Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and smoked black fruits emerge from the 2016 Heritage DuBrul Vineyard, which is medium to full-bodied, with a rounded, supple texture and ripe tannins on the finish. It's a delicious, mouthfilling, balanced, high-quality wine. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, aged 22 months in 40% new French oak.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and, 41% Merlot, the 2016 Heritage is rich, round and robust on the nose, with black cherry, blackberry and cassis aromas wafting from the glass, followed by soft, velvety herbal undertones with a well-integrated oak spiced structure. Full-bodied and balanced, the wine shows power and finesse on the palate, with lifting tannins that linger across the mid-palate, ending with a long, sophisticated finish that delivers pleasure. It’s a classy wine and a reasonable price. Rating: 90+
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.
As the first recognized wine-growing region in the Pacific Northwest, Yakima Valley is centrally located within Washington’s vast Columbia Valley. The region also includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines, Otis Vineyard, planted in 1957, and Harrison Hill Vineyard, planted in 1963. Yakima Valley contains three smaller sub-regions: Rattlesnake Hills, Red Mountain, and Snipes Mountain and is ideal for both red and white wine production. In fact, Yakima Valley is Washington’s most diverse region, boasting more than 40 different grape varieties over about one hundred miles.
The cooler parts of the valley are home to almost half of the Chardonnay and Riesling produced in the state! Both are made in a wide range of styles depending on the conditions of the vineyard site.
But its warmer locations yield a large proportion of Washington’s best Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The finest Yakima Valley reds are jam-packed full of red cherry, currant, raspberry or blackberry fruit, as well as cocoa, herb, spice and savory notes, and exhibit a supple texture, great body, focus and length.