Region: Washington State - Yakima Valley
Grapes: 52% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet, 4% Malbec
Alcohol: 13.9%
Notes on the Wine
A rich bouquet of blackberries, mulberries, minty cassis and dried flowers, with only subtle hints of the dark chocolate and spice that I suspect will become more pronounced with bottle age. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and generous, with a lavish core of ripe, succulent fruit framed by fine-grained tannins, concluding with a long, tangy finish.
This blend is unique because we used only French Clone varieties for the Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv. We grow multiple clones of each varietal and we think that these specific clones show off the most complexity and depth. A vineyard that is consistently getting better with age and showing the true potential of the Yakima Valley AVA.
The 2015 vintage was the warmest vintage to date, with above average temperatures across the Columbia Valley. These warm temps led to an advancement of the growing season, leading to a harvest almost 2 weeks ahead of any recent years. Very warm temperatures starting in the spring and continuous through July/August, led into cooler temperatures in September allowing phenolic ripeness to catch up. Despite the heat, the wines from this vintage ended up with great fruit characteristics while maintaining excellent structure and focus.
