Nose
With a nod to the old world, this robust Cabernet shows savory aromas, mingled with expressive black currant and cocoa.
Palate
With a remarkable core of black cherry, fresh plum, and espresso, this well-integrated wine further expresses enticing damp earth and cigar box notes, and finishes with polished tannins on a smooth, powerful finish.
Growing Conditions
This Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the diversity of terroir in the Walla Walla Valley from vineyards planted in: Fractured basalt – Estate Ferguson, Ice-age flood silts – Pepper Bridge, Wind-blown loess – Estate Seven Hills, Loess & Summit View, & The Rocks – Stone Valley & Yellow Jacket.
Harvest
The 2017 vintage was moderate in heat units and produced spectacular quality and balance normally associated with such seasonal conditions. A cool, wet spring delayed bud break until early April allowing the vines to fully recover from a hard prior winter. Bloom occurred in early June in line with the long-term average. July and early August were slightly warmer than normal suppressing berry growth and yields. Late September was cooler than normal. This slowed fruit maturation, pushing most of harvest into October. Our beautiful Indian summer brought plentiful sunshine in October. Warm days and cool night temperatures produced an ideal balance of flavor development, acid retention, and mineral notes in the majority of wines. A near-perfect vintage in the door.
Bottling
Bottling Date: July 11, 2019
Winemaking
Each lot was hand-harvested ripe and gently crushed into 1.5 stainless steel fermenters. Gentle handling of the fruit through hand punch downs and gravity-assisted movements were utilized throughout the entire winemaking process. The wine was cleanly racked to 100% small French oak barrels, 40% new, with four rackings over 22 months.
