Urban Bliss Life blogger-photographer-social media influencer extraordinare Marlynn Schotland recently came in with her partner and husband Alain to sample our latest lineup of wine releases. We’ve known them both for a long time; Marlynn has even created an amazing Pinot Noir brownie recipe using our Titan (the brownies are also amazing made with Candide Reserve Pinot Noir). She’s also a cookbook author and frequent contributor to The Drew Barrymore Show, so getting into her calendar is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Marlynn, pictured above, and Alain gave the thumbs up to all the wines they tasted. They were particularly smitten with the new 2020 New World Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Summit View Vineyard in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. So much so that she posted a review AND a video showcasing their visit and the wines on Instagram.
Here’s what she had to say:
New fave wine alert! 🚨
🍷 Alain & I caught up with Dave & Sara Specter of @bellsupwinery recently, and tasted through their growing line-up of delicious wines.
🍷 We both fell in love with their 2020 New World Cabernet Sauvignon ($68). Named for Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95,” the grapes are sourced from the same grower as the grapes for their Firebird Syrah: Summit View Vineyard in Milton-Freewater in the @wwvalleywine AVA. Aged for 12 months in French oak and they only made 65 cases, available for their wine club members.
🍷 This is a Cab like no other. It has the characteristic black cherry flavors and full body of a Cab, but the tannins are softer and silky smooth and there’s a hint of pepper. It drinks like a dream now but I’m also excited to taste one of the bottles we bought in a few years, as I think it will age beautifully!
🍇 Milton-Freewater is part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA but is located entirely on the Oregon side of the river. It’s an area I haven’t explored as much in person yet, so I’m THRILLED to have the chance to explore this area very soon on an upcoming wine press trip!
📍If you’re wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, be sure to call Sara & Dave at Bells Up Winery and make a reservation. You’ll get a private wine tasting experience in a beautiful setting with some of the nicest people in the biz.
And here’s the fun video she created in the original post:
