Valdemar Estates Walla Walla Syrah
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The Walla Walla Valley Syrah is a true tribute to the remarkable diversity in the Walla Walla Valley.
- It’s a harmonious blend of grapes from three exceptional vineyards: 63% from Lefore Vineyard, 30% from Pepper Bridge, and 7% from Blue Mountain.
- This blend captures the essence of the Walla Walla Valley, where each vineyard contributes a unique terroir.
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Elaboration: Fermented in steel with 17 daysof skin contact. Aged 19 months in 29% new and 71% used, French oak.
Tasting Notes: “The 2021 Syrah Walla Walla Valley comes from a mix of vineyards (Lefore, Pepper Bridge, and Blue Mountain) and was aged 16 months in 28% 500-liter puncheons. Its vivid purple hue is followed by a pure, classic Syrah nose of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, classy oak, and new leather. This medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated Syrah has ripe tannins and a pure yet unevolved style that will benefit from just a few years of bottle age. It’s a beautiful Syrah in the making.” -Jeb Dunnuck
PRESS
2021 – 94 Decanter | 93+ Jeb Dunnuck | 92 James Suckling| 92 Vinous
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
“Always pioneering” is Bodegas Valdemar’s motto. Five generations of the Valdemar family in Rioja, Spain, have remained committed to producing wines reflecting the diversity of their vineyards. For over 135 years, the family has incorporated innovative initiatives like creating the first barrel-fermented white wine and the first Tempranillo white. They have also been instrumental in recovering varietals presumed to be extinct, such as the Maturana grape and the Granciano variety.
In 2019, they established the first non-American winery in Washington State, led by siblings Jesús and Ana Martínez Bujanda, CEO and COO of Valdemar Estates. Under the “inherited know-how” they received from previous generations, the innovative winemakers have turned their land into sustainable wine agroecosystems, using organic matter to improve fertility, cover crops, pheromones to control pests, varietal diversity, biological corridors, and native forests, resulting in an the International “Wineries for Climate Protection” certification. This designation’s four pillars align with the Bodegas Valdemar commitment to reducing the carbon footprint, using renewable energies, and managing water while reducing waste.