2021 Estate Grande Cuvee

TASTING NOTES

Grande Cuvée expresses the true essence and soul of our terroir.  Each vintage captures the unparalleled beauty of our familiy-owned mountainside vineyards, which are meticulously farmed to organic standards.  There is an immediate power and generosity to this wine which is seamlessly balanced by sustained freshness.  Through the art of the blend, we strive to craft a wine of elegance and finesse and demonstrate our terroir.

WINEMAKER NOTES

The 2021 growing season was characterized by dry conditions and extreme heat. Early budburst was followed by drier-than-average spring and summer. Favorable conditions at flowering resulted in good berry set. A one-in-a-thousand year heat wave across the Pacific Northwest from late June to early July significantly impacted early berry development, resulting in small, concentrated berries. Reduced solar radiation on the valley floor in July and early August resulted in delayed veraison. Conditions were optimal for the development of berry color, flavour, and tannin.

VINEYARD NOTES

This wine comes from two historic vineyards located on the Black Sage Bench and Golden Mile Bench. Our vineyards on the Black Sage Bench are steeply sloped, and Southwestern-facing, receiving complete exposure to the sun, yet enjoying a more gradual growing season due to its higher elevation, producing richly concentrated and aromatic wines. Our Kobau vineyard on the Golden Mile produces exceptional wines that balance ripeness with fresh acidity. The unique minerality in the wines grown from this vineyard are due to its complex, gravelly soils paired with early morning sunshine and afternoon shade cast by Mount Kobau.

Wine Specs

Vintage: 2021
Acid: 5.27 g/L
pH: 3.7
Residual Sugar: 0.63 g/L
Alcohol: 15.54%
Harvest Date: September 14, 2021 - October 19, 2021
Bottling Date: May 1, 2023
Maturation: 40% new French oak for 18 months
Aging Potential: 
Varieties: Merlot 59%, Cabernet Franc 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 11%, Syrah 7% and Malbec 3%