2017 Pirouette - 1.5L

Philippe Melka, named one of the top nine winemakers in the world by Robert Parker, used small lots from Washington State's finest vineyards to craft this enticing red blend.

A cool, wet spring delayed budbreak by a few weeks, but temperatures warmed nicely for bloom. Conditions moderated in early summer before warming again in July to drive total heat accumulation a bit above average for the season. Harvest began toward the end of August, then temperatures cooled considerably in mid-September to extend hang time and allow the grapes to reach full physiological maturity without spiking sugars. The resulting wines are rich and expressive, displaying excellent acidity and structure that is reflective of the quality of the vintage.

As with previous vintages, hand-harvested grapes underwent a variety of fermentation techniques to build layers of complexity and richness in the final blend. Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in 400L French oak barrels that were gently rolled throughout fermentation to integrate the oak and dark fruit flavors while developing rich, supple tannins. All other varieties were fermented in traditional stainless steel tanks, with select lots enjoying longer skin contact to enhance the wine’s dark color and mid-palate. The finished wine was aged 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new) before bottling, unfiltered and unfined.