Gard Vintners is a 100% Estate winery born out of Lawrence Vineyards. Most grapes are from the Royal Slope, but also include Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope and The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Their head Winemaker Matías Kúsulas is also the viticulturist for Gård Vintners and Lawrence Vineyards. Matias brings broad knowledge and experience from Chile, Africa, and Europe, including France.
I unfortunately lost my tasting notes and scoring. However, I fondly remember the delicacy in Gard Vintners' wine, with often savory and herb notes in most of their lineup. Their wine exhibited vibrant fruit, with well balanced acid and tannins in general, with soft oak.
Tasting notes are directly from Gard Vintners
2018 Kvasir
$50
Pronounced vah-SEER, this bright red, Mourvèdre-driven blend starts with fresh plums, raspberry syrup, licorice, graphite, and a touch of musk. Swirling brings thyme, violets, black pepper, and hints of cocoa powder and vanilla. The mouthfeel is fresh and medium-bodied, with mellow tannins and nice texture. The wine finishes long and dry, with a pleasant bitterness at the end.
2018 Merlot
$45
Abundant notes of mocha, black currant, plum puree and vanilla bean. Swirling adds heavier fruits of fig and confitured black cherry with dark baking spices and a dried herb sachet. The palate is very textural with soft but consistent tannins and a dark fruit and spice inflected finish. The wine finishes with good lift that contrasts the textural experience.
2018 Thunderstone Syrah
$50
Intense and heavy on the nose with savory spices, clove, sweet tobacco, plums, smoked blueberry and black cherry. A meaty charcuterie note complicates the fruit and spice while a mouthwatering salinity streaks through. With a swirl the wine actually tightens up and comingles black olive, black fruits and fig paste. The palate is massive but remarkably fresh with silky tannins and a complex finish of fruit, spice and salinity.
2019 The Don
$28
The 2019 Don introduces itself with a robust and ripe bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, fig, anise, eucalyptus, violets and black currants. Swirling brings forth complex aromas of plum, sandalwood, baking spices, orange marmalade with slight, savory notes of sage and thyme. The palate expresses red and black fruits and underlying flavors of baker’s chocolate and earth. Firm, but smooth tannins add tension and density midpalate, with abundant acidity and a long finish to create a balanced, lively wine that you can enjoy now through 2031.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Klasse Reserve
$65
Blueberry jam, crème de violette, clove, white pepper, and oak spice, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Klasse Reserve is intense and layered on the nose. With some time in the glass, darker fruit, mocha, coffee grounds, leather, and sagebrush pop up. The palate is silky and elegant, with a downright soft texture dark chocolate shavings and anise come together seamlessly as an aftertaste. The wine is deeply concentrated, with good structure, smooth tannins and great acidity. A complex Cabernet Sauvignon that you can drink now or in the next 10 years.
2019 Malbec
$48
Blueberry, violets, red licorice and cassis; the 2019 Malbec starts floral, with lots of blue fruit and a touch of greenness on the nose. Swirling brings sandalwood, pirazines, and hints of leather. The mouthfeel is fresh with great tension and moderate tannins. The wine has an intrinsic juiciness, and finishes almost crunchy. Drink now or in the next 6 years to preserve freshness.
I enjoyed my tasting at Gard Vintners, and while I found the lineup all delightful, I overall recommend the 2018 Thunderstone Syrah.
