World renowned. Washington grown.
2002 Grand Estates Merlot
Tasting Notes
“ This complex, fruit-forward wine off ers hints of spice, blackberry and cocoa aromatics. Velvety soft in the mouth with a fruity, seductive cocoa fi nish.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- The growing season began with cool weather that modestly delayed bud break and fruit set.
- Consistent and ideal weather conditions from mid-summer to early fall, with daytime to nighttime swings spanning as much as 40 degrees, were perfect for fruit maturation.
- Grape clusters were compact with large, fully mature berries.
- Fruit quality was excellent, marking the 5th consecutive quality vintage.
Vineyards
- The Grand Estates Merlot is harvested from vineyards located predominantly on the Horse Heaven Hills (texture and body) and the Wahluke Slope (aromatics and complexity).
- Columbia Valley vineyards are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- Just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall reach the growing region annually. Vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.
- The soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.
- Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes.
Vinification
- The grapes were crushed with 10% whole berries remaining.
- Grapes fermented on skins for three days with stainless steel and open top fermenters used to extract softness, complexity and color.
- Malolactic fermentation occurred in the barrel where the wine aged 14 months.
- The oak regime featured one- to three-year-old French (60%) and American (40%) barrels.
- Cabernet Franc (1%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) contributed softness and further fruit dimension to the fi nal blend.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.51 g/100ml
- pH: 3.65
- Alcohol: 13.9%
- Blend: 77% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc