Chris Peterson learned at the elbow of two of Washington state’s industry leaders — the late Stan Clarke at Walla Walla Community College and Chris Upchurch at DeLille Cellars — so Avennia’s almost immediate cult status in Woodinville was predicted. Here’s his GSM blend, energized again by Mourvèdre (49%) from Kiona’s Heart of the Hill Vineyard on Red Mountain, rounded by nearby EFESTE-owned Angela’s Vineyard Syrah (23%) and framed with Grenache off Alder Ridge in the Horse Heaven Hills. The regimen of 16 months in neutral French oak accents the notes of Bing cherry, strawberry-rhubarb compote and tobacco with muscavado sugar, dark chocolate, white pepper. Its structure is round, smooth and juicy with pomegranate acidity as sandy tannins and ground savory lead to a bit of hedonism in the finish with sweet blueberry.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 320 cases
Alcohol: 15.1%
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