Smell: plum, crushed rock, clove
Taste: currant, blueberry, blackberry, fig, olive
Mouthfeel: richly developed tannins, elegant finish
Pair with BBQ, roasted lamb or chicken, ratatouille
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
The weather of 2014 was close to ideal for grape growing. Spring was quite temperate, and as is typical in the Walla Walla Valley and bud break occurred in mid-April. Summer was the warmest on record! The warm days continued into fall and were coupled with cool nights, allowing for the perfect development of our trademark acidity. The wines of this vintage are beautifully structured, ripe and expressive.
Specifications
Vintage: 2014
Varietals: 96% Syrah, 4% Grenache
Appellation: 100% Walla Walla Valley
Estate Vineyards: 40% Les Collines, 26% Stone Valley, 20% Seven Hills, 10% Pepper Bridge, 4% Summit View
Amavi Cellars signifies love (amor) and life (vita) through our wines, which are 100% estate, 100% Certified Sustainable, and 100% Walla Walla Valley.
Located in the heart of Walla Walla wine country, our winery & tasting room offer sweeping views of surrounding Pepper Bridge Vineyard as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains. Dedicated stewards of the land, we are committed to making a positive impact both within our estate vineyards and within our community.
Quality, hospitality and sustainability are our underlying values. Our estate vineyards: Les Collines, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave, Goff, and Summit View, are farmed sustainably. We build up the soil’s health rather than deplete it and seek out earth-friendly alternatives to fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. We are committed to not only preserving, but also improving the land for future generations. And we insist on having a good time while we’re doing it all!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Syrah
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $179.99 $15/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Darn you Casemates. More damn fine Syrah wine. And from a tremendous WA producer. How about offering some plonk once in a while so I can ignore the offer…
@johnnelson7333 hah, yea Washington Syrah is one of my favorite categories. Eric and his team are doing some impressive growing and winemaking up in Walla Walla. If this does well, we have a good shot at pepper bridge!
@johnnelson7333@Winedavid49 John do you want to do a split or are you hoarding? Wouldn’t mind a few (or 6 if you want to part with that many). Let me know…
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Syrah - $20 = 9.99%
…yes, I still report to Winedavid, every once in a while, and on Friday, I stopped by the WCC HQ to secure a bottle of 2014 Amavi Syrah for weekend rattage.
As it should be, this Syrah is DARK… Inky & purple
The nose is an abundance of blueberry pie, with herbal notes. Perhaps a whiff of olive tapenade. Delightful.
Lots of dark fruit here. Blue and black berries, plums and a little bit of those herbs… (dare I say Herbes de Provence?) and pepper.
I’ve not been to Walla Walla (bucket list, competing with my daughter’s American Girl Doll wish list), but I’m told it’s cool-climate, so I would expect good acid and lots of savory notes. This wine definitely has the savor, and decent acid, but the biggest takeaway is intense, concentrated fruit. The tannins are still pretty chewy; they settled down a bit once I hit glass #3. Methinks this would be stellar with summer grilling.
IMHO, kind of a no-brainer at $15 a bottle.
…and on that note, I return to civilian life in Sonoma. Good day.
The first time you use an abbreviation or acronym please include the word(s) or phrase represented.
Some us are new here. Much gets lost in your “private” conversations. We are here because we want to participate. You make it difficult with your “secrets”.
@jeffreywsnyder Its just habit. I had the same problem when I first joined, but if I could not figure the abbreviation out on my own I would just ask and someone would always answer.
@jeffreywsnyder Here’s a few that may come in handy around here, off the top of my head;
PnP: Pop ‘n’ Pour
QPR: Quality to Price Ratio
SWMBO: She Who Must Be Obeyed
SIWBM: Self-Imposed Wine Buying Moratorium
AFWE: Anti-Flavor Wine Elite
AVA: American Viticultural Area
GSM: Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend
TCA: Trichloroanisole (Cork Taint)
Hello all. This is Eric from Amavi Cellars in beautiful Walla Walla, Washington. Excited to be on Casemates. I’ll be in and out – ask me anything and I’ll answer what I can. Have a great couple of days.
