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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 136 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Hamersly on 12/16/2021 & rated 92 points: Fully mature but not over the hill. Smooth and delicious, drinking beautifully. (1319 views) | | | Tasted by efeldhake@yahoo.com on 11/12/2020 & rated 92 points: Deep garnet and color with slight breaking edges. Nose of cherries, vanilla, and hence of tobacco. Lovely taste of being cherries, milk chocolate, leather, tar. and a rustic quality. Resolve tannins, bright fruit, and complementary acidity. A lovely wine drinking well and then it’s prime. Drink now and over the next 3 to 5 years. (1610 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 5/25/2019 & rated 92 points: Rich, delicious and mouth coating flavors, with pencil lead, dark fruit, spice and mineral flavors. Really drinking well. (2012 views) | | | Tasted by skifree on 10/5/2018 & rated 91 points: This was in full bloom. Lots of ripe black fruit, tannins were integrated, so it had nice complexity with the fruit dominating. (2320 views) | | | Tasted by rmcnees on 9/16/2018 & rated 93 points: In my tasting note from 2009 I stated this needed more time. In my last tasting note in 2017 I said, 'Its time!" Tonight, this wine has matured and improved with further aging and was better still, consistent with my recent tasting back in May of this year when I wrote below.
"Much better, smoother and more approachable than last tasting five years ago when I said it needs more time. Its time! Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, smooth polished forward aromatic black currant and black berry fruits give way to hint of nicely integrated oak turning to tones of minerality, black cherry and dark mocha chocolate with hints of anise and tobacco."
We drank half the bottle with dinner last night, and it was even better today with grilled tenderloin for our Sunday afternoon dinner! Its showing elegance and finesse and smooth polished texture with velvety tannins on the long finish. This is definitely as its apex in its fourteenth year!
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/09/uriah-spring-valley-vineyards-walla.html (2499 views) | | | Tasted by TallMikeWine on 4/3/2018 & rated 90 points: The accounts of the demise of this wine are greatly exaggerated. Don't believe that window here on CT that says 3 years ago this was done! I mean, sure, time to drink up, but if you've saved this one for a bit, DO enjoy the secondary and tertiary flavors coming through, especially the Franc's rose petal and chocolate notes. This wine is certainly not the bar room brawler it probably was in it's youth (just looking at that picture of Urhiah on the label), but it's a proper gentleman now. Taking your hat and coat when you arrive and showing you a proper time all evening long, before calling you an Uber. Right? (2209 views) | | | Tasted by bzukaitis on 9/4/2016: Opened very astringent but mellowed over time. Definitely past peak but still enjoyable. My cork popped 3/4 way down also. Fruit lacking but still enjoyable with strip steak and Asian marinade chicken mixed grill. Spring valley has been very good. If they have maintained quality buy and enjoy more recent vintages. (3212 views) | | | Tasted by TashNYC on 3/19/2016 flawed bottle: Alas, this bottle was spoiled. The cork broke upon opening and we got a lot of funk. Last bottle - a sad way to go out. (3074 views) | | | Tasted by Redguy on 1/26/2016: Not as good as previous bottle. The fruit was tired and the VA thriving. (3035 views) | | | Tasted by Patrice Barbeau on 1/3/2016: But avec Richard avant son depart
(2957 views) | | | Tasted by Redguy on 11/30/2015: Black fruit and minty merlot notes. Soft but noticeable tannins. Getting a little squishy around the edges. Drink up! (2612 views) | | | Tasted by rmcnees on 8/12/2015 & rated 93 points: Much better, smoother and more approachable than last tasting five years ago when I said it needs more time. Its time! Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, smooth polished forward aromatic black currant and black berry fruits give way to hint of nicely integrated oak turning to tones of minerality, black cherry and dark mocha chocolate with hints of anise and tobacco. (1934 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 4/1/2015 & rated 91 points: Very tasty, with refined dark fruit, spice and mineral flavors. Elegant and smooth. (1835 views) | | | Tasted by Bellissimo on 1/2/2015: I has been over 3 years since I last had this bottle. For those of you fortunate enough to have held on to them, congrats as this is drinking great. Dark smoky fruit with leather, tobacco and a little anise. Nicely strung together with nothing out of place or showy. Smooth, reserved, balanced and complex. (2052 views) | | | Tasted by pdemaio on 12/9/2014 & rated 93 points: big and powerful. Nicely balanced. Lots of fruit. A showy wine that doesn't disappoint. (2084 views) | | | Tasted by BATWine on 12/3/2013 & rated 91 points: Delicious. Perfect time to drink. (3203 views) | | | Tasted by wine4me2 on 10/1/2013 & rated 92 points: still great...wish I had more. (3165 views) | | | Tasted by Don and Pam on 9/6/2013 & rated 92 points: Each one gets better. great nose, start to finish excellent (2967 views) | | | Tasted by Winiac on 8/7/2013 & rated 87 points: Too acidic. (3067 views) | | | Tasted by BATWine on 5/17/2013 & rated 90 points: Still delicious. Holding up very well for a Washington wine. (3145 views) | | | Tasted by Tad GW on 5/7/2013 & rated 93 points: 50+5+12+18+8=93 (2281 views) | | | Tasted by TashNYC on 2/2/2013: Cellar clean- up (2193 views) | | | Tasted by TashNYC on 2/2/2013: Cellar clean- up #2 (2354 views) | | | Tasted by gmbdds on 11/17/2012: This showed fruity and soft but not complex or deep. Yet it was not oxidized or tired. Never has been my favorite vintage of Uriah. Previously scored 89-90 points. Not scored tonight. (2526 views) | | | Tasted by BATWine on 11/16/2012 & rated 92 points: Delicious as always (2202 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Sean Sullivan
Washington Wine Report (7/21/2009)
(Spring Valley Vineyards Uriah Walla Walla Valley) A lively nose with strong black licorice and jammy fruit. Lithe and refined on the palate. A lot of texture and grainy tannins. 59% Merlot; 36% Cab Franc; 5% Petit Verdot. 14.8% alcohol. 3,000 cases produced. ***** points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Washington Wine Report. (manage subscription channels) |
