Our Tasting Notes

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley
92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah, 3% Merlot
Birch Creek, Golden Ridge, Morrison Lane and Pepper Bridge Vineyards

Release Date – November 6th, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – Aged in once filled French and American oak barrels for 24 months.
Cases Produced – 81

Wine Composition:
Alcohol: 15.7%

Winemaker Notes:
This wine is tight, almost like my Dad who runs the financial side of the winery.  Decant this wine to reveal the chocolate and earthy aromas.  Imagine venturing into a forest bountiful with berries, shrooms, and pine trees with the aromas that might entail.  Then, think about stuffing all of that into your mouth with enticing flavors and a mouth feel that is concentrated to the point of a Hiroshima- like eruption all over your tongue.  Enjoy now and for years to come.

2007 Syrah

Walla Walla Valley
100% Syrah
Les Collines and Morrison Lane Vineyards


Release Date – November 6th, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging –  Aged in once filled French and American oak for 25 months that had staves air dried in the Walla Walla Valley for 36 months in order to capture even more terroir.
Cases Produced – 71

Wine Composition:

Alcohol: 15.5%

Winemaker Notes:

When reviewing this wine for the tasting notes, I could not stop thinking about breakfast.  Hungry or not, I ate this wine up with visions of sugarplums, or just plums, oranges, rhubarb, mushrooms and prosciutto that seemingly was dried inside of a cedar lined cigar box.  Silky smooth tannins and ripe fruit round out the mouth feel with more orange for acid and bacon fat to cut through the acid.  I’m not saying that you should drink it for breakfast, but I’m not saying not to either.

2007 Merlot

Walla Walla Valley
97% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Syrah
Pepper Bridge, Birch Creek, Golden Ridge and Morrison Lane Vineyards

Release Date – November 6th, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – Aged in once filled French oak barrels for 24 months
Cases Produced – 67

Wine Composition:

Alcohol: 15.4%

Winemaker Notes:

Is this really a Merlot?  Sure it has cherry and strawberry jam notes, but what about the black licorice, mint, and spice cake on the nose?  Coming off of that is the cinnamon, apple peel, and caramel to combine with soft tannins that enticingly make their way down your throat time after time.  After time, damn!

2008 Viognier - Sold Out

Columbia Valley
100% Viognier
75% Horse Heaven Hills and 25% Walla Walla Valley
McKinley Springs and Markham-Banks Vineyards

Release Date – May 1st, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – Aged on the lees in 100% stainless steel barrels for 7 months
Cases Produced – 98

Wine Composition:

pH: TBA
TA: TBA
Alcohol: 13.6%

Winemaker Notes:

Our 2008 Viognier was harvested from the McKinley Springs Vineyard in the Columbia Valley and the Markham- Banks Vineyard in Walla Walla.  McKinley Springs while a  hot site yields fruit with low acids.  Markham- Banks is located South of Walla Walla in the rocks and is a gorgeous site that we were excited to work with this year.  The fruit was brought in at optimal ripeness, whole cluster pressed and then moved to tank for a few days to settle before being racked off the initial lees.  When the time was right, the somewhat settled wine was moved into stainless steel barrels where it was inoculated/fermented at cool temperatures and allowed to rest until filtering and bottling.  During this resting time, the lees were stirred weekly and kept away from oxygen completely to enhance the mouthfeel and preserve the freshness and aromas of the finished wine. 

The wine itself seductively flows out of the glass, immediately revealing melon, roses, and lemon zest.  Careful examination shows a chalky and earthy dust component complimenting a honey and Earl Grey tea aroma.  Upon first taste, the wine imitates biting into a green Granny Smith apple or a cool slice of orange with peel.  Beautiful acid and an almost “nut- like”, rosemary astringency linger on the finish for minutes after swallowing.

2007 Double Barrel Red

Walla Walla Valley
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 4% Syrah
Pepper Bridge, Les Collines, Forgotten Hills, Golden Ridge, 7 Hills and Birch Creek Vineyards

Release Date – May 1st, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – Aged for 18 months in "second fill" tight grain and neutral barrels for minimal hints of oak while still bringing structure and complexity to the wine
Cases Produced – 537

Wine Composition:

pH: TBA
TA: TBA
Alcohol: 15.4%

Winemaker Notes:

Our first year of winemaking started out with two barrels of wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, hence the name “Double Barrel”.  Those fond, memorable years of building up to our first release has made this wine very close to our hearts and something that we are going to make tradition in our cellar.  With this wine, we always strive to craft an approachable yet serious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah that our families and many others can use as a starting point to making “Sweet Memories”, just like we did in our first few years.  From our families to yours, please enjoy, and have loads of fun with, our 2007 Double Barrel Red.

Blueberries, oranges, pine needles, dust, vanilla, coffee, almond, caramel and rubber are all part of the intricacies of the smell of this brand new wine.  As it opens up and we watch the dark color swirl around our glasses, we are shown earthy components with hints of smoke and fresh raspberries.  Black currant and chocolate jump out and finish with a spicy, black pepper.  This wine has a lot to offer and at an affordable price.

