Nose

Complex aromatics of raspberry, cherry, lychee fruit, iron, and pipe tobacco linger in the nose. Hints of jasmine and violets also add to its complexity.

Palate

On the palate the layered wine exhibits a creamy rich mouthfeel with smooth tannins.

Growing Conditions

The 2017 growing season had its ups and downs. We started with a cool wet spring that pushed bud break back a few weeks. Luckily the summer was hot giving the vines a chance to catch up. Walla Walla ended up with a nice long growing season. The fruit was of high quality and the growing season had slightly above average temperatures making for optimal wines.

**Elevation Estate Vineyard:**
is located along the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. Its location coupled with 1500 to 1700 ft elevation makes this a relatively temperate site in comparison to the rest of the valley. The vineyard is steep and south facing which allows for optimum sun exposure. The soil consists of silt and fractured basalt, requiring jackhammers to drill the holes for planting and resulting in the vineyard producing 1-1.5 tons/acre of beautifully concentrated fruit.

**Riviere Galets Estate Vineyard:**
This vineyard is situated in the Walla Walla Valley on an ancient dried up riverbed. Round stones litter the subsoil and surface, absorbing heat during the day and radiating it out during the night. This creates ripe concentrated fruit that makes for wonderfully complex wines.

**Whistling Hills Estate Vineyard:**
This vineyard wraps around our beautiful winery. The vines are nestled in deep windblown loess soil. The vines roots reach deep down into the soil unimpeded to make elegantly balanced wines. Our vines are planted at 23 degrees off North to allow for perfect sun exposure.

Winemaking

Our 2017 Ryans’ Reserve underwent fermentation in open top fermenters. During fermentation the wines were pumped over twice daily. Secondary fermentation and aging was undertaken in 60 gallon oak barrels for 21 months before being bottled. Racking was done in the old world soutirage traditionnel (racking the wine without a pump).

Aging

50% New French Oak, 50% Neutral French Oak