Andrew Browne, CEO of Precept Wine in Seattle, has been one of the brightest stars in the Washington wine industry the past 20 years. He ran Corus Brands prior to launching Precept in 2003. Since then, Precept has been on the fast track, with Browne and his crew building a million-case empire. This label pays tribute to Browne’s family, and it is a high-end tier crafted by Walla Walla winemaker John Freeman. He uses grapes from several vineyards, with Elephant Mountain in the Rattlesnake Hills region of the Yakima Valley as the star. The blend leads with Merlot (48%), followed by Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. It opens with aromas of mocha, leather, pomegranate and cardamom. On the palate, it leads with rich flavors of raspberry, cherry and red currant backed with fine-grained tannins and a pretty, juicy finish. This is an opulent, harmonious wine that emphasizes elegance over power.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 3,500 cases
Alcohol: 13.6%
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