Welcome to the Devium 2022 Spring Release. This release is atypical for Devium as there aren’t any new red wines this spring (more on that decision later…), however, we do have a beautiful line up of wines that are perfect for spring and summer weather, and we cannot wait to share them with you all. As always, please feel free to mix and match new releases with past releases in your order and the case discount applies to mixed cases.
2021 Breezy Slope White Pinot Noir, Walla Walla Valley:
The 2021 White Pinot Noir (already a bit of a cult favorite) is undoubtedly our finest vintage. Whole cluster pressed Pinot Noir, 12% alcohol, raised in 20-year-old French oak barrels, full malolactic fermentation, bottled unfined and unfiltered with a minimal amount of sulfur added. It fits my aesthetic ideal of a direct pressed wine almost to a T, so pure and fresh, and just packed with energy. Unfortunately, it is also a smaller production than last year and will not last long, so please don’t hesitate if you would like to try it.
2021 Breezy Slope Pétillant Naturel Rosé. Walla Walla Valley:
A new wine for the 2021 vintage and an acknowledgement that I have heard the cries for more sparkling wine. 100% Pinot Noir, this Pet Nat is bone dry, looks like a sunset in Walla Walla and tastes like the memory of an orchard in bloom. As I continue to explore the upper reaches of the Walla Walla Valley (and beyond), I feel like these wines are the future. Breezy Slope is located at 1800’ elevation, a refreshing breeze blows all year, minimal irrigation is required (honestly, it could probably be dry farmed, but that is a conversation for another day). The foothills of the Blue Mountains are becoming a special place for elegant, fresh, crystalline expressions of white, rosé and sparkling. It is a development that I am eager to be a part of.
2021 WeatherEye Vineyard Pétillant Naturel, 100% Roussanne, Washington State:
You might be wondering who would possibly take some of the most sought after, allocated fruit in Washington and turn it into a delicious, lighthearted Pet Nat, the answer is me, I guess. However, this wine isn’t lighthearted, it isn’t frivolous, it shouldn’t be gulped from plastic cups while sitting around the pool. Méthode Ancestrale, as displayed here, is capable of more than we often give it credit for. While I love easy going, drink anytime Pet Nat, and I make several, this wine has a whole different personality. Extremely savory and textured, it shows off the north slope of Red Mountain beautifully. A wine that was made for the table, drink it with richer fish dishes, or hold onto it until the Fall and pair with small game birds that demand you gnaw on the bones. Such a fascinating wine and a certain evolution in how I view Pet Nat. Unlike anything else in Washington.
Sometimes when writing these emails, I feel like such a broken record. I honestly don’t know how many times I have written the words “Extremely Limited” in the last few years, but it is necessary. All three of the wines in this latest release, particularly the WeatherEye Pet Nat, are made in tiny quantities so please place your orders in a timely fashion if you would like to acquire a few bottles. As we are still wrapping up logistics and packaging on a couple of these wines, your orders will be ready to pick up or ship beginning the first week of April.
As things begin to pick back up in Walla Walla, I would like to remind you all that we are open by appointment at 1460 F St at the airport. Within reason, we can accommodate appointments Mon-Sat with at least a day’s notice. In addition to appointments, we will be open for two upcoming Walla Walla event weekends:
Spring Kickoff Weekend (Cayuse Weekend): April 1st & 2nd 11:00AM-5:00PM
Spring Release Weekend: May 6th & 7th 11:00AM-5:00PM
We do recommend that you RSVP for these event weekends as it will likely be quite busy, but we will also take walk ins if we have the space. To RSVP, you can contact me at 541-310-0317, or keith@deviumwine.com.
Thank you all so much for your continued interest and support. Please let me know if you need anything or have any questions at all and we look forward to hosting many of you in Walla Walla this year.
Take care,
Keith