214 cs. made. $60/btl.

92 pts. Vinous | 92 pts. James Suckling

This blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah from Freewater Rocks Vineyard in Walla Walla. We co-fermented these grapes with the Syrah whole cluster and the Cabernet Sauvignon destemmed over the top. We have the framework and structure of Cab complimented by the flesh and funk of Rocks Syrah. A dark nose driven by graphite and black fruit peppered with a funky depth. The polished but firm tannin in the palate asks for venison.

Our Cab/Syrah is inspired by the illicit blending of Bordeaux and Rhone varieties that has been quietly going on for centuries. Arguably the most famous of these unholy unions (and certainly the most inspirational to us) are the wines of Eloi Dürrbach at Domaine Trevallon. When new rules sought to limit the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon within their certified growing area they simply walked away from the certification and kept making their wine their way. We applaud their wines and resolve and we hope to echo Eloi’s magic in our new blend. Cheers!

213 cs. made. $60/btl.

Welcome back "Gants de Suède"! This blend is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Malbec all from Lawrence Vineyard in the newish Royal Slope AVA. The integration of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and 60% new French oak puncheons is seamless and ready for your consumption now or for many years to come. A dense blend wound with currant, clean leather, and tobacco from the Cab Sauv. Fruit density and full body from the Malbec. When tasting this wine from barrel the texture often reminded me of suede leather, the tannins are present and serious but polished and supple. This wine is squarely in the bold red category, pair with hearty meaty fare.

A note on the somewhat out-there name! I don't think the request was made on our first date but pretty soon after, my wife (I think mostly facetiously) wanted to know when I was going to name a wine after her. As I climb the barrel stacks, I taste and think about our wines through the months and years. How they are maturing and what they may become. For this wine, a suede textural note kept coming to my mind and each time brought me a smile as I thought of my wife. Swade, is my wife's nickname, born out of efficient collegiate brevity. Sara Wade > S.Wade > Swade. So these barrels kept making me think of her nickname and when we made it legal and married in 2017, I decided this was it, the fates wanted this wine to be hers. Naming it "The Fantastic Sara Wade" would have been a bit on the nose for her taste so a 1800's Parisian fashion craze for Swedish made gloves gave us the root for suede type leather and the name of this wine, Gants de Suède. This one is for you Sara Wade. Thank you all for putting up with this long-winded intro and, Sara, thank you for putting up with me. I love you. Enjoy the wine!

4902 cs. made. $17/btl.

46% Mourvedre, 54% Grenache

92 pts. Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts. James Suckling

"A clean mouthful of fruit with a crisp bright finish,"

the words of Kris Chau, a magical artist, tattoo poker and conjurer of this label sum it up pretty well. In 2022, this direct-to-press intentional rosé is all from Oldfield Vineyard in Yakima Valley. This bone dry wine is classically pale provencal style rosé with bright crispness. Notes of strawberry, watermelon rind, fresh tarragon, and citrus blossom abound.

We're inspired by taking the name KIND STRANGER quite literally and turning toward others around us. We've seen our national landscape shift a bit recently and we feel it's as important as ever to be a real kind stranger in the world. Proceeds from this wine benefit Mary’s Place at the local level here in Seattle and the International Rescue Committee on a broader scale, please click the links to see the important work they do. Cheers!

1204 cs. made. $17/btl.

Welcome our latest addition to the Kind Stranger lineup, Pinot Gris! High elevation Pinot Gris from rocky soils littered with caliche and broken basalt. This fresh new wine is primed for summer drinking. Full of citrus blossom and tosca pear, the palate is thirst-quenching and demands another sip. Fermented dry in stainless steel without malolactic conversion and aged sur lie for six months prior to bottling. Artwork, as always, by Kris Chau.

We're inspired by taking the name KIND STRANGER quite literally and turning toward others around us. We've seen our national landscape shift a bit recently and we feel it's as important as ever to be a real kind stranger in the world. Proceeds from this wine benefit Mary’s Place at the local level here in Seattle and the International Rescue Committee on a broader scale, please click the links to see the important work they do. Cheers!

1686 cs. made. $17/btl.

60% Solaksen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Scarline Vineyard Malbec, and 15% Freewater Rocks Vineyard Syrah

Blending is nothing if not an excercise in change, creating a new sum. The parts here are three varietals from outstanding vineyard sites to produce this robust Washington red. Cabernet vines grown in the basalt derived gravel of Royal Slope give excellent depth of fruit and ample structure. Scarline Malbec brings concentration, spice notes, and fruity volume to the palate. Funky Freewater Syrah layers on dark-fruited intrigue and breadth to the finish. Label artwork is by Kris Chau, based on a work titled, "Alter of Labor + Love."

We're inspired by taking the name KIND STRANGER quite literally and turning toward others around us. We've seen our national landscape shift over the last few years and we feel it's as important as ever to be a real kind stranger in the world. Proceeds from this wine benefit Mary’s Place at the local level here in Seattle and the International Rescue Committee on a broader scale, please click the links to see the important work they do. Cheers!

2695 cs. made. $17/btl.

88% Solaksen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Weinbau Vineyard Malbec 

Washington Cabernet vines grown in basalt derived gravel on the long rise of Royal Slope give excellent depth, intense fruit and ample structure from this awesome site. Weinbau’s 30 year old Malbec vines pile on the concentration and spice notes. This stunner was fermented whole berry with indigenous yeasts, then macerated an average of 28 days between the lots. Basket pressed to barrel for 15 months, 15% new french oak barrels.  

We're inspired by taking the name KIND STRANGER quite literally and turning toward others around us. We've seen our national landscape shift over the last few years and we feel it's as important as ever to be a real kind stranger in the world. Proceeds from this wine benefit Mary’s Place at the local level here in Seattle and the International Rescue Committee on a broader scale, please click the links to see the important work they do. Cheers!