Andrew Will Red Blend Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills 2019

Andrew Will is an icon of Washington State – a longtime critical darling whose tiny production has kept them just off the radar of superstardom. We rarely get access to these rare and collectible wines – dollar for dollar and pound for pound, some of the best the USA has to offer! 96 points for this Washington red blend, and under $50 on 3 or more bottles – this is a cellar-worthy steal that is guaranteed to make your Washington collection shine a whole lot brighter.

Chris Camarda is the vintner and winemaker behind the illustrious Andrew Will brand. For decades now, in the most unlikely of wineries, he has been crafting wines that have strengthened and tempered the reputation of Washington state. Nearly everyone knows Quilceda Creek, and yet few know of Andrew Will. In our opinion, this is unfair... and anyone who has tasted Andrew Will’s portfolio over the years will surely have our proverbial back on this! This Merlot-dominant red blend absolutely stuns, but no surprise there, with a blend of 54% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot – all hailing from one of Washington’s most revered sites, Champoux Vineyard.

The Champoux vineyard, named for former vineyard owner and manager, Paul Champoux, is one of the great vineyards of Washington state. When Paul retired and sold the 175-acre property in 2014, some of the state’s best-known producers (and long-time clients of the site) formed a partnership group to purchase the vineyard and ensure the quality stayed high. In addition to Andrew Will, Washington State luminaries like Quilceda Creek, Woodward Canyon, and more, now share ownership of the property – set five miles back from the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills. These vines can be as old as 50 years in the original blocks, and Bordeaux varietals thrive on these sandy, loamy soils like few places else in the state.

The wine is outrageously rich and powerful, with silky and seamless texture and unending complexity, making it all too easy to mistake for top growth Bordeaux. The pure, concentrated, exceptionally plush black cherry note comes out from the opening bell, followed by waves of blackberries, and roasted plums, with this dusty sage and earthy sassafras thing giving it extra complexity. There are accents of graphite, and some blood orange zest, with black licorice, and plenty of toasty, barrel-driven polish holding it all together. Crazy long on the broad and enduring finish, with fairy-dust sprinkling of elegance and class over all. It’s epically good, y’all – and did we mention 96 points and under $50?! Don’t you dare miss out! 

PAIRING IDEAS: Don’t judge... but, Sloppy Joe’s. The sultry, almost-sweet beef filling with tangy pickles and cushy brioche buns? Oh man, this wine is gonna slam.