Sep 2011
2009 Wine Release
24/09/11 15:58
Our 2009 wines are targeted for release the first week of November, 2011. We have made 5 red wines which will be coming out.
2009 Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Merlot, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Sangiovese, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
2009 Syrah, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
2009 was a tremendously exciting vintage for us. This was the first year for us producing wine from our vineyard sources, Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain and Conner Lee in Columbia Valley. The spring in Washington started out very cool but summer came on like a blast furnace. We had a very hot summer which led to early ripening and very ripe fruits.
Warm temperatures maintained through August and September. The fruit on Red Mountain ripened in it’s typical fashion with great flavors and wonderful natural acidity.
With somewhat amazing luck, we had scheduled picking at Conner Lee of our Merlot and Cabernet Franc for the morning of October 10. The next day, October 11, the growing season was mostly shut down early by an unexpected and sudden hard frost. Fortunately for us, our Cabernet Sauvignon block is almost right under the vineyard’s wind turbines which were used to reduce damage. We picked the Cabernet Sauvignon the following week on October 17 and it came in just fine.
We made it through with great fruit, but it was a close call.
The Kaella wines from this vintage all aged so beautifully in barrel that when it came time to make a blending decision we had a difficult time. I truly love Red Blends - it is what I love to drink - and blending is the artistic craft in the winery which I enjoy the most. But after doing the blending trials, we kept going back to how great the wines stood on their own. In a sense, the wines spoke for themselves and we listened. We decided to bottle as single vineyard, single varietal wines. The wines are all 100% single varietal with the exception of the Syrah, which was cofermented with 3% Viognier.
As an overall style, I believe you will find these wines as medium to medium-heavy bodied, very low tannins, fantastic natural acidity, great wines that are able to be enjoyed on their own as well as with foods. The fruit profiles are big, but at the same time fantastic balance is there with great acidity. These are NOT big new world fruit bombs with tons of extraction and oak. They are much more nuanced with a softer profile, very low tannin and vibrant acidity.
Here’s my tasting notes on the individual wines...
Winemaker Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon from Conner Lee Vineyard tends to be big, bold and plush and that is exactly what you have with this one. Juicy and opulent, dark fruits of black cherry and plum intermixed with cassis, graphite and tones of dried oregano. The palate is sophisticated and silky with a lingering and smooth finish.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.68
TA: .66
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $35
Winemaker Notes
Full of spicy boysenberry and earthiness, this Cabernet Franc has a luscious and complex bouquet of floral, dark fruits and white pepper which evolve in the glass. The finish is smooth with low tannins and great natural acidity. Nicely balanced and well rounded.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 14.3%
pH: 3.70
TA: .68
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $32
Winemaker Notes
A polished and elegant Merlot with a seductive nose of black cherry, raspberry, minerality and celery seed. Super soft and silky mouthfeel with a wonderful long finish. This wine combines great new world fruit forward characteristics with an old low alcohol style, giving you the best of both worlds. With a tremendous backbone of acidity, this Merlot will pair wonderfully with your meals.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 13.2%
pH: 3.69
TA: .69
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Merlot, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $30
Winemaker Notes
Gorgeous dark violet color leads to a deep, dark and complex wine. Harmonious layers of aromas with violets, cassis, dark plum and smoked meats. On the palate the fruit takes center stage with blackberry and plum. No need to be afraid of the 15.6% alcohol, this is a beautifully rounded and balanced wine with soft supple tannins and food friendly acids.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 15.6%
pH: 3.56
TA: .71
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 97% Syrah, cofermented with 3% Viognier, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Price: $35
Winemaker Notes
I believe Ciel du Cheval is growing some of the best Sangiovese in the State. Sourced from the 1984 and 1988 blocks, our Sangiovese delivers traditional notes of sour cherry and orange peel along with typical Red Mountain characteristics of dusty red cinnamon. It’s big and intense yet smooth on the palate.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 15.3%
pH: 3.48
TA: .69
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Sangiovese, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Price: $25
2009 Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Merlot, Conner Lee Vineyard
2009 Sangiovese, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
2009 Syrah, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
About the Vintage
2009 was a tremendously exciting vintage for us. This was the first year for us producing wine from our vineyard sources, Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain and Conner Lee in Columbia Valley. The spring in Washington started out very cool but summer came on like a blast furnace. We had a very hot summer which led to early ripening and very ripe fruits.
