Nose
This wine opens with vibrant notes of red cherry and red plums, followed by pencil shavings, leather, tar and dried violets.
Palate
On the back end, with fine, dusty tannins, there is white chocolate and roasted chicory to help frame the lively, lengthy finish.
Growing Conditions
Klipsun Vineyards
Located on the southwest slope of Red Mountain, Klipsun Vineyard grows some of Washington’s highest quali- ty wine grapes. Overlooking the Yakima River, this site receives abundant sunshine, heat and wind, which, in addition to excellent farming, create grapes full of flavor, complexity and depth. First planted in 1983, this Merlot was planted in 1990.
The 2014 growing season started early and continued with dry, warm temperatures bringing on an early harvest. The growing season was long and, along with abundant warmth and sunshine, helped produce small berries with concentrated flavors and elegant tannins.
Harvest
September 5, 2014
Timing was critical for the Merlot this year as flavors & sugars developed early. We hand-picked, whole clusters, in the cool early morning.
Bottling
March 25, 2017
Winemaking
Then sorted and gently destemmed as whole berries into 1.5 ton fermenters covered with dry ice and allowed to cold soak, with daily foot crushing, until native fermentation kicked off after 6 days. Fermenting cool (under 75F) with twice daily punchdowns until near dryness. 30 day post-fermentation maceration. Pressed to tank for 24 hours of settling and barreled down. Weekly battonâge (stirring) through native malolactic, then racked twice during elevage and once more for light polish filtration to bottling.
Aging
Barrel aged for 28 months. 33% new Frech oak. 1 year of bottle age prior to release.
