Merlot

available

Wine Details

Release Info: September 2, 2009

Vineyards:
• Tapteil Vineyard
 (Red Mountain)
• Wallula Vineyard
 (Columbia Valley)
• Weinbau ~ Sagemoor
 (Wahluke Slope)
• DuBrul Vineyard
 (Rattlesnake Hills)
• Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
 (Red Mountain)
• Dionysus ~ Sagemoor
 (Columbia Valley)

Blend:
• 81% Merlot
• 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 7% Cabernet Franc

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.

Acidity & PH: pH 3.56 & Total Acidity 0.61

Alcohol: 14.48%

Cases: 1036 Cases

Prices: $28/bottle   $302.4/case

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

Roasted coffee beans and cherry cola aromas.  On the palate, bright ripe fruits abound.  Sweet plum, cherry and blackberry pie come to mind, layered with vanilla, milk chocolate, and rich, velvety tannins.