WTN: More Reyn in the forecast

[Jenise]

Last night we enjoyed steaks on Margot and Dave's patio. I knew she was opening a Greywacke Sauv Blanc so with her garlic shrimp I opened:

2019 Massican Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Unusually concentrated for a Sauvignon Blanc and brilliantly attenuated with limestone, lime, orange zest, bay leaf and cardamom. Will buy more!

Side by side with the steaks, we had:

2013 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks Walla Walla Valley
Very good with tons of Rocks funk but drier with more overt green olive tones than I hope for based on an average expectation created by the tethered opulence of the memorable 08, 09, and 10 vintages I define ITR by. Maybe another year? I hope so. Might also be that '13s will never make me completely happy. Christophe Baron of Cayuse fame made the first couple vintages, then Matt Reynvaan who he'd been training stepped in. To an outsider it's unclear where CB left off and MR began, but '13 may be the less-than-seamless handoff. I mean, this is good wine (and I own three bottles myself), it's just a few percentage points shy of being at the same level as ITR before or since. That was made even more apparent by being poured next do:

2012 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Classic Walla Walla Valley
To enjoy a wine at the absolute pinnacle moment of its life where this wine is now is unfortunately too rare experience for a mercurial creature like me, but I relish it all the more when it happens. Opaque, mouthcoating black fruit is imbued with that amazing Rocks funk, dark chocolate and a garrique-like note of wild roadside flora. Effortlessly appealing with cashmere tannins and a long finish. Everything I hoped would eventually evolve in this wine is here now. Outstanding.

And then after dinner this novelty got opened:

2016 DeLille Cellars Roofline Yakima Valley Red Blend
M's bottle. Something new from DeLille, and a one-off (thank god). Carbonic-grapey and raw for a 2016 four years out, and fairly unsophisticated for a Delille product. Impression did not improve over the course of a glass, would never want another.

I love Reynvaan as well, surprised the Syrah was amazing, everyone I've tried has been.

Also shocked to hear about the DeLille, Over the years I've had many bottles and most of them have been great. I still remember a 2007 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel that was one of the best WA Cabs I have ever had.

[Jenise]

Like I said, it's good wine. Had I not had the keen memories of the others including a '10 about four weeks ago, or the '13 Stonessence last weekend that didn't quite live up to other vintages in the same way this didn't, I wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it. I just know it can be more.

The Delille was just plain stupid. The PR blurb touts it as a celebration of the new building/event space they just moved into, a former brewery just around the corner from where they were in Woodinville. The building's upper profile is on the label, hence 'Roofline'. I suspect they were just getting rid of too-young fruit they didn't know what else to do with. Tastes of juvenile syrah with maybe some mourvedre in it. They only charge $20 for it, but it's still not worthy of the name.

[David M. Bueker]

The Massican actually sounds delicious to this SB hater. It’s the only wine in Dan’s portfolio hat I have not regularly purchased. Maybe I should try a bottle or two next time it comes around.

[Jenise]

It might work for you. As we drank the remainder a night later, Bob asked if I would immediately identify it as SB in a blind taste test. No, I didn't think I would. When you know what it is it makes some sense, but it's atypical.