| Spring Valley Vineyard Producer website
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/10/spring-valley-vineyards-tasting-and.html
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/10/walla-walla-ava-wine-experience.html
Country: US
Region: Washington
Appellation: Walla Walla Valley
Blend: Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Varietal: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 14% Cabernet Franc 8% Malbec
Vineyard: 100% Spring Valley Vineyard Estate Bottled
Winemaker: Serge Laville
Aging/Cooperage: 19 months in 100% French oak, 47% new
Alcohol: 14.5%
PH: 3.97
TA: 0.51g/LRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Walla Walla ValleyThe name translates as easily as it rolls off the tongue: Walla Walla. Many Waters. To the earliest Native tribes, the many waters came from the nearby Blue Mountains and gathered to form the Walla Walla River on its way to join the Columbia to the west. The waters flowed first; however, into a fair-sized Valley carved in the mountain's foothills, and bordered in part by the terrain of what is known as the Columbia Plateau. Tribal members knew the Valley's generally milder climate could maintain their people in winter villages. There were lush wild grasses which could sustain horses and attract game from the winter snows of the nearby Blues, or from the giant high plateau that becomes desolate and dangerous during the cold season. The rolling terrain and numerous watersheds offered protection from nature and other hazards of the day. Here the water was plentiful and full of fish and seldom froze, even in the coldest years. The meadows were wonderful places to gather with other people to trade, compete and celebrate treaties. Compared to the region around them, the Walla Walla Valley was a safe refuge from the treacherous conditions which can often be found during the winter for hundreds of miles around. In this unique growing region, most of the earliest records of grapes and winemaking reference the Italians who had immigrated here in the mid to late 1800's and who brought with them their tradition of growing, making and drinking wine. Vines with these origins still exist in the Valley today. The first post-prohibition winery was Blue Mountain Vineyards. It was bonded in 1950 by the Pesciallo family where they produced Black Prince and other Italian varietal wines for a period of several years before succumbing to economics and climate. To the wine world of today, Walla Walla has become know for the quality and style of its red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Syrah gaining notoriety in recent years. In the1970's, the pioneers of today's wine community began to think similar thoughts: that the Walla Walla Valley, with its long history of fruit growing, moderate climate, wine-making heritage, and interesting terrain might just be a place to grow vines and make wine on a commercial scale. These pioneers of the region applied for and received approval of the Walla Walla Valley as a unique American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984. It was the third in Washington State and also includes a portion of land in Oregon. In the time leading to the recognition of the appellation, four wineries had been bonded starting with Leonetti Cellar, and shortly thereafter, Woodward Canyon. L'Ecole Nº 41 and Waterbrook soon followed. In addition to the smaller vineyards that were being planted, the Valley's first large-scale, commercial vineyard Seven Hills was established. By the time the BATF recognized the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the Valley was beginning to gain attention from within the wine industry, as well as attracting publicity from journalists and media outside the region. The foundation for today’s industry had been laid and the benchmark for quality had been set. In addition, fruit from the area was now being harvested and a baseline for understanding the local growing conditions was being constructed. Every few years another winery would join the fold and take up the challenge of producing the highest quality wine and the growing of outstanding fruit. Seven Hills Winery and Patrick M. Paul each got their start during this time. More vines were added, although acreage increases were small each year. The industry was small and everyone knew everyone else involved, while the welcome mat remained out for any newcomers. Growers and winemakers alike regularly shared time in the cellar or at the table and together learned more about wines and vines. By 1990 there were just six wineries and the Valley's grape acreage stood at perhaps 100 acres. The total collective production of wine was microscopic by any measure, but it was the quality that was being noticed by many inside and outside the trade. As the tiny trickle of wine produced in the Walla Walla AVA began to flow to the outside world, a "wine renaissance" was beginning to happen globally. The Pacific Northwest had staked a claim in this new wine world and as people learned about the region, they also began to hear about Walla Walla. This interest spread rapidly to those with Walla Walla connections. The early 1990s saw the planting of more vines and the establishment of another large-scale vineyard, Pepper Bridge. At the same time, a group of local investors, working closely with the Napa based Chalone Wine group, laid the foundation for Canoe Ridge Vineyard, the Valley's first winery supported in part by a major outside investor. As the industry has grown, many new wineries have gotten their start in the arms of an established winery. Waterbrook Winery's modern production facility started the trend, sharing space, equipment, and any help needed. Other wineries also adopted “extra guests,” a practice that has helped form close, personal relationships throughout the local industry. By the turn of the new century, the Walla Walla Valley wine industry had 22 wineries and 800 acres of grapes. In the year 2000 the AVA had been expanded back to the original boundaries proposed in the1984 application. The year 2000 also saw the formation of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance with 100% of the Valley's wineries and 98% of the Valley's planted acreage represented. Today, more than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries and more than 1,200 acres of Walla Walla Valley grapes contribute to the ever growing, international acclaim garnered by the wines of this newly-emerging region of Washington State. |
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