Jamie Lauder

9.1

2020 vintage. From the shores of Skaha Lake in Okanagan Valley.
Ripe raspberries, dark fruit and cinnamon on the nose.
Blackberry, dark cherry, white pepper and violets in the mouth.
So smooth with bright acidity, ripe fruit and a spicy finish.
Aged 18 months in 30 % new oak….80 % French and 20 % American.
The remaining 70 % in second fill French oak.

— 19 days ago

Wulf Losee

9.1

I revisited this wine in July of 2022, and I am upping my rating to 9.1. I don’t know if it’s just a biochemical difference in my taste buds from day to day, or whether the wine is miraculously transforming itself within the bottle while I’m not paying attention to it. All of my previous descriptions still hold, except at the tannic structure has become fuller. And that holds everything together. My new opinion of this wine is that it’s very elegant, indeed.


My old review: 2019 opened February 2022. Disappointing but drinkable. Mint and nettles on the nose. Unripe strawberries on the front of the palate. It has a weak — almost watery — tannic structure that fails to balance the sour high notes that crowd in on mid pallet. And the pucker factor intensifies as it transitions to the finish, but it dissipates quickly leaving just a hint of lingering flint and menthol. Better than a fourth growth Bordeaux in an off year, but that’s not saying much. — 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

New vintage for me. Pale white, excellent clarity. Notes of hay and citrus with a hint of peach in nose. Flavors of grapefruit and lemon, as stated on label; hint of apple, real length of fruit on the lemon. Nice acidity, slightly drying on palate from acid and skin astringency. Really good food wine here, I would think — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!


Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.

Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.

Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.

This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.

Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75. — a month ago

JKT

9.0

Nice relatively young new world Syrah with prominent black fruits and a bit of spice and herbs. Good finish. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A blend of 70% Cab Sauv, 21% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc & 2% Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in 60% new French oak. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits and spicy notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with cacao and tobacco adding in oak and leather. Well balanced with acidity, fine tannins, long finish ending with oak and sweet spice. Has room to age. Nice! — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark reddish purple. Inviting nose and medium-bodied palate of red berries, pomegranate, and a hint of toasted nuts on the moderate finish. Medium tannins. Medium acidity. A most typical example of mid-range Washington. The midpoint between New World fruit (but dark fruit) and Old World structure makes for an excellent American food wine. Pair with anything from burgers to roots to prime rib. Just do so by 2027. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

100% Cabernet, aged French oak (78% new), deep Ruby with aromas of red and black fruits, herbs and sweet floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with floral herbs, earthy oak and black pepper. Fine dusty tannins, long. finish ending with fruit, toasty oak and herb pepper spice. Will age well! — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong spicy nose of raspberries, sweet cherries, light oak, spices, licorice, earth, eucalyptus, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, herbs, licorice, dark chocolates, peppercorn and earth.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Washington State. An Interesting wine that feels more like a Right Bank Bordeaux. Tangy and spicy.

Right out of the bottle it definitely feels like a new world wine, but once it opens up it changes.

This 3 year old is so very young, and would be better in 3 to 5 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

I really enjoyed the nose, once it opened up. The palate needs some more bottle time, but it has good potential.

Needs time to open up properly, so be patient. I used the Zencore to expedite the process. Took about 8 minutes.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (55% new).

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured, consumed over three days with very little evolution over that period but if I had to make a call, I would say best on Day 3. It presents a turbid, deep ruby in the glass. On the nose, purple flowers, dried leaf tobacco, tomato leaf, and freshly tilled earth. On the palate, currants, tart blackberries, kalamata olive brine, dried blood...it’s saline, sanguine and ferrous in a real way. The 2012 Champoux Vineyard is a structured, high acid/high tannin Bordeaux blend of predominately Cabernet Franc with some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for good measure. Long, long finish. A very earthy and mineral driven wine. Blind, there is no way I would call this New World. This bottle is yet another reminder why I truly believe Andrew Will makes some of the very greatest wines in Washington State. This has at least another decade of life left in it. — 4 years ago