Winemaker Notes
The Ramparts has a captivating levity and brightness that can be enjoyed now or savored later. 2022 was characterized by higher yields and a focus on fruit-forward profiles rather than structural intensity. This wine emphasizes vibrancy and approachability, which is particularly noticeable in this release of The Ramparts. This is a beautifully nuanced Southern Rhône blend from the Red Mountain AVA that showcases their dedication to balance and consistency.
Blend: 55% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 6% Counoise
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A complete, well-integrated blend that’s easy to love, the 2022 The Ramparts combines 55% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, and 6% Counoise from Red Heaven Vineyard. Structured and full-bodied in style, it dazzles in white pepper, garrigue, and lavender, so deliciously feral yet finessed, the lilac aromatics remaining long after the wine is done. Enjoy through 2037.
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Decanter
Coming from the Red Heaven Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA, this wine is effusively perfumed with sweet cherries and an unmistakable note of spicy tomato and hoisin sauce. The palate is darkly fruited and plush with spicy black plums, an exotic spice blend and an opulent finish buoyed by a note of green peppercorn.
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Vinous
The 2022 The Ramparts is remarkably pretty, with vivid black raspberries complementing rubbed sage and shaved cedar. It sweeps across the palate with ease, juicy and soft-textured yet tactile in feel as mineral-inflected red and blue fruits swirl throughout. This leaves a resonance of violet inner florals and tart blackberry, as a bump of residual acidity keeps the mouth watering for more.
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Wine Spectator
Svelte and expressive, with graceful flavors of raspberry and plum accented by smoky spices and garrigue as this sails along the elegant finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Counoise.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.