Hello friends. This one was originally on the docket for an autumn offering, but then I saw the following review, which to date has only appeared in the Insider section of Wine Spectator:
Wine Spectator (Harvey Steiman): “($32); [REVIEW TEXT WITHHELD]. 95 pts.”
The last time I can recall seeing the “tasted twice, with consistent notes” language was the 2005 Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. That one also received 95pts, was $27, and went on to become Spectator’s #1 wine of 2009. If I were a betting man, I would wager on this wine being included in Spectator’s Top 100 of 2010. But of course, by then, it will be long gone.
In fact, it’s already sold out at the winery, and there’s none of it remaining to be had in Western Washington. Fortunately, John Abbott and Molly Galt at Abeja were kind enough to dole out a small parcel for our list.
All of the grapes for this wine (97% Syrah cofermented with 3% Viognier) come from Abeja’s estate Mill Creek Vineyard, which sits right on the beautiful winery property. This eastern edge of the Walla Walla Valley, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains (you can see the vineyard location here) is an underexplored part of the valley. As you edge east along Mill Creek Road, you slowly gain elevation, and by the time you reach Abeja, you’re all the way up to 1310 feet, making Mill Creek Vineyard one of the highest (and coolest) Syrah sites in the area. Typically, the Syrah is not harvested until mid-October. Ripening can be a challenge, and subsequently there is more vintage variation here than in much of Washington. The highs at sites like this can reach the realm of the sublime, and given the youth of this vineyard (it was planted in 2000), calling the site “promising” is an understatement.
I tasted this wine in April and was floored by the nose, which was clearly lifted by the Viognier coferment. Floral and leesy in equal measures, with sensual notes of grilled bread, ripe black fruits, and dark chocolate. This displays a fine sense of elegance and balance; there are no jagged edges here. It’s a seamless wine, filled with berry, citrus, savories, and spice.
Our parcel of this is quite limited (again, I was really pleased to get any) and will not be available for reorder. Please limit order requests to no more than 4 bottles, and we will do our best to fulfill all requests. Our little parcel is tucked safely away in a corner of the warehouse and will be available for immediate pickup or shipping during the autumn shipping window.
