World renowned. Washington grown.
2002 Grand Estates Shiraz
90 pts & #1, Top 100 Best Buys - Wine Enthusiast
100 Top Values of the Year - Wine & Spirits
Tasting Notes
“ White pepper, strawberry and freshly plucked rose petals meld with exotic spice notes to create a complex, balanced wine with a full mouthfeel and supple finish.”
-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 Shiraz is harvested predominantly from select vineyards located on the Horse Heaven Hills (balance and complexity), Wahluke Slope (texture and body), and Yakima Valley (aromatics).
- 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.
Winemaking
- Grapes were destemmed and crushed with 10% whole berries remaining.
- Fermentation on the skins lasted six days with a twice-daily pumpover regime to gently extract color, aromas and flavors.
- The wine aged for 12 to 14 months in French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels. The blend includes Viognier and Grenache to create depth and nuance to the finished wine.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.61 g/100ml
- pH: 3.76
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Blend: 93% Shiraz, 4% Viognier, 3% Grenache