It has now been more than four years that I have reviewed the wines of Virtue Cellars— a Seattle-area winery that was founded in 2013 by Kevin and Kathryn Mueller. Jake Edens and Kevin Meuller serve as co-winemakers. They source from some great sites in Eastern Washington and produce roughly 1,000 cases of Bordeaux and Rhone style wines each year. The wines are well-priced from some awesome vineyards.
Check out the 2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Sincerity’ Syrah (OB, 91) which is laden with minerals and shows excellent flavor range. Learn more about these wines at https://www.virtuecellars.com Here are the great new releases by Virtue Cellars.
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Enthusiasm’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Enthusiasm’ comes from the famed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain. This offers pretty red rose water and strawberry tones alongside blood orange zest and salty minerals on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91
22 Virtue Cellars ‘Unity’ Red Wine- The 2022 Unity’ is a GSM-style wine that offers garrigue and orange zest with red currants and smoked meats on the nose. The palate is quite linear with good structure and light to medium bodied red fruit flavors. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Wisdom’ Mourvedre- The 2022 ‘Wisdom’ is sourced from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard as this is 100% varietal wine. This comes off light to medium-bodied with beef drippings, tar and black olive notes alongside lighter black fruits. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Sincerity’ Syrah- Coming from the Wallula Vineyard, this 2022 Syrah offers a smooth mouthfeel with loganberry and Bing cherry flavors that parade with salty minerals and orange peel notes on the palate. Lighter to medium-bodied, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Charisma’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Charisma’ comes from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Despite being a hot site this comes off a bit herbal and lean with dark currants, chocolate and tobacco leaf. I would like more flavor density here. Drink 2025-2031- 89
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Temperance’ Cabernet Franc- The 2022 ‘Temperance’ comes from the Weinbau Vineyard. It offers garrigue and pencil lead tones on the palate alongside creme de cassis notes and salty soils. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 91
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Vitality’ Malbec- The 2022 ‘Vitality’ is a Weinbau Vineyard Malbec from this slightly cooler vintage. It comes off lighter to medium-bodied on the palate, with good structure and texture. Chocolate, iron and shades of creosote all combine with flavors of dried herbs on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 91
2022 Virtue Cellars ‘Fortitude’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Fortitude’ is a Bordeaux-inspired blend that opens with cocoa powder and dark currants on the nose with shades of coffee grounds and red cherry tomato. The palate is soft and inviting with lighter to medium bodied dark fruits alongside savory herbs, graphite and chocolate tones. Drink 2025-2032- 91