2019 Valo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
This is 100% varietal, all coming from old vines at this vineyard. It’s expressive and aromatically interesting, with notes of cedar, dried and fresh pipe tobacco, raspberry, and bittersweet chocolate. A plump, flavorful, raspberry-filled palate follows, gliding on the finish.
Specs
Varietal Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Old vines from Conner Lee Vineyard
Aged in new and neutral French oak
Alcohol: 14.5%
2020 Valo Cellars Atemporal, Conner Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The aromas draw you into the glass, with notes of plum, spice, anise, ember, and dried herb. Dark fruit and chocolate flavors follow and, beyond that, a lightly smoky finish.
“These wines are thoughtful, smartly made and have a uniqueness and sincerity of expression with a sense of place that is rewarding to the drinker.” -Anthony Mueller, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Valo wines showcase the purity of Washington terroir while focusing on Bordeaux and Rhône varietals. We also make a few Burgundy-style Chardonnays and a Tempranillo Rosé you won’t want to stop drinking! Valo sources grapes from Lawrence Vineyards—including the well-known Conner Lee Vineyard. These vineyards are in the Royal Slope area of Washington, a semi-arid desert in the Columbia Valley. Valo is proud to source grapes from vineyards that practice sustainable farming techniques.
Matías Kúsulas served in the Chilean military for seven years, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant in the Naval Academy of Chile. He entered the University of Chile in 2005 to study agricultural engineering with a focus on wine and viticulture. In 2016, he landed in Washington state after working a harvest in New Zealand, where he initially met Michael Ruhland. He has been the head viticulturist of Lawrence Vineyards on the Royal Slope since 2017 and is also the winemaker for Desert Wind.
Michael Ruhland is the man behind the wine and food in our space. Being the chef at Yellowstone Club taught him a passion for wine pairing that he eventually decided to apply to his own business. He spent many years chasing harvests, meeting Matias in New Zealand over avalanches of Sauvignon Blanc and then again in Walla Walla, Washington over some excellent Cab Francs. They brought their expertise together to harness the exceptional terroir of the Royal Slope AVA in Washington’s Columbia Valley.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Valo Cellars Washington Mixed Reds - $100 = 33.32%
The entire quote (above) from Anthony Mueller:
“Favorite Wineries of 2022 With winemaker Matías Kúsulas at the helm of Valo Cellars the wines are gaining traction and notoriety in the Washington wine landscape. Possessing multiple master’s degrees in enology, Kúsulas has been on the rise in Washington for years. While a newcomer to the Robert Parker Wine Advocate database this year, Valo Cellars will be on next year’s roster to taste through current and soon-to-be-released wines. These wines are thoughtful, smartly made and have a uniqueness and sincerity of expression with a sense of place that is rewarding to the drinker. I’m keeping my eye on Valo Cellars.” (AM) (12/2022)
A note from K&L that kind of connects some of the dots in the notes above:
“Valo’s wines are sourced from mature vine blocks at the famed Conner Lee Vineyard in Columbia Valley’s newly minted Royal Slope AVA. As one of the founding vineyards in the region, initially devised by iconic vigneron Walter Clore, the vines here date back to 1980. They grow in fine sandy loam soils deposited as glacial moraines and by the Missoula Floods. Sitting high on the slope, Conner Lee is a cool and windy site producing concentrated wines with exceptional longevity. Valo winemaker / partner Matías Kúsulas also happens to be the viticulturalist for Lawrence Vineyards who own Connor Lee Vineyard…so it is safe to say he can he can cherry pick his very favorite blocks for his own passion project…” K&L is selling these for $20, mentioning they got the pricing due to a new winery making their way through previous Covid restrictions.
Owen Bargreen is all over Valo, but no notes on these two wines specifically.
I’ll start out by apologizing for my lateness. This report was on the agenda for the early morning and then my dog had an anxiety fit to the Chicago weather last night and I lost half my sleep and was rushing out the door this morning and this report slipped. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming…
I was pleasantly surprised to get an email middle of this week that I had a bottle of wine on offer if I was interested - is it ever a question?! It is my wife’s birthday this week, so no better way to kick it off for her birthday week (big 4-0!!) - especially after an especially long week at work for both of us. Opened the box when it arrived to a bottle of Valo 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. And the cutest little casemates glass that I love!!
I popped the cork while fixing us dinner - first impression was that the color was quite deep red and the smell and taste both were not what I expect from a fairly immature Cab Sav. The nose was red fruit and perhaps a bit of earthy undertones. The taste was surprisingly pleasant for a Cab Sav that been uncorked for a mere 2 mins. I would potentially buy this and drink it quite soon without a concern.
