It is my pleasure to welcome the Valo Cellars wines, founded by Matias Kusulas and Michael Ruhland. Kusulas has been serving as Viticulturist for Lawrence Vineyards since 2017. Hailing from Chile, Kusulas has masters degrees in enology and viticulture from both Bordeaux and Montpelier. Kusulas has worked a range of jobs spanning the globe including stints in New Zealand and Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. He is making some of the most eclectic wines in Washington State, having a deft touch with a massive range of varietals and even styles of Rose.
Check out the awesome new 2024 Valo Rose (OB, 92) which is fresh and has marvelous salty character. I love the incredible 2021 Valo Cellars ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is not for the weary and is beautifully-textured stuff with terrific freshness. Learn more about these excellent new wines at valocellars.com and here are my tasting notes from the new Valo Cellars wines.
2024 Valo Sauvignon Blanc- This comes from the Desert Wind Vineyard as this is Sauvignon Blanc which was grafted over Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored in stainless steel, this offers gooseberry and shades of green apple on the nose with pink grapefruit blossom. The palate is soft and lively with a soft mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2030- 91
2024 Valo Rose- Made from Cinsault grapes, this 2024 Rose offers red rose water and shades of kiwi and salty soils on the palate. This has outstanding flavor range. Fresh and neatly-textured with good earthy and orange rind undertones, enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2025-2032- 92
2022 Valo ‘Pas Mal’ Rose- The 2022 ‘Pas Mal’ saw extensive barrel age and is 100% Tempranillo from the Desert Wind Vineyard. This is rich and viscous with a serious texture. Earthy accents combine with bright red fruits with orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 91
2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ was sourced from this famed site, and stored in all neutral oak before bottling. This is downright killer, offering mango and white peach flavors that combine with nutty and pastry crust notes on the palate. Drinking beautifully now, enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay- Sourced from old vines from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this 2021 Chardonnay was stored in new French oak barrels before bottling. This has terrific weight and salty character on the palate, offering dense peach and pineapple flavors with creme brûlée and salty nuances on the palate. A gorgeous wine from a warm vintage. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Pinot Noir saw over three months extended maceration. Stored in all large format oak barrels, this delivers great richness and texture on the palate, with dried cranberry and ripe figs alongside strawberry and dusty soils on the palate. Nicely weighted and balanced, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2021 Valo ‘Gregory Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this biodynamic vineyard in Oregon, the 2021 ‘Gregory Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir saw whole cluster fermentation. This is rich and viscous stuff with wafts of black truffle shavings and damp earthy notes on the palate. Juicy and refined with a brilliant core of red fruits, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 93
2021 Valo ‘Right Bank’ Red Wine- A Right-bank inspired wine (equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc) from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this 2021 red blend offers mint and graphite tones on the nose alongside shades of red rose petals and blackberry compote. The palate is rich and velvety with terrific mouthfeel, and a light dusting of salinity. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Merlot- Sourced from old vines at the Connor Lee Vineyard, the 2021 ‘Reserve’ Merlot offers fabulous aromatic range this delivers mocha, tar and anise on the nose alongside pipe tobacco and fresh sage. The palate is dense and delicious with a smooth mouthfeel and beautiful texture. Dense and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc- Coming from the Bacchus and Connor Lee Vineyards, the 2021 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc shows black tea and red bell pepper alongside dark chocolate shavings and pencil lead notes. The palate is big and bold with a terrific tension and salty character. Brilliant to enjoy now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Valo ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this great vintage in Washington. Sourced from the Connor Lee Vineyard, this delivers loads of flavor density, with mocha, tar and anise, alongside tobacco leaf and blackberry compote. This is absolutely delicious stuff. Drink 2025-2038- 94
2021 Valo ‘In Temporal’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘In Tempral’ combines 63% Cabernet Franc with smaller parts Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon coming from the Connor Lee Vineyard. Silky smooth, this was stored in 70% new French oak before bottling. Deep and beautifully textured, this offers beautiful red florals that combines with roasted figs and boysenberry compote flavors on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2021 Valo ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah- The gorgeous 2021 ‘Connor Lee Vineyard’ Syrah is 100% varietal. Tar and anise combines with scorched earth and dense dark fruits on the nose. The palate is soft and generous with beautiful texture and orange peel accents alongside black olives and wild blackberry tones with shades of iodine. Drink 2025-2033- 94