Uriah Spring Valley Vineyard 2008

Uriah Spring Valley Vineyard Walla Walla Red Wine 2008

 

Linda prepared grilled pork chops with a delicious medley of grilled apples, vegetables and onions (below). For a wine pairing, I pulled one of our favorite labels, Uriah from Spring Valley Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington State, Columbia Valley.

Our Spring Valley wine club allocation shipped this week so we pulled one of their labels to make room for a current vintage release replacement bottle. As part of cellar management, we pulled the oldest vintage release of this label, a twelve year old 2008. We hold of decade of vintages of this label.

Uriah is a Right Bank Bordeaux Blend, meaning it is predominantly Merlot based rather than Cabernet, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

We visited Spring Valley during our appellation visit to the Walla Walla (Washington) wine region in the fall of 2018. We visited the Spring Valley Vineyard tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, then ventured out to the vineyards and winery northeast of town. There, we met Dean Derby (above) patriarch, and husband to Shari Corkrum Derby, grand-daughter of Uriah Corkrum, namesake for this label. Meeting Mr. Derby was one of the highlights of our Walla Walla Wine Experience. 

All of the Spring Valley wines are named for one of the ancestral family members, and one for Dean himself. Spring Valley Vineyard produces wine from 100% estate-grown fruit, a relative rarity in Washington.

Washington State and regional powerhouse Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates purchased the winery and the brand from the Derby family, but they continues to own and operate the vineyards.

Uriah Spring Valley Vineyard Walla Walla Red Wine 2008

This label is a Merlot based blend of Bordeaux varietals, the 2008 vintage consists of 53% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. This was aged for 18 months in 60% new French oak.

Consistent with previous tasting note from 2019, this was dark garnet colored, medium full bodied,  black raspberry and black currant fruits accented by cedar, tobacco, notes of licorice and cinnamon spice. 

At a dozen years of age, the cork, foil and label were perfect but this is beginning to show its age and is starting to descend from the apex of its drinking profile.

RM 89 points, a deduction of one point from earlier.

This received 93 points from Wine Spectator and 89 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1017181

https://www.springvalleyvineyard.com/

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/03/uriah-spring-valley-vineyard-red-wine.html