AWARDS, ACCOLADES, AND REVIEWS
Blend 105
2005 Vintage – 88 points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2007
(A blend of five Bordeaux varieties; aged in once-used Taransaud barrels from Quilceda Creek)
Aromas of red currant, licorice, tobacco leaf and spices. Sweet, supple and ripe, offering
more texture and depth than most of this winery's 2005 bottlings. Nicely fine-grained but
tactile wine with a restrained sweetness. Cool flavors of cherry and redcurrant are complicated
by tobacco, cedar and fresh herbs. Finishes with dusty tannins and good length.
Owner/winemaker Gordy Rawson moved into a new facility in Woodinville in 2005 and is now
seeking to make "broader-boned, more approachable wines." Based on the two very good wines I
tasted from this winery this year, I'd expect better things ahead for Chatter Creek.
2005 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Spectator
Dense and chewy, with a burnt-meat edge to the cherry and spice flavors, linger with a hint
of bitterness on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit
Verdot. Best after 2010. 504 cases made. –H.S. (Web Only)
2004 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
This is done in a nice, fruity style that tastes like a bowl full of berries, cherries and
plums, then misted with lemon juice. It’s a bright, palate-cleaning wine, fresh and youthful,
with no big ambitions. Drink up. — P.G. (5/1/2007)
2004 Vintage - 90 points, Wine Spectator
Lithe and supple, this delicate red is layered with pretty flavors, offering creamy, slightly
spicy raspberry and currant fruit. Lingers beautifully. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2011. 330 cases made. – H.S. (5/15/2007)
2002 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
105 cases of this Bordeaux blend were produced, and the wine is soft and fruity, with a nice
mix of red berry, black cherry, and some smoke and toast. Expansive and lingering, it has a
pleasing, almost plush palate feel. Good all-purpose red. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard
2005 Vintage - 90 points, Wine Advocate
The 2005 Cabernet Franc “Alder Ridge Vineyard” is blended with 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet
Sauvignon. Purple-colored, it has an expressive bouquet of fresh herbs, clove, pepper,
cranberry, and plum. This is followed by a medium-bodied, supple-textured wine with layers
of spicy fruit, and excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity. This wine will evolve
for 2-3 years and drink well through 2017.
2005 Vintage - 87 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2007
Dark red. Redcurrant, plum and a hint of tobacco leaf on the nose. Supple and fairly intense,
with a tight core of red fruit, tobacco, spice and herbal flavors. Juicy, dry and varietally
accurate. The firm tannins avoid coming off as hard.
2005 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
Three quarters Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot filling in the rest, the
Horse Heaven Hills fruit mixes strawberry, black cherry with tart cranberry flavors. It looks
a little murky in the glass (unfiltered perhaps?) but the flavors are fresh enough, and the wine
holds your attention for quite a long while. Needs a bit more definition on the finish. — P.G.
(11/1/2007)
2004 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Good winemaking is evident in this tight, polished wine. The fruit leans strongly toward tart
cranberry flavors, with an imposing streak of fresh basil and hints of mint. For those who
like a cool-climate style, reminiscent of Bordeaux, this will be a very good choice. It is
still young and knitting together, but it’s well-structured for aging. — P.G. (5/1/2007)
2003 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Clean and ripe, with young, grapy fruit taking center stage. The wine has the firm, tannic
grip of the Cab Franc grape, but the tannins are well managed, smooth and unencumbered with
new oak. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2002 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
A light, supple and generous effort, with good pie cherry and plum-flavored fruit, highlighted
with hints of coffee grounds. A bit like a Chinon in terms of structure and balance. — P.G.
(6/1/2005)
2002 Vintage - From HeraldNet.com (Everett’s The Daily Herald) , 6/20/2004
Riper and more forward than the 2001, the 2002 Cabernet Franc sparkles with bright, deep garnet
color with a nose of violets, blueberry and black cherry. On the palate it warms to plummy
cherry and blueberry fruit with fresh acidity. The finish is framed by notes of toasted almonds
and vanilla bean. Traditionally a Bordeaux blending grape, this cabernet franc deserves not only
to be bottled by itself but also could serve as your whole meal.
2000 Vintage - 86 points, Wine Enthusiast
There is a distinctive bell pepper/asparagus element here, often found in some Washington
Cabernet. But it’s soundly made, and the underlying fruit is true to varietal, with a bit of
coffee and toast in the tannic finish. — P.G. (6/1/2002)
Cabernet Sauvignon Alder Ridge Vineyard
2002 Vintage - 89 points, Wine Enthusiast
With its medium body and supple tannins, this seems destined to be consumed young. Vanilla
and pastry-crust notes accent raspberry fruit on the nose, while on the palate, chocolate
and caramel shadings frame tart red berries, turning cedary on the finish. — P.G.
