Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has attractive cassis and blueberry aromas with a gently spicy kick from a small amount of tempranillo. The palate has a very modern feel with a build of fresh, ripe, purple and blue fruit and silky tannins. Again, it is the tempranillo that dresses this up on the palate. Clever wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and tempranillo. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Camaspelo has a hearty Cabernet core and mineral edge on the nose that is covered in red and black fruits—cassis, blackberry and red cherry skin—and dusty florals. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy on the palate, with structured tannins that build in complexity and continue to evolve, leading to the long, lingering finish with a soft oak flavor. This is an incredibly cellar-worthy and delicious wine. Well done! Only 354 cases were made. Rating: 94+
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Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are subdued out of the gate, with notes of earth, tobacco, fresh herb, funk, cassis bud and spice. The palate brings a sense of layering and detail.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.