This was a fitting selection, not only as a birthyear vintage, but it is also a family oriented label and producer. All the Spring Valley Vineyars labels are named for a family member. This label “Uriah”, is named for the Spring Valley Vineyards founder Uriah Corkrum, grandfather of matriarch owner producer Shari Corkrum Derby. 

All of the Spring Valley wines are named for one of the ancestral or current family members and are showcased in an annual box set. Shown is our set commemorating the 2013 vintage releases, one of several in our collection. 

Uriah Corkrum was born in Walla Walla on June 1, 1866. He began successfully farming on his own during the 1880s. Unusual summer rain kept him from getting his harvested wheat to the warehouse so he lost everything in the depression of 1893. He persevered and, in 1897, acquired land in the area known as Spring Valley that is the site of the vineyards today. 

Uriah is featured on the flagship label Uriah Spring Valley Red Blend. This is our favorite label from the Spring Valley portfolio. 

Spring Valley Vineyard wines are all produced from 100% estate-grown fruit, a relative rarity in Washington. Washington State and regional powerhouse Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates purchased the winery and the brand from the Derby family recently, but they continue to own and operate the vineyards.

We visited Spring Valley during our appellation visit to the Walla Walla (Washington) wine region in the fall of 2018. We visited the Spring Valley Vineyardtasting room in downtown Walla Walla, then ventured out to the vineyards and winery northeast of town. There, we met Dean Derby patriarch, and husband to Shari Corkrum Derby, grand-daughter of Uriah Corkrum, namesake for this label.

Meeting Mr. Derby was one of the highlights of our Walla Walla Wine Experience, especially since he has since passed on. We posted a Tribute to Dean Derby and memorium of that visit – Spring Valley Vineyard toward the end of 2021.

The Uriah label from Spring Valley Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington is a “Right Bank” Bordeaux Blend, meaning it is Merlot based like those from the northeastern or right bank of the Gironde River.

We hold nearly a decade of vintages of this label including birth year vintages of several of our grandkids. We’ve tasted and featured this label from many vintages numerous times in these pages as featured in this collection of posts – https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/search?q=Uriah.

This release was rated 94 points by Wine Spectator back in 2013, and was recognized “Top 100 Wines of 2013, Highly Recommended”.

In the Right Bank Bordeaux style this is 46% Merlot, 40%, Cabernet Franc, 6%, Petite Verdot, 5%, Cabernet Sauvignon and 3%, Malbec.

At fifteen years, the foil, label, and most importantly, the cork and fill level were perfect and this was likely at the apex of its drinking window, still young and capable of aging for several more years. 

I wrote about this wine back in 2013 when I wrote: “ This may be the most expressive Uriah I have tasted. It is the most complex on the front and most vibrant on the finish that I remember. We hold each vintage going back to 2002.”

Tonight was consistent with that earlier tasing. Dark ruby colored, full bodied, complex layers of tight spicy red currant and black raspberry fruits, accented by spicy clove, hints of smoky anise and tobacco, turning to a big mouthful of subtle cinnamon and hint of mocha on a tongue tingling acidic finish with smooth dusty tannins.

RM 92 points.