Bordeaux Style – Deep Red Cellar

Ashton Troy Wines is a fun off-shoot of Lauren Ashton Cellars (LAC). Fun because the wine is inspired by, Ashton (whose middle name is Troy), the 8 year old son of LAC winemaker Kit Singh and wife Riinu Rammal. Ashton wanted his own label so Kit and Riinu ran with the idea. Ashton Troy wines are created and marketed exclusively for restaurants with intentions to draw in a new fan base. Distribution is currently in Washington with plans to expand across the United States. If you hang out in Woodinville, you may see these wines make rare appearances at the Lauren Ashton Cellars tasting studio. One white and four reds make up the labels profile. The wines are purposefully bold to pair with restaurant fare. I had the opportunity to taste two of these wines and true to the Lauren Ashton reputation, they were a pleasure to drink.

Ashton Troy Bisou 2014, Columbia Valley

Grapes picked from Stillwater Creek, Upland, Quitessence, Les Collines and Dineen Vineyards located throughout the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington. A blend of 64% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot with 50% of the berries left whole and uncrushed for an initial partial fermentation. The wine was drained and pressed then fermented in French oak, undergoing malolactic fermentation before being racked and returned to the barrel to age for 28 months. The wine was then blended and bottled. Bisou was a luscious mouthful of boysenberry, plum, black cherry and black currants tailed by red pepper and masculine notes of earth and meat. Full bodied with a whole lot of character. This wine was lovely to drink on it’s own but would pair well with meat dishes.

Ashton Troy Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Columbia Valley

Grapes harvested from Quintessence, Ambassador, Dineen, Sagemoor and Upland Vineyards in the Columbia Valley. A single varietal wine undergoing it’s makeover the same way Bisou did with bottling occurring after ageing 28 months in French oak. This wine is a powerhouse with emboldened flavors of juicy cherry, ripe plum, black currant and candied crab apple preserves integrated with baking spices. Sweet tobacco, vanilla, violet and mint are pleasing subtletys that sneak in as the wine sits on the palate before ending in a gratifying, drawn out finish. It drank very well and shows potential for even more rounding out in another 6-12 months. Restaurants (and their guests) will have the opportunity to see this wine improve with age.

I discovered Lauren Ashton Cellars while living in Washington state. My husband, Joe, attended the Northwest Wine Academy and was in a class with Riinu Rammal who co-owns Lauren Ashton Cellars with her husband, Kit Singh. A few weeks later, Joe and I topped off a date day with a visit to Lauren Ashton‘s tasting room in the Hollywood District of Woodinville where we became hooked on these fantastic wines. Lauren Ashton focuses on traditional French style wines that reflect Washington terroir. They have just released two pretty fabulous wines that I am delighted to share with you:

Cuvée Méline

A Bordeaux style white wine made up of 55% Semillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc fermented like a white wine should, low and slow, in stainless steel tanks and neutral barrels. Cuvée Méline shows a purposeful balance between high acidity and lushness with green apple, grapefruit, peach and green melon followed by an intriguing suggestion of fresh bread. I paired this wine with sweet potato gnocchi and it was a cohesive, delicious duo.

Cuvée Arlette

Also Bordeaux inspired, from the Right Bank with a Merlot predominance, is Cuvée Arlette . A blend of 59% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and a token of Malbec and Petit Verdot. Cuvée Arlette is a dignified wine with aromas of dark fruits, spices and earthy minerals. On the palate, flavors of black raspberry, black currant and black cherry with a sway to perfectly roasted coffee beans, warm baking spices and clay pot. The finish lingers on the palate providing an elegant, pleasing culmination.

Bonus Review ~ Chenin Blanc

For the first time ever, Lauren Ashton has released a Chenin Blanc. The wine is whole cluster pressed resulting in a high quality, refreshing wine with crisp acidity. The aroma is fruity with a hint of mango and flavors of ripe Bartlett pear, yellow apple, and pineapple with undertones of honey and chalk. I tasted this little lovely in the morning before eating, which I admit, is something I do often while my palate is most attentive. It would pair well with Asian food or simple chicken and fish dishes.

Whether you are looking to stock a cellar, enjoy a bottle or two in the next few months, or polish off immediately, these are excellent wines worth considering. Lauren Ashton distributes to many states as well as ships to any state without restrictions. To order Lauren Ashton wines, click here.

As wineries occasionally do, Lauren Ashton sent the above wines to me.  I only promote wines I thoroughly enjoy since my name is essentially on them at the point of promotion.  As I state in my bio, "I am here to inspire you to treat yourself to great wine experiences as often as you possibly can!"  I recommend wines that, in my opinion, can create great wine experiences.

Category: Bordeaux Style

Ashton Troy Wines

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