Watermill Winery

Our reserve cabernet sauvignon, harvested from our oldest plantings in our highest-elevation vineyard. Planted in 2000, Anna Marie slopes up from the valley floor, giving a commanding view of the Walla Walla Valley and the Rocks District to the north and protecting the late-ripening Cabernet planted there from the fall frost.

Back after a many vintage absence, our Walla Walla Valley bottling of Syrah provides a different twist on the grape from our Rocks District offerings. Primarily drawn from our hillside estate Anna Marie vineyard, this wine focusing on brighter fruit and more tannic and acidic structure while still showing a hint of the classic savory notes of Syrah from our Rocks bottlings, all at a more accessible price point.

Bright and concise with plenty of white rose petal, dandelion, and melon in the bouquet with a lively mouthfeel that is has concise notes of lemon jolly rancher, and honeysuckle. This is a crowd pleasing wine that is meant to be drank in only the most pleasant of settings.

Ripe, generous deep blueberry fruit is framed by an enticing, savory aroma of tea leaf, tobacco, herbs and a hint of cardamom. Bright blueberry and chocolate dominate the playful front and dense mid-palate, accompanied by notes of caramel and loose tobacco on the sultry and prolonged finish.

This classic Rocks District Syrah jumps out of the glass with blueberry jam, prosciutto, mushrooms, lilac, and acacia. The cured meat notes linger on the rich and full palate alongside deep dark fruit, finishing with noticeable but gentle tannins. Plush but with some backbone, this Syrah will age beautifully over the coming five years and more.

Cabernet Franc is often an overlooked for its more famous counterpart Cabernet Sauvignon in the Walla Walla Valley, however Watermill Cabernet Franc stands on its own as one of our most distinctive and high quality wines. This Cabernet Franc features the classic flavors of the hillside vineyards of the foothills of the Walla Walla Valley.

A new varietal for Watermill, the Carménère is a trial exercise in what is varietally possible within the Walla Walla Valley. Carménère is often referred to as South American Merlot, and Watermill makes Carménère in the ancient Bordeaux style that highlights the playful nature of the varietal and provides for a distinct flavor profile that is unique in the Watermill lineup.

Blackberry liquor and pomegranates prevail on the palate of this wine, with supporting hints of blue fruits and oak barrels. On the nose a touch of rose petal and ancho chilies give an herbal and floral twist to the proceeding. For a wine from the Rocks District it retains a cheerful brightness on the finish. Will hold or drink after a decant.

This wine has a leaner more mineral tone on the nose then prior vintages. Hints of toasted French oak, marionberry, vanilla, baking spice, and wet notebook paper dominate with underpinnings of perfectly cured meat. The palate is full of, plums, black raspberries and graham cracker. Dusty tannin dominates the finish but provides the roadmap for wine that will blossom over the next 10 years.

Bright and fruity on both the nose and the palate. Red and black fruit blend with brown sugar and baking spices to make a wine that infinitely drinkable either on its own or with heavier fare.

Another greatly underappreciated varietal, Watermill Viognier is a modern take on the classic Rhone style that acts as a heaver, softer and more floral alternative to chardonnay. This Viognier is a blend of fruit from the Columbia and Walla Walla Valleys, and is fermented exclusively in stainless steel with no secondary fermentation so that the wines true essence can shine through.

The 2018 Estate Malbec hails from McClellan estate vineyard, at the base of the Seven Hills. Chewy tannins frame notes of blackberries, cassis, a hint of mulberry, and a touch of oak on a wine we expect to age gracefully for many years. We recently enjoyed tasting the 2008 vintage of this wine, which was still holding onto its fruit beautifully. While you certainly don’t need to hold onto this wine that long, it should reward a little time in the cellar if you have the patience.

Dark and dense with notable chewy red currants on the front end of this wine, with a kiss of vanilla and dill from the American oak barrels. The Rocks District savory notes of earth, smoked meat, and mushrooms contrast with the rich fruit and sweet oak accents for a uniquely Rocks District take on Tempranillo.

Nebbiolo is our newest love at the winery. The classic noble grape of Piedmont, found in Barolo and Barbaresco, Nebbiolo has had more limited success outside of its homeland. Through three bottled vintages from our estate vineyards, we believe that Walla Walla can prove a successful outpost for the grape.