Succession Wines is among youngest wineries in the Lake Chelan wine region of Washington State. Despite being a relative newcomer, they already have a good reputation in the area and were recommended to us by another winery.
The tasting room has a modern, open loft design that leads into a patio surrounded by grapevines. Thanks to the design of the room, it looked less busy than it was when we came in. Lauren, tasting room associate, all by herself was already pouring wines and entertaining over 20 guests as another five people walked in after us. Succession Wines is lucky to have her because when another five people walked in behind us, she didn’t walk out. Instead, Lauren smiled and said enthusiastically, “Come on in!”
Succession Wines makes wines from the estate fruit as well as from other vineyards within Lake Chelan region and other parts of Washington.
We tasted six wines, and one of our favorites was 2018 L & R. It takes its name after the daughters of Brock (owner/winemaker) and Erica Lindsay (co-owner).
Tasting Notes
2018 L & R is 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was aged for six months in new French oak barrels. We were intrigued as barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc is a rare specialty, especially in the New World (USA, Australia, South America, etc.) It’s a bold move by Brock, as it takes great skill to do it right. Oak can overpower and rob a wine of a fruit character which is essential for Sauvignon Blanc. In case it added to the wine complexity, body and flavor.
We were seduced by the aromas of apple, lemon, vanilla and cotton candy. Yes, cotton candy. We didn’t expect that from Sauvignon Blanc at all.
On the palate, it felt more substantial than light-weight Sauvs and slightly off-dry. The flavors of apple skin, white blossom, lemon, and candied apple were a natural extension of irresistible aromas.
That’s why we included 2018 L & R by Succession Wines as one of our favorites from their wines and the best Sauvignon Blanc we tasted so far in Lake Chelan region.