@ericmcki We’re traveling to WW next week for the Merlot festival and will stop by if we have time. For those who haven’t been, exciting things are happening in the area and you owe it to yourself to make the trip. Be sure to visit the WW Community College tasting room and see what the next generation is up to!
@ericmcki what’s the window on this for someone in an apartment in FL? I really only have room for about 20 bottles but have a friend with a huge cellar that will trade
Having a son attending Whitman College I can agree wholeheartedly. Wish I had the chance to visit him more often. Kind of a journey to get there from Chicago but have loved every opportunity I have gotten. Just beautiful.
@gtcharlie fascinating wines too. Syrah’s are complex and lovely. open it up, have a glass and then let it sit overnight on the counter. next day’s glass is different and wonderful.
This is a no brainier. After living and making wine in W2 for 4 years, Amavi/Pepperbridge are in the elite producers of the valley. Additionally, Jean-Francois Pellet and the McKibben family are just excellent people. It’s going to have more structure than most WA Syrah, but that’s a testament to JF’s ability to make very ageable wines. Plus, a lot of this comes from Les Collines Vineyard, which is absolutely stellar for Syrah.
Anyone else want in for NorCal? I’m starting with a case to split with family but could be convinced to get more if others are interested.
Just popped a 2008…I know, I know…not the same vintage.
But it’s inky dark, rich mouthfeel, lots of flavor, long finish.
What’s it taste like, well, to me, it’s kinda got that Mollydooker flavor…Over the Top, somewhat salty flavor.
SWMBO loves Mollydooker, and says “Like a Blue Eyed Boy, without the salty flavor”, so there you have it. She says $40. I kinda agree. Will the 2014 age as well? Might have to find out.
@FritzCat Cool, I appreciate the update on the older vintages. I’ll have to pull a 2008 out of the cellar. As far as vintages go, Walla Walla is remarkably consistent, except for the odd freeze year that hurts us (the last one being in 2004). I had to bring out our vintage notes on that one and it was a cooler vintage, started Sep 25, which is fairly late, especially these days. The 2014 was a very warm summer but cooled off nicely in the fall and so set the acidity nicely, as someone mentioned earlier. Walla Walla is not cool climate, by the way – it can hit 110 degrees here and regularly over 100 – but it cools off nicely at night.
Hey! Anyone in the Syracuse area wanna split a case?
I also got a case of The Spaniard. I’d prefer to buy smaller lots at the case rate. So, if you’re nearby.
Intrigued by this. Only Walla Walla wine I’ve ever had was the Fjellene offer from the previous incarnation, and it was a mix pack, couple Syrahs and a couple blends I think. All were very good. Hard to find anything about the winery online (sorry, off topic).
I have a good amount of Syrah in the cellar, but I’m tempted by this.
@cbrehman The Fjellene was a closeout sale. The winery shut its doors back in 2012 or 2013. The nice part about those wines is they sourced from Pepperbridge vineyard (sister winery to Amavi) and Les Collines. They made some good wines and aren’t at this caliber. I purchased those same wines when I was in W2. Drank them way too fast!
@cbrehman@jshaver Yeah, those were really good. The red blend was awesome. Bought 2 different lots and should have just maxxed out. They basically closed up right as I was moving to the area. People in town were jealous of the deal I scored on the previous incarnation.
/giphy fresh-actual-owl
Small apartment “cellar” is drying up, looks like a good 3 pack to pick up. What’s the window on this? Should I set 1, 2, or all 3 aside to drink in the somewhat-distant future?
