Buty Rediviva of the Stones 2012
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Blend: 78% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Mourvedre
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The superstar here is the 2012 Redivivia of the Stones. Coming all from the Rocks region of Walla Walla and a blend of 78% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Mourvedre that saw varying degrees of whole clusters in the fermentation and aging 19 months in neutral oak. It has classic olive, lavender, pepper, dried flowers and sweet cassis notes to go with a medium-bodied, elegant and lengthy feel on the palate. The tannin is noticeable, yet nicely integrated, and there’s terrific purity of fruit. Give it a year or two and enjoy bottled through 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
A unique blend of Syrah (78%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Mourvedre, this low-alcohol wine (for the vintage and region) offers aromas of high-toned dried herbs, earth, smoked meat, smoke and white pepper. The citrusy fire-pit flavors are elegant and show persistence. It's a unique expression of the area that should do well on the dinner table.
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Wine Spectator
This taut style focuses blackberry and plum flavors into a soft beam, with hints of coffee and smoky grilled meat adding to the long and enticing finish. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre. Best after 2017.
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Wine &
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With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.