Winemaker Notes
Inspired by the wines of Bandol, this Mourvedre-driven blend is to show my "gratitude" to those who have given me inspiration and the opportunity to make wine. With gracious amounts of white pepper, anise, and ash. Notes of red cherry, fresh herbs and orange peel. Great depth, and layer upon layer of elegant amaro, dried lavender leaf and burnt sage. They will raise a glass and say "Thanks!"
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
#61 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2016
This wine is a blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah. It opens with achingly pure red currant, cranberry, black pepper, blue fruit, orange peel and dried herb aromas that completely captivate the senses. The palate shows a hypnotic sense of purity along with a sense of elegance that is dazzling. Smoked meat flavors linger on the long finish.
Editors' Choice -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Inspired by the wines of Domaine Tempier in Bandol, Leighton’s 2013 Gratitude checks in as a Mourvèdre dominated blend that incorporates 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah, all of which was aged in two- to three-year-old puncheons. Cured meats, spice-box, black currants and blackberry nuances all emerge from this sweetly fruited, layered, downright sexy Mourvèdre that has fine, polished tannin and a great finish. Not harvested until the last week of October, drink this rock star 2013 over the coming decade, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve for longer.
-
Wine Spectator
Broad and generous, brimming with green olive—accented plum and currant flavors, coming together harmoniously on the finish, surrounded with velvety tannins. Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2022.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.