I always say to buy a case and try one per year, hahaha. We typically say 8-10 years is safe. The '08 mentioned above is ten years, and we had an '03 the other day (15 years) that was amazing. The 2014 is tasting very good right now. I would taste one in a little bit and give the others some time based on that. We have more if it comes to that…
@ericmcki@ericmcki glad I got a whole case then! Even though I had a pretty good feeling that 3 just wouldn’t be enough. Got the chance to try some of your Syrah before and absolutely loved it. Not so easy to find in PA though, so I’m super excited for this to arrive!
i just dropped in to say i hate you all. i had no intention of buying wine, but this stupid thread won me over. again, i hate you all, so my order phrase is quite appropriate.
Worried about shipment on this one. Order went out Tuesday from WA with scheduled arrival for today (Thur) in San Diego. It will not arrive until tomorrow. Saw it go through NorCal yesterday afternoon with it sitting up in LA as I post this. Temps throughout CA I5 corridor have been nearing triple digits all week, I just hope what should be a wonderful treat doesn’t get ruined in the FedX truck. My understanding is it was sent with “standard” summer shipping.
@rjquillin@Winedavid49 it was in the 90’s most of the weekend and Monday here. Opened a bottle and definitely some sour/jammy notes. I’m assuming this isn’t the common flavor of the wine, especially when compared to the tasting notes.
Probably shouldn’t have, but opened a bottle as soon as it came two days ago. I was underwhelmed, as was my wife. It’s a sound wine, no big defects, but needs something. (Obvious wood would be nice, and maybe a bit more fruit.) It isn’t as intense as I was hoping it would be. I have hopes that the other eleven bottles will improve as they settle in and age for a while. It certainly has the potential to be a good dinner wine. We ended up doing a table blend with some Spaniard, which came the same day. The blend was an improvement over both.
Got our case last week. One of the classiest shipments ever- nice box, plus some Amavi literature and business cards. Already been through two bottles, and it’s terrific, and gets better and better with air. Exactly what we expected, and we drink a ton of Washington syrah, with preference for the funky Rocks district. Really enjoying it, at the price it’s QPR is fantastic, and I already regret splitting the case, wish I’d sprung for the whole thing!
Tasting Notes
Smell: plum, crushed rock, clove
Taste: currant, blueberry, blackberry, fig, olive
Mouthfeel: richly developed tannins, elegant finish
Pair with BBQ, roasted lamb or chicken, ratatouille
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
The weather of 2014 was close to ideal for grape growing. Spring was quite temperate, and as is typical in the Walla Walla Valley and bud break occurred in mid-April. Summer was the warmest on record! The warm days continued into fall and were coupled with cool nights, allowing for the perfect development of our trademark acidity. The wines of this vintage are beautifully structured, ripe and expressive.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$444.26/case at Amavi Cellars (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Amavi Cellars
Amavi Cellars signifies love (amor) and life (vita) through our wines, which are 100% estate, 100% Certified Sustainable, and 100% Walla Walla Valley.
Located in the heart of Walla Walla wine country, our winery & tasting room offer sweeping views of surrounding Pepper Bridge Vineyard as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains. Dedicated stewards of the land, we are committed to making a positive impact both within our estate vineyards and within our community.
Quality, hospitality and sustainability are our underlying values. Our estate vineyards: Les Collines, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave, Goff, and Summit View, are farmed sustainably. We build up the soil’s health rather than deplete it and seek out earth-friendly alternatives to fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. We are committed to not only preserving, but also improving the land for future generations. And we insist on having a good time while we’re doing it all!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, June 25th - Wednesday, June 27th
@neilfindswine shared a Lab Rat Report.
@eribmcki is here from Amavi to answer questions!
(Click their username for recent activity.)
Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Syrah
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $179.99 $15/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2014 Amavi Cellars Syrah
Darn you Casemates. More damn fine Syrah wine. And from a tremendous WA producer. How about offering some plonk once in a while so I can ignore the offer…
@johnnelson7333 hah, yea Washington Syrah is one of my favorite categories. Eric and his team are doing some impressive growing and winemaking up in Walla Walla. If this does well, we have a good shot at pepper bridge!
