Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThere’s plenty to be happy about with the 2017 Cabernet Franc Reserve, as it opens with aromas of vanilla crème brûlée, dusty cherry skin, black plum and dark chocolate on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, a rocky essence fills the mid-palate, showing a balanced structure with a subtle hint of dried herbs, spice plum reduction and subtle flavors of cardamom madeleines. Lingering with persistence and focus, the wine offers elegance, with still-tight tannins. Nicely done.
aMaurice Cellars, a family-owned boutique winery situated on 20 perfectly sloped acres in the Blue Mountains of Walla Walla, Washington, creates authentic, food-friendly wines. With an elevation of 1,475 feet and a south facing slope, our vineyard enjoys long summers, cool nights and an annual rainfall averaging 16-18 inches ideal conditions for growing wine grapes. Each wine is the living result of fervent dedication to sustainable viticulture and the passion and skill of expert winemaking - and the growing talents of more than 15,000 select vines. aMaurice Cellars is owned and operated by the Schafer family, fifth-generation Washingtonians.
aMaurice Cellars is dedicated to raising quality fruit through environmentally sound farming practices. Maintaining the soil and plant organisms provides nutrients necessary to grow healthy vines and grapes. More than 15,000 vines were planted in May 2006. Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot Varietals. We are charter members of Vinea — an alliance of Walla Walla wineries and vineyards that adhere to the strict guidelines of sustainable viticulture. Please visit this website for more information on sustainable viticulture.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.