"...one of the best in Washington State...making world-class wines for a number of years now...these are brilliant wines readers need to seek out." - Jeb Dunnuck

New Scores Released for WA State - April 5, 2018

Aerospace engineer turned wine writer, Jeb Dunnuck, has been a well-respected and independent positive voice for Washington wines for years. Our winemaker Chris Peterson first met Jeb back in the 2000s while at DeLille and they hit it off. Then shortly after Avennia's inaugural wine release in 2012, Jeb joined Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and reviewed our wines each year. As the most prolific wine writer for the Advocate from 2013 to 2017, Parker once described Jeb as a "younger version of himself". Year after year, his positive and enthusiastic reception of our wines has been encouraging. 

In 2017, he launched his own independant online wine journal (jebdunnuck.com), with a focus on Southern France, Bordeaux, California, and Washington. His first comprehensive review of Washington's 2015 vintage was published last week and we are proud to share his reviews with you. We are particularly thrilled that he has once again scored a few of our wines among the highest in the state!

Jeb wrote: "I continue to consider Chris Peterson’s Avennia estate to be one of the best in Washington State and he’s been making world-class wines for a number of years now....  As I hope these reviews show, these are brilliant wines readers need to seek out.”

As of now, all the 2015 vintage wines are still available, but some of them are already in limited supply. Available on our website and in our tasting room, while they last.

Here are Jeb's comments on his Avennia favorites:

2015 ARNAUT, Boushey Vineyard Syrah - 97 points

"From one of my favorite sites in Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah Arnaut Boushey Vineyard (100% Syrah aged 16 months in 15% new French oak) is inky purple-colored with a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black raspberries, plums, white pepper, spice, and scorched earth. It's deep, full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, with fine tannin, and has a great finish, all making for a brilliant Washington State Syrah. It's going to keep for 10-15 years." - JD

Go to 2015 Arnaut wine page

2015 CABERNET FRANC, Champoux Vineyard - 95 points

"The 2015 Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard is another terrific wine from one of the top vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills. Terrific notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, leafy herbs, iodine, and spring flowers all emerge from this singular, ripe, beautifully polished and elegant Cabernet Franc. With plenty of oomph, ripe, present tannin, and a great finish, it's going to drink nicely for 10-15 years." - JD

*Note: this is a brand new wine in the Avennia lineup, read more about this wine here.

Go to 2015 Cabernet Franc wine page here

2015 SESTINA, Left Bank Style Bordeaux Blend  - 95+ points

"The flagship 2015 Sestina checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. Gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, graphite, wet river rock, and leafy herbs all emerge from this beautifully balanced, fresh, classic wine that's still tight and backward. It's not a blockbuster but has building richness and tannin, as well as a great finish. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15." - JD

Go to 2015 Sestina wine page here