Harvest is in! 2018 Frozen Grape Must and Juice!
The Beautiful Red Mountain AVA of Washington
We’re offering our first Vin Gris of Grenache Noir.
We’re proud to offer our first Vin Gris this harvest. The Grenache Noir grapes (Tablas Creek Clone) were picked early to preserve freshness and acidity and then put immediately in the press to produce a delicate, lightly-colored juice. What separates the vin gris method from the traditional rosé method? There is practically zero maceration time.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Red Mountain, Washington
Brix: 26.5, pH:3.62, TA: .54
Harvested September 12th, 2018
Our Merlot vines were planted in 1991, ten years before Red Mountain became an AVA, making them some of the oldest vines on the mountain. They’re located in the heart of the AVA , right off Sunset Road between the historic Kiona Estate and the famed Ciel du Cheval wineries.
“The Red Mountain AVA is located on a southwest-facing slope in south central Washington, a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle or Portland. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), this is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly-valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. ” – Red Mountain Alliance
Red Mountain is famed for its powerful, tannic red wines of immense concentration. The grapes are the most sought after (expensive) fruit in the entire state and have produced three of the only wines to ever receive a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine advocate.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Red Mountain, Washington
Brix: 26.3, pH:3.56, TA: .57
Harvested September 26th, 2018
Our Cabernet Franc is self rooted Clone 1, planted 6’ x 4’ spacing (1815 vines/acre) and the rows are oriented 20 degrees NNE-SSW to optimize light exposure throughout the day. The planting is so dense (a la Bordeaux) the vineyard had to buy a special tractor to fit between the rows. They’re located in the heart of the AVA , right off Sunset Road between the historic Kiona Estate and the famed Ciel du Cheval wineries.
“The Red Mountain AVA is located on a southwest-facing slope in south central Washington, a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle or Portland. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), this is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. ” – Red Mountain Alliance
Red Mountain is famed for its powerful, tannic red wines of immense concentration. The grapes are the most sought after (expensive) fruit in the entire state and have produced three of the only wines to ever receive a perfect 100–point score from Robert Parker’s Wine advocate.
Do You love Right Bank Bordeaux?
Do you love Red mountain? We’ve got you covered with Merlot and Cabernet Franc coming from Washington’s most esteemed AVA.
“The Red Mountain AVA is located on a southwest-facing slope in south central Washington, a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), this is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. ” – Red Mountain Alliance
What is that orange stuff all the hipsters are drinking?
Meet orange wine, the darling of millennials. But don’t be afraid, orange wine is just white wine that had longer than usual skin contact time prior to pressing, giving the wine an orangish-brown color and increased tannin and phenolics. Winemakers have been doing this a long time.
We may still have some 2018 if you ask, but we definitely have some 2019!
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE 2018 FROZEN GRAPE MUST AND JUICE:
Each pail includes 4.25 gallons of grape must (selection further below).
Notice: For the lowest shipping rates available, we recommend purchasing 4.25 gallon pails separately from 5 gallon pails.
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Brix: 27.5, pH:3.37, TA: 5.7 g/L (full lab analysis below)
Harvested October 6th , 2021
The Walla Walla Valley straddles southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. Walla Walla translates to “many waters” in reference to the land’s proximity to the Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers. Rain is a seldom occurrence here and the area only receives about 15 inches of annual rainfall. Like the rest of the Columbia Valley, the landscapes and soils of Walla Walla were largely shaped by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods which swept through at the end of the last Ice Age. The Walla Walla Silt Soil left behind is a well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood slackwater deposits and fractured basalt.
Our grapes come from a vineyard on the foot of the Blue Mountains grown at 1300 feet elevation. The vines are clone 01A, planted to 8×4 spacing in 100% Walla Walla Silt Loam. Clone 01A produces smaller berries that are ideal for a wine with darker color and concentrated flavor.
Each pail includes 5 gallons or 4.25 gallons of grape must (selection further below).
Notice: For the lowest shipping rates available, we recommend purchasing 4.25 gallon pails separately from 5 gallon pails.