Warm temperatures maintained through August and September. The fruit on Red Mountain ripened in it’s typical fashion with great flavors and wonderful natural acidity.
With somewhat amazing luck, we had scheduled picking at Conner Lee of our Merlot and Cabernet Franc for the morning of October 10. The next day, October 11, the growing season was mostly shut down early by an unexpected and sudden hard frost. Fortunately for us, our Cabernet Sauvignon block is almost right under the vineyard’s wind turbines which were used to reduce damage. We picked the Cabernet Sauvignon the following week on October 17 and it came in just fine.
We made it through with great fruit, but it was a close call.
About the Wines
The Kaella wines from this vintage all aged so beautifully in barrel that when it came time to make a blending decision we had a difficult time. I truly love Red Blends - it is what I love to drink - and blending is the artistic craft in the winery which I enjoy the most. But after doing the blending trials, we kept going back to how great the wines stood on their own. In a sense, the wines spoke for themselves and we listened. We decided to bottle as single vineyard, single varietal wines. The wines are all 100% single varietal with the exception of the Syrah, which was cofermented with 3% Viognier.
As an overall style, I believe you will find these wines as medium to medium-heavy bodied, very low tannins, fantastic natural acidity, great wines that are able to be enjoyed on their own as well as with foods. The fruit profiles are big, but at the same time fantastic balance is there with great acidity. These are NOT big new world fruit bombs with tons of extraction and oak. They are much more nuanced with a softer profile, very low tannin and vibrant acidity.
Here’s my tasting notes on the individual wines...
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon from Conner Lee Vineyard tends to be big, bold and plush and that is exactly what you have with this one. Juicy and opulent, dark fruits of black cherry and plum intermixed with cassis, graphite and tones of dried oregano. The palate is sophisticated and silky with a lingering and smooth finish.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.68
TA: .66
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $35
2009 Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
Full of spicy boysenberry and earthiness, this Cabernet Franc has a luscious and complex bouquet of floral, dark fruits and white pepper which evolve in the glass. The finish is smooth with low tannins and great natural acidity. Nicely balanced and well rounded.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 14.3%
pH: 3.70
TA: .68
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $32
2009 Merlot, Conner Lee Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
A polished and elegant Merlot with a seductive nose of black cherry, raspberry, minerality and celery seed. Super soft and silky mouthfeel with a wonderful long finish. This wine combines great new world fruit forward characteristics with an old low alcohol style, giving you the best of both worlds. With a tremendous backbone of acidity, this Merlot will pair wonderfully with your meals.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 13.2%
pH: 3.69
TA: .69
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Merlot, Conner Lee Vineyard
Price: $30
2009 Syrah, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
Gorgeous dark violet color leads to a deep, dark and complex wine. Harmonious layers of aromas with violets, cassis, dark plum and smoked meats. On the palate the fruit takes center stage with blackberry and plum. No need to be afraid of the 15.6% alcohol, this is a beautifully rounded and balanced wine with soft supple tannins and food friendly acids.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 15.6%
pH: 3.56
TA: .71
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 97% Syrah, cofermented with 3% Viognier, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Price: $35
2009 Sangiovese, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Winemaker Notes
I believe Ciel du Cheval is growing some of the best Sangiovese in the State. Sourced from the 1984 and 1988 blocks, our Sangiovese delivers traditional notes of sour cherry and orange peel along with typical Red Mountain characteristics of dusty red cinnamon. It’s big and intense yet smooth on the palate.
Wine Details
Alcohol: 15.3%
pH: 3.48
TA: .69
Bottling Date: July 11, 2011
Composition: 100% Sangiovese, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
Price: $25