Winemaker Notes
In 2012, we partnered with Quintessence Vineyards to plant a13.6 acre block on the south slope of Red Mountain. No expense was spared in the design and development of the site. We worked hand-in-hand with the Quintessence Vineyard team to transform the 13.6 acre site into a world-class vineyard. rough meticulous site selection, variety and clone selection, vine density and orientation, we feel we are well on our way to accomplishing this goal. This team effort culminated in the reincarnation of one of the original wines in the Mark Ryan lineup: Water Witch. After carefully selecting the top performing blocks in the 13.6 acre vineyard, we are very excited with the results.
Blend: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A gutsy wine that layers in structure and rich polish, with blackberry crushed stone, black olive and white pepper accents that pick up speed toward polished tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Water Witch is another Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend and includes 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Crème de cassis, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and a touch of unsmoked tobacco all emerge from the glass, and it's more medium-bodied, tight and reserved on the palate, yet has good concentration as well as ripe tannins. Give it 3-4 years, and I expect it will have fleshed out nicely. It will have two decades of overall longevity. Rating: 92+
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Water Witch Red Blend is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It shows smoky and toasty aromas of fire-roasted peppers, smoked cherries, dust-covered blackberries and sweet tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still tight, with a firm core of dark fruit and offering flavors of roasted espresso bean and charred oak. The wine lingers on the palate with elements of bitter dark chocolate. I recommend aging this in the cellar for another two years before opening and be sure to enjoy with food.
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.
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.