Nose
This Malbec is elegantly framed with a dense concentration of
sweet aromatics and bold blackberry and currant notes.
Palate
The
palate highlights spicy top notes with a lush lengthy finish.
Growing Conditions
he 2015 vintage was one of the warmest growing seasons on record in Washington. Warm temperatures continued through the spring and summer, moderating slightly into fall and extending an early harvest. Overall, 2015 saw very favorable growing conditions, producing optimal ripening across varieties and yielding outstanding wines throughout the region.
Source vineyard: The Andrews & Rowell vineyards are located in Eastern
Washington in the heart of the Horse Heaven Hills appellation.
This region is mostly dry with less precipitation due to the rain
shadow effect from the surrounding Cascade Mountain range. The terrain consists of south-facing slopes that provide
excellent sun exposure for grape ripening, and protection from
cold airflow during the winter months. Strong wind patterns in the Horse Heaven Hills reduce canopy
size and density and contribute to even ripening by moderating
temperature extremes.
Winemaking
Fruit was handpicked at the peak of ripeness, destemmed,
sorted and placed into small open-top fermenters uncrushed.
Aging
After fermentation, the juice was placed into 30% new French
and 10% new American oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Lots were kept separate during the 19 months of aging with
blending occurring just prior to bottling
