David Shaw

9.1

Ah, summer… — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Columbia Valley. 368 cases produced. Inky purple red, medium-Hugh pigment extraction. Blackberry and floral aromas. Cherry blackberry flavors on initial pour. Light to moderate astringency on finish. White pepper aftertaste with a hint of tobacco leaf and eucalyptus. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

A collaboration between Isenhower Cellars and a Seattle-based food coop. Purple red, moderately extracted pigment, excellent clarity. Light cherry nose, orange-cherry flavors with length, some wood (and later plum and warm baking spices), bright acidity, plum, cherry, wood and spice finish. Nice everyday red, but better after decanting two hours. Paired well with tortellini, oven roasted veggies, country miche and homemade pâté from a family friend. 297 cases made — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.3

Gift from a family member. See my previous tasting notes, still largely on point — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Revisiting 2017 vintage, 100 cases made — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Another year, another failed laptop to rebuild, so why not resurrect a Rose I aged for just the occasion? Salmon pink with an orange tinge, excellent clarity. White pepper note in the nose. Strawberry, orange-grapefruit and white pepper in the mouth, crisp, dry, slight skin astringency on the finish. — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Inky dense purple in color. Butter, black currant and herb notes in nose with a hint of mint. Sage and blackberry flavors in mouth, blackberry finish with length. Later, cola flavor emerges. Fine grained seed tannins in finish. Nice complexity, a notch above. — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Second encounter with this vintage. Paired well with steamed fish, ginger and olive paste with a side of veggie stir fry. Side project: propagating rosemary for a pot of culinary flavor magic. Perhaps we’re becoming Roman… — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

A collaboration between a Seattle food coop and Isenhower Cellars. 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Konnowac Vineyards, Rattlesnake Hills. 220 cases made. Aged in used French oak barrels. Garnet red, very good clarity, moderate pigment extraction, cherry and light wood aromas. Cherry flavor, rounded mouthfeel, balanced, soft, not overly alcoholic with moderate acidity and some bitterness on finish from seed and wood. Tasty vin de table, Washington state style. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Revisiting vintage. Tart cherry and plum with hints of herbs and spearmint. Slightly tart with plenty of tannins, skin mostly. Still age worthy but drinking well now — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

219 cases produced. Light yellow, excellent clarity. Aromas of pineapple and guava. Lemon, pomelo pulp and tropical fruit flavors. Dry, almost syrupy mouthfeel, crisp lemon peel finish. Not quite as elegant as the 2016, but a lot to like here. Turning into one of my two favorite white varietals for wine as I drink more examples of these from Isenhower and, occasionally, others in the Pacific Northwest. More Roussanne please. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Last bottle. Bright yellow, excellent clarity. Stone fruit and white floral notes in nose. Peach, apricot, lemon and floral flavors, creamy finish with some skin astringency. A peachy, slightly dusty and floral aftertaste. Rounded mouthfeel, bone dry. Real length in the peach flavor after 60 minutes. As protean a Viognier as you are likely to run across in the first hour after opening, then the stone fruit and full assortment of citrus (lemon, Meyer lemon, grapefruit) emerges. Fruit flavor profile has changed since my last tasting 2.5 years earlier. Give it time to open. Who knew you could age Viognier? — 7 years ago

Henry Bonifante

9.2

Peppery in the best way — 7 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Happy Record Store Day with an album that isn’t an RSD release. Fully Qualified Survivor by Michael Chapman and a killer Cab Franc from Isenhower Cellars . Music is hypnotic & mellow, wine is pretty much the same. Mostly dark cherries & light tannins. Near term drinker and a beautifully aged record. Happy RSD! — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Alas, my last bottle of this vintage. Holding up well; previous tasting notes still hold. Winemaker suggests it’s good through 2028, seems on track — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Been awhile since I had one of these; the label looks promising: 38/28/21/7/6 blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, aged in used oak, 325 cases made. Dark garnet red, very good clarity, moderate to high pigment extraction. Blackberry, raspberry and butter aromas, red fruit flavors, followed later by a note of tobacco and cooked vegetable, quite rounded mouthfeel, soft, not much tannin expression initially. Mint, wintergreen and white pepper aftertaste. A light skin astringency emerges after 30 minutes. A decent flavor-dense, almost syrupy red table wine, balanced perfectly for whatever hearty winter dishes you are consuming. Roasted root veggies and cheese or red meat entrees seem the best match to me at the moment. — 4 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

New vintage. Ruby red, excellent clarity. Moderate pigment extraction. Red fruit, cherry peel and berry flavors with a graphite, black pepper, black olive and seed bitterness finish. Tangerine peel aftertaste. Dense flavor profile, good acid, not your typical WA state Grenache. — 5 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Dense purple red, moderately extracted pigment. Jammy blackberry and vanilla aromas in nose. Raspberry and cherry flavors with hints of mint, spearmint and butter, light body and acidity, rounded mouthfeel. Slight tobacco with powdery seed tannins in finish, aftertaste. Needs time to open. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Second tasting. Dense purple red, moderately extracted pigment. Weedy black currant notes in nose. In mouth black currant, butterscotch, mint and later cherry flavors emerges. Seed tannins in finish need time to aerate. Cherry cough syrup aftertaste. 148 cases made. Nice wine, well made, great varietal and local character. — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Dense purple, highly extracted pigment. Herb, black currant and cherry notes in nose initially. Cherry flavor with great length with an undertone of Ribena black currant, light seed tannin, moderate skin tannin astringency. Aftertaste of sage and weedy greens, pleasant. Needs some time to open. After 30 minutes, fruit flavors galore. Tannins chewier, so keep decanting. After 60 minutes, tannins have calmed down somewhat so drinkable. After two hours, tannins have softened and cola undertone has emerged. Nice flavors, structure, balance and acidity, bright and lively. Wishing this wasn’t my last bottle of this vintage... — 7 years ago