On a recent trip to Walla Walla, I decided to make a stop to see my old friends at Reininger Winery. I hadn’t been to the winery for quite a few months, and had heard of several new wines in their portfolio that readers were raving about.

First, a little history. Chuck Reininger, a retired mountain guide, and his wife Tracy, a Walla Walla native, started the winery in 1997. Chuck’s passion grew from a hobbyist winemaker into renting a site at the Walla Walla airport where his hobby grew quickly into a serious profession. Tracy’s brothers Jay and Kelly, and their wives joined the partnership, and provide essential roles in the marketing and management of the winery.

In 2003 Chuck and Tracy purchased 7 acres west of Walla Walla across the road from Three Rivers Winery on Highway 12. In order to build their new dream facility they decided to sell the family wheat farm located near Helix. With approval from Tracy, Jay and Kelly’s grandfather, the family went on to build the facility, and start a second label named Helix to honor the family’s heritage.

I started my tasting with the 2005 Helix Pomatia. I have been a fan of this affordable wine from its invention, but this blend is the best yet. It hits the nose with graphite, plum and currant, and is rich with flavors of fresh berries, rhubarb, and coffee. It finishes with a nice soft chocolate and some tannins to balance it out.

The Helix 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was a new label for me as well. I enjoyed the aromatic and spicy aromas from this wine. It has a nose of plum, black raspberry, cassis, and caramelized oak. Its flavors are dark and rich with those flavors, and finishes with a hint of clove and fine tannins. Definitely a “best buy”.

As I mentioned before, Reininger’s Syrahs are very taste-worthy. The wine exudes baked blueberries and lavender on the nose. Flavors of pepper, spices, and strong tannins leave a nice long finish.

The 2005 Ash Hollow Syrah starts with ripe blueberries, violets, and lavender. It has a nice smoky and wet earthiness to it that holds your attention and makes you want more.

The 2005 Carmenere was filled with fruit and spice. It features 100 percent Carmenere juice from Seven Hills Vineyard. Lots of leather, peppercorn, dried herb, figs, eucalyptus, and mint. This is a big spicy wine for big spicy wine drinkers.

Lastly, did I mention the one that got away? I was going to tell you about the 2002 Cima. Reininger’s Super-Tuscan Blend. I was lucky enough to purchase one of the last bottles. If you know someone who has some of this wine I would suggest becoming one of this person’s best friends, and offering to cook them a really great rib-eye dinner. Oh, did I mention that I have one of the last bottles?

Enjoy!

Rich Breshears is a photographer and marketing consultant for the wine industry in Oregon and Washington. He lives in Kennewick, Wash.