Righteous Wines - 2008 Rosé - Sold Out

Walla Walla Valley and Horse Heaven Hills
Blend of Sangiovesse, Syrah, and Viognier
Les Collines, McKinley Springs, 7 Hills Vineyards

Release Date – May 1st, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – Aged on the lees in 100% stainless steel barrels for 7 months
Cases Produced – 21

Wine Composition:

pH: TBA
TA: TBA
Alcohol: 14.6%

Winemaker Notes:

The 2008 harvest was the first time we had the fun of building a Rose wine.  This wine, all 21 cases, is made up of Sangiovese, Syrah and Viognier from the McKinley Springs, 7 Hills, Forgotten Hills and Les Collines Vineyards.  Using the same methods as our Viognier, we have kept the fresh and cleanness that compliment a hot summer day perfectly!

Think back to your childhood (or even lately) when you popped a red Jolly Rancher and a Hot Tamale candy into your mouth.  Mix all of that intensity with a little bit of cranberries, strawberries, butterscotch, green pepper, and hints of chocolate and think to yourself…. What a Righteous Rose!

Righteous Wines - 2007 Red Wine

Coulmiba Valley (80% Walla Walla Valley)
80% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Syrah, and 2% Petit Verdot
Forgotten Hills, 7 Hills, Arete, and Alice Vineyards

Release Date – May 1st, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – 18 months in French and American Oak Barrels
Cases Produced – 792

Wine Composition:

pH:TBA
TA: TBA
Alcohol: 13.6%

Winemaker Notes:

Righteous Wines are all made to show off the fruit of the amazing vineyards throughout Washington State, our home.  With the class to have been at the Last Supper and the savvy to be in the hand of any “surfer dude”, we made our first wines to be approachable, affordable and flat out Righteous!  Hazelnut, cinnamon, loads of ripe fruit, sour cherry, black pepper and tobacco - 2007 Righteous Red Wine, get yours today.

Righteous Wines - 2007 Malbec - Sold Out

Wahluke Slope
100% Malbec
Alice Vineyards - King Fuji Ranch on the Wahluke Slope

Release Date – May 1st, 2009
Winemaker – Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging – 18 months in 500 liter puncheons and French and American Oak barrels
Cases Produced – 92

Wine Composition:

pH: TBA
TA: TBA
Alcohol: 14.1%

Winemaker Notes:

Righteous Wines are all made to show off the fruit of the amazing vineyards throughout Washington State, our home.  With the class to have been at the Last Supper and the savvy to be in the hand of any “surfer dude”, we made our first wines to be approachable, affordable and flat out Righteous!

Malbec is an insanely hot varietal in Washington right now.  Once thought to have been the “lost Bordeaux grape”, it is BACK, and it’s totally Righteous.  With aromas like pot roast, lavender, cherry and orange blossoms it screams to be drank.  Exploding in your mouth is rhubarb pie, sour cherry cinnamon and a raisin aspect finishing strong. 

2005 Merlot

Walla Walla Valley
95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Spofford Station Vineyard, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, and Birch Creek Vineyard

Release Date: May 3rd and 4th
Price: $28.00
Winemaker: Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging: 27 months in French oak (90%) and Hungarian oak (10%) 15% new oak.
Cases Produced: 83
Bottling Date: February 2, 2008

Wine Composition:

pH: 3.81
TA: 0.56 g/100mL
Alcohol: 14.8%

Tasting Notes:

“Not overpowering with oak allows the true fruit of the Walla Walla Valley to shine through.  Juicy cherry stands out, with a hint of vanilla close behind on the nose.   This wine fills the mouth with fruits like blackberries and finishes with spices that work very well together.”

Syrah 2005

Walla Walla Valley
95% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Spofford Station Vineyard, and Birch Creek Vineyard

Release Date: May 3rd and 4th
Price: $26.00
Winemaker: Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging: 27 months in 100% French oak, 5% new oak.
Cases Produced: 77
Bottling Date: February 2, 2008

Wine Composition:

pH: 3.88
TA: 0.63 g/100mL
Alcohol: 15.0%

Tasting Notes:

"Smooth earthy, fruit tones greet the nose in harmony with a hint of cloves. The drinker can expect meat and spice intertwined with mid palate bursts of berry."

Double Barrel Red Blend 2006

Walla Walla Valley
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 4% Syrah
Pepper Bridge, Birch Creek, Va Piano, Golden Ridge, Spofford Station, Les Collines

Release Date: May 3rd and 4th
Price: $22.00
Winemaker: Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging: 16 months in French, Hungarian and American Oak.  27% New Oak
Cases Produced: 175 Bottling Date:  February 2, 2008

Wine Composition:

pH: 3.93
TA: 0.53 g/100mL
Alcohol: 14.2%

Tasting Notes:

“As the wine opens up, it becomes more intense with a stronger finish.  The nose is greeted by red rose petals accompanied by subtle chocolate aromas.  Smooth, light spices fade away to tannins and blackberries that linger.  Our 2006 signature blend has a lot to offer”

Viognier 2007

Horse Heaven Hills (Columbia Valley)
100% Viognier
McKinley Springs Vineyard

Release Date: May 3rd and 4th
Price: $18.00
Winemaker: Josh McDaniels
Barrel Aging: 100% Stainless Steel for 7 months
Cases Produced:  69
Bottling Date:  March 15, 2008

Wine Composition:

pH: 3.44
TA: 0.58 g/100mL
Alcohol: 13.9%

Tasting Notes:

“Aromas of pear and melon flow out of the glass with an underlying floral accent.  Easy drinking and crisp acidity work slowly over the palate for a strong, clean finish.  A perfect wine for those hot summer days.”