2013 Gard Vintners Vaucluse Red Wine Columbia Valley 750 ml

Rhône Style Red from Washington’s Own Royal Slope

Washington State has become a hotbed for what Wine Spectator has called “some of the most distinctive Rhône Style red wines in the country.” In particular, vines rooted in the Royal Slope’s Frenchman Hills overlooking the Saddle Mountains yield some of the most compelling red blends 3,600 miles east of the Roasted Slopes of France’s Rhône Valley.

In the early 2000s, when Josh Lawrence decided to start Gård Vintners, he looked to his dad, John, and his uncle Sandy for partners. Both men have farmed vines planted above 1,300 feet on Washington’s Royal Slope for over 50 years and have sold fruit to some of the region’s best wineries, including Matthews, Mullan Road, Tenor, and Alleromb.  

Gård Vintners winemaker Aryn Morell has long purchased fruit from Lawrence Vineyards and comes with a laundry list of experience. He cut his teeth at Silver Oak, then joined a consulting company working for the likes of Joseph Phelps, Quintessa, Chappellet, Hundred Acre, Turnbull, and a number of other high-profile California players. In Washington he’s known for crafting stunning whites at Matthews Estate and dazzling red blends at Tenor as well as under his own label, Alleromb. Wine Spectator has taken note of Morell’s work, applauding his “intense flavors and polished textures.”

In the phenomenal 2013 growing season, Morell enjoyed an on-time harvest in October thanks to the warmest season in a decade, which Wine Spectator would call “outstanding.”

None more so than today’s “Vaucluse” red wine, which pays homage to the eponymous region that encompasses parts of the Northern and Southern Rhône.

The 2013 Gård Vintners "Vaucluse" Red Wine Lawrence Vineyards is a classic Rhône Valley blend, combining the power of Syrah and Grenache with an aromatic splash of Viognier. Deep ruby with purple hues. Voluptuous aromas of blue and black fruit, licorice, purple florals from the Viognier and cracked pepper. Supple and round on entry, deep blackberry and blueberry compote notes meet a heady mix of wild herbs, sweet oak, and hints of vanilla and espresso. Finishing with great New World energy and classic Rhône Valley mineral elegance and tension, arguing for 8-10 years of slumber in a cool cellar.

Released at $35. Just $24.99 per bottle today — and your chance to taste why Wine Spectator has said that Washington State is producing “some of the most distinctive Rhône Style red wines in the country.” Shipping included on 4.