It is my pleasure to share the incredible wines of Chris Upchurch and Upchurch Vineyard. This is one of the greats on Red Mountain and really one of the most gorgeous spots to taste in all of the Pacific Northwest. Chris Upchurch is a legendary winemaker, having crafted an incredible range of wines for DeLille Cellars before starting his first outpost more than a decade ago. He now has an outpost in Woodinvlle that is right in the town center, near the new Somm Hotel. I tasted there with him for several hours and we chatted wine and soccer. He is one of the icons of Washington wine.
I adore the new 2025 Upchurch Vineyard Rose (OB, 93) which is one of the best Rose wines from Washington that I have tasted this year. Learn more about this fantastic winery at https://upchurchvineyard.com Here are the beautiful new wines by Upchurch Vineyard.
2025 Upchurch Vineyard Rose- The incredible 2025 Upchurch Rose comes from Candy Mountain and is all Grenache that was stored in concrete before bottling. Strawberry, guava and orange blossom all combine on the nose. This is heady and dense, yet is seamless throughout the drinking experience. This has amazing push/pull between tension and richness. Drink 2026-2033- 93
2024 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Southwest Facing’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 ‘Southwest Facing’ comes from the Boushey Vineyard. The nose is downright killer with green herbs that combine with peach, lychee and shades of green melon. The palate is refined and elegant with a seamless mouthfeel and great concentration with salty minerals. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Candy Mountain’ Merlot- The 2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Candy Mountain’ Merlot comes from this location that neighbors Red Mountain. Cocoa powder and scorched earth combine with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is lush and ripe with terrific flavor density and loads of salty minerals. This is already neatly-defined stuff that will drink brilliantly over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038- 94
2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Counterpart’ Merlot- All Merlot from the Upchurch Vineyard, the 2023 ‘Counterpart’ offers violets, rocky soils and shades of anise with black licorice on the nose. The palate is velvety and soft with amazing volume and flavor density. The weight and length is outstanding. Drink 2026-2044- 95
2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘LTL’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘LTL’ is ai killer value by Chris Upchurch. Violets, tar and black currants mark the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and excellent sense of weight. This is already beautifully-evolved stuff that is best enjoyed over the next six plus years. Drink 2026-2033- 93
2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Quintessence Block 51’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Quintessence Block 51’ Cabernet Sauvignon offers beautiful black florals on the nose with scorched earth and tar notes with dark chocolate shavings. The palate is lush and refined with a great sense of flavor density and underlying finesse. Drink 2026-2042- 94
2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Heart of the Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Upchurch Vineyard ‘Heart of the Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is refined and elegant on the palate. Concentrated boysenberry and black currant flavors combine with tar and anise seed on the palate. A delightful bottling that is drinking marvelously now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2042- 95
2023 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon- What is possibly the finest release of this wine, and certainly 2018 and 2021, the 2023 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a decadent, delicious bottling that is already beautifully evolved. Blackberry compote and black fliraosl combine wth shades of Hoisin sauce and black licorice. The palate is seamless throughout the drinking experience with loads of salty minerality. An outstanding wine that has tons of cellaring potential, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2044- 97