft and plush — very approachable now in its core of chocolate, tar and dark fruits. Drink 2024-2030- 92
2021 Revelry ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Dense and delicious, this 2021 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers pipe tobacco, mocha and tar nose on the palate alongside shades of black licorice. Rich and heady, with good viscosity and underlying tension, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2038- 95
2014 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The beautiful 2014 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous and delicious wine that has serious body, structure and underlying verve. Rich loganberry and black current fruit flavors that mingle well with Turkish coffee flavors. This is right in its sweet spot. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2018 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This barrel selection wine coming form 2018, was stored in mainly new French oak before bottling. The palate is generous and bold with beautiful structure and finesse. Dark chocolate and pencil lead alongside tar notes combine on the palate. Drink 2024-2040- 95
2019 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers beautiful dried herbs alongside espresso grounds, and tar notes on the nose. This shows beautiful texture and richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Drink 2024-2038- 95
2020 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon - The outstanding 2020 Revelry ‘Delta Bravo’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows chocolate, coffee ground and tobacco left flavors that combine with copious minerals on the palate. Smooth and soft throughout the drinking experience, enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2024-2030- 93