Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Along the same lines as the Perigee, the 2012 Apogee Pepperbridge Vineyard has a slightly darker fruit profile to go with notes of graphite, crushed rock and roasted meats. It too has a full-bodied, structured, concentration and tannic feel, so short-term cellaring is advised. It will have two decades of longevity. The blend here is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 5% Malbec, with aging spanning 22 months in 50% new French oak.
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Wine Enthusiast
The aromas of tobacco leaf, herbs, milk chocolate, vanilla and dark cherries are generous on this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The flavors are equal part rich and restrained, with a delightful sense of balance along with a light grip of tannins.
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.