Andrew Rich pioneered the development of Rhone varietal based wines in Oregon. Today, he makes small amounts of Rhone varietal based wines with such a following, the wines are largely sold from the winery before release.
Back when Syrah was no more than an occasional novelty on a winery's list of offerings, Andrew was asking the owners of Ciel du Cheval Vineyard to plant Malbec, Roussanne, Syrah, Mourvedre, and additional Rhone grapes for him. That effort, which started in the mid-1990's, has blossomed into a lineup of Andrew Rich wines that incorporate the now mature grapes he pushed for ten to fifteen years ago. While Andrew makes popular and well reviewed Pinot noir and Sauvignon Blanc as well, it’s
the possibility of making truly great Rhône-style wines in the
Northwest that excites him most.
Though he feels a primal connection to old-world
Syrah, he sees a distinctive balance in the Rhône varietals in the Northwest that is well suited
to the wines he wants to make. “The Rhône varietals in Washington,
not unlike their Bordeaux counterparts, show more fruit here than in
the Rhône,” he observes, “but they’re not as
obvious, I think, as the California Rhônes. The acids tend
to be low, as in the southern Rhône valley. But I think our tannins
may ripen better than in California, making them very approachable, and
easy to drink early on.”
Although Rich says his first love is Syrah,
particularly from the northern Rhône, he went overseas to receive his oenology and viticulture
training in Burgundy. He began at a program in Dijon, recommended
to him by Ted Lemon, the first American winemaker to take up the reins
of a Burgundy domaine. After receiving his degree in France, Rich
wrote to Randall Grahm seeking employment at Bonny Doon, then the biggest
producer of Rhône wines
in the U.S. He started in the cellar earning a meager wage, and
soon afterward faced a rather unexpected challenge. “They said, ‘oh,
you’re going to distill,’” he recalls. “I mean
this is typical Randall Grahm. I said, ‘I don’t know
anything about distilling,’ but I didn’t really know anything
about working in the cellar either, so I guess it didn’t make any
difference.”
He spent a few years making eau-de-vie and
brandy, distilled from whole fruit and wines. When they weren’t selling, Grahm soon gave
up on them, but he clearly recognized ingenuity in Rich, putting him
in charge of his new cellar for white wines in Santa Cruz. There
Rich made the estate’s first Marsanne and Roussanne and also developed
his expertise with dessert wines—for which he remains justly known.
“The experience was invaluable,” he says of working with
the maker of such charismatic American Rhône translations as Le
Cigare Volant and Old Telegram. The two clearly shared the same
venturesome spirit and profound affection for Rhône varietals. But
with the rapid expansion of the winery, Rich began to feel that all he
was ever doing was bottling, and he started to consider launching his
own enterprise farther north. Moving to Oregon in 1992, he contacted friends and founded Andrew Rich Wines, culminating in his winery based out of the Carlton Winemakers Studio.
Messalliance is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Syrah. Andrew named it Mesalliance because he felt, back in 1997 when he first created this wine, that merlot was sort of a se
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Classic Malbec, black and rich, exotic hint of incense in the nose, lots of juicy fruit and liqueur notes.
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A juicy, lush crowd pleaser. Black in color, dense and viscous, everybody loves this easy drinking quaffer. One of the best for the price. ...read more >>
One of the more classic Northwest Syrahs made.
Formerly with Bonny Doone Winery, Andrew has an affinity for the grapes of the Rhone that shows in his Syrah. Smokey black fruit and pepper--yum!
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Andrew's Syrah Reserve has been called "luxuriant", and a miniscule bottling sells out almost before our tasting notes can be posted.
"I've been accused of concocting confusing, unpronoun
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Andrew says: "Seduction in a bottle. Give in. You know you want to. Just give in."
"I hadn't tasted this wine much since it was bottled last spring, so when I brought a sip of it to my
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Big and rich with earth and deep bing cherry notes on the nose and palette. Fruit begins light and then builds on the mid palette and finishes with a big earthy punch. Well balanced with a slight
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Andrew Rich Cuvee B Pinot noir 06 has welcoming aromas of raspberry and strawberry, which signal the rich flavors to come. Crushed raspberry and spicy red currant mix with sweet roses on a silky s
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The Andrew Rich Coup d'Etat has big brambleberry notes with toasted white pepper and a firm finish. It's a NW version of a classic Rhone blend.
Andrew is a master at the grapes of the Rho
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED A country French style Rhone blend red, Syrah, Counoise, Grenache, and Mourvedre at a great price. Highly recommended.
Scents of sweet black cherry and spicy red frui ...read more >>
The wine possesses the Croft Vineyard's signature notes of pineapple, guava, passion fruit, citrus, and just a hint of gooseberry. It is rich, round, with complex notes of mineral and fresh spring wa ...read more
Mostly Pinot Noir, is dry, with good heft, and the sort of red berry aromatics that make you long for summer, or wish it would never end.
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"The great white grape of France's Rh?ne Valley was first planted in Eastern Washington in the late 90s, so it's not surprising that most people are still unaware of its existence. That's too ba
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Exceptional value. Juicy raspberry and cherry fruit glides softly on the palate, while the finish lifts with balancing acidity, subtle pie spice, and earth. Nice length, echoing bright yet sweet red ...read more
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The Pacific Northwest offers values like no where else. We offer the rare
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The Highway 14 Red is made by acclaimed Oregon winemaker Andrew Rich. Andrew Rich’s Rhone-inspired wines have developed such a following, the wines are largely sold from the winery before release.
