2008 Firehouse Red

Case Production

15,000 Cases

Blend Vineyard Sources

• 37% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 19% Horse Heaven Hills (HHH),
  • 10% Columbia Valley (CV)
  • 4% Red Mountain (RM)
  • 3% Walla Walla Valley (WWV)
  • 1% Wahluke Slope (WS)
• 30% Syrah
  • 20% CV
  • 6% HHH
  • 4% WS
• 16% Merlot
  • 6% CV
  • 5% RM
  • 3% HHH
  • 1% WWV
  • 1% Rattlesnake Hills (RH)
• 7% Cabernet Franc
  • 5% HH
  • 2% WWV
• 3% Malbec: HHH & CV
• 3% Sangiovese: WWV & CV
• 3% Petit Verdot: WWV, HHH & CV
• 1% Carmenere: WWV

Analysis

• pH - 3.74
• Total Acidity - 0.60
• Alcohol - 13.90

Cooperage

The wine is on 40% new oak barrels, mostly French and American oak with a compliment of Eastern European oak for 16 months.

Winemaking

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

Vintage

Similar to the 2007 vintage, hot conditions in late spring and early summer were offset by cooler night time temperatures all summer and cooler temperature closer to maturity which helped maintain high natural acidity levels that balanced flavors.

Tasting Notes

Tastes like really, really good red wine. Which varietal is lending which notes? Who cares? Rounded, lush, layered and lovely, the ultimate food wine, pairing well with everything from pasta and pizza to grilled meat and roasted chicken. Bright raspberry, currant, mocha, a touch of pepper spice, soft tannins and a lingering finish... year in and year out, like partying with an old friend.