Winemaker Notes
Produced by the En Cerise Vineyard, which literally translated, means "cherry," appropriate since this 10-acre vineyard planted in 1998 was a cherry orchard in its former life.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2021 Flying Pig, made from a blend of 59% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, bursts from the glass with seductive notes of black cherry skin, dusty plums and notes of dried herbs and turned earth. Medium-bodied yet round and succulent, the palate explodes with energy and a beautiful balance between dark fruit skin and earth. A food-friendly, tannic grip holds through the long, lingering, ever-evolving finish that has me coming back for more. The wine rested a year and a half in 30% new and neutral French oak barrels.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
A Cabernet Franc-dominated blend that includes 31% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Flying Pig is medium ruby/purple-hued, with Bordeaux-like notes of black cherries, new leather, smoked herbs, lead pencil, and just a kiss of that Rocks umami character in the background. Medium to full-bodied, pure, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has silky tannins and no hard edges. It too has an up-front, approachable style.
-
Vinous
The 2021 Flying Pig is impossible to ignore as a cascade of white pepper-tinged florals, chalk dust, rosemary and black raspberries burst from the glass. This is pure elegance, silken and pliant with cool-toned acidity, ripe red and hints of blue fruit. The 2021 tapers off with sweet tannins and a resonance of lavender pastille, long and classically dry. The Flying Pig is a beautifully balanced blend of 59% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Flying in with aromas of roasted pork shoulder (sorry, Pig), boysenberries and peach, the Pig is fresh and lively. Cherry and ginger flavors are joined by bits of thyme and molasses, all backed by crisp acidity and velvety tannins. The Cabernet Franc-driven blend aged for 18 months in French oak, 30% new.
-
James Suckling
A sleek, fresh and savory Bordeaux blend of 59% cabernet franc, 31% merlot and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Iodine, mulberries, blackberries, currants and bell peppers. It’s silky and medium-bodied with a peppery finish.
-
Wine Spectator
A harmonious and supple red, with elegantly structured flavors of cherry and blueberry that take on delicate accents of smoked pepper and crushed stone as this finishes with detailed tannins. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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.
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.