(8/1/2006)
2001 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Excellent vintage, and the blend includes 12% Merlot and a pinch of Syrah. The wine displays
a European sense of balance, with just a bit of spicy new oak adding nuance and resonance
to the finish. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2000 Vintage - From HeraldNet.com (Everett’s The Daily Herald) , 6/20/2004
This stylish blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot shows dark purple with
some ruby on the rim, and its bright nose blends complex floral notes of gardenia, rose petal
and cherry blossom. Flavors of plum, black cherry, mineral, cassis and cedar lingers, and a
soft, creamy finish captures the heat of the vintage, leaving you satisfied yet ready for
more.
1999 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
This is a tannic, sleek style of Cabernet, still tightly wound up and closed down. There is
good juice here, with bright berry/cherry flavors, just waiting for some additional bottle
time to let it loose. Plenty of acids, good tannin management, and a stylish effort that
will reward cellaring. — P.G. (10/1/2001)
Cabernet Sauvignon
1998 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
A rich, ripe nose rushes from the glass, redolent with cassis, black cherries and other,
darkly mysterious spices. Some classic Washington bell pepper and dill adds interest, and the
finish is thick and coats the palate with tannins tasting of coffee and chocolate. — P.G.
(10/1/2001)
Syrah Clifton Hill Vineyard
2005 Vintage - 92 points, Wine Spectator
Polished, generous and distinctive for the range of dusky spices that weave through the
ripe, cushiony blackberry, dark plum and tar flavors. All of it mingles harmoniously on the
long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2015. 99 cases made. – H.S. (6/20/2008)
2004 Vintage - 92 points, Wine Spectator
Smells big and powerful, but becomes graceful in the mouth, offering a range of plum and
currant, with hints of violet and cardamom as the finish sails on and on against refined
tannins. Drink now through 2014. 95 cases made. –H.S. (2/28/2007)
2004 Vintage - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast
Clifton Hill has established itself as a premier source for Washington Syrah. One look at
the glass shows you why: it’s as black as the night sky, with only the rim showing
purple/garnet. Concentrated but not fat or jammy, it frames its black fruits with barrel
fat and hints of pineapple. Young as it is, the wine has smoothed out nicely, and washes
into a soft finish with all of its fruits wrapped in a lick of butterscotch. — P.G.
(11/1/2007)
2003 Vintage - Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle 2006 Wine Competition
2002 Vintage - 91 points, Wine Enthusiast
A young, spicy Syrah, this shows unusually bright and intense fruit, a mix of purple
plums and blackberries. There are unusual candied citrus highlights, hints of herb and
spice. Top-shelf juice. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2002 Vintage - Double Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle 2005 Wine Competition
Syrah Lonesome Spring Vineyard
2005 Vintage - 90 points, Wine Advocate
The 2005 Syrah “Lonesome Spring Ranch” is 100% Syrah aged 16 months in French oak.
The nose offers notes of spicy bacon, grilled meat, and blueberry. On the palate the
wine is layered with spicy blue fruits and is firmly structured. It has good length, a
pure finish, and should develop for 2-3 years. It can be enjoyed through 2020.
2005 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Pure Syrah and 100% single vineyard, this young, tight wine is already beginning to reveal
a fragrant side, suggesting black fruits, aromatic herbs and smoky pepper. Dark and spicy,
the acids jut out a bit, showing a tart, lemony edge. This will need another year or two to
develop and flesh out, but all the right components are here. — P.G. (11/1/2007)
2005 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Spectator
Silky, polished style offers pretty plum and earthy notes, the finish adding a savory touch
as it lingers. Drink now through 2012. 399 cases made. –H.S. (Web Only)
2004 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Spectator
Crisp and vibrant, with a floral character that weaves through the berry and cherry flavors,
finishing with polished tannins and edgy acidity. Best from 2008 through 2012. 140 cases
made. –H.S. (3/31/2007)
2003 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Young, big-boned, raw and still grapy, but all the right ingredients are there for a solid,
varietal and chewy Syrah, perfect for the barbecue season. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2003 Vintage - 85 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2005
Medium ruby. Sweet, slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate. Sweet and
supple on the entry, with moderately intense flavors of cherry and herbs. The medicinal
character carries through on the slightly green palate. Finishes with fine, dusty tannins.
2003 Silver Medal, San Francisco Chronicle 2006 Wine Competition
2002 Vintage - **˝, New York Times, 6/15/2005
We did find another wine that impressed us with its character. Our No. 2 bottle, a 2002
Chatter Creek from Lonesome Spring Ranch in the Yakima Valley, also showed clear Rhonelike
aromas and flavors. It was medium-bodied and balanced, subtle, at least, if not compelling.
Balanced and elegant, with smoke, bacon and floral aromas and flavors.
