"Fresh and vital, featuring a layer of chewy tannins surrounding a vibrant core of blackberry and currant fruit, narrowing to a sharp beam on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2015 through 2020. 300 cases made. -HS"
Wine Spectator (Web Only 2013), 89 pts
Go To Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley
"(an homage to Graves; 54% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 6% cabernet franc): Good full red-ruby. Spicy aromas of redcurrant and tobacco leaf complicated by garrigue high notes. Juicy, complex and intense, with raspberry, cocoa powder, lead pencil and brushy earth tones that do remind me of Graves. This rather suave wine finishes with refined tannins and very good length"
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Nov/Dec 2012), 91 pts
Go To Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley
"The name pays homage to the Graves region of Bordeaux, and the blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc also mimics those wines. Here the grapes are sourced from the Red Willow (Yakima Valley), Bacchus (Columbia Basin) and Klipsun (Red Mountain) vineyards. Supple, with beautifully integrated red fruits, and tannins as soft as a kiss, it’s masterful winemaking from Chris Peterson, who tended the wines of DeLille for many years."
Wine Enthusiast (June 1st 2013), 93 pts + Editor's choice
"An entry-level Bordeaux-styled blend is the 2011 Gravura. A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 50% new French oak, it offers up a supple, pure profile with plenty of black currant, lead pencil, smoke and earthy qualities flowing to a medium to full-bodied, textured and surprisingly concentrated profile on the palate. Already delicious, it will evolve gracefully for over a decade and represents a superb value. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- The Wine Advocate (Issue #213, June 2014), 91 pts
Go To Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley
"(63% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot and 8% cabernet franc; aged in 50% new oak): Good full, bright red. Tightly wound aromas of cassis, bitter chocolate, licorice and black peppercorn. Broad, sweet and plush, but with a solid medicinal reserve to the flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and coffee. This intense, fully ripe blend finishes with sweet, suave yet serious tannins and excellent building length. I'd give it at least a couple years in the cellar before pulling the cork. (Incidentally, I retasted the 2010 Gravura next to this wine and found it both seamless and seriously structured--perhaps even more solid than this 2011. My most recent score for the earlier vintage was 92(+?), up from 91 in Issue 165.)v- Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (November 2013), 91+ pts
"Good news for the growing legion of admirers of this young winery—production of the Gravura has more than doubled in this vintage. It’s a classy, sophisticated wine with a clear target—the style of wine made in the Graves region of Bordeaux. Done with native ferment (no inoculation), the overall harmony of tart berry/cassis fruit, minerals, bright acidity and bourbon barrel highlights is exceptional."
- Wine Enthusiast (July 2014), 92 pts
"Expressive and deftly balanced, with chai tea accents to the cherry and sassafras flavors, wrapped gently in a veil of fine tannins as the finish persists. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2022. -HS"
Wine Spectator's insider (May 20th 2015), 91 pts
Go To Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley
