Andrew Will Red Blend Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain Yakima Valley 2019

“Focused, dusty and delightful, the 2019 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard offers that classic, mineral Red Mountain grip… the palate explodes with plenty of complexity and flavors of dark plum and black raspberry… it ends with a long, dusty, mineral finish that will allow this gorgeous wine to age gracefully.” – 94+ points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

If you don’t have many – or any! – serious Washington wines on your shelf, this is your big chance to catch up and see what all the fuss is about. We have a spectacular Bordeaux-esque blend from Andrew Will, among the best of the best wineries in Washington State. Impatient as usual, we snagged their 2019 Ciel du Cheval, so the almost-equal portions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot have had a nice amount of time to integrate. Meaning: go ahead and tear this open. Bask in the otherworldly structure and deep, deep flavors. But also lay a few down, as the glowing review above indicates. You saw that stellar 94+ point score and our very sharp price, price?

For those unfamiliar, Andrew Will’s Ciel du Cheval tastes very similar to the disturbingly expensive French wonder Cheval Blanc. (The shared horsiness in the names is a coincidence.) The vineyard was planted in 1975 in southeastern Washington's harsh Red Mountain landscape, and pretty quickly became one of the top vineyards in the state, if not North America. Days are hot, then temps drop as much as 40 degrees at night, preserving acid. This vineyard has a particularly high concentration of calcium carbonate in the soil, which is apparently the secret. Heavyweights like Quilceda Creek, Ken Wright, and Seven Hills also tap its prime fruit. 

But this is truly its own phenomenon. Vinous praised the 2019 as “wickedly spicy… silky and refined yet energetic, with juicy acidity and savory herbal tones.” Yes indeed! A plush rush of blackberries and plums is framed out with graphite, tobacco, and herbs like sage, rosemary, and lavender. It’s magically full but not heavy. Then a structured minerality dissolves into a long, cocoa powder finish. Just incredible.