Growing Conditions
- Anna Marie Estate Vineyard
- Watermill Estate Vineyard
- Funk Vineyard
The 2017 vintage started out with a cool, wet winter, with significantly above average snowfall in
eastern Washington. Going into spring, the cool trend continued. As a result, bud break in 2017 was
behind historical averages and significantly behind the most recent warm vintages of 2013-2015.
Bloom was also slightly delayed. The early part of summer saw average temperatures in the Columbia
Valley followed by above average temperatures in July and August. As a result, heat accumulation was
a bit above average for the season, despite the cool start. Harvest began right on schedule, perhaps
even a bit early, in late August. In the second half of September, temperatures cooled considerably,
which delayed ripening. “Things just kind of stalled,” one winemaker said. This allowed for luxurious
amounts of hang time without the threat of increased sugar accumulation, stretching harvest into the
first week of November. As a result, winemakers report that sugars were slightly down in 2017
whereas acid levels were up. Overall, quality is reported to be high.
Winemaking
All Watermill wines are hand-picked late in seasons for maximum ripeness. They are then gently pressed in small volumes and undergo inoculated fermentation in 1 to 1.5 ton small lot fermenters. The wine sits on the skins for more than two weeks where it undergoes additional maceration through punch downs and pump overs for color and tannin integration before being transferred to barrel. All reds age for between 12 and 16 months in a combination of new and neutral medium toast French and American oak before bottling.
Aging
20 months 25% New French Oak, 75% Neutral French Oak
Appearance
Primary flavors of bright red raspberry fruit with a hint of olive tapenade, this easy drinking red shows just a hint of savory spice from the 20% Rocks District fruit in the blend. Balanced and pleasing it is an easy sipper to be enjoyed any day of the week.
