Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world’s top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.

Tasting Notes: Expressive aromas of wild berry and black currant combine with elegant oak spice to reveal a wine with dense texture and refined structure.  Hints of espresso and chocolate on entry are complimented by an earthy spiciness that persists across the mid-palate and throughout a lengthy finish.  A balanced wine with vibrant, beautifully integrated flavors.

Vintage:  The 2011 Pedestal offers the ripe fruit character of previous vintages, with an elegance that reflects the growing season.  Credit a cool spring, moderate summer and warm September for producing a wine not only enjoyable in its youth but also one that makes a fine candidate for aging.  The temperate spring and summer conditions that defined most of the season developed fresh, intense black fruit character in the grapes.  September’s warm days allowed the fruit to reach maturity and finish ripening perfectly.  Cool fall evenings offset the warm days to preserve acidity and ripe tannins, giving the wine excellent structure.

Winemaking:  Hand-harvested grapes were double-sorted to remove green material that might impart harsh tannins, then most of the lots were cold soaked to build richness and flavor before undergoing whole-berry fermentation in 55L upright French wood tanks.  This, combined with gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation, enhanced the wine’s color, texture and mouthfeel.  The finished wine was aged 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels.

Vineyards:  Weinbau, Conner Lee and Dionysus Vineyards all contributed to the 2011 Pedestal’s rich, dark fruit and wild berry character.  Candy Mountain added structure and dimension.  Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain’s Tapteil Vineyard contributed to the wine’s bold flavors, richness and structure.  Dionysus Petit Verdot gives the wine its vibrant character.

Blend:                                                                                                                     Alcohol:   14.9%   

87% Merlot                                                                                                                      pH:     3.72

 9% Cabernet Sauvignon                                                                                                    TA:  0.54

 4% Petit Verdot                                                                                         Release date:  Fall 2013

                                                                                                                   Production:  1,041 cases