2007 Merlot

Case Production

1400 cases bottled September 02, 2008

Blend and Vineyard Sources

• 81% Merlot:
  
  • 26% Tapteil Vineyard ~Red Mountain
  • 23% Wallula Vineyard ~ Columbia Valley
  • 20%Weinbau (Sagemoor) ~ Wahluke Slope
  •   6% DuBrul Vineyard ~ Rattlesnake Hills
  •   6% Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ~ Red Mountain
  •   3% Dionysus (Sagemoor) ~ Columbia Valley
• 11% Cabernet Sauvignon:  Wallula Vineyard
•   7%   Cabernet Franc:  Weinbau (Sagemoor)

Analysis

• pH – 3.56   
• Total Acidity – 0.61       
• Alcohol – 14.48

Cooperage

60% new oak, the majority of which is American oak with the remaining mostly French oak and some Hungarian oak, all chosen from select coopers and a wide variety of forests.  The wine was on oak for 12 months.

Winemaking

Crushed gently and dropped by gravity into 1.5 ton bins, cold soaked 48 hours minimum, then inoculated with a variety of yeasts, hand-punched and pressed directly to barrel where the wine finishes both primary and secondary fermentations.

Vintage

The arrival of hot conditions in late spring and early summer was offset by cooler temperatures closer to maturity which helped maintain high natural acidity, balance flavors and allow for extended hang time.

Tasting Notes

Huckleberry, black currant and cherry pipe tobacco entice the nose while flavors of chocolate, raspberry, black cherry and bright acidity coat your tongue.  This wine is heavily Red Mountain influenced – a great Merlot for Cab lovers.