TASTING HIGHLIGHTS 9 West Coast Red Blends for Sweater Weather
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and more newly reviewed wines from California and Washington
Some of Limerick Lane's vines date to the !rst plantings in 1910. (Richard Knapp)
By Augustus Weed
Oct 7, 2019
Tasting Highlights' wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, o!ering a sneak peek of our editors' most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.
Red blends are red hot these days, with winemakers across the West Coast making both oddball and traditional-style blends from a variety of di"erent grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and everything in between. Today's selection casts a wide net with highly rated wines from California and Washington.
Topping the list is a gutsy blend from Limerick Lane [https://www.winespectator.com/wine/search/submitted/Y/search_by/exact/text_search_#ag/winery/winery/Limerick+Lane] . Winemaker Chris Pittenger combined mostly Syrah with Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from the winery's 30-acre estate vineyard in the northeast corner of the Russian River Valley appellation. Alexana [https://www.winespectator.com/wine/search/submitted/Y/search_by/exact/text_search_#ag/winery/winery/Alexana] winemaker Bryan Weil looked farther north to the Columbia Valley in Washington for the supple Gran Rouge. It's a Southern Rhône–inspired blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that shows how well these grapes complement each other.
Eric Kent [https://www.winespectator.com/wine/search/submitted/Y/search_by/exact/text_search_#ag/winery/winery/Eric+Kent] made one of the best values here, using grapes from Mendocino County. Untethered is an unusual blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Viognier.
The traditional Bordeaux blend of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc have traveled the world and found success in various locales. Stewart [https://www.winespectator.com/wine/search/submitted/Y/search_by/exact/text_search_#ag/winery/winery/Stewart] winemaker Blair Guthrie tapped three vineyards in Napa Valley to make a rich and robust Merlot- based red, while Taken [https://www.winespectator.com/wine/search/submitted/Y/search_by/exact/text_search_#ag/winery/winery/Taken] 's Cabernet blend is warm and velvety.
LIMERICK LANE
Russian River Valley 2017
Score: 92 | $45
WS review: A real bruiser, combining muscle with gutsy fruit, o"ering blackberry, tar, cracked pepper and black licorice accents that build toward plump tannins. Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Best from 2021 through 2027. 325 cases made. From California.—Tim Fish ERIC KENT
Untethered Appellation Series Mendocino 2017
Score: 91 | $22
WS review: A subtle potency underlines the sleekly complex raspberry, tarragon and cracked pepper #avors, building tannins on the long !nish. Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Viognier. Drink now through 2025. 408 cases made. From California.—T.F. STEWART
Tartan Napa Valley 2016
Score: 91 | $45
WS review: Rich and robust, with medium-grained tannins supporting a fresh, crunchy mix of raspberry tart, cherry and plum #avors. The juicy !nish o"ers mineral and dried green herb notes. Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024. 1,388 cases made. From California.—Kim Marcus TAKEN
Napa Valley 2016
Score: 91 | $45
WS review: Warm and velvety in feel, with a well-toasted frame that melds into the core of steeped currant, plum and blackberry #avors. A loamy tug through the !nish keeps this grounded. Not shy on heft but pulls it o". Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. Best from 2020 through 2028. 17,300 cases made. From California.—James Molesworth ALEXANA
Gran Rouge Lonesome Spring Ranch Columbia Valley 2016
Score: 90 | $45
WS review: Supple and elegantly layered, with appealing raspberry, black pepper and smoky meat aromas that glide on the long !nish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2024. 484 cases made. From Washington.—T.F. COVENANT
Red C Sonoma County 2016
Score: 90 | $44
WS review: Opens with friendly raspberry and spice #avors, then builds depth and tension toward broad-shouldered tannins. Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Grenache. Drink now through 2025. 1,400 cases made. From California.—T.F. LUKE
Wahluke Slope 2017
Score: 90 | $25
WS review: Appealingly focused, with easygoing complexity that shines a light on polished black cherry, green olive and spice #avors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2024. 2,390 cases made. From Washington.—T.F. ENKIDU
E Cuvée JM Sonoma County 2017
Score: 88 | $20
WS review: Broad-shouldered and sturdy, with black currant and black pepper #avors that take on tension toward !ne-grained tannins. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best after 2020. 250 cases made. From California.—T.F. KULETO
Frog Prince Lake-Napa Counties 2016
Score: 88 | $24
WS review: Floral hints accent the cherry and candied melon #avors, backed by fresh acidity. The juicy !nish features notes of crushed stone. Malbec, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo. Drink now. 3,670 cases made. From California.—K.M.