Bacovino’s owner Randy Brooks grew up in the Puget Sound region surrounded by family with agricultural ties, which he says fueled his studies in biology and business. His early exposure to wine and food began at a family gathering, which grew over the years into a time-honored tradition. “Every year, my uncle would host a special dinner—he would bring fresh Alaskan salmon and we would bring fine wine,” says Randy. “What brought us together was our enduring friendships and our shared love of good food and great wine.”
By 2007 he and his uncle were blending and bottling their own wines, which they continued until 2019, when Randy decided to launch Bacovino offering small batches of artisanal wines. In winemaking, Randy saw a way to combine his love of science and agriculture with his experience in the business world.
Randy’s wine travels have taken him from Europe to Australia, where he incorporates different facets of winemaking from each region. Combining experiences gained on three continents, he describes his style as Old World. While Randy says Bacovino’s mainstay will be Bordeaux varietals with some Italian varietals in the mix, he hesitates to put limits on his creativity. “I have an affinity for wine from Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France. So where do you draw lines for what you can make and produce?”
Drawing from top-notch vineyards, the wines are highly expressive and aromatic with a finessed balance. Bacovino’s contemporary tasting room is south of downtown Seattle, near the Museum of Flight at 3225 S 116th St., Suite 169, Tukwila. Learn more on the web at www.bacovino.com
Below are three wines we recently reviewed:
Bacovino 2018 Barbera
93 pts.
Bold and powerful, this version shows well-chiseled structure of steeped black currant, high-toned cherry and blueberry, backed by layers of cranberry, mint leaf and vanilla. Mineral and dried herb notes add intrigue to the towering finish. The tempered acidity from the norm makes this an outstanding version from Washington. $46
Bacovino 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
92 pts.
Made with grapes grown at Taylor Mag Vineyard on Red Mountain, there is impressive depth driving the fruit-forward flavors of cassis, macerated blackberry and dark cherry. Light toast, graphite, spice and basalt notes embed the swath of firm tannins that carries the momentum on the densely structured yet polished finish. $39
Bacovino 2020 Pinot Gris
91 pts.
Balanced with crisp, tart Granny Smith apple and honey-infused pear and white nectarine. The ripe citrus flavors rise to the occasion, melding with dry minerality and hints of apricot on the clean finish. $22