Description
From the very first harvest in 1994, the Fries family marveled at the intensely concentrated fruit produced by their Desert Wind Vineyard–fruit perfect for crafting wines with immense structure and aging potential. In 2001, the family introduced Desert Wind wines in order to showcase this exceptional vineyard through its own wine brand. The original lineup consisted of just four offerings–an elegant Semillon and three refined reds, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and their flagship red blend known as Ruah, each with 3-5 years of barrel aging.In 2004, the family built a crush pad and wine production facility in Prosser, Washington, allowing them to process the fruit and age wines in close proximity to their vineyard sites. Three years later, they opened Desert Wind Winery, an immense Santa Fe-inspired destination housing a tasting room, restaurant and luxury overnight accommodations.In recent years, Desert Winds lineup has expanded to include many additional varietals, many of which are available only to wine club members or through the tasting room and website. However, the commitment to producing finely crafted, age-worthy red wines and terroir-driven white wines remains the same.
WINEMAKER NOTES
Our Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel tanks with an averageof 10 days of skin contact. After alcohol and malolactic fermentation, the
wine was aged for 14-16 months, with time on French oak to add additional complexity and enhance mouthfeel. The Cabernet Sauvignon expresses flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, black currant and vanilla. Medium acidity and moderate tannins lead to a silky, but structured finish.
VINEYARD NOTES
The Wahluke Slope is located in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. The site is considered Zone 3, the hottest in the region. Our 480-acre vineyard is
a southern facing block with a two percent slope and shallow, rocky soil. The vines are irrigated with an underground drip system; double catch wires are used to increase air circulation during the growing season. Leaf pulling and cluster thinning are important steps in aiding the ripening of the grapes.
HARVEST NOTES
The 2016 vintage experienced record growth in Washington State. A warm spring started an early growing season, but cooling in the fall allowed extra time for the grapes to hang on the vines and continue to develop. The wines from this vintage show a great deal of structure, color and pronounced fruit notes, particularly those wines from Bordeaux varietals.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Cases produced: 5,000
Appellation: Wahluke Slope, WA
Vineyard sites: Desert Wind Vineyard
Harvested: September-November 2016
Fermentation: Closed top fermentation with circulations twice per day; 10 days of skin
contact.
Maturation: Aged 14-16 months; French oak
Final #s: Alcohol 13.8% – TA 0.63 g/100ml – pH 3.71
UPC: 768154231588
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