Winemaker Notes
It’s hard to believe that this classic-tasting Red Mountain blend came from such a hot year. This wine exudes a lot of dark plum, black cherry, lush cocoa, black licorice, earth, and a touch of cassis. There is quite a bit of that unique Red Mountain spice mix of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger. The palate is rich, lush, and full yet not overdone. It shows restraint but also has a power to it that is unmistakably terroir-driven. The flavors of chocolate, dark fruits, spice and a touch of vanilla a such a good combinationyou’ll find yourself sipping on this for hours; which is never a bad thing.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This offers a brambly array of dark berries, espresso and cedar on the nose with attractive toasted spices. There’s a very fine, fresh and evenly paced feel on the palate with quite pure dark berries at the center of a fine-grained tannin frame. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 5% syrah; 4% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Deep ruby-colored, the 2016 Red Mountain checks in as a blend of 38% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, and the rest a mix of red varieties, all aged 20 months in 40% new oak. It offers a great bouquet of pure cassis and darker fruits as well as loads of cedar, dried flowers, and hints of new leather. Medium-bodied, seamless, incredibly pure, and layered, it's straight-up loaded with charm and a joy to drink. There's a decidedly Old World weight and style here, yet it doesn't skimp on fruit either. I'd be thrilled to drink bottles over the coming decade or so.
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Wine & Spirits
This estate blend is mostly merlot and cabernet, with cabernet franc, syrah, malbec and other varieties in trace amounts. It’s savory from the outset, with scents of cedar and pine bark, smoke and tarry traces of oak. The flavors are suave and plummy, driven by an amaro savor and a finish of lean, dried fruit, with the tannins for grilled goat.
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.