Winemaker Notes
Blend: 66% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
About two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard shines with a red-fruited and firmly mineral notion that captures the juiciness and mineral essence of Red Mountain. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is succulent with a tight mineral tension with gripping tannins that make way for a soft floral lift. This will need an additional year in the bottle to come together before it is released in 2025. The wine sails with a food-friendly, firm finish that will benefit from decanting. Give it time.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as beautiful notes of ripe black cherries, smoked tobacco, savory herbs, iron, and lead pencil. Medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, and textured on the palate, it has fine tannins, a soft, rounded mouthfeel, and a great finish.
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Vinous
The 2020 Ciel du Cheval has an elegant bouquet with hints of ripe blackberries, cherries, sweet herbs and sour citrus. This soothes with its silken textures and juicy acidity that maintains fantastic freshness. The 2020 finishes potent and long with round tannins that frame the experience without detracting from its grace and finesse.
Rating: 92+
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.
As the first recognized wine-growing region in the Pacific Northwest, Yakima Valley is centrally located within Washington’s vast Columbia Valley. The region also includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines, Otis Vineyard, planted in 1957, and Harrison Hill Vineyard, planted in 1963. Yakima Valley contains three smaller sub-regions: Rattlesnake Hills, Red Mountain, and Snipes Mountain and is ideal for both red and white wine production. In fact, Yakima Valley is Washington’s most diverse region, boasting more than 40 different grape varieties over about one hundred miles.
The cooler parts of the valley are home to almost half of the Chardonnay and Riesling produced in the state! Both are made in a wide range of styles depending on the conditions of the vineyard site.
But its warmer locations yield a large proportion of Washington’s best Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The finest Yakima Valley reds are jam-packed full of red cherry, currant, raspberry or blackberry fruit, as well as cocoa, herb, spice and savory notes, and exhibit a supple texture, great body, focus and length.