May 23, 2017, Benton City, WA - At a recent lunch at New York’s celebrated Le Coucou, Chris and Thea Upchurch, founders and owners of Upchurch Vineyard, introduced their Cabernet Sauvignon to a group of restaurant, hospitality and media guests. Le Coucou has recently received the honored James Beard award for the best new restaurant in America. Chef Daniel Rose crafted a signature three-course menu ideally suited to the nuances of Upchurch’s award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State’s renowned Red Mountain AVA.
(L-R) Thea & Chris Upchurch & Dominique Ortiz-Davalos, sommelier Le Coucou
Upchurch Vineyard was created in 2007 and now, with five vintages of Upchurch Cabernet under their belt, the winery has garnered much praise. Chris noted, “I’ve learned that if you start with a great site and give every aspect of it the attention it deserves, in the vineyard and the cellar, the accolades will follow.”
“The response has been phenomenal,” added Thea “I guess producing an expressive hand-crafted cabernet will never go out of style. It’s the type of wine we were always looking for in the restaurants I owned – a wine from a small producer, with great structure and a delicious, savory finish. My chefs would have had a ball creating pairings with our Cab.”
Chris continued, “I’d like to pat myself on the back, but the truth is that this is a great Cabernet site, with an incredible vineyard manager Dick Boushey at the helm. All we have to do is enhance what Mother Nature gave us a long time ago.”
“This plot of land is sustainably farmed on a small plateau on the southern tip of Red Mountain,” commented Dick. “Chris had a clear vision on what he wanted from the site and although there have been challenges, we all agree that our efforts have been well worth it. What we’re doing here is both science and art.”
“Our vision for Upchurch began 10 years ago,” concluded Chris. “We fell in love with the magic of the place and the wine we hoped to create here. And to be sustainably farmed is natural, as we care about the land and preserving it for generations. After all, this is a family project.”
The first vintage of Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was the lauded 2010. All of the subsequent vintages have received wide acclaim. The winery will release its 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon in November 2017.
2012, 2013, 2014 UV Cabernet Sauvignon vertical tasting
2014 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Intense floral notes are a signature of this wine. Aromas of lavender, currants, eucalypts, and cherry blossoms permeate the powerful dark fruits typical of Red Mountain Cabernet.
91% Cabernet and 9% Merlot from the UV single vineyard estate on Red Mountain
2014 Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - 700 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $70
Winemaker
(L-R), Chris Upchurch (Founder and Winemaker), Dick Boushey (Vineyard Manager)
As founding winemaker and partner of DeLille Cellars since 1992, Chris Upchurch has crafted some of the finest and most award-winning wines in Washington State. He is the only winemaker to produce two Washington State brands to receive 5 stars (outstanding) in Robert Parker’s Wine Buyers Guide, for both DeLille Cellars and Doyenne.
Vineyard
Upchurch Vineyard Winery & Barn, Red Mountain AVA, WA
Upchurch Vineyard is located at the southern tip of the acclaimed Red Mountain AVA in Washington State. Vineyard manager Dick Boushey (Auction of Washington Wines Grower of the Year 2009) has created a micro vineyard that combines Red Mountain terroir with European “small vine” methods and modern low impact sustainable farming.
Upchurch Vineyard is dedicated to sustainable farming and is certified by L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), a non-profit organization that promotes and certifies sustainable vineyard practices. It is also certified “Salmon Safe”, a non-profit organization that protects the watersheds for salmon and all other Northwest wildlife.
Ratings and Press
Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has received 95, 93, 96, and 96 points scores respectively for its first 4 vintages from Jeb Dunnuck of the Wine Advocate and has been featured in the March 2017 issue of the Wine Spectator. In August 2016, Seattle Magazine awarded UV 2013 Cabernet Washington States Best Cabernet Sauvignon over $65.
Upchurch Vineyard Tasting Room