Three from Kiona Vineyards, Red Mountain, Washington State
I enjoyed these three wines from Kiona Vineyards. They’re in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State, which is well known for its red wines. Cleverly made, these are wines with a sense of harmony and drinkability. Good to see Malbec and Lemberger (Blaufrankisch) getting some airplay, and I appreciated the thinking behind the three-vintage red blend.
Website: https://www.kionawine.com/
Kiona Vineyards Malbec 2017 Red Mountain, Washington State, USA
14.5% alcohol. Kiona have just 2.5 hectares of Malbec, and they’ve used it to make a ripe, seductive wine with sweet, rounded black cherry and blackberry fruit, with a silky texture and notes of vanilla, spice and chocolate. It’s very supple and smooth with nice floral aromatics. Such a crowd-pleaser of a wine. 90/100 ($30 US retail)
Kiona Vineyards Fortuna NV Red Mountain, Washington State, USA
14.8% alcohol. A blend of grapes and vintages: One third each of 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Carmenère and 2019 Malbec. It’s ripe, layered and complex with sweet blackberries and cherries, some spice, a lush sweetly fruited mid-palate and a sense of ease and finesse on the finish. Such a delicious, polished, multidimensional wine. Has some cocoa and spice, too. 91/100 ($40 US retail)
Kiona Vineyards Lemberger 2018 Red Mountain, Washington State, USA
14% alcohol. Lemberger, also known as Blaufrankisch and Kekfrankos, is a lovely red grape variety. Here, it has fashioned a supple midweight wine with a nice juiciness, and notes of fine spices and tar, as well as sweet cherry and strawberry fruit. There’s warmth and volume here. Lovely drinkability. 89/100 ($17 US retail)
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