Baer Ursa 2008
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With aromas of ripe black cherry and red berries, vanilla, wood smoke, roasted herbs and sweet oak, the concentrated flavors of this supple blend offer a lengthy finish. The 2008 blend amps up the Merlot, but remains distinctively "Ursa" with hints of violet, and spicy black pepper derived from Cabernet Franc.
A well-rounded crowd pleaser, Ursa continues to deliver a lush, but complex fruit-forward blend that pairs well with food or sips well on its own.
53% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
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Wine Spectator
This has great presence, offering a dense cloud of blackberry, cherry and spice flavors that hover, almost weightless, over a sleek frame of fine tannins, with just enough acidity to keep it fresh. The finish sails on beautifully. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2012 through 2020. 1,095 cases made.
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Wine Enthusiast
Merlot and Cab Franc are the stars of this five-grape Bordeaux-style blend. It begins sweetly, with a pretty mix of ripe berries, spicy toast and dark chocolate. The flavors spread across the palate, adding hints of black pepper and sandalwood. Lush, deep, and slightly exotic, this is a real palate-pleaser.
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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.