Instrumental Washington Winemakers Through the Decades

From Quilceda Creek in 1979 to Prospice in 2019.

By Sean P. Sullivan 9/24/2019 at 9:00am Published in the October 2019 issue of Seattle Met

Our 2020 Champoux Vineyard wine is #4 on the list of Top 60 Northwest Wines in 2023. Read the complete review.

Soos Creek Wine Cellars
24012 172nd Ave SE
Kent, Washington 98042

David and Cecile Larsen,
Owners/Winemakers

Phone: 253-631-8775

Email:
winemaker@sooscreekwine.com

 

“The value in every bottle of Soos Creek wine is outrageous.” -- Sean Sullivan

 

“I have pounded the drum for Soos Creek since I first tasted the wines 20 years ago. For those of us who want great value at stupidly great prices, Soos Creek is a treasure.” -- Paul Gregutt

2020 Champoux Vineyard Block 4 Cabernet Sauvignon Fruit for this wine comes from Washington’s premier Cabernet Sauvignon site. Blended with 15% Merlot and aged in half new French oak, aromas of black currant, green pepper, black cherry, plum, graphite, and barrel spice are followed by broad, layered, black cherry and blackberry flavors. There’s penetrating intensity as well as sneaky richness. Barrel accents are speckled throughout. As is the hallmark of this vineyard, the tannins are polished to a fine sheen. The fruit and barrel-filled finish hangs and hangs. It’s completely stunning, winning on its intensity and balance. Best from 2028 to 2038. 14.1% alcohol. Micro-agglomerated cork. 100 cases produced 14.1%; (Horse Heaven Hills) Sean Sullivan 95/100

2020 Stampede Pass Red Wine I continue to be amazed at the quality wines that Dave Larsen puts together at budget prices. Here is a Bordeaux blend sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Champoux and Elephant Mountain vineyards, fermented in native yeast and aged in 15% new French oak. It’s principally Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Firm, tight, dark and tannic, yet beautifully balanced for aging, this could be your go-to Bordeaux blend for aging over the next decade. Cassis and black cherry fruits, a streak of coffee, a hint of licorice… wow, this over-delivers past any reasonable expectation. 14.1%; (Columbia Valley) Paul Gregutt 92/100

2020 Elephant Mt. Cabernet Sauvignon This wine from a 1998 planting is the last we’ll see from Elephant Mountain, as Larsen says he is transitioning to vineyards from the Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley AVAs. So enjoy this excellent example from the Rattlesnake Hills. Firm, tight and tannic, its dark fruits are streaked with copper and coffee. The wine continued to improve over a full three days. 14.1%; (Rattlesnake Hills) Paul Gregutt 93/100

2021 King Cab An awesome value, the outstanding 2021 Soos Creek ‘King Cab’ Cabernet Sauvignon exudes class with its sagebrush and mocha tones on the nose alongside heady dark fruits. The palate is soft and fresh with a smooth texture and good sense of weight and acidity. Drink 2023-2031 14.1%; (Horse Heaven Hills) Owen Bargreen 92/100

2020 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Principally sourced from Ranch at the End of the Road vineyard, with a barrel from Ciel du Cheval, this is the last Soos Creek vintage from any Red Mountain grapes. Dense, compact and deeply saturated with flavors of cassis, black fruits, anise and espresso, this just needs time and/or decanting to unpack all it holds. I suspect it will age into a truly gorgeous old wine, but that may take a decade or more. Were it aged in new oak, rather than used, it would rock the world. 14.1%; (Red Mountain) Paul Gregutt 93/100

2020 Cabernet Franc This wine was sourced from the Champoux Vineyard. The grapes were inadvertantly picked at a lower brix (less sugar) because a change in viticultural practices slowed down their ripening. The difference in the character of the wine is a nice change of pace with flavors that are more red than black fruits, lower alcohol, and higher acid. The character of the wine reminds me of a good Pinot Noir. Paul Gregutt