Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Tapteil is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, and as with all these releases from Ben Smith, there's not much to go around, with just 350 cases produced. Ripe black and blue fruits, sappy herbs, tobacco, violets, and a touch of mountain scrub brush all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It too will have 15+ years of longevity.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 43% of this wine, with the rest Cabernet Franc (29%) and Merlot. The aromas pop, with notes of raspberry, flower, fresh herb, black currant and scorched earth. The palate is tightly coiled, packed full of bold tannin and bright acids. It's a classic example of the vintage, region and this producer's style.
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 coveted source of top quality red grapes among premier Washington producers, the Red Mountain AVA is actually the smallest appellation in the state. As its name might suggest, it is actually neither a mountain nor is it composed of red earth. Instead the appellation is an anticline of the Yakima fold belt, a series of geologic folds that define a number of viticultural regions in the surrounding area. It is on the eastern edge of Yakima Valley with slopes facing southwest towards the Yakima River, ideal for the ripening of grapes. The area’s springtime proliferation of cheatgrass, which has a reddish color, actually gives the area the name, "Red" Mountain.
Red Mountain produces some of the most mineral-driven, tannic and age-worthy red wines of Washington and there are a few reasons for this. It is just about the hottest appellation with normal growing season temperatures commonly reaching above 90F. The soil is particularly poor in nutrients and has a high pH, which results in significantly smaller berry sizes compared to varietal norms. The low juice to skin ratio in smaller berries combined with the strong, dry summer winds, leads to higher tannin levels in Red Mountain grapes.
The most common red grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, among others. Limited white varieties are grown, namely Sauvignon blanc.
The reds of the area tend to express dark black and blue fruit, deep concentration, complex textures, high levels of tannins and as previously noted, have good aging capabilities.