Located in the Walla Walla Valley appellation of Washington State, Woodward Canyon Winery was started in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife, Darcey Fugman-Small. Woodward Canyon produces almost a dozen different wines, and their Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Chardonnay are some of the very best examples of those varietals produced in Washington State. I wrote about Rick Small previously in The Washington Wine Hall of Fame.
Bright purple in color. 15.3% ABV. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Syrah. Rich aromas of black fruits, currants, graphite and vanilla. Big and full bodied. Black cherries, cassis, butterscotch and mocha on the palate. Mouth puckering tannins on a long finish. Still a little disjointed. I am going to give this the benefit of the doubt and assume it will show better with another 5-7 years in the cellar.
My rating: 88 points.
The reds from Woodward Canyon age as gracefully as anything produced in Washington.
The current vintage is widely available at retail, at the winery and via the mailing list for right around $45.
The winery is also a great first stop as you head into the Walla Walla wine country!
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