Canadian-born winemaker Kendall Mix began this project while still a part of Chateau Ste. Michelle’s red wine team — long before his time at Corliss Estates in Walla Walla. Last year, the current winemaker at Goose Ridge began to release these wines. He created this from vineyards in three AVAs, Alder Ridge (42%), Sundance (34%) and Kiona (24%), barrel-aged it for 20 months, then bottled it June 6, 2003. There’s the classic bottle bouquet one would expect – dried red cherries, currants, saddle leather, pencil shavings and black olive — yet there’s a remarkable amount of fruit on the palate. Think of a black cherry Pop-Tart, backed with huckleberry and cocoa powder. Its medium structure features delicious acidity and fine-grained tannins, and the appreciation grows with each sip as the finish of cinnamon and vanilla builds. These are available through Compass Wines in Anacortes, Impulse Wines and Full Pull Wines in Seattle, Yoke’s Fresh Market near Mix’s home in Richland and his winery website.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 180 cases
Alcohol: 14.1%
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