2015 Façon Blanc
Columbia Valley
92
Forgeron always makes a quality white and the 2015 Façon Blanc is no exception. Buttered citrus, white flowers, brioche, and spice notes all emerge from this rich, medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, juicy white that has richness and freshness. This vintage is 39% Roussanne, 34% Viognier, and 27% Grenache Blanc. Aged 4 months in 100% neutral French oak.
Jeb Dunnuck
April 2018
2014 Façon Rouge
Columbia Valley
92
The 2014 Facon Rouge checks in as a blend of 58% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre, and 16% Grenache brought up in mostly neutral barrels. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by lots of ripe black cherry and darker berry fruits, damp earth, and underbrush aromatics. With a rich, full-bodied style, beautiful purity and fine tannin, it’s a terrific wine from Marie-Eve Gilla. It should keep for 7-8 years, if not longer.
Jeb Dunnuck
April 2018
2015 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
91
The value-priced 2015 Chardonnay Columbia Valley is 100% Chardonnay brought up in 35% new French oak. Apple blossom, white flowers, spice, and a hint of pineapple all emerge from the glass. It’s rich, textured, and balanced on the palate, with beautiful fruit.
Jeb Dunnuck
April 2018
2014 Façon Rouge
Columbia Valley
91
Editor's Choice: This blend of 58% Syrah, 26% Mourvèdre and 16% Grenache hails from Boushey and Heart of the Hill vineyards. Subdued out of the gate, it offers raspberry, white pepper, herb, cherry pit and marionberry aromas as it opens. The flavors are graceful, pretty and balanced.
Sean Sullivan
Wine Enthusiast
2015 Chardonnay
Columbia Valley
91
Editor's Choice: This is a true pan-Washington Chardonnay, made from grapes from Yakima Valley, Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla Valley and Wahluke Slope. Its clarified butter, lemon curd, white peach and spice aromas lead to a full-bodied, creamy palate, with plentiful lemony accents. It's richer in style than recent vintages, but the warm year no doubt contributed to that.
Sean Sullivan
Wine Enthusiast
2015 Façon Blanc
Columbia Valley
90
This blend of 39% Roussanne, 34% Viognier and 27% Grenache Blanc offers nuanced apricot, peach, flower and spice aromas. It's full bodied and juicy on the palate, with textured stone fruit-like flavors. Peach notes linger on the warm finish.
Sean Sullivan
Wine Enthusiast
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley
This Cabernet offers a deep ruby color and attractive aromas of wild blackberry, cherry and plum, with scents of crushed roses, bayberry, sweet tobacco, cedar, sandalwood, olive and incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with notes of licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and earth. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts, toffee, mocha and moderate oak (35% new), followed by a long, supple, yet structured, ripe tannin finish. (18.5/20)
Rand Sealey
Review of Washington Wines
2015 Primitivo
Wahluke Slope
This ancient clonal Zinfandel shows a deep ruby color and an intoxicating nose of blackberry, black currant, plum, bayberry, tobacco, violets, cracked pepper and spiced incense. The dark fruit flavors are thick and bold, yet restrained, with notes of licorice, dark cocoa, espresso and Wahluke scorched earth. On the back, a creamy, opulent texture emerges, with sensations of pressed berries, grilled nut meats, kirsch and cassis liqueurs, orange peel and burnt charcoal, followed by a warm (14.4% alcohol) but not hot, lingering spiced ripe tannin finish. (19/20)
Rand Sealey
Review of Washington Wines
2015 Zinfandel
Horse Heaven Hills
This Zin offers a deep purplish ruby color an intense nose of blackberry, cranberry, cherry, rosebuds, tobacco, brambles, bacon and spiced incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with lush, ripe, yet focused black and red fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, dark roast coffee and Horse Heaven scorched earth. The back picks up pressed berries, roasted nuts, mocha and burnt charcoal, followed by a savory, spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. (18.5/20)
Rand Sealey
Review of Washington Wines
2016 Façon Blanc
Columbia Valley
This blend of 60% Viognier, 27% Roussanne and 13% Grenache Blanc displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear, white peach, pineapple, grapefruit, honeysuckle, lemon verbena and white incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing with notes of peach stone, pear skin and saline minerals. On the back, a creamy texture emerges, counterpointed by bracing fruit acids, along with poire and pêche liqueurs, hazelnut and grapefruit zest, followed by a refreshingly crisp finish. 18.5/20
Rand Sealey
June 2018
2015 Barbera
Columbia Valley
From a variety originating in the Italian Piedmont, this shows a deep purplish ruby color and intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, bayberry, black roses, white pepper and incense. On the palate, the wine brims with bright red and blue fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, Toblerone chocolate, Italian roast and silicate. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted hazelnuts, and tart cherries (a trait of Barbera) on the way to a chewy, spice dusted (clove, nutmeg) moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
Rand Sealey
June 2018
2015 Façon Rouge
Columbia Valley
The red counterpart consists of 58% Syrah, 31% Mourvèdre and 11% Grenache. It shows a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant, crushed roses, lavender, smoked meats, tobacco, white pepper and spiced incense. The medium full-bodied flavors are comprised of black and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with notes of pressed berries, toasted almonds, charcoal and a bit of toasty oak, followed by a ripe sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
Rand Sealey
June 2018
Experience in Woodinville
My daughter and son-in-law invited us to taste at Forgeron in Woodinville last night, where they are club members. Our tasting included the 2014 Facon Blanc, which we purchased, 2014 Chardonnay, 2013 Merlot, the same year as Cab, and the ‘12 and ‘13 Anvil. I had received the ‘12 Anvil for my last birthday, unopened, so it was nice to taste. I was surprised by the consistency and distinctive excellence across the spectrum we sampled, not typical at most wineries. The staff was very busy last night but nevertheless found time to be personable, attentive, and make us feel welcome.
Steven
Experience in Walla Walla
Our group of 6 had a private tasting on a day the tasting room is closed. Marie came in just to accommodate our out-of-town guests. Following an informative tour we were royally treated to a lovely table setting complete with fruits, nuts, meats and French bread. Forgeron Anvil 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon was the highlight. Thank you Marie-Eve for an outstanding and very personal event.
Dee
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