Spring Release 2024
I am incredibly excited to announce the release of our Spring 2024 MTA wines! I must say, I have never been more proud of our wines. After tasting these wines for this release, I reflected and realized what an exceptional MTA allocation it truly is. This spring release features three wines from our estate vineyards, a wine from the first Syrah planted in Washington State, and a 100% varietal Mourvèdre sourced from one of the finest vineyards beyond Bandol. These are incredible wines that I will be drinking at home for a long time.
A note on the 2020 vintage in Washington for those with doom-scrolling tendencies. Should I be afraid of the smoke in 2020? Bottom line: no. First of all, not all areas or vineyards were affected by smoke. Most smoke damage was very late in the season. We were very fortunate at Gramercy to only have a couple of small blocks affected in any way. I mean, how much Petit Verdot does anyone really need?
Most importantly, we scrutinized, discussed, evaluated, and tested these wines more than any vintage in the history of Gramercy. We painstakingly went through every single barrel time and time again. And as a result, these are among the most outstanding wines we have ever released. They are stunning examples of what we do in Washington State. I hope you enjoy these wines as much as I enjoy presenting them.
Check out our Instagram page (@gramercycellars) for more thoughts on these wines in the coming weeks. And – we are looking to expand our Instagram game. If there are subjects about anything wine related that you would like to see, shoot us an email and we will make the videos happen!
As always, thank you so much for your support. I look forward to seeing you in Walla Walla or at an event soon.
– Greg Harrington
Spring Release Wines
Click on the wine to read more.
2020 Syrah “Lagniappe” Red Willow Vineyard
$65 Retail : $55.25 MTA Wine Club
Tasting Notes: Classic Red Willow vintage. Red fruit dominates. Raspberry, Bing cherry accented with a hint of green herbal components. Sage, anise, and tarragon. Hints of seared meat and charcuterie. Balanced and very fresh. Bright acidity and round tannins that linger into a very long finish. This is a stunning wine that will evolve for 15+ years.
“Spicy and perfumed with red-toned fruits and rosy florals lifted by a hint of camphor. It’s silky-smooth and round on the palate, with savory wild berries carried across a core of brisk acidity. The 2020 finishes with medium length and classically dry, leaving a staining of primary concentration and traces of salted licorice.” – 94 Pts, Vinous
2020 Syrah “Forgotten Hills Estate Vineyard”
$65 Retail : $55.25 MTA Wine Club
Tasting Notes: True to form Forgotten Hills Syrah – saline, iron, and blood. Red fruit and purple flowers. Sushi Nozawa style nori. Fresh charcuterie, i.e., coppa or soppressata. Green herbs – rosemary, thyme, sage. Black pepper and granite. As it opens, lots of rock and earth with a salty element. On the palate, very fresh, with medium+ acid. Firm tannins. Savory and elegant. We will be drinking a lot of this. It might be the Syrah of the vintage for us.
“[A] blend of lavender-tinged blackberries, dark earth, & wild herbs. … lifted in feel, with ripe red & blue fruits carried across a juicy core of acidity. It finishes remarkably fresh & lightly tannic, leaving a slightly bitter tinge that punctuates the experience nicely.” – 93 Pts, Vinous
2020 Gramercy Estates
$72 Retail : $61.20 MTA Wine Club
Tasting Notes: Walla Walla Cabernet, yes! Red fruits dominate. Cola, cassis, blackberry, cedar, and pencil lead. Love that Walla Walla complexity and identity. Herbal as usual. Gravel, stone, and mineral. Amazing acid. Dark, intensely black, and chocolate on the palate. Dusty, like the old Napa Cabs from Rutherford. Medium+ acid with firm tannins. Riper than the Columbia Valley Cab. The length, intensity, and density of this wine are ridiculous. Damn, this is good.
“This [95% Cabernet, 5% Merlot] has a haunting scent of mocha and violets, with a Walla Walla background note of tomato skin. This has a savory palate, vinous, dark and juicy, with a hint of pyrazine that provides tension and electricity. A thrilling wine now, it should age beautifully.” – 94 Pts, Patrick Comiskey, Wine & Spirits
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Gramercy Cellars Wine Club
Master Tasting Association (MTA)
Our Masters Tasting Association (MTA) wine club has a few spots available! If you’d like information about what being involved in the club entails or how to sign up, please visit our website by clicking on the link below or contact us!
Spring Release Wine Club Exclusive Wine
2020 Merlot “Estate Vineyard” MTA
$60 Retail : $51 MTA Wine Club
Tasting Notes: Explosive on the nose with bright red fruits. Almost Jacques Pepin Watermelon Salad? (IFKYK, but look it up, and you’re welcome.) Purple flowers. Plum. Cherry chocolate – but expensive, 85% cacao. Mix of red and dark fruits. Gravel, green herbs, cola, tar, cedar, red flowers, violets, plum. On the nose, blue and black. So balanced. Just classic Merlot. Ripe and lush but still fresh. Medium+ acid, rich, complex, intense. Firm tannin. Best Merlot we’ve ever made, by far, and my favorite of this release.
“This wine club only bottling is really fantastic, showing good poise and richness from this slightly cooler vintage. Red bell pepper and rich dark fruits mark the palate alongside chocolate covered espresso bean. Freshly tilled soil accents complete this outstanding new bottling that is already nicely evolved.” – 93 Pts, Dr. Owen Bargreen
2019 Mourvèdre “Olsen Vineyard” MTA
$60 Retail : $51 MTA Wine Club
Tasting Notes: Bright red fruits, berries, cherries jump out of the glass. Very fresh. Braised meat, rosemary, orange peel, black pepper, red and purple flowers, curry powder. Clove, dark earth, rock/stone. Wildly interesting nose. On the palate, medium-bodied and rich but still balanced. Seems more expansive than L’Idiot. Red fruit on palate, but also blue and black. Lots of florals. Smoked meat – Terry Black style. Long length. Very complex. Juicy on the palate. This is fantastic.
“Translucent in the glass, this offers a silky mouthfeel, and is loaded with rich red fruit flavors with an opulent texture and beautiful sense of balance. Showing no rough edges, this is truly one of the great wines of its kind in the state.” – 94 Pts, Dr. Owen Bargreen
