Here Today, Gone After: Huge Scores, Highly Recommended Washington Reds
Our Washington reds have been FLYING. Thank you for that! Whether you need a restock or you've thus far missed some of the year's hottest wines, today is the day.
First up...as we expected, this cat flew! We're down to the last handful of cases so no need to be sentimental: get your 98-point K Motor City Kitty Syrah today because it'll be gone tomorrow.
$37.95 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($41.95 regular)
98 points James Suckling: There's real purity of fruit to this with blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate, as as crushed-stone undertones. It's full and focused with structure and purity. Transparent energy to this. Better in 2023 onwards.
Us: This might seem like a "duh" statement but this is really good. Really. I saw the eye-popping score and went into full skeptic mode. Opened it over the weekend, enjoyed over two days, it's a gorgeous Syrah. My only beef with the review is that the bottle I had was smoking good from the get-go; I encourage you to dive in.
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Don't snooze on these: from the same duo responsible for the incredible Force Majeure wines, Walla Walla's The Walls is red hot. Curiositas Cab is mind-blowing. Stanley Groovy is a unique wine and a fabulous value. Huge scores, highly recommended by us, down to the last handfuls.
$29.95 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($32.95 regular)
95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A blend you don't often see from Washington State, the 2018 Stanley Groovy checks in as 32% Touriga Nacional, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 13% Grenache, and the rest Tinta Cao, Souzao, and Cinsault. A dense purple hue is followed by a ripe, full-bodied, concentrated wine offering loads of blue fruits, cedary green herbs, sandalwood, and orange blossom-like aromas and flavors. As with all of the wines from this estate, the texture is incredible, it's perfectly balanced, and it has ripe, polished tannins as well as a great, great finish. It's going to keep for 15 years as well."
We could give you 100 guesses about which grape varieties make up Stanley Groovy and we’re sure you wouldn’t guess it. We wouldn't either! This unique blend of Portuguese and international grapes–27% Touriga Nacional, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Grenache, 13% Syrah, 10% Tinta Cao, 10% Souzao, 5% Counoise–is a one of a kind from Washington...and likely anywhere else, too.
But unique isn’t enough. It has to be yummy and after one sip we determined, yum. Bold and packed with flavor while also sprightly and fun, there are blue, red, and black fruits wrapped around licorice, espresso, and a sweet-smoky-mineral note. Just screaming for a grilled hanger steak.
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$59.95 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($66.95 regular)
97 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Pure, powerful bouquet of cassis and blue fruits as well as plenty of classic Red Mountain savory herb and earthy mineral nuances. This carries to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a layered, elegant texture, ripe, polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. This is another stunning wine from this estate that marries power with elegance. It has some up-front charm today given its balance and purity, yet there's more than enough structure to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age, and it should keep for two decades or more."
Us: This Walla Walla producer has taken a huge couple step forwards: they hired the rockstar wife-husband duo of Carrie and Todd Alexander, the same team responsible for the incredible wines coming from Force Majeure. Todd is a Cabernet whisperer, having cut his teeth at Napa's Bryant Family and now applying his mastery to Washington Cabernet. What's so impressive about his wines–especially his Cabs–is the refinement. It's easy to get big Washington fruit but taming it, making it into a velvety masterpiece, that's where Todd thrives. The 2018 Curiositas is a step up from the fabulous 2017, in my esteem. It's outrageously attractive.