Rachel H.
Yelp
Lip smackingly delicious wine in a sophisticated yet low-key venue, fans of big reds and of Mark Ryan (and executive winemaker Mark Ryan McNeilly) will not be disappointed in this cozy little storefront tasting room on Main Street in Walla Walla, and if they are, it may be that what they are disappointed to find, is that the specific wine they came in for is already sold out for the year.
For those who keep an eye out for the ubiquitous motorcycle on their more widely distributed reds, and covet the white labeled bottles of the even bolder Red Mountain reds, you'll want to make time to head over to their downtown Walla Walla tasting room. Its a swank set up, a modern take on a NY apartment coupled with a rustic NW wine country feel.
The manager running the tasting room was informative and their tasting room set up, with a front and back room, proved friendly and felt easy going. Sold as the "place where the big fruit lives" here at the tasting room you can try several Red Mountain wines to determine if you want to leave the more democratic motorbike labels behind and make an investment in a bigger inky, unctuous wine.
The Wine Enthusiast named Mark Ryan Winery one of the new "Cult Wineries" of Washington State, but it seems like the jig is up, since so many have tried and liked his reds now, that its a little like saying Arcade Fire is an up and coming group after winning a Grammy. The word is out, yes, but its still a pretty cool find and there are some things to buy here that you won't find out and about in large quantities. Try a line up of divine reds that include : "Dead Horse" (a Bordeaux-style blend), Crazy Mary (a now sold out Morvedre) , the "Lonely Heart" Cabernet Sauvignon, a "Wild Eyed" Syrah, and "The Dissident" (a Bordeaux-style blend, current vintage running mighty low at the time of our recent visit.) Vrooom!