Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This malbec has beautiful whole-berry character with super fragrant blue fruit, gentle spice and forest wood. The palate is very neatly layered with attractively grainy tannin, carrying bright blue-fruit flavors in fresh mode. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are arresting, with achingly pure notes of dark plum, boysenberry, dried herb and black pepper. The palate is elegant and shows a dazzling sense of purity, deftness, nuance and balance, with enough acidity and tannin structure to do well with a bit of time in the cellar. Offerings like this from this producer are redefining what Washington wine is all about. Make sure to pair it with food, perhaps a grilled pork chop with a cherry reduction.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
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.