2002 Vintage - Silver Medal, San Francisco Chronicle 2005 Wine Competition
2002 Vintage - From HeraldNet.com (Everett’s The Daily Herald) , 6/20/2004
The fruit qualities from Lonesome Spring, a newer vineyard near Benton City, are dark and
rich. Blackberry, sage and white pepper come out on the nose with time in the glass. Tastes
of rich black plum, blackberry, cassis, and rosemary. Firm tannins maintain balance, and the
long finish ends with a silky hint of toasted nuts.
2000 Vintage - 91 points and Editor’s Choice, Wine Enthusiast
The winemaker, Gordy Rawson, spent years at Columbia Winery, and learned a thing or two
about Syrah. A pretty nose shows ripe berry fruit and sweet toast. This is really good
juice, varietal and lip-smackingly tart, with a generous amount of fat, flavorful new oak.
Editors’ Choice. — P.G. (6/1/2002)
Syrah Jack Jones Vineyard
2003 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Despite its youth it’s ready to rock, with appealing varietal fruit, sparked by a nose that
says this is what Syrah should be, very pretty and forward. It’s a bright and snappy wine,
spiced up with plenty of pepper. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2002 Vintage - From HeraldNet.com (Everett’s The Daily Herald) , 6/20/2004
From the Jack Jones Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, this syrah is rich and intense. It starts
a bit shy but opens in the glass with a savory nose dominated by bay leaf, rosemary,
blueberry and roasted coffee. The first taste is full of blackberry, black plum, grilled
meats, dark chocolate and mocha notes, then unfolds to a lingering, port-like finish.
2000 Vintage - 89 points, Wine Enthusiast
No, it’s not that Jack Jones. But it’s a fine bottle of wine, with tight, hard fruit that
opens slowly into a lovely mélange of plums and cherries. Tangy and tannic, this one needs
some more time to come together, but all the components are right there. — P.G.
(6/1/2002)
Viognier
2006 Vintage - 90 points, Wine Enthusiast
As before, the new vintage of Chatter Creek Viognier treats you immediately to bracingly
fresh scents of peach, apricot and ripe melon. Tart and leesy, immaculately clean, it
starts with crisp, slightly bitter notes of lime and citrus, then fans out, adding a
creamy texture to the mid-palate. This is a moderate 13.5% alcohol, rare in Washington
Viognier. — P.G. (11/1/2007)
2006 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Advocate
The 2006 Viognier offers spring flowers, honey, and Asian spices followed by a medium-bodied
wine with notes of melon, peach, and lychee. The wine has good balance and length. Drink
it over the next 18 months with flaky fish courses.
2004 Vintage - 88 points, Wine Enthusiast
Fragrant with lime, citrus, tangerine and grapefruit. The flavors are taut, tart, spiked
with cilantro and anise, in a lively, fresh style. Just 12.5 percent alcohol. — P.G. (4/1/2006)
2004 Vintage - 87 points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 2005
Discreet nose hints at citrus and some stone fruits. Juicy, dry and leanish, with good cut.
Very understated, food-friendly Viognier with floral and citrus blossom notes. I might have
identified this blind as a cross between tocai friulano and Riesling.
2003 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
From the Lonesome Spring Ranch vineyard, this is very fresh, with juicy citrus and orange
peel flavors. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
Pinot Gris
2006 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Advocate
The 2006 Pinot Gris, medium straw-colored, has an excellent nose of flowers, pear, and
green apple. This leads to a medium-bodied wine with melon, lemon-lime, and apple flavors,
crisp acidity, and a fruity finish. Drink this tasty wine over the next 18 months.
2006 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
Young, fresh and still yeasty, this shows lightly ripened fruit flavors of white peach,
melon, green apple and pineapple. It retains a pretty floral quality in the nose. No
malolactic fermentation here; it’s done in a crisp, lean and lively style. — P.G.
(11/1/2007)
2003 Vintage - 87 points, Wine Enthusiast
This is clean and crisp, a bit softer and rounder than many from Washington, with
varietal flavors of pear and cut apple. — P.G. (6/1/2005)
2003 Vintage - From HeraldNet.com (Everett’s The Daily Herald) , 6/20/2004
This wine shows pear, apple and tropical fruits on the nose with mixed melons, pit
fruits, citrus and flint on the palate. Since this wine didn't undergo malolactic
fermentation, the bright acidity supporting its long, clean finish is preserved.
2000 Vintage - 86 points, Wine Enthusiast
Washington Pinot Gris is seldom seen — the bragging rights having been claimed by
Oregon — but this appealing wine makes a good argument for more. Full, fleshy,
pear-flavored fruit is perfectly balanced with refreshing acids. It’s a big, bold
style that finishes with a hint of bitter rind. — P.G. (10/1/2001)
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