Winemaker Notes
Block & Row presents a collection of wines that showcase the diversity of Washington State and its growing regions. Crafted in a medium-bodied style, designed to appeal to consumers looking for approachable, flavorful variety. A family owned winery with five estate vineyards within the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State. All of their vineyards demonstrate unique character, diversity in terroir and growing conditions. The winery is one of the first partners certified by the new Sustainable WA program. Sustainable WA signifies a commitment to quality fruit, environmental stewardship, and healthy communities. All five of their estate vineyards are certified sustainable.
Building blocks, they are the essential ingredients by which something new is created. A foundation, if you will, for realizing a vision. So, it should come as no surprise that something as wonderful as wine would originate from blocks. Grapes destined for a wine possess distinct qualities according to where and how they are grown. Winegrowers highlight these traits by dividing vineyard rows into blocks that’s what makes every block unique. Then, through the art of blending, we mix and match fruit from different blocks to create a wine that expresses the most intriguing array of flavors.
An important winegrowing state increasingly recognized for its high-quality reds and whites, Washington ranks second in production in the U.S. after California. Washington wines continue to gain well-deserved popularity as they garner higher and higher praise from critics and consumers alike.
Washington winemakers draw inspiration mainly from Napa Valley, Bordeaux and the Rhône as well as increasingly from other regions like Spain and Italy. Most viticulture takes place on the eastern side of the state—an arid desert in the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains. Irrigation is made possible by the Columbia River. Temperatures are extreme, with hot and dry summers and cold winters, during which frost can be a risk.
Washington’s wine industry was initially built on Merlot, which remains an important variety to this day, despite having been overtaken in acreage planted by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Bordeaux blends and Rhône blends are common as well as single varietal bottlings. Washington reds tend to express a real purity of concentrated fruit. The best examples have a bold richness, seamless texture, plush or powdery tannins and flavors such as licorice, herb, forest floor, espresso and dark chocolate.
In terms of white wine from Washington state, Riesling is the state’s major success story, producing crisp, aromatic examples with plenty of stone fruit that range from bone dry to lusciously sweet. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc perform nicely here as well, and Viognier is beginning to pick up steam.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.