September 26, 2018 — Eye of the Needle Winery owners Bob and Lauren Bullock were honored this past week by King County Executives who named their winery as a finalist as “Rural Small Business of the Year.” The Bullocks have also scored another round of hits with their latest wine releases. This Woodinville-based winery built a reputation early on as a “negociant” that sleuthed out value-driven wines from top vineyards and brought them to consumers who were eager for their brand of stylish, handcrafted wines.
The Bullock’s most recent small-lot releases underscore their talent for scouting and delivering boutique-quality wines sourced from some of the state’s finest vineyards; as well as their prowess for aging and blending the final components into a distinctive line of proprietary wines. Each of them represents a bargain within their individual price categories. The tasting room is open every weekend in Woodinville’s Winery Warehouse District.
Visit & Taste
Eye of the Needle Winery
19501 144th Ave NE, Building D1200, Woodinville, WA 98072 (map here)
Phone: (888) 881-7110
Hours: Saturday & Sunday 1-5pm
Website: eyeoftheneedlewinery.com
New & Upcoming Releases
Eye of the Needle 2015 Petit Verdot Columbia Valley AVA, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Crafted with fruit sourced from Stillwater Creek and Gamache Vineyard, this bottling demonstrates to a high degree what this varietal is capable of in Washington. Ultra velvety and smooth on the entry, blanketed with plush tannins and generous flavors of Marionberry jam, cherry, red currant, anise and crushed pebbles. The tension builds on the mid-palate, ending with a powerful finish that goes on and on.
Eye of the Needle 2015 Red Willow Vineyard Sangiovese, Columbia Valley AVA, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This cherished varietal comes from one of the oldest plantings in the state. Vibrant, bright and floral, expressing vivid cherry and red currant-infused flavors layered with distinctive rose petal, tobacco and leather details. The flavors meld with tightly woven tannins, adding muscle and longevity to the bold finish. Great on its own or paired with antipasta and hearty cheeses.
Eye of the Needle Bellisimo Diavolo, Walla Walla Valley AVA $50
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This proprietary blend of Italian varietals is an exotic showstopper, offering earthy and distinctive notes of cigar box, leather and cocoa powder infused with generous flavors of dark cherry, plum, crème de cassis and violet. Backed by solid tannins and vibrant yet well-proportioned structure, the finish is long and layered. Bravo!
Eye of the Needle “The Eye” (NV), $15
Editor’s Choice – BEST BUY! Excellent (88-90 pts.)
This perennial favorite starts with aromas of raspberry, olive and tobacco leaf chiming in with jammy flavors of black berry raspberry, red currant and expressive violet notes on the palate. Seamlessly structured, the inviting flavors stretch out on the lengthy finish, accompanied by firm tannins.
Eye of the Needle “Little Italy” (NV), $15
Editor’s Choice – BEST BUY! Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Smooth and well structured, this red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese offers a pleasing mix of red berries, cherry and spice details with a woodsy back note of oak stave. Supple and easy going, with powder-fine tannins that linger on the finish.
Eye of the Needle 2015 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Cabernet Franc Reserve, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This elegant red is focused and richly textured, revealing a tightly-etched core of black raspberry and steeped blackberry flavors streaked with tobacco and nuances of fig paste and barrel spice. Finely-meshed tannins carry through the powerfully structured mid-palate, unfolding with dramatic impact and depth on the ultra-long and satisfying finish.
Eye of the Needle 2015 “Enlightened” Vintner’s Select Red Wine, $35
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This red wine is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) with a splash of Cabernet Franc, made with grapes sourced from Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Polished with pretty high-toned blackberry, red plum and licorice flavors that flow through the uplifted structure, fanning out with savory expressions of wet stone, cocoa and dried sage. Gracefule, yet firm tannins roll through the finish. Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Eye of the Needle 2016 Dolcetto Vintner’s Select , $28
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Sourced from the meticulously farmed Lonesome Springs Ranch Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, this is a hard-to-find Washington grown varietal. Pure and harmonious, offering black fruit and forest floor aromas that cascade onto the full-flavored mouthfeel, delivering expressive flavors of blackberry compote, anise, graphite, leather and accents of dried blueberry saturated with chewy tannins on the dense, lengthy finish.
Eye of the Needle 2016 Evergreen Vineyard Chardonnay, $30
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Built with finesse and grace, the creamy mouthfeel offers harmonious aromas and flavors of honey, peach, mango and pear interwoven with caliche soil minerality and vanilla bean accents that surface on the long, clean finish.
Eye of the Needle 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Red Mountain AVA, $18
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Crisp and lively, with scintillating aromas of grapefruit, lime zest and golden hay that roll onto the palate, underscored with zesty gooseberry, apple skin and wet stone flavors. Finely balanced, with a flickering of minerally spice notes that echo on the clean-cut finish.
Eye of the Needle “Enlightened” White Wine (NV), $25
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
This sleekly honed blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Sauvignon Blanc (30%) is precise and focused, featuring a luscious core of white peach, pear and Fuji apple layered neatly with honeysuckle and pithy citrus notes. Balanced acidity flows through the clean finish.