Today we share one of the great wineries of the Pacific Northwest. It was a few years back that Avennia acquired the Tapteil Vineyard on Red Mountain to be their estate vineyard. The 45-acre site was one of the first vineyards planted on Red Mountain, by longtime owners Larry and Jane Pearson. This has become the Avennia Estate Vineyard where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the dominant plantings, with some vines dating back to 1985. There is also a small amount of Cabernet Franc planted here which is the oldest of its kind on Red Mountain. The site is managed by Dick Boushey.
Winemaker Chris Peterson years back partnered with Marty Taucher to form Avennia. These have been knockout wines since their inception more than a decade ago. I adored the 2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is mostly Merlot and offers a pillowy texture, with excellent depth from this slightly cooler vintage. Learn more about Avennia at https://avennia.com and here are my reviews of the fantastic new ‘Estate Vineyard’ wines by Avennia.
2022 Avennia ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Red Mountain’ is a 100% varietal wine that comes from their estate vineyard as well as the Hedges Estate. This bottling was aged for 18 months in only 25% new French oak barrels before bottling. It is round and elegant on the mouth, showing good concentration. Creosote and black licorice flavors mingle well with blackberry compote and chocolate pie flavors on the palate. Very good now, enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 94
2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 Avennia ‘Valery’ combines 88% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc from the Boushey and Champoux Vineyards. This is one of the great wines of its kind in Washington State. Aged in 30% new French oak, this takes on layers of red currants, Arabica bean and black rose petals alongside red bell pepper and tobacco leaf on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with good richness considering the coolness of the vintage. Medium to full-bodied, with terrific tension that connects with the damp soil character, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2022 Avennia ‘Sestina’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Sestina’ is composed of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Underbrush and dark currants mark the nose alongside suggestions of creme de violette and tar. The palate is elegant and shows off a refined texture, with plenty of underlying verve. Medium to full-bodied, with graphite, loamy soils and espresso ground accents that combine with the core of black fruits, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95