Under the expertise of winemaker Jamie Brown, Waters Winery has achieved well-earned acclaim for its wines, particularly for the single-vineyard Syrahs. “I’ve always had a specific idea of what a wine I wanted to make should be, well before I started the process of even choosing a vineyard,” Brown tells Washington Tasting Room magazine. “Yes, wine is made in the vineyard, but if you don’t know the essence of the wine you’re looking for, before you start, then you’re beholden to the vineyard style.
“It’s a domino effect and one of my strengths has always been intuitively understanding the more nuanced aspects of what a particular vineyard naturally wants to give you, and whether it works for the style choices for the wines that I craft.”
With each successive vintage, Brown manages to push the boundaries of the expected, as evidenced in these two recent releases.
Waters 2012 Old Stones Vineyard Estate Syrah, $50
Editor’s Choice – Extraordinary
Old Stones Vineyard lies within The Rocks of Milton-Freewater District on the southern edge of the Walla Walla Valley. Nose: Savory aromas of smoky game, blue and red fruit, slate and hints of earthy tar.
Taste: Distinctively elegant with an emollient mouthfeel, rich glossy tannins and lively acidity. This lush and textured Syrah is deeply concentrated and complexly layered, with harmonized flavors of boysenberry tinged fruit, red currant, iron minerality, anise and smoke.
Waters Winery 2011 Interlude, $28
Editor’s Choice – Excellent
An elegant and balanced Merlot-forward Bordeaux varietal blend of Merlot (61%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%), Malbec (14%) and Petit Verdot (11%).
Nose: Dark stone fruit, lavender, dark espresso and hot stone.
Taste: Energetic and vibrant with red and black fruit, currant and slate minerality. Light footed tannins and fresh mouthwatering acidity shine on the persistent finish.
Website: www.waterswinery.com