@Winedavid49 So, does this mean Leonetti is next? (ducking)
I’m testing out the summer shipping (because I love Syrah, and that was a good year for it, too).
@johnnelson7333 @Winedavid49 John do you want to do a split or are you hoarding?
Wouldn’t mind a few (or 6 if you want to part with that many). Let me know…
@hey_zeus @Winedavid49
Dallas in for a case of course! Can’t wait to see the giphy…
/giphy bossy-jittery-hamster
@hey_zeus @Winedavid49
They must have coated the toy instruments with hamster meth, whatever the hell that might be.
@hey_zeus @Winedavid49
Or hamster meh!!
This stuff is really good. Seattle people, who is in?
@aces219 gonna miss ya…
@aces219 I’d go in on a case split
@aces219 A friend of mine would like some, so I can commit to 6 bottles.
@airynne ok I will order and perhaps someone will take another 3 off my hands. This is a sweet deal though.
@aces219 @airynne I’m interested in the other 3 bottles…
@airynne @lindylouwho sounds good. I just placed the order.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Syrah - $20 = 9.99%
…yes, I still report to Winedavid, every once in a while, and on Friday, I stopped by the WCC HQ to secure a bottle of 2014 Amavi Syrah for weekend rattage.
As it should be, this Syrah is DARK… Inky & purple
The nose is an abundance of blueberry pie, with herbal notes. Perhaps a whiff of olive tapenade. Delightful.
Lots of dark fruit here. Blue and black berries, plums and a little bit of those herbs… (dare I say Herbes de Provence?) and pepper.
I’ve not been to Walla Walla (bucket list, competing with my daughter’s American Girl Doll wish list), but I’m told it’s cool-climate, so I would expect good acid and lots of savory notes. This wine definitely has the savor, and decent acid, but the biggest takeaway is intense, concentrated fruit. The tannins are still pretty chewy; they settled down a bit once I hit glass #3. Methinks this would be stellar with summer grilling.
IMHO, kind of a no-brainer at $15 a bottle.
…and on that note, I return to civilian life in Sonoma. Good day.
EVERYONE, PLEASE
The first time you use an abbreviation or acronym please include the word(s) or phrase represented.
Some us are new here. Much gets lost in your “private” conversations. We are here because we want to participate. You make it difficult with your “secrets”.
Other than commonly used shorthand such as IMHO, OTOH, BTW, of course.
@jeffreywsnyder Its just habit. I had the same problem when I first joined, but if I could not figure the abbreviation out on my own I would just ask and someone would always answer.
@jeffreywsnyder @Twich22 All acronyms must be pre-approved by @WineDavid49 …holder of a PhD., an MA, a BA, and he’s a BMF besides.
@jeffreywsnyder Here’s a few that may come in handy around here, off the top of my head;
PnP: Pop ‘n’ Pour
QPR: Quality to Price Ratio
SWMBO: She Who Must Be Obeyed
SIWBM: Self-Imposed Wine Buying Moratorium
AFWE: Anti-Flavor Wine Elite
AVA: American Viticultural Area
GSM: Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend
TCA: Trichloroanisole (Cork Taint)
@chipgreen @jeffreywsnyder SWMBO is my favorite acronym.
@chipgreen @jeffreywsnyder Don’t forget SIWBM’s alternate meaning. Spouse Imposed Wine Buying Moratorium.
@billmort @Twich22 @Winedavid49
BMF: Black Mafia Family… HUH?
@chipgreen @jeffreywsnyder @jrbw3
Now that’s one I can relate to.
@billmort @jeffreywsnyder @Twich22 @Winedavid49
Bad Mother F%#£er…of course.
@billmort @johnnelson7333 @Twich22 @Winedavid49
Of course!
@jeffreywsnyder @johnnelson7333 @Twich22 @Winedavid49 obscure Cheech and Chong reference.