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Old Vine Block BT4
Brix: 28.1 , pH: 3.63 , TA: 4.3 g/L (full lab analysis below)
Harvested October 6th , 2021
The Walla Walla Valley straddles southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. Walla Walla translates to “many waters” in reference to the land’s proximity to the Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers. Rain is a seldom occurrence here and the area only receives about 15 inches of annual rainfall. Like the rest of the Columbia Valley, the landscapes and soils of Walla Walla were largely shaped by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods which swept through at the end of the last Ice Age. The Walla Walla Silt Soil left behind is a well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood slackwater deposits and fractured basalt.
Our grapes come from a vineyard on the foot of the Blue Mountains grown at 1300 feet elevation. The vines are 40 years old, and consist of clones 2, 4, 6, 8, 21, & 24 planted to 8×4 spacing in 100% Walla Walla Silt Loam.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rattlesnake Hills, Washington
Brix: 24.6, pH:3.36, TA: .54
Harvested October 11th, 2018
The Rattlesnake Hills AVA lies within the larger Yakima Valley AVA, which itself lies inside the much larger Columbia Valley AVA. The Rattlesnake Hills averages 2700 degree days a year which is 500 degree days more than the rest of the Yakima Valley to the west and 100 degree days less than Red Mountain to the East (Bordeaux gets roughly 2500 degree days and Napa gets 2900 degree days). Nighttime temps drop 40+ degrees during the growing season; preserving acidity and freshness. Rain is a seldom occurrence here with the area receiving just 7-10 inches of rain per year.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Walla Walla Valley, Washington
Brix: 28.1, pH:3.47, TA: .66
Harvested September 26th, 2018
The Walla Walla Valley straddles southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. Walla Walla translates to “many waters” in reference to the land’s proximity to the Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers. Rain is a seldom occurrence here and the area only receives about 15 inches of annual rainfall. Like the rest of the Columbia Valley, the landscapes and soils of Walla Walla were largely shaped by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods which swept through at the end of the last Ice Age. The Walla Walla Silt Soil left behind is a well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood slackwater deposits and fractured basalt.
The Syrah grape is quickly gaining reputation as the highest expression of the vineyards of Walla Walla. The thick-skinned grape handles the hot days, cold nights, and long growing season with ease. The wines are noted for being less fruity and ripe than their California counterparts and showcasing a distinctly savory profile that focuses on smokey, sanguine, and herbal notes with bright acidity.
Our grapes come from a vineyard on the foot of the Blue Mountains grown at 1300 feet elevation. The vines are 10 year old Joseph Phelp clones planted to 8×4 spacing in 100% Walla Walla Silt Loam.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Lodi, California
Brix: 23.6, pH:3.75, TA: .75
Harvested October 9th, 2018
Old Vine Zinfandel
Our 2017 Lodi Zin won Best of Class-Double Gold at the California State Fair!
We jumped at the opportunity to source Zinfandel from one of the best growers in the AVA, The Van Ruiten Family Winery. Known for growing great Zinfandel, the Van Ruitens have carefully tended their vineyards since the 1950s to produce Zinfandel with rich fruit flavors.
The Old Vine Zinfandel (Costamanga Clone) was planted in 1972 and wines from this vineyard usually express those rustic old vine flavors of dried plum, sage, and star anise. The Costamanga Clone is known for its relatively small and flavorful berries compared to other Zinfandel variants. These small berries with concentrated flavors have a tendency to produce wines that are well-structured.
The Delta breeze cools the region at night and hot days allow for easy ripening, leading to an extracted, fully-ripe style of Zin that can only come from one place.
Lodi is the self proclaimed “Zinfandel Capitol of the World” and was recently name Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Lodi, California
Brix: 22.4, pH:3.76, TA: .57
Harvested October 9th, 2018
Ancient Vine
These ancient vines have remained in production since being planted in 1906 (15 years before prohibition!). There are only a handful of older plantings in the entire United States. The property was acquired by the Van Ruiten family in the 1980’s with an agreement that the vines not be ripped out to make way for the expanding housing developments. The Van Ruitens are third-generation Lodi grape growers and one of the top wine destinations in Lodi.
Carignan is most prominent in the warm climates of Southern France and Northern Spain, where it also goes by the names Carinena and Mazuelo. Carignan usually displays medium tannin, medium alcohol, and medium acidity; making it a very a well-balanced wine ideally suited for food pairings.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Livermore Valley, California
Brix: 23.2, pH:3.32, TA: .75
Harvested November 1st, 2018
Clone F9 on Rootstock 420A
This vineyard site in the historic Southwestern corner of the Livermore Valley was part of the original Ruby Hill Winery planted in 1885 by John Crellin. The vineyard and winery remained operational through a series of owners and even through prohibition. More recently the vineyard was leased and managed by Wente who replanted it to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese in 2000.
