Dark red color. Dark fruit, cherry liqueur, pepper hints and subtle oak add layers of complexity. The flavors are ripe and fleshy, the fruit pops and rich tasty tannins add length to the finish.
2016 was a warm vintage in Washington State. The high heat units pushed forward harvest and many white grapes were picked in late August, a week or two ahead of average. In the spring, we had lots of wet weather that helped with the early season growth. The sun was out and shining through Summer, but temperatures never got over 100 degrees. There was some smoke in the air but instead of causing problems it helped mitigate some of the heat. The steady warm season was very consistent, without extreme highs the grapes ripened without being stressed. It was a great vintage.
Graciano dominates this blend. The Tempranillo and Grenache help round it out. One of my favorite things about working at Coyote Canyon is getting to play with all these different varietals. The 2016 was hot and our Graciano was very tasty. It led the groundwork for this wine. It is big and chewy with earthy herbal notes. The Tempranillo is more acidic with bright fruit notes. A touch of Grenache just added a little more complexity to the finish and brightened the wine a little more.
