Today we share the wines of Echolands, founded by Brad Bergman and Doug Frost, MW, MS. Echolands is an amazing tasting experience outside of the town of Walla Walla. They have built their new, gorgeous facility in the Mill Creek area, with sweeping views of the valley. Doug Frost has an illustrious wine career, and is one of three individuals in the world to hold simultaneously the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, achieving his MS in 1991 and MW in 1993. He also authored ‘The Spanish Wine Guide (third edition 2009’) and is a contributing editor of the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails.
I have long admired the wines by winemaker Brian Rudin who was hired roughly a year ago to take over the winemaking program. He did incredible work at Canvasback, creating wines that have beautiful depth and flavor density — deftly showcasing the Red Mountain power and terroir.
I loved the new wines. The 2023 ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 95) is marvelously stony with insanely good flavor range. Learn more about this fantastic new project at echolandswinery.com Here are my reviews of he beautiful new wines that I tasted from Echolands.
2022 Echolands ‘Resound’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Resound’ combines mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (46%) with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot. This is soft and well-structured stuff with medium-bodied pipe tobacco and milk chocolate flavors that combine with fresh sage and kirsch notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92
2023 Echolands ‘Resurgent Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Resurgent’ Syrah comes from this site set on basalt cobblestones. This is wonderfully stony no the nose with wet gravel, tar, bay leaf and shades of Hoisin sauce with dark raspberry notes. The palate is silky smooth with a great sense of tension that runs through the core of milk chocolate, crushed wet rock and stony minerals. Seriously good, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Absolutely no reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2025-2033- 95
2022 Echolands ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2022 Echolands ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Syrah is based from Block 49 of the vineyard, as this has a touch of Viognier blended in. Lifted aromatics from the Viognier greet you with white flowers alongside red currants, menthol and shades of wet rock. The palate is very laden with texture and minerality. This is a resounding success in a cooler vintage. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2023 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc- The outstanding 2023 Echolands ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Franc was stored in a small amount of new French oak barrels before bottling. This comes off neatly-textured with good tension. Blood orange zest and red raspberry mingles well with herbs de Provence and rocky accents on the palate. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93