I poured us each a glass and left the rest bottled for the following night. Once it had breathed a bit until dinner was ready, the complexity started to shine a bit more. Definitely got wider hints of fruit (plum, blackberries, currants) - almost sweet but not in a bad way, just very well balanced for as young as the wine is. My default is to cellar a wine like this for a few years, but I really didn’t feel it was necessary here - even without significant aeration - I maybe swirled it a half dozen times in the glass when I first poured it!
I poured another half glass after dinner and let it sit for an hour to have with some strawberries & chocolate - because why not! The earthy and leather came out to round out against the red fruit that we got initially and it really paired well with our impromptu dessert.
Overall, I was very happy with this and while my cellar is stocked to the rafters - I would absolutely split a case if I had more local wine drinking friends!! At $36 a bottle (even if the red blend was a throw away), I would happily pick this Cab Sav up and give the red blend away as a gift (or more likely just drink them all myself!)
Sorry this report is late, but I just got in from a business trip at 7am Sunday, which included a 7 hour delay in the flight from Dulles to SFO. The day started for me at 5:30am Saturday CEST, so I’m wiped. I warned the labrat gods that I was going to be unavailable, and yet here I am.
Just picked the 2020 up from the UPS store, and popped it open. My, it has an aroma! So many previous bottles have a faint whiff that seems to quickly go away, but not this bad boy! Black cherries, blackberries, and something you might smoke.
First pour: purplish red, more on the purple side, I think. Not opaque, more translucent. It has legs, although I’m not sure that’s a sign of anything other than some viscosity is present.
First sip: whow, it hit something that I’m sensing as either salt or umami. Some tannins, it remains in the mouth for quite a while, and I’d almost describe it as chewy. Blackberries, chocolate, perhaps tobacco, black cherries. Quite yummy, actually.
I haven’t had the opportunity to let it breathe, but I think it’s quite sippable from the start. I like it! No opinion from the wife, she’s visiting her granddaughter, and won’t be back until tomorrow.
Just received my case Wednesday, so opened and consumed a bottle of the red blend yesterday. My wife and I enjoyed so much. I proudly drink a bottle of red wine daily, and have to say, besides being full of fruit ( non ripe) and balanced, there is this very pleasant lasting finish, that,I for some reason can’t quality it quantify. Simply beautiful and fairly unique. I wouldn’t expect the complexity from the three varietals or the price point.
Yeah, had a bottle of the Cab the other day. It needed some decanting, and it was good. Perhaps better on day 2 than on day 1 w/ PnP.
Just PnPd the Blend, and it’s Fantastic. Hope the remainder is good tomorrow.
2019 Valo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Specs
2020 Valo Cellars Atemporal, Conner Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $480.00/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Aug 3 - Monday, Aug 7
Valo Cellars Washington Mixed Reds
2 bottles for $49.99 $25/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2019 Valo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
2020 Valo Cellars Atemporal, Conner Lee Vineyard
Conner Lee is one of my favorite vineyards, and that case price is eye-popping. In for a case even though I def don’t need more wine.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Valo Cellars Washington Mixed Reds - $100 = 33.32%
No CT entries.
This one checks all the boxes for me.
Can’t wait to see the Rat reports.
If they’re good, I predict a sell-out.
The entire quote (above) from Anthony Mueller:
“Favorite Wineries of 2022 With winemaker Matías Kúsulas at the helm of Valo Cellars the wines are gaining traction and notoriety in the Washington wine landscape. Possessing multiple master’s degrees in enology, Kúsulas has been on the rise in Washington for years. While a newcomer to the Robert Parker Wine Advocate database this year, Valo Cellars will be on next year’s roster to taste through current and soon-to-be-released wines. These wines are thoughtful, smartly made and have a uniqueness and sincerity of expression with a sense of place that is rewarding to the drinker. I’m keeping my eye on Valo Cellars.” (AM) (12/2022)
A note from K&L that kind of connects some of the dots in the notes above:
“Valo’s wines are sourced from mature vine blocks at the famed Conner Lee Vineyard in Columbia Valley’s newly minted Royal Slope AVA. As one of the founding vineyards in the region, initially devised by iconic vigneron Walter Clore, the vines here date back to 1980. They grow in fine sandy loam soils deposited as glacial moraines and by the Missoula Floods. Sitting high on the slope, Conner Lee is a cool and windy site producing concentrated wines with exceptional longevity. Valo winemaker / partner Matías Kúsulas also happens to be the viticulturalist for Lawrence Vineyards who own Connor Lee Vineyard…so it is safe to say he can he can cherry pick his very favorite blocks for his own passion project…” K&L is selling these for $20, mentioning they got the pricing due to a new winery making their way through previous Covid restrictions.
