We have been fans of Lauren Ashton Cellars since we first discovered the winery in Woodinville close to five years ago. They recently launched their second label, Ashton Troy Wines, as an exclusive offering for the restaurant market. The result is well priced wine that still manages to maintain the same high quality that fans of Lauren Ashton have come to expect.
2010 Darby The Swagger
This delicious blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec shows classic Darby style: ripe, plush fruit, soft tannins and a smooth mouthfeel—a joy to drink! At age 6 this is fully mature showing lots of secondary notes of cedar and mocha to go with the black cherry and currant fruit. Perfect match for braised short ribs on a wintery night. Could go longer but drinking so well now, why wait?
Excellent (2011 Vintage available at their Woodinville Tasting Room for US$50)
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2006 Mark Ryan Long Haul
Black cherries and baking spices infuse the aroma of this wine and fill it with power. With some time in the glass these are joined by subtle notes of herbs together with floral notes. This is a very structured wine: a full body is matched by tannins that continue to assert themselves a decade after the vintage. Intense flavours of blackberry, black cherry and plum get support from notes of mocha, allspice and a hint of leafiness. Everything here is dialed up but in proportion allowing the wine to carry its heft with good balance. Delicious now but years of life left. 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, all sourced from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, among the very top sites in Washington State.
Excellent+
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