World renowned. Washington grown.
2003 Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet
Excellent Value -Northwest Palate
Tasting Notes
“Generous blackberry, black cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors unfold from the glass. This is a luscious, expressive wine with a soft, appealing finish.”
-Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- Vintage 2003 began with a typical bud break in early April.
- Bloom followed in early June. Warm, dry weather conditions during this phase (the start of fruit maturation) contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation at the end of the season.
- High heat accumulation during late summer created excellent ripening conditions.
- Very modest precipitation in August and September cooled the vineyards and slowed the ripening process.
- At harvest, vineyards across the Columbia Valley had excellent physiological maturity and flavor development across varietals.
Vineyards
- 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
- Grapes were destemmed, crushed and inoculated to begin fermentation.
- Fermentation lasted six days on the skins.
- Aging in older French and American oak barrels lasted 12-14 months, depending on the lot.
- The master blend features the expressions of three varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.57 g/100ml
- pH: 3.63
- Alcohol: 13.5%