Kiona Vineyards and wine grape grower Scott Williams were profiled in the Summer 2019 print issue of Washington Tasting Room magazine for the consistent quality of grapes he has been growing for decades. The popularity of Kiona fruit is evident among the 60-plus wineries who use Kiona grapes to produce many of their finest wines.
Below are reviews of 16 wines sourced from Kiona Vineyards featured in the same issue. Read the article on grower Scott Williams at this link.
In addition, editor John Vitale asked top wine producers what they love most about grapes from Kiona Vineyards and here is what they said:
Billo Naravane MW, Rasa Vineyards:
“This site provides Cabernet Sauvignon with an incredible flavor density without heaviness. The range and depth of flavor allows us to create a compelling single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon each year. The resulting wines have sufficient tannin backbone to age gracefully for decades.”
Chris Gorman, Gorman Winery:
“Kiona’s 1975 plantings are tree-trunk sized old vine, and that just naturally gives you a lower yield. You know you’re going to get a lot in that bottle when it’s Red Mountain. I like to drink something like the old vine by myself in a quiet room listening to Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan, as opposed to Van Halen.”
Richard Batchelor, Maryhill Winery:
“We started getting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in 2012 from Heart of the Hill Vineyard, and in 2016 we picked up Petite Sirah.The berries are small, giving us a nice concentration for the wine. The richness and depth in the wines from this vineyard really do show the great wines that are coming from the Kiona Vineyards.”
Lisa Warr-King Packer, Warr-King Wines:
“Beautiful dense colors, lovely acidity and nice big sugars create fruit that is wonderful to work with and results in complex, layered flavors in a wine. I love the dusty tannins. There is a characteristic so very unique to this vineyard, the place, the hot days, cool nights and the loess of the soils are tasted in the wine.”
Mike Methany, Three of Cups Winery:
“Scott and family know the soil on Red Mountain better than anyone and there is not much a Viticulture student like myself can tell Scott he already doesn’t know or has not tried. Soft and elegant fruit flavors, nice acidity, consistent pH’s…I can always taste a little Red Mountain in a glass. It’s hard to explain but there’s a perception of chalk (soil chalk, not blackboard chalk) with bold but not overly strong tannin.”
Tim Narby, Nota Bene Cellars:
“Scott has a way with his vines. There’s no question he is extremely involved with his vineyard cycles and makes sure his crews are walking the rows. I think intensity, color, and tannin structure are the biggest components year after year. Ripe fruit that has nice mouthfeel and leans to plums and jam. Signature Red Mountain fruit.”
Chris Dowsett, Dowsett Family Winery:
“If you have fully ripe Mourvèdre, you get this hint of black pepper along with the meat and iron that is found in the south of France. Kiona on Red Mountain has this great ability to get all the traditional flavors plus this great streak of red raspberry fruits unique to the area.”
Greg Lipsker, Barrister Winery:
“Red Mountain is a special place to grow grapes. Scott Williams is familiar with the unique nuances of every block in the vineyard and how to maximize the quality of each varietal. The Sangiovese has a beautiful nose of sweet red berries and exotic spices with an incomparable richness and intensity, and exceptional tannin structure that is firm but soft.”
Katie Nelson, Columbia Crest:
“As a winemaker, there is nothing better than working with a grower who also is a winemaker, because he is truly crafting wines in the vineyard. Scott understands how to grow the wine I want to make.”
Reviews of 16 Kiona Vineyard designated wines:
Kiona Vineyards 2016 Estate Red Mountain Reserve, $55
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This Cab dominant Left Bank style wine uses all six Bordeaux varietals. Seamless, rich and polished, with deep pure notes of blackberry, dark cherry, red and black currant, and crushed rock with hints of cocoa and anise, guided by fine tannins and mineral spice on the caressing finish.
Warr-King Wines 2016 Kiona Vineyard Grand Rouge, $38
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Elegantly balanced and graceful, this structured Cabernet/Merlot blend dazzles with its plush, ethereal texture and dark red and black fruit. Richly layered with cassis, black cherry, violet and plum notes interwoven with mineral, spice and expressive accents of loamy earth that persist on the finish.
