For years I have admired the wines by Spring Valley, that for decades have received accolades by wine critics across the globe. What was farmland for roughly 100 years, Shari and Dean Derby planted vines on the land and made their first vintage in 1999. The Derbys’ son Devin Corkrum Derby served as winemaker until his passing in 2004.
Devin’s assistant and friend Serge Laville took over as winemaker and has been crafting some beautiful wines for many years. A few years back Kate Derby, a sixth-generation family farmer and winemaker, took over the help at Spring Valley Vineyard. She has worked at Spring Valley Vineyard for much of her life. Growing up she spent summers hoeing the vineyard rows with her grandfather and racking wine with Spring Valley’s first winemaker, her uncle Devin Derby. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began her full time career with Spring Valley in the tasting room, then on the road representing the brand across the country and finally joining the winemaking team in 2011. Check out the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which is downright delicious and deftly captures the art of blending. Just as good is the soft and approachable 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine (OB, 94) which has fabulous flavor range considering the coolness of the vintage. Learn more about these outstanding wines at springvalleyvineyard.com Here are my reviews of the fantastic new Spring Valley wines.
2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine- The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Red Wine was stored for 19 months in all new French oak. The wine combines 50% Cabernet Franc with 49% Merlot and a dash of Malbec. This is silky, dense and delicious wine, with red bell pepper alongside heady dark fruits and espresso grounds. Medium to full-bodied, and fresh, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2039- 94
2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc- Wonderfully herbal and 10% varietal, the 2022 Spring Valley ‘Katherine Corkrum’ Cabernet Franc offers dense chocolate and Arabica bean flavors that mingle well with red bell pepper on the palate. Heady and rich, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2039- 94
2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ Red Wine The 2022 Spring Valley ‘Fredrick’ combines 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Stored in all new French oak this delivers rich roasted fig and tobacco leaf flavors alongside beautiful tension and blackberry compote on the palate. Delicious now, with great finesse, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2039- 94
2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah- The really good 2022 Spring Valley ‘Nina Lee’ Syrah shows toasty oak flavors alongside bulls blood, iodine, orange peel and heady dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 93