Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2017 Frederick, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot that’s all from the estate Spring Valley Vineyard. Lots of red and black fruits, leafy herbs, flowers, and foresty, earthy notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced 2017 with lots of varietal character, polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s going to keep for 10-15 years.
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Wine Spectator
Rich and polished, with an elegantly complex core that drives the black cherry and dusky spice flavors toward a long finish, with medium-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2027.
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James Suckling
Black plums, boysenberries, licorice, herbs and chocolate orange on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Polished, flavorful and balanced. Delicious now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah, the 2017 Frederick opens with just-ripe dark red and black fruit tones with a firm undercurrent of green herbs, bell pepper and dusty leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is juicy with dusty and floral flavors of dried tobacco, turned earth and roasted coffee bean and firm tannins that grip the gumline. Ending with a complex finish, lasting impressions of dried herbs and blackberry skin linger in the mouth with persistence. The wine rested for 19 months in all French oak, 40% new.
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Wine Enthusiast
Graphite, blackberry, spice and herb aromas lead to ripe, luscious, juicy fruit flavors. There's a lot of intensity and plenty of structure around it all. It's a can't-miss crowd-pleaser, with a good life in front of it.
Editors' Choice
Spring Valley Vineyard is located just outside of Walla Walla, amid the scenic wheat fields of southeastern Washington. The family-owned land dates back to the late 1880’s when original owner Uriah Corkrum started farming wheat in the area. In 1993, Shari Derby, granddaughter of Uriah and husband Dean Derby planted the first grapes at Spring Valley. The first vintage of Estate grown, and bottled Spring Valley Vineyard wines were produced with the 1999 vintage. In 2007, 66 acres of new vineyards were planted & now consist of 111 acres of grapevines including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.
Spring Valley was built on the strong foundation of grit, authenticity, hard work, love for the land, and love for family. The names given to the Spring Valley Vineyard Estate wines are in tribute to the family members who struggled and succeeded in farming in the same land for over 150 years. True to the family’s vision, the Spring Valley Vineyard and wheat fields are family-farmed this day to the 6th Generation. Katherine Derby, the granddaughter of Spring Valley vineyard owners Dean and Shari Derby and great-great-granddaughter of Spring Valley Founder Uriah Corkrum is carrying on the family’s legacy with leading winemaking operations – 30 years after planting the first vines.
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.