Winemaker Notes
The 2021 D2 shows the promise of the vintage, with deep concentration and outstanding quality. Initial aromas of blackberry, cassis and green peppercorn lead to a palate bursting with beautiful richness and texture. The high-quality, fine-grained tannins of this wine allow approachability in its youth, yet have the firmness and backbone to provide aging for 15+ years. Red currant, Bing Cherry and toasty oak flavors develop with time, leading to a lengthy finish with impressive weight. Cheers to 30 vintages of D2 and many more on the way.
Blend: 58% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
A great introduction to the house style, the 2021 D2 opens with a dusting of sweet spice and cedar shavings, giving way to wild blueberries and violet pastille. This is racy and cool-toned in feel, with ripe wild berry fruits and tactile mineral tones that cascade across the palate as hints of lavender embellish the close. Gently tannic and incredibly long, the 2021 lingers on, leaving a staining primary concentration and a crunchy sensation. The D2 is a blend of 58% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot
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Wine Spectator
A dynamic red, showing a keen structure, with expressive flavors of red currant and blackberry highlighted by clove and cigar box notes as this gathers tension toward refined tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
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 large and geographically diverse AVA capable of producing a wide variety of wine styles, the Columbia Valley AVA is home to 99% of Washington state’s total vineyard area. A small section of the AVA even extends into northern Oregon!
Because of its size, it is necessarily divided into several distinctive sub-AVAs, including Walla Walla Valley and Yakima Valley—which are both further split into smaller, noteworthy appellations. A region this size will of course have varied microclimates, but on the whole it experiences extreme winters and long, hot, dry summers. Frost is a common risk during winter and spring. The towering Cascade mountain range creates a rain shadow, keeping the valley relatively rain-free throughout the entire year, necessitating irrigation from the Columbia River. The lack of humidity combined with sandy soils allows for vines to be grown on their own rootstock, as phylloxera is not a serious concern.
Red wines make up the majority of production in the Columbia Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant variety here, where it produces wines with a pleasant balance of dark fruit and herbs. Wines made from Merlot are typically supple, with sweet red fruit and sometimes a hint of chocolate or mint. Syrah tends to be savory and Old-World-leaning, with a wide range of possible fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The most planted white varieties are Chardonnay and Riesling. These range in style from citrus and green apple dominant in cooler sites, to riper, fleshier wines with stone fruit flavors coming from the warmer vineyards.