Dan and Cindy Marca near Jacksonville, Ore., step up nearly to the 2,000-foot level on their estate to take fruit for their most recent expression of Elevé. They blend Pommard (67%) and clone 777 berries from blocks 7 and 9, all harvested on Sept. 4, and winemaker Brian Denner cold-soaked the lots for seven days. The result is a wine with subtle spice, forest floor and dark cherry aromas, followed by dark cherry, loganberry and chocolate on the palate, closing with crisp acidity and athletic tannins for a long, satisfying finish. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2015. Six months later, it received a double gold medal at the 2016 Cascadia Wine Competition – about five months prior to its release in early August.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 124 cases
Alcohol: 13.4%
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