Former drafting instructor Ron Helbig makes his wines at Carlton Cellars in Oregon, which is more than 200 miles from his primary vineyards in Washington — namely Crawford in the Yakima Valley and the Elerding site in the Horse Heaven Hills. There’s a hedonistic side to his 2012 edition of Grenache, which opens with aromas of lilac and violets as well as cherry juice, grape Kool-Aid and blueberry taffy. On the pour, the cherry theme picks up flavors of high-acid fruits such as red currant and pomegranate, backed by plum skins and warmth of alcohol and cracked black pepper.
Rating: Recommended
Production: 50 cases
Alcohol: 15.7%
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