Nose
Notes of marionberry and vanilla on the nose.
Palate
Pink peppercorn, fresh cranberry, baking spices, and some green tomato stem on the palate.
Growing Conditions
2018 was a warm and dry vintage resulting in beautiful ripening with lovely maturity, another great growing season for Washington State.
Harvest
Perfect dry harvest weather extended hang-time resulting in rich color and vibrant fruit flavors. Higher sugars were balanced against higher acid levels and wonderfully intense color and tannin extraction, big fruit flavors, and overall balanced structure. All three varietals were harvested the first week of October 2018, destemmed, and gently crushed into a stainless steel fermenter.
Winemaking
The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from J&S Vineyard bring lush ripeness and velvety tannins to the wine, with a bit of Summit View Cabernet Franc blended in for elegance and finesse. The 2018 Artisan Blend is a mosaic of ripe red and black fruit flavors, highlighted with light spice and warmth.
Aging
Prior to pressing, the grapes underwent daily punch-downs, a technique that allows for light tannin extraction. Organic yeast was added, and fermentation was finished in-barrel. The wine was racked from lees once in the winter of 2020 and aged for 24 months in 25% new French oak and 75% neutral French oak barrels.
