2021 Estate Merlot
The 2021 growing season was a hot one, with some record setting events and the heat dome of June. This increased heat led to lower yields as the berries could not divide cells rapidly during cell division due to the heat, so we experienced lower yields and an increase of quality that comes from low yields. The fall was dry and cool allowing for optimal ripening during the final stages of development
In 2021 we produced less than 100 cases of our Estate Merlot, the finished wine reflects the timeless phrase "quality over quantity" -- the wine has a youthful freshness, the nose and palate have a range of barrel and fruit notes including toasted oak, cocoa powder, and red fruits like plum and cherry, while finishing with dark chocolate.
91 pts - Wine Enthusiast
Dark red with a bright red rim is an excellent indicator of this wine's youth and freshness. The nose and palate have a wide range of barrel and fruit notes including toasted oak, cocoa powder, and red fruits like plum and cherry, while finishing with dark chocolate. Once decanted the wine develops a soft and lush mouthfeel with some wood tannin on and back of the palate.
Pick decisions are based equally on grape juice chemistry (Brix/pH/TA), as well as flavor and physical maturity of the grapes. Harvested early in the morning, the hand-picked grapes are promptly delivered to the winery for immediate processing. Whole-cluster sorted to remove any material other than grapes (MOG), before being destemmed and lightly crushed into 1-ton fermenters. The must is allowed to rest for 24 hours before inoculation with a selected yeast strain. The must is gently punched-down twice daily to ensure proper phenolic extraction. When fermentation is nearly complete the free-run wine is pumped directly into French and American oak barrels (225L). 68% French, 32% American; 77% new oak, 23% once-filled barrels. Barrel aged 22 months, followed by another year in bottle before release.
| Varietal Composition | 96% Merlot, 4% Malbec |
| Appellation | Wahluke Slope |
| Vineyard | Riverbend Vineyard |
| PH | 3.80 |
| Aging | 78% new oak, 22% used once filled oak. 100% French oak. 25% 30hL French oak tank (fermented and aged). |
| Alcohol | 14.70% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 08/05/2021 |
| Cases Produced | 98 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
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