Best Buy! Winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca and his team have crafted a superb and affordable red blend that leads with Merlot (63%), Syrah (33%) and Cabernet Franc using grapes primarily from the warm Wahluke Slope and Horse Heaven Hills. Because the bulk of this wine uses early ripening varieties, it was less likely to be affected by an Oct. 10 frost that cut short the end of the ripening period for the 2009 vintage. This opens with aromas of slate, wintergreen mint, white chocolate and blackberry jam, followed by delicious flavors that include Marionberry syrup, plum and blueberry, all backed with moderate tannins and mild acidity.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 100,200
Alcohol: 13.5%
Thanks for the review. This is one of my favorite red wines. The only red I like better at this price is the Maryhill Winemaker’s Red.