We recently spent time with extraordinary Washington winemaker Morgan Lee, who kindly shared four bottles of remarkable Two Vintners wines with us. They included an appealing sparkling rosé and a unique Rhône blend, along with captivating Merlot and Reserve Merlot. We always enjoy visits with Morgan, who is friendly, warm, open, smart, and witty with hilarious stories. Indeed, he is one of our favorite Washington state winemakers. Happy Washington Wine Month!
Remarkable Two Vintners Wine
Our very first bottle of Morgan Lee’s wine: Syrah from Covington Cellars, where he became the winemaker in 2007. In the same year, he founded Two Vintners in a partnership with the owners of Covington Cellars, David and Cindy Lawson. In short, we’ve been fans of his outstanding wines since our introduction.
Not surprisingly, during this visit, his stories kept us both intrigued and laughing at the same time. Meanwhile, the remarkable Two Vintners wines he shared included Sparkling Rosé, 2022 Merlot, 2022 Alice Reserve Merlot, and 2021 Oliver Rhône blend.
Two Vintners Sparkling Rosé Columbia Valley
Morgan crafted this pretty Sparkling Rosé using the composition of his 2023 Yo Momma Rosé as the base: 47% Zinfandel, 40% Primitivo, and 13% Petite Sirah, all sourced from StoneTree Vineyard. He then sent 400 gallons of this base to Treveri Cellars, who added 30% Pinot Noir to boost the acidity. Then, Morgan told us, Treveri did their magic, with all the finishing work to create this superb sparkling rosé. As a result, Two Vintners Sparkling Rosé is bone dry and zesty, with hints of strawberries and bubbles dancing on the palate. We loved it.
Two Vintners 2022 Merlot
Morgan once told us, “Merlot is special in Washington state and should be celebrated.” Therefore, his love for the grape is evident from the first sip of his just-released 2022 Merlot. Specifically, it’s 90% Merlot, sourced from four vineyards: May’s Discovery, Boushey, Pollard and Summit View. As well, the Merlot is blended with 5% Cab Franc from Dineen Vineyard and 5% Petit Verdot, also from Discovery. Overall, this a rich Merlot, filled with dark fruit, plums, spices, and figs, with great structure and complexity. Morgan said 2022 was a special vintage — “across the board, phenomenal – with a big yield and great quality.” And you can tell in this young wine, which is oozing with potential. Wow. If it’s this good already, I can just imagine how incredible it will be with a few years on it.
Two Vintners 2022 Alice Reserve Merlot
In its fourth vintage, this Reserve Merlot is a stunning special-occasion wine that hits all the right notes. Just ask Alice. I think she knows. The 2022 vintage is a magnificent blend of 90% Merlot, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from three excellent WA vineyards: May’s Discovery, Pollard and Boushey. Alice is part of Morgan’s Barrel Select Program, using the best blocks of Merlot. He named this beautiful Merlot after his sweet Black Labrador, Alice. He believes that “we can turn around the negative stereotypes regarding Merlot by creating one of the best on the planet and call it Alice!” We adored this elegant, smooth wine. What a rich mouthfeel! Think dark fruits such as black cherries and blackberries, along with black tea, chocolate and café au lait. Decant it or better yet, put it away for a few years and be prepared to be wowed.
Two Vintners 2021 Oliver
Oliver 2021 is a unique Rhône blend named after Morgan’s son. The first vintage was 2009, the year Oliver was born. What a cool blend – 80% Grenache, 15% Petite Sirah and 5% Syrah. Renowned WeatherEye Vineyard sourced the Grenache. Olsen and StoneTree Vineyards produced the remaining varieties. You will want to linger over this impressive wine. Brooding aromas of cherries, dark berries, spices, black licorice, and herbs mirror the palate. Gorgeous. By the way, Oliver’s label is designed by his grandmother, Lynn Lee. “A nod to the art of Andy Warhol, the picture is the top of Oliver’s forehead with his trademark cowlick.”
Summary: Remarkable Two Vintners Wines
In conclusion, Morgan Lee makes killer juice. We’ve certainly never met a wine from Morgan that we didn’t like. So, it seems fitting to taste so many of his wines during WA Wine Month!
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Cheers!
Margot and Dave