Pepper Bridge and Amavi

It is my pleasure to share the fabulous wines made by Swiss-born winemaker Jean-François Pellet. Pellet is a third-generation wine grower. He is an incredible talent that worked with his father before coming to the Walla Walla Valley back in 1999. Pepper Bridge founder Norm McKibbon saw the potential in Pellet and made him Pepper Bridge winemaker. The brand has been going strong ever since. In addition to being winemaker at both Pepper Bridge and Amavi, Pellet is a partner in Artifex, the largest custom crush facility in Walla Walla, as well as the Octave Vineyard. Wines by Pellet have gotten better and better, even more consistent in the past ten years.

I was able to try a few wines from the new vintage on the horizon, 2025. Pellet mentioned that “2025 was moderate in terms of 100 degree days. This helped with the white wine and Rose wines.” He was very fond of 2024 “And I think that this vintage is really good across the board” he said.

Yesterday I sat with Pellet and tasted his new wines which were amazing across the board. His Amavi brand continues to deliver good value. I love the 2025 Amavi Semillon (OB, 93) which is arguably the finest Semillon you will taste on the West Coast.  He has consistently been crafting one of the finest Rose wines in Washington State. the 2025 Amavi Rose (OB, 93) is another amazing edition of this wine filled with nuance and earthy character.  Learn more at pepperbridge.com and here are the gorgeous new red wine releases by Pepper Bridge.

2025 Amavi Semillon- This 2025 Semillon has a small portion of Sauvignon Blanc blended in. This wine was first made back in 2002. This offers wonderful walnut tones on the nose alongside kiwi white florals and starfruit notes. The plate is lifted with a silky mouthfeel and marvelous sense of weight, with underlying stony minerality. Drink 2026-2032- 93

2025 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon Blanc- The 2025 Pepper Bridge Sauvignon has 9% Semillon blended in. This was first made in 2013. Pink grapefruit blossom combines with pretty gooseberry and guava fruits on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous with terrific mouthfeel and amazing verve. This is refined Sauvignon Blanc, loaded with tension, that has some great aging potential. Drink 2026-2034- 94

2025 Amavi Rose- Another amazing edition of this wine, the 2025 Amavi Rose was all fermented in stainless steel and is 100% Cabernet Franc from two locations in the Walla Walla Valley. Pretty mandarin orange blossom and red raspberry tones mark the nose alongside damp earthy tones. The palate is rich and seamless as this glides throughout the drinking experience. It is an outstanding Rose that has some excellent cellaring potential. Drink 2026-2033- 93

2024 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Syrah- Coming from a range of locations in the Walla Walla Valley, the 2024 Syrah was stored in 30% new French oak and has 11% Grenache blended in. The nose shows savory and smoky tones with dark currants and fresh sage. The palate is fresh and viscous with great herbaceousness and stony notes. Drink 2026-2034- 93

2023 Amavi ‘Les Collines’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Les Collines’ comes from this location in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The nose is gorgeous with blue florals alongside blackberry compote, sagebrush, anise and shades of pencil lead. The palate is velvety and soft with amazing flavor density and verve. The palate is loaded with sanguine character and mouth-watering acidity. Loaded with earthy tones and stony minerals, this youthful Syrah showing beautifully right now. Drink 2026-2034- 95

2023 Amavi ‘Stone Valley’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Stone Valley’ was given roughly 50% whole cluster fermentation. Stored in a small amount of new French oak (10%), this shows off charcuterie, Nora, white pepper dusted bacon and black olive tapenade flavors on the palate. Fresh and lively with terrific flavor density, this could come from only one place. Drink 2026-2036- 95

2024 Amavi ‘Ceres’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Ceres’ is almost equal parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Stored in a relatively small amount of new oak this shows Arabica bean notes alongside pencil lead and cassis tones. The palate is big and rich with terrific freshness and pretty floral character from the Cabernet Franc. This is already drinking marvelously. Drink 2026-2038- 94

2023 Amavi ‘Walla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Wallla Walla’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous wine that comes from the Pepper Bridge, Les Collines, Octave and Summit View Vineayrds. Pencil lead and sandalwood combine with mocha, tar and creme de cassis notes. The palate is juicy and delicious with terrific flavor density and finesse. Drink 2026-2038- 93

2023 Pepper Bridge ‘Walla Walla’ Merlot- The 2022 ‘Walla Walla’ Merlot has a touch of Malbec and Cabernet Franc blended in. All coming from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Summit View and Octave Vineyards this offers menthol and pretty red florals on the nose with a velvety mouthfeel and refined tannins. Rich dark fruits mingle well with coffee grounds and shades of dark currants on the palate. This is well-structured and impeccably balanced stuff, as this comes off seamless through the drinking experience. Drink 2026-2040- 94

2023 Pepper Bridge ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine-  The 2023 ‘Pepper Bridge Vineyard’ Red Wine is a silky blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec 9% Petit Verdot. The aromatics are gorgeous with black florals and green herbs that combine with mocha, and tar notes. The palate has terrific structure, weight and poise. It has velvety tannins with a refined mouthfeel as this comes off very elegant. Offering great length, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2044- 95

2023 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2023 Pepper Bridge ‘Seven Hills Vineyard’ Red Wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) based blend with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec all coming from this high elevation site. Espresso grounds and anise combine with black florals on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with terrific structure and amazing weight and poise. The damp soil character is outstanding. A long-ager, enjoy this beauty now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 95

2023 Pepper Bridge ‘Trine’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Trine’ combines 45% Cabernet Franc with 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller portions Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. This is lifted aromatically with bright red florals with green herbs on the nose alongside pencil lead and shades of cigar ash. The palate is plush and round with a generous mouthfeel. Showing loads of salty minerality, this offers excellent structure, weight and length. Drinking beautifully now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2044- 95

2023 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous bottling that has small portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc blended in. The wine comes off seamless and elegant with serious freshness and texture. Mocha, creme de cassis and violets all combine with damp soils on the palate. There is a terrific push/pull between ripe dark fruits and earthy character, as this will age beautiful for two decades. Drink 2026-2046- 95