Hello all. This is Eric from Amavi Cellars in beautiful Walla Walla, Washington. Excited to be on Casemates. I’ll be in and out – ask me anything and I’ll answer what I can. Have a great couple of days.
@ericmcki We’re traveling to WW next week for the Merlot festival and will stop by if we have time. For those who haven’t been, exciting things are happening in the area and you owe it to yourself to make the trip. Be sure to visit the WW Community College tasting room and see what the next generation is up to!
@ericmcki what’s the window on this for someone in an apartment in FL? I really only have room for about 20 bottles but have a friend with a huge cellar that will trade
@grantunderland see my window post down below. Thx
Having a son attending Whitman College I can agree wholeheartedly. Wish I had the chance to visit him more often. Kind of a journey to get there from Chicago but have loved every opportunity I have gotten. Just beautiful.
@gtcharlie fascinating wines too. Syrah’s are complex and lovely. open it up, have a glass and then let it sit overnight on the counter. next day’s glass is different and wonderful.
I am missing a good syrah in my cellar so I am in.
/giphy amicable-fertile-watch
With the modest difference in per bottle prices, it was cheaper to order 3 and use the last of my VMP coupons.
/giphy charismatic-caustic-firefly
This is a no brainier. After living and making wine in W2 for 4 years, Amavi/Pepperbridge are in the elite producers of the valley. Additionally, Jean-Francois Pellet and the McKibben family are just excellent people. It’s going to have more structure than most WA Syrah, but that’s a testament to JF’s ability to make very ageable wines. Plus, a lot of this comes from Les Collines Vineyard, which is absolutely stellar for Syrah.
Anyone else want in for NorCal? I’m starting with a case to split with family but could be convinced to get more if others are interested.
@winejosh I’m in for a few bottles. I’m in San Jose and work in Campbell.
/giphy smart-spiteful-laugh
Just popped a 2008…I know, I know…not the same vintage.
But it’s inky dark, rich mouthfeel, lots of flavor, long finish.
What’s it taste like, well, to me, it’s kinda got that Mollydooker flavor…Over the Top, somewhat salty flavor.
SWMBO loves Mollydooker, and says “Like a Blue Eyed Boy, without the salty flavor”, so there you have it. She says $40. I kinda agree. Will the 2014 age as well? Might have to find out.
@FritzCat Cool, I appreciate the update on the older vintages. I’ll have to pull a 2008 out of the cellar. As far as vintages go, Walla Walla is remarkably consistent, except for the odd freeze year that hurts us (the last one being in 2004). I had to bring out our vintage notes on that one and it was a cooler vintage, started Sep 25, which is fairly late, especially these days. The 2014 was a very warm summer but cooled off nicely in the fall and so set the acidity nicely, as someone mentioned earlier. Walla Walla is not cool climate, by the way – it can hit 110 degrees here and regularly over 100 – but it cools off nicely at night.
Hey! Anyone in the Syracuse area wanna split a case?
I also got a case of The Spaniard. I’d prefer to buy smaller lots at the case rate. So, if you’re nearby.
Alright, you got me… my first Casemates order! Looking forward to trying this one, sounds awesome.
@Trede woohoo!
Intrigued by this. Only Walla Walla wine I’ve ever had was the Fjellene offer from the previous incarnation, and it was a mix pack, couple Syrahs and a couple blends I think. All were very good. Hard to find anything about the winery online (sorry, off topic).
I have a good amount of Syrah in the cellar, but I’m tempted by this.
@cbrehman The Fjellene was a closeout sale. The winery shut its doors back in 2012 or 2013. The nice part about those wines is they sourced from Pepperbridge vineyard (sister winery to Amavi) and Les Collines. They made some good wines and aren’t at this caliber. I purchased those same wines when I was in W2. Drank them way too fast!
@cbrehman @winejosh I did love those Fjellene wines! Now I am really tempted to test the cellar space.