The vines are thriving in the valley’s well draining sandy loam soil, and wines from this vineyard typically express spice and earth complimented by tannin and rich fruit on the nose. The F9 Clone was developed at the University of Florence with cuttings from Tuscany and is known t produce deeply colored and well-balanced wines.
The climate of the Livermore Valley is almost exactly the same as that of the St. Helena and Calistoga in the Northern Napa Valley. Morning fog, cold nights, and winds coming off the Bay temper the hot days and allow the grapes to preserve acidity while still achieving ripeness.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rattlesnake Hills, Washington
Brix: 25, pH:3.15, TA: .81
Harvested November 2nd, 2018
“Petite Verdot is the most startling discovery of what’s going on in Washington state today…Dense, highly pigmented, wonderful color, black-purple in the glass with a penetration of fruit flavor. It’s pretty incredible”. – Bob Betz, Master of Wine
The Rattlesnake Hills AVA contains the ideal growing environment for thick-skinned, late-ripening reds like Petite Verdot. The AVA lies within the larger Yakima Valley AVA, which itself lies inside the much larger Columbia Valley AVA. The Rattlesnake Hills averages 2700 degree days a year which is 500 degree days more than the rest of the Yakima Valley to the west and 100 degree days less than Red Mountain to the East (Bordeaux gets roughly 2500 degree days and Napa gets 2900 degree days). Nighttime temps drop 40+ degrees during the growing season, preserving acidity and freshness. Rain is a seldom occurrence here with the area receiving just 7-10 inches of rain per year.
The Petite Verdot vines are planted in the Harwood-Burke-Wiehl series silt loams that distinguish the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. These soils are a combination of wind-deposited ancient or sedimentary alluvials and decomposed basalt over a lime-silica hard pan. This combination provides both exceptional drainage and ideal soil alkalinity for growing Vinifera.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Chehalem Mountains, Oregon
Brix: 24.7, pH:3.57, TA: .78
Harvested September 25th, 2018
“Oregon’s specialty is Pinot Noir, a delicate and temperamental grape considered by many to make the most sensual red wine in the world”. – Karen MacNeil, The Wine Bible
Like Burgundy in France, the Willlamette Valley in Oregon is located on the 45th parallel. Both areas experience approximately the same number of degree days and an average rainfall of around 40 inches a year. Unlike Burgundy, however, Oregon receives almost all of its precipitation during the winter. This reduces the disease pressure Oregon growers face and also extends the growing season.
“From Parrett Mountain to the south, and running northwest across Bald Peak and Ribbon Ridge, the Chehalem Mountains were formed by uplifted sedimentary seabeds, lava flows, and wind-blown silt to create the highest elevations and most diverse soils in wine country. These distinctions make our winegrowing region famous for rich, elegant and complex wines including benchmark pinot noir.”
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Red Mountain, Washington
Brix: 26.5, pH:3.62, TA: .54
Harvested September 12th, 2018
Our Merlot vines were planted in 1991, ten years before Red Mountain became an AVA, making them some of the oldest vines on the mountain. They’re located in the heart of the AVA , right off Sunset Road between the historic Kiona Estate and the famed Ciel du Cheval wineries.
“The Red Mountain AVA is located on a southwest-facing slope in south central Washington, a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle or Portland. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), this is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly-valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. ” – Red Mountain Alliance
Red Mountain is famed for its powerful, tannic red wines of immense concentration. The grapes are the most sought after (expensive) fruit in the entire state and have produced three of the only wines to ever receive a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine advocate.
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Red Mountain, Washington
Brix: 24.3, pH: 3.72, TA: 3.8 g/L
Full ETS Juice Panel in pictures
Harvested October 22nd, 2022
“The Red Mountain AVA is located on a southwest-facing slope in south central Washington, a three and one-half hour drive from Seattle or Portland. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), this is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. ” – Red Mountain Alliance
Red Mountain is famed for its powerful, tannic red wines of immense concentration. The grapes are the most sought after (expensive) fruit in the entire state and have produced three of the only wines to ever receive a perfect 100–point score from Robert Parker’s Wine advocate.