2023 Fall RELEASE
2022 CHARDONNAY + 2021 DEAD HOSE + 2021 LONG HAUL + 2021 LITTLE SISTER
We’re welcoming fall with four new Vintages:
2022 CHARDONNAY
Our Chardonnay label is straightforward in name, just like the quality.
In the spring of 2013, we partnered with Leif Olsen from Olsen vineyard and selected a site that would produce world class chardonnay. With its north slope, diverse soils and over 1200 feet of elevation, the site offers a truly dynamic climate perfect for chardonnay.
Past Accolades:
2021 - 90 Wine Enthusiast; 2020 - 91 Wine Enthusiast, 91 Tanzer; 2019 - 91 Jeb Dunnuck, 91 Wine Enthusiast, 90 Wine Advocate; 2018 - 92 Jeb Dunnuck, 91 Wine Advocate, 90 Wine Enthusiast; 2017 - 90 Wine Spectator, 90 Jeb Dunnuck, 90 Tanzer; 2016 - 90 Wine Spectator, 90 Wine Enthusiast
2021 DEAD HORSE
DEAD HORSE is one of our two original labels that began in 1999. Our first vintage was sourced from Ciel du Cheval, which translates to Horse in the Sky or Horse Heaven. The name just seemed extremely appropriate to Mark (although not everyone agreed in the early days, it's worked out pretty well).
Washington’s finest cabernet sauvignon sites provide the fruit for the 2021 Dead Horse. The foundation of the blend is our custom planting at Quintessence vineyard, which produces exceptional fruit of incredible purity, intensity, and depth. Fruit from Ciel du Cheval and Henry Earl vineyards complete the wine. While the composition is primarily cabernet sauvignon, small amounts of merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot were used to add depth and complexity to the finished wine.
Past Accolades:
2020 – 93+ Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Vinous; 2019 – 94+ Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Tanzer; 2018 – 95 Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Wine Advocate; 2017 – 95 Decanter, 93 Wine Spectator, 93+ Jeb Dunnuck; 2016 – 94 Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Decanter, 93 Wine Advocate, 93 Wine Spectator
2021 LONG HAUL
Vineyards and Eastern Washington farmland were long distances from our early production facilities and homes – Mark knew this from the start of his winemaking career, but his commitment to the best fruit was unwavering. Hence our LONG HAUL label that’s been here since 1999 – homage to the many long treks made for pursuit of best.
Long Haul is composed primarily of merlot from Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun vineyards on Red Mountain combined with merlot from Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun are two of the oldest vineyards on Red Mountain. These older vines produce small clusters with intensely flavored berries. Seventy miles to the west of Red Mountain, the vines at Red Willow have an average age of 25 years and are planted on ancient soils above the deposition of the Missoula floods. Red Willow merlot offers a savory aromatic profile with complex depth and power on the palate.
Past Accolades:
2020 – 90 Wine Enthusiast, 91+ Vinous; 2019 – 94 Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Wine Enthusiast; 2018 – 93 Wine Enthusiast; 92 Jeb Dunnuck; 2017 – 93 JS; 92 Wine Enthusiast; 2016 – 93 Jeb Dunnuck; 92 Wine Advocate
2021 LITTLE SISTER
We love Washington merlot and felt the time had come in 2015 to add a tiny production, superior-quality merlot label to our lineup – enter LITTLE SISTER. Mark has three beloved sisters, who he definitely tells this wine was named after. It’s worth nothing Queens of The Stone Age is also definitely one of his favorite bands… This reserve merlot scores high, sells out fast, and we look forward to making it every vintage.
The merlot for Little Sister is a combination to two premium vineyards: Quintessence on Red Mountain and Red Willow in the upper Yakima Valley. The merlot from Quintessence was planted in 2011, on a south facing slope, in soils predominately consisting of fractured basalt and gravel with a light dusting of fine Loess. The merlot from Red Willow was planted in 1993 on a steep westerly facing slope, in soils that combine 16”-20” of gravel mixed with calcareous clay over volcanic pumice. A small amount of petit verdot from Quintessence vineyard is added to the wine and contributes subtle floral and spice notes to the blend.
Past Accolades:
2021 – 95 VinePair; 2020 – 92 Wine Enthusiast; 2019 – 93 Wine Enthusiast, 91 Tanzer; 2018 – 94 Wine Enthusiast, 93 Wine Advocate; 2017 – 94 Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Wine Enthusiast; 2016 – 94 Jeb Dunnuck