@cbrehman @jshaver Yeah, those were really good. The red blend was awesome. Bought 2 different lots and should have just maxxed out. They basically closed up right as I was moving to the area. People in town were jealous of the deal I scored on the previous incarnation.
@winejosh @jshaver Good information. Thanks for sharing! You’ve talked me into this deal. In for 3.
/giphy plastic-giant-hyena
/giphy fresh-actual-owl
Small apartment “cellar” is drying up, looks like a good 3 pack to pick up. What’s the window on this? Should I set 1, 2, or all 3 aside to drink in the somewhat-distant future?
I always say to buy a case and try one per year, hahaha. We typically say 8-10 years is safe. The '08 mentioned above is ten years, and we had an '03 the other day (15 years) that was amazing. The 2014 is tasting very good right now. I would taste one in a little bit and give the others some time based on that. We have more if it comes to that…
@ericmcki @ericmcki glad I got a whole case then! Even though I had a pretty good feeling that 3 just wouldn’t be enough. Got the chance to try some of your Syrah before and absolutely loved it. Not so easy to find in PA though, so I’m super excited for this to arrive!
i just dropped in to say i hate you all. i had no intention of buying wine, but this stupid thread won me over. again, i hate you all, so my order phrase is quite appropriate.
/giphy hateful-worthy-warrior
@carl669 Your hate warms my heart, my friend.
@ericmcki and your wine shall warm my insides. so let’s call it even.
SE Michigan, looking for splitters.
@jrbw3 I bought a case. Accidentally. I really try not to…
@kasandrae hahahaha. Want to split?
@jrbw3 sure
@kasandrae awesome. thanks.
/giphy wakeful-angry-spot
Found an out-clause in the SIWBM. Gotta love a Walla Walla loophole.
I’ve always loved the name “Walla Walla”— for that, and the reviews, and the fact that Syrah pairs with just about all our summer favorites, we’re in.
Anyone in Central Illinois need a split? Willing to share a few.
/giphy synonymous-frosted-knight
@benguin986 just…let it go.
Worried about shipment on this one. Order went out Tuesday from WA with scheduled arrival for today (Thur) in San Diego. It will not arrive until tomorrow. Saw it go through NorCal yesterday afternoon with it sitting up in LA as I post this. Temps throughout CA I5 corridor have been nearing triple digits all week, I just hope what should be a wonderful treat doesn’t get ruined in the FedX truck. My understanding is it was sent with “standard” summer shipping.
Pretty sure this case got baked in the FedEx truck
last order before cold fast shipping…devastated.
@fredpgh how so?
Contact support.
@winedavid49 also needs to know the details.
@rjquillin @Winedavid49 it was in the 90’s most of the weekend and Monday here. Opened a bottle and definitely some sour/jammy notes. I’m assuming this isn’t the common flavor of the wine, especially when compared to the tasting notes.
@fredpgh
Stewed or jammy fruit is one of the signs.
Probably shouldn’t have, but opened a bottle as soon as it came two days ago. I was underwhelmed, as was my wife. It’s a sound wine, no big defects, but needs something. (Obvious wood would be nice, and maybe a bit more fruit.) It isn’t as intense as I was hoping it would be. I have hopes that the other eleven bottles will improve as they settle in and age for a while. It certainly has the potential to be a good dinner wine. We ended up doing a table blend with some Spaniard, which came the same day. The blend was an improvement over both.
@DickL I quite enjoyed the bottle I opened. It was pretty much exactly what I was expecting/hoping for.
Got our case last week. One of the classiest shipments ever- nice box, plus some Amavi literature and business cards. Already been through two bottles, and it’s terrific, and gets better and better with air. Exactly what we expected, and we drink a ton of Washington syrah, with preference for the funky Rocks district. Really enjoying it, at the price it’s QPR is fantastic, and I already regret splitting the case, wish I’d sprung for the whole thing!
@wnance
Ditto to everything you said. I’ll have to be more selective if I want a full case. Although getting lots of 3/4 bottle selections is fun.