Aromas of black plums, ripe cherries, wood smoke and cocoa. On the
palate, the wine is supple, concentrated, and elegantly structured, with a
luscious core of sweet red and black fruit.
Vineyard Notes
McNary is a cool vineyard site overlooking the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The property is conventionally farmed with Siberian Crested Wheatgrass as a cover crop. Average yields are 4 tons to 7 tons per acre. McNary is a stunning, panoramic site that delivers varieties with modern, new-cru stylings. The vineyard is certified through the new Sustainable WA program.
Production Notes
Aged in 30% new French
Oak for 15 months
Food Pairing Notes
Moroccan lamb couscous, braised short ribs
Other Notes
2020 was a relatively warm year for Washington with a significantly
smaller crop than average. Bud break began in mid-April, well aligned with
historical averages. Bloom was slightly advanced, beginning in the third
week of May. Wind and rain contributed to some shatter at that time.
Late July and early August saw some heat spikes, but, overall, it was a fairly
moderate, even summer. Harvest began the third week of August, about a
week ahead of long-term averages but well aligned with many recent years.
This was followed by a hot beginning of September, which led to feverish
picking of early ripening varieties. While the crop was smaller, the
combination of smaller berries and extended hang time is traditionally a
recipe for high quality wines in Washington. Many growers and
winemakers were excited with the result, noting the dark color of the reds.