Palate
Sémillon may be the most overlooked Noble Grape. It’s not flashy, but it’s unique and it’s the backbone of great Bordeaux-style whites. In this vintage 64% of the wine fermented in neutral oak adding natural richness and 36% fermented in stainless steel to maintain vibrant flavors of fig, melon, and honey!
Growing Conditions
The 2017 growing season was cooler and crop yields were significantly lower in comparison to the past two vintages.
The lower temperatures delayed ripening and helped to retain fresh fruit aromatics and mouthwatering acidity.
Despite cold winter conditions, 2017 gave us concentrated wines with classic Washington state character.
Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually.
Warm, sunny days and cool evenings create ideal conditions for aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes.
A northerly latitude gives the Columbia Valley roughly two more hours of sunlight daily during the peak-growing season than California, increasing the region’s ability to ripen fruit.
Winemaking
Yeasts specifically designated for Sémillon were used to initiate the three-week fermentation and release varietal aromas.
Aging
64% of the wine was aged in neutral oak for 1 month and 34% in stainless steel.