Ward Johnson Winery 2014 Ranch at the End of the Road Syrah, $32
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Bold and rich, teeming with macerated dark plum, black cherry and black currant flavors, this lively red is backed by savory edges of tar, graphite and loamy earth. Spice notes add pizzazz on the textural finish.
Maryhill Winery Vineyard Series 2014 Kiona Vineyards Merlot, $44
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Solidly structured and lean in style, lined with rich cherry, blackberry and red currant flavors amply framed with coffee, sage and cocoa powder. The tannins are firm but not intrusive on the juicy finish.
Viscon Cellars 2014 Kiona Vineyard Pilot Light Malbec, $55
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Bold and powerfully structured, framed with deep notes of plum preserves, brown sugar, black tea, dried sage and vanilla. The flavors coat the palate thoroughly, accented with white pepper and sweet coconut flakes on the boundless finish.
Gorman Winery 2016 The F.O.G. Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine, $80
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary (95-100 pts.)
Complexity, power and elegance epitomize this old vine Cab. The plush mouthfeel delivers towering structure and firm, polished tannins flanked with minerally streaked flavors of cassis, blackberry, dark stone fruit and violet. Savory notes of dusty spice, leather, anise, rock and gravel align in harmony on the ultra-long finish.
Northwest Cellars 2014 Kiona Vineyard Petite Sirah, $36
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
A firm and focused red, delivering aromas of pencil shavings and red fruit, joined on the lithe palate with mouthfilling flavors of plum, juicy dark berries, cocoa and floral essence of Herbes de Provence. Polished tannins hold sway on the expansive finish.
Rasa Vineyards 2015 Plus One Kiona Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon, $95
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary (95-100 pts.)
Strikingly complex and structured, this old vine Cab
is rich and earthy, filled with plump black currant and blackberry flavors layered with exotic spice, espresso, graphite and crushed rock. Muscular, with finely integrated tannins that add power to the laser focused finish.
Barrister Winery 2015 Kiona Estate Sangiovese, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
This stylistic version is lush and rich, evoking black cherry, strawberry and red currant flavors that build to a crescendo, embedded with warm savory undertones of light caramel and sandalwood. Well built, with exceptional balance and lingering spice notes on the finish.
Dowsett Family 2014 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Mourvèdre, $34
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Rich, plush and velvety offering a lavish core of crushed black raspberry, punctuated with elegant cracked peppercorn and floral violets, backed by savory nuances of leather and rocky minerality. Balanced, with fresh acidity that completes the terrific finish.
Eagle Harbor 2015 Kiona Vineyard Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, $60
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Opulent, bold and powerful, packing a kaleidoscope of juicy ripe blackberry, red and black currants, fig, violet, graphite and notes of earthy minerality. Tightly structured, flowing with sinewy tannins that glide through the rich, complex finish.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Special Sites Collection 2016 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, $50
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Powerfully structured, this voluptuous red wine is loaded with blackberry jam, raspberry preserves, violet, dark chocolate and hints of smoked caramel. Fine integrated tannins lend a firm grip to the juicy long finish.
Nota Bene Cellars 2014 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Mourvèdre, $30
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Rich and broadly textured, with enticing aromas of dark fruit, leather and mulberry. This version packs in a lot of spicy black and red fruit flavors on the plush mouthfeel, enriched with savory and floral tiers of violet, peppercorn mélange and fresh earth with finishing touches of iron.
Betz Family Winery 2016 Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, $110
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Brooding aromas of fruit and smoke lead to the focused palate, marked by a luscious silky texture that exudes raspberry, cassis, and violet flavors detailed with mesquite and graphite. Meticulously structured with a juicy mid-palate and fine sweet tannins on the aftertaste.
Columbia Crest Reserve 2015 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, $40
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
This powerful red wine is notable for its impeccable structure and deeply penetrating flavors of cassis, crushed black cherry, violet, rose petal, dark chocolate and loamy earth. Densely packed tannins mingle with fresh acidity on the ultra plush finish.
Muret-Gaston Wines 2012 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, $50
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts)
Velvety smooth and elegantly crafted, with dense mouthfilling dark flavors of black plum and cassis, infused with gorgeous expressions of violet, pencil shavings and gravel. Stays precisely focused offering fine tannins on the complex and generous finish.