Owen Bargreen is all over Valo, but no notes on these two wines specifically.
fwiw (which isn’t much)
Anybody in Columbus interested in a split? I don’t have room for more than a few bottles.
@fermentedwisdom
I would be interested in 4 or so.
No Rats!
Crickets!
This looks like a really solid deal.
I’m in for a case!
@FritzCat only one rat and no review of the red blend. Still going for a case?
@Leatherchair Oh, I already did. Now there’s a Rat for the Blend, and it sounds good.
@FritzCat thanks. Would have missed. Just ordered 12. Thanks again
I’ll start out by apologizing for my lateness. This report was on the agenda for the early morning and then my dog had an anxiety fit to the Chicago weather last night and I lost half my sleep and was rushing out the door this morning and this report slipped. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming…
I was pleasantly surprised to get an email middle of this week that I had a bottle of wine on offer if I was interested - is it ever a question?! It is my wife’s birthday this week, so no better way to kick it off for her birthday week (big 4-0!!) - especially after an especially long week at work for both of us. Opened the box when it arrived to a bottle of Valo 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. And the cutest little casemates glass that I love!!
I popped the cork while fixing us dinner - first impression was that the color was quite deep red and the smell and taste both were not what I expect from a fairly immature Cab Sav. The nose was red fruit and perhaps a bit of earthy undertones. The taste was surprisingly pleasant for a Cab Sav that been uncorked for a mere 2 mins. I would potentially buy this and drink it quite soon without a concern.
I poured us each a glass and left the rest bottled for the following night. Once it had breathed a bit until dinner was ready, the complexity started to shine a bit more. Definitely got wider hints of fruit (plum, blackberries, currants) - almost sweet but not in a bad way, just very well balanced for as young as the wine is. My default is to cellar a wine like this for a few years, but I really didn’t feel it was necessary here - even without significant aeration - I maybe swirled it a half dozen times in the glass when I first poured it!
I poured another half glass after dinner and let it sit for an hour to have with some strawberries & chocolate - because why not! The earthy and leather came out to round out against the red fruit that we got initially and it really paired well with our impromptu dessert.
Overall, I was very happy with this and while my cellar is stocked to the rafters - I would absolutely split a case if I had more local wine drinking friends!! At $36 a bottle (even if the red blend was a throw away), I would happily pick this Cab Sav up and give the red blend away as a gift (or more likely just drink them all myself!)
/giphy coarse-ebbing-effect
@ttboy23 I didn’t mean to, yet here we are…let me know if you want some!
/giphy cliched-fluid-tiramisu
Anyone up for a split in SW Mpls MN?
Not rats for the blend, I guess?
2020 Valo Cellars Atemporal, Conner Lee Vineyard
Sorry this report is late, but I just got in from a business trip at 7am Sunday, which included a 7 hour delay in the flight from Dulles to SFO. The day started for me at 5:30am Saturday CEST, so I’m wiped. I warned the labrat gods that I was going to be unavailable, and yet here I am.
Just picked the 2020 up from the UPS store, and popped it open. My, it has an aroma! So many previous bottles have a faint whiff that seems to quickly go away, but not this bad boy! Black cherries, blackberries, and something you might smoke.
First pour: purplish red, more on the purple side, I think. Not opaque, more translucent. It has legs, although I’m not sure that’s a sign of anything other than some viscosity is present.
First sip: whow, it hit something that I’m sensing as either salt or umami. Some tannins, it remains in the mouth for quite a while, and I’d almost describe it as chewy. Blackberries, chocolate, perhaps tobacco, black cherries. Quite yummy, actually.
I haven’t had the opportunity to let it breathe, but I think it’s quite sippable from the start. I like it! No opinion from the wife, she’s visiting her granddaughter, and won’t be back until tomorrow.
Someone is going to have to add the labrat header; I seem to be an abject failure at it.
@JOATMON As am I. Thanks for the rattage. Glad I’m already in.
@FritzCat @JOATMON
I’m late as well, apologies, but, done!
/giphy prudent-actual-gecko
Just received my case Wednesday, so opened and consumed a bottle of the red blend yesterday. My wife and I enjoyed so much. I proudly drink a bottle of red wine daily, and have to say, besides being full of fruit ( non ripe) and balanced, there is this very pleasant lasting finish, that,I for some reason can’t quality it quantify. Simply beautiful and fairly unique. I wouldn’t expect the complexity from the three varietals or the price point.
Yeah, had a bottle of the Cab the other day. It needed some decanting, and it was good. Perhaps better on day 2 than on day 1 w/ PnP.
Just PnPd the Blend, and it’s Fantastic. Hope the remainder is good tomorrow.