Virtue Cellars is going to stir up Edmonds in a great way. Winemakers Kevin Mueller, and Jakob Edens are crafting some beautiful wines that are honest, pure, unpretentious and approachable for the Edmonds market. I am jealous their tasting room isn't closer to my Woodinville home base. With access to some amazing vineyards, their wines are incredible defined, and balanced. I particularly enjoyed their 2020 Cabernet Franc and 2020 Loyalty Reserve Syrah, but I would have been happy to walk away with any of their bottles. Read below for the tasting.
2022 Tranquility Rose
Cab franc. HHH. Light, crisp and low acidity showing peach and watermelon, touch of mint. Score 90
2022 Clarity Sauvignon Blanc
Olsen vineyard. Nice nose of juicy pear. On the palate, pear and lime, honeysuckle, gentle acidity with a slightly mouthwatering finish. Score 92
2020 Sincerity Syrah
Well balanced, smooth on the palate, focused, showing blue fruit, faint white pepper, leather and cocoa powder. Nice minerality forming the backbone. Integrated tannins for a smooth finish. Score 92
2020 Cabernet Franc
Royal Slope. Ripe Blueberries, toasted oak, dark chocolate balanced well with hint of pepper. Score 93
2020 Fortitude BDX
Cab dominant. Merlot and Malbec. Conner Lee and Olsen vineyards. A medium body. Tart red cherries, notes of strawberry compote, cappuccino, vibrant mouthwatering acidity, slightly grippy tannins. 92
2020 Authenticity Merlot
Conner Lee. Velvety, on the palate with blue and black fruit, slightly spicy, touch of vanilla. Sticky tannins. Score 91
2020 Charisma Cabernet Sauvignon
50/50 red mountain and Olsen. Smooth, focused, silky on the palate, offering a medium bodied and balanced cab, showing blue and blackberries, rounded tannins. Score 92
2020 Loyalty Reserve Syrah
Stillwater creek. Perfume, polished leather, enticing floral and sweet spice aromas. Dense, juicy blueberries, black plum, white and black pepper, long satisfying finish with oak, vanilla bean, and sticky tannins. Score 94
2020 Ambition Reserve Blend
50/50 Merlot/Cab. A smooth blend of dark currant, plum, toasted oak and vanilla. Balanced with smooth tannins. Score 91
