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Beast Wines 2012 Wildebeest, Columbia Valley, $25

By on August 17, 2015

beast-wildebeest-red-wine-label-nvWalla Walla Valley vintner Nina Buty (pronounced beauty) celebrates the 15th anniversary of Buty Winery in 2015, and Syrah doesn’t dominate this offering from the Beast portion of her portfolio as it did the 2011 vintage. Rather, it’s a blend of Syrah (41%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), Malbec (15%) and Mourvèdre fed primarily by Phinny Hill in the Horse Heaven Hills, with Conner Lee Vineyard offering the Cab Franc while her own Rockgarden Estate in “The Rocks” contributed some of the Syrah and all the Mo. It’s akin to sticking your nose into a jar of huckleberry jam as the sweet fruit aromas include boysenberry with cola nut, coffee and sassafras. The drink is creamy, round and smooth with sweet cherry juice, blueberry and more huckleberry as fruitiness dominates both the tannin and acidity.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 800 cases

Alcohol: 14%

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Articles authored by Great Northwest Wine are co-authored by Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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