Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Dead Horse is a classic representation of Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. A subtle crossing of bramble and eucalyptus accompany the initial impression. e mid-palate morphs from a richmouthfeel of compote and vanilla to a showing of graphite and slate that are carried through to the clinging nish by life giving acidity. One to enjoy now and revisit over many years!
Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Rich, dense and chunky, with notes of cassis, cigar box and savoury spice. Great to drink now or to age
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James Suckling
Dark stony aromas with redcurrants and cherries that lead to a very fluid, polished and even-paced palate. Long, enduring dark-fruit flavors here; this has handsomely balanced style. 91% cabernet sauvignon, 4% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and well-knit, featuring a sleek backbone of lively tannins and acidity, layered with bright black cherry, mocha and toasted spice flavors that build richness toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2028.
Over a decade later, Mark Ryan Winery has grown in size, earned acclaim from wine-lovers and critics alike, and garnered respect from the state's elite producers. The goal, however, remains the same. Make delicious wines that represent the vineyard from which they come, making every vintage better than the last.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
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.