Today we share the brilliant wines of Walla Walla Vintners. Proprietors Scott and Nici Haladay, have been doing an incredible job revamping this program. Having spent time with Scott, he is passionate, dedicated and very clever — he knows exactly what to do in the wine industry. He had a great hire from Long Shadows several years ago to make his wines.Derrek Vipond is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019. He trained under Gilles Nicault and his wines are very structurally sound, with a beginning, middle and end.
These wines have continued to improve in overall quality. I can’t say enough about the 25 dollar 2023 ‘Woven Fields’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which is a stunning wine at this price. It is concentrated, delicious and would be an impressive showing at any blind tasting. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners.
2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Woven Fields’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Woven Fields’ combines mostly Merlot (40%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This comes off dense, chewy, round and generous on the mouth with a silky texture. Rich red and dark fruits parade with sagebrush and chocolate fudge notes. This is a super wine at only 25 bucks. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Another wine that totally overdelivers for the price, the 2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off black tea and exotic spice notes on the nose with menthol and blackberry compote. The palate is round and generous with a terrific mouthfeel and flavor density. Enjoy now and over the next several years. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Cut Bank Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from this high elevation spot in the Walla Walla valley, the 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Cut Bank Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a round and generous mouthfeel, as this is already drinking beautifully, showing good freshness. A great melange of black and blue fruits greet you on the palate, with pencil lead, eucalyptus and suggestions of Black Forest cake. Powerful and showing good richness considering the coolness of the vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Vottavo’ Red Wine- The amazing 2022 ‘Votavo’ is nearly all Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and a dash of Syrah. It is chewy and rich on the palate, showing outstanding flavor range. Black cherry compote, red currants and blood orange zest flavors all combine with dusty soils and shades of anise. Full-bodied, well-structured and neatly-textured, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Estate’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Estate’ Syrah comes from the Cut Bank Estate which is a cooler location in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Inky in the glass, this offers wafts of mocha, tar and black rose petals, with wet stony accents. The palate is dense and vultuopus making this particularly impossible to resist now. Enjoy this beauty by Derrek Vipond over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2036- 94
2023 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Silt & Stone’ Cabernet Franc- 100% varietal, the 2023 ‘Silt & Stone’ comes from a densely planted spot in the Seven Hills Vineyard. It offers alluring red florals alongside cigar box, orange bell pepper and tomato leaf notes with black raspberry. The palate is plush and elegant with serious texture, weight and verve. A stunning new wine to savor now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 94