Bottle Notes

New Releases From Lauren Ashton Cellars

Lauren Ashton Cellars was founded in 2009 by Kit Singh. A Dentist by profession, Kit’s passion for wine was fueled by trips to Napa, Sonoma and Europe’s best known wine regions. Kit’s enology background includes classes at UC Davis and Seattle Community College along with an internship at Delille Cellars.

The inspiration for the name of the winery was Kit’s two children, Ashley Lauren and Ashton Troy. The packaging for the wines is impressive. The black and white pictures on the labels are from buildings in Estonia where Singh’s partner, Riinu Rammal, is from.

I was fortunate enough to recently try the wineries new releases.

2013 Lauren Ashton Cuvee Estelle – Dark crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. 64% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. Savory nose of red and black fruits, currants and granite. Medium to full body with medium acidity. Rich and plush with great mouth feel. Raspberries, cassis, cherries and mint on the palate. Gritty tannins on a medium length finish. Needs a little time. Drink over the next 3-5 years. $40 at the winery and retail. My rating: 91 points.

2013 Lauren Ashton Proprietor’s Cuvee – Magenta in color. 14.6% ABV. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Brooding nose of black fruits, tobacco and leather. Medium body with strong acidity and substantial tannins. Black cherries, currants, cassis and graphite on the palate. This is a big, bruising wine with a long finish that clearly needs some time in the cellar. Lots of potential. Drink over the next 5-7 years. $65 at the winery and retail. My rating: 92 points.

The Woodinville tasting room is open Thursday thru Sunday from 1pm to 5pm and is a worthwhile stop on your next winery excursion. The wines reviewed above will be available later this month.

These reviews were based on a samples provided by the winery.

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