Winemaker Notes
With a flavor profile distinctly influenced by its volcanic basalt soil, Ferguson is a richly structured, age-worthy, and energetic wine offering complex, mineral-laced aromas of cassis, blueberry, boysenberry, iron, fresh tobacco, and sandalwood. Layers of black and red fruit flavors are laced with hints of espresso and framed by expressive tannins integrated with crushed rocks and graphite. Intense, racy, and structured, Ferguson’s pronounced natural acidity carries through to a compelling and enduring finish.
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This young, brilliant, age-worthy wine is wound rather tightly with fine-grained tannins, but a profusion of fresh, vivid red and black fruit is waiting to open up. Red cherries, dried cranberries, blackcurrants and subtle oak spices are beautifully layered. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot, 14% cabernet franc, 7% malbec and 5% petit verdot.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Estate Ferguson Vineyard is slightly broader and more structured, with a darker core of currants, truffly earth, chocolate, and hints of iron. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot, it has beautiful mid-palate depth, a layered, full-bodied mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve gracefully (and maybe warrant another point or two) for at least two decades.
-
Vinous
The 2021 Red Wine Estate Ferguson Vineyard is youthfully inward, with a dark floral resonance giving way to ground cloves, mentholated herbs, crushed blackberries and sage. It washes across the palate like liquid velvet, maintaining fantastic lift and energy as polished red and black fruits saturate. Tactile minerals and hints of spice add further complexity. Rating: 95+
-
Wine Spectator
Polish meets deep structure in this red, which offers generous blackberry and cherry flavors framed by mocha espresso and toasty spices while building richness on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 1,400 cases made.
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.