NEWS

Scores and Awards--Wine Enthusiast

Two of our wines were recently reviewed by Michael Alberty of Wine Enthusiast: 2019 Storm Front Red Blend and 2021 Virga Red Blend.  Wine Enthusiast uses a 100-point scale with 90-93 points being “excellent-highly recommended”.  Both wines fell into this range, with the Virga also receiving an “Editor’s Choice” designation.  This is for “products that offer excellent quality at a price above our Best Buy range ($20 or less), or a product at any price with unique qualities that merit special attention.”  Thank you to Wine Enthusiast and Mr. Alberty for the great reviews:

2021 VIRGA (92 Points and Editors Choice): “This Mourvèdre-Syrah-Grenache blend erupts with the aroma of blackberry pie, complete with a nice bit of sugary spillover crusting around the rim. Then black cherry, clove, orange and black tea seal the deal. Serve with barbecue ribs for a little “Rhônes and bones” action.” 
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2019 STORM FRONT (91 Points): This nicely balanced Merlot-driven blend leads with dark plums and orange zest aromas that play nicely with a salty/tangy hoisin sauce note. The cherry and chocolate covered almond flavors are flanked by a tiny cedar note. The wine’s tannins are plush and its acidity slightly elevated”.  
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Wine Enthusiast magazine has been reviewing and rating wines since 1988.  The company has an audience of 5.1 million consumers across all platforms.  The reviewer tastes the wines blind in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples (for example, all Merlots). Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. 

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:49 AM Permalink

Low Stock Alert: 2020 Boushey Vineyard Reserve Syrah

We have only a few cases remaining of this Single Barrel wine.  It’s 100% Syrah from the acclaimed Boushey Vineyard near Grandview in the Yakima Valley. Enticing and characteristic aromas of olive brine, bacon fat, blackberry, almond, vanilla, dark roast coffee, and sage flow into appealing tastes of black currant, blackberry, plum sauce, espresso beans, tanned leather, and Earl Gray tea. The finish is complex with ample refined tannins. Aged 16 months in a new Dargaud & Jaegle French oak barrel. I'm happy to tell you about our barrels during your next visit.  Pairs well with asiago, grilled lamb, gyros, or barbecued pork.  Purchase at the winery or online for pickup or shipping. 

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:48 AM Permalink

Save The Date--Winemaker Dinner March 21

Our first winemaker dinner of 2024 will be Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 pm at Ice Harbor Brewery at The Marina, 350 N. Clover Island Drive in Kennewick.  I am helping to develop a unique menu to pair with five of our wines.  Look for more infomation soon in your inbox and on social. I'm really excited about the pairings!

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:47 AM Permalink

Closed Sunday Feb.11 and Super Bowl Wine Pairings

After consuming all of that chocolate and wine on February 9 and 10, the winery will be closed on Sunday, February 11.  Ok…it’s really so we can watch the Super Bowl! 

Make sure you stock up early on our wines for the big game.  Here are some suggestions for Super Bowl food and wine pairings:

• Veggie and Hummus Trays: The Cat’s Away Chardonnay
• Chili: Virga Red Blend
• Ribs: Storm Front Red Blend
• Buffalo Wings: Drizzle Pinot Gris or Three Forks Rose’
• Beef Sliders: Steve’s Merlot
• BBQ Pork: Boushey Vineyard Reserve Syrah
• Nachos: Squall Line Red Blend
• Lamb Kabobs or Gyros: Mistral Grenache

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:46 AM Permalink

February 2024 Birthday Sale

It’s birthday month at Convergence Zone, with three birthdays in February: Assistant Winemaker Troy, Punchdown Princess Erica and my birthday.  To celebrate, we are offering 50% off a case of Fly Rod Cellars wines along with $19.98 flat rate shipping.  You can choose from the Cat’s Away Chardonnay, Plastic Surgeon Pinot Noir and Steve’s Merlot.  Mix and match whatever you like.

You can purchase at the winery or online for pickup or shipping.  No other discounts apply to this limited offer.  Order online or purchase at the winery by Feb. 29.  Discount will automatically be applied in your cart.

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:44 AM Permalink

Wine and Chocolate Event--Feb. 9 and 10

We cannot live by chocolate alone. That's why there's wine!  Please join us on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10 from 1:00-5:00 pm for a wine and chocolate pairing at the winery. I’ve partnered with Baum’s Chocolates in Kennewick to create a special chocolate made from our Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon. The first one is on me but if you have a sweet tooth, you can purchase one of the packages to accompany your tasting or to enjoy at home. 

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:43 AM Permalink

February In The Winery

After a prolonged blast of winter here in the Tri Cities, I'm actually happy it’s been raining! The snow has melted, and we can look ahead to mid-winter winery activities without dealing with ice and snow.

Bottling prep is going well.  The 2023 Sunbreak Chenin Blanc, Drizzle Pinot Gris and Rose’ are fruity and crisp.  I am very pleased with this new vintage of wines and can’t wait to share them with you starting in April. The 2022 reds are lively, balanced, and full of flavor, with soft tannins and a juicy finish.  These will age in bottle for at least 12 months before release.

All the 2023 red wines have completed malolactic fermentation in barrel. These wines will remain in barrels until at least 2025 and 2026 when they’ll be blended and bottled.

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:42 AM Permalink

Recent Scores and Awards

Sean Sullivan has been writing about and reviewing Northwest wine since 2004 and has written more than 400 magazine articles, published over 2,000 articles on his blog, and reviewed over 17,000 Northwest wines.  He was also a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast Magazine from 2013-2022 focused on northwest wines. 

Sean recently reviewed several of our wines in his Northwest Wine Report.  The 2021 Mistral Grenache and 2021 Virga Red Blend both scored 91 points.  The 2019 Squall Line Red Blend received 89 points and the 2019 Storm Front received 88 points.  You can subscribe to Northwest Wine Report at https://www.northwestwinereport.com/. 

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:28 AM Permalink

Low Stock Alert: 2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon

We only have 24 bottles remaining of the 2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon.  It’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three vineyards: Phinny Hill (60%) and Coyote Canyon (10%)--both Horse Heaven Hills--and Boushey (30%) in Yakima Valley. Deep ruby colored, the wine has  classic varietal aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, crushed black roses, tobacco, cedar, rosemary and wood smoke. The flavors, as well, are direct and true to variety, with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and Horse Heaven scorched earth. The penetration continues on the back with roasted berries and nuts, mocha and pulverized charcoal, followed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. Pairs well with roasted or grilled meats, good friends and stormy nights. Purchase at the winery or online for pickup or shipping.

• 96 points: Washington State Wine Awards
• 92 points: American Wine Society.  

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:26 AM Permalink

January White and Rose' Case Sale

Our January White and Rose’ Case Sale is now on!  Mix and match 12 bottles of our Cat’s Away Chardonnay, Drizzle Pinot Gris or Three Forks Rose’ and enjoy a 25% discount with $10 flat rate shipping.

Wine club members’ discounts are stacked for stocking up (shipping included as always):

• Silver members - 45% off
• Gold members - 50% off
• Platinum members - 55% off

Order online or purchase at the winery by Jan. 31.  Discount will automatically be applied in your cart.

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:25 AM Permalink