Hello friends. Every once in awhile, we’re able to unearth a parcel of buried treasure: wines that get lost in the shuffle at some point and for years sit quietly in a winery or wholesaler warehouse, waiting patiently to find happy homes. This is one of those parcels, and it comes with recent confirmation on an excellent tariff.
What we have here is five-year-old, single-vineyard Sangiovese from an excellent Walla Walla producer. Reininger launched their Helix brand to represent the greater Columbia Valley (the Reininger line contains Walla Walla Valley fruit). This Sangiovese comes entirely from Stillwater Creek Vineyard, an outstanding site on the Royal Slope (don’t be surprised if Royal Slope is Washington’s next designated AVA). This is the same vineyard Corliss Estates uses for much of its Syrah program.
Wine Enthusiast (Paul Gregutt): “($30); [REVIEW TEXT WITHHELD]. 91pts.”
It’s important to note that this review was published in December 2008, which means the wine was probably tasted in late-summer 2008. And it turns out Paul was spot-on: the wine did (and does) have a long life ahead. A recent tasting revealed a dark, masculine, rustic Sangiovese, with grippy tannins that are still quite prominent all these years later and acids that seem to have calmed considerably. The fruit profile has become darker and less tart, and that fruit is laced with earthy streaks of tar and chard.
This is a rare opportunity to examine the aging curve for Washington Sangiovese at a price point that is awfully accessible. First come first served up to 24 bottles, and the wine should arrive within the next week, at which point it will be available for pickup or shipping.
