• Alcohol:
• 14.2 Percent
• Acidity:
• 6.1 grams per liter
• pH:
• 3.40
• Residual Sugar:
• 1g/liter
• Cases Produced:
• 100
• Blend:
• 41% Merlot
• 24% Cabernet Franc
• 21% Syrah
• 14% Cabernat Sauvignon

The Vintage

Excellent growing conditions prevailed throughout Washington State in 2008. North Central Washington's dry spring, dry-warm summer and long extended dry fall resulted in perfectly ripened grapes. Our 2008 fruit was harvested fully ripened resulting in grapes possessing rich flavors and aromas being delivered to the winery.

The Vineyards

The 2008 Caris blend is a fabulous blend from three stellar vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit was picked from the second oldest vineyard in Washington State namely, the Rivers Bend vineyard. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc were picked from the new Lake Chelan appellation DuLia vineyard. The Syrah was harvested from the Lake Chelan AVA Harding vineyard. The flavors and aromas found in the Cabernet Sauvignon wines made from the Rivers Bend vineyard are that of ripe blackberry and black cherries. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Dulia vineyard always provides beautiful – elegant black cherry flavors and aromas along with great structure. The Harding Syrah vineyard produces wines possessing ripe purple plum and raisined cranberry notes along with generous acidity.

The Winemaking

All fruit was hand picked and sorted again by hand once delivered to our winery crush pad. The fruit was destemmed and gently crushed with 15 - 20% whole berries. The yeast strains Pasteur Red and Pris de Mousse were used to conduct the primary fermentations. Skin contact ranged from 9 to 12 days prior to the tanks being drained and the pomace gently pressed. The young wines were permitted to settle two to three days before being racked into French and Hungarian oak barrels. The malo – lactic fermentation was permitted to finish fully during the 22 months of barrel aging. This wine was filtered at bottling to eliminate "crust" formation (sediment).

The Wine

A pretty purple – red color is present with this wine. Notes of ripe blackberries, cherries and plums accompany toasty oak and vanilla flavors and aromas. The structure tends towards a medium – plus wine. The acids and tannins are firm and fine grained providing extra cellar potential. Match this fine red wine with grilled red meats as well as grilled poultry or vegetarian entrees where spicy - tomato based sauces are used. You may cellar this wine six to ten years. Prior to serving I would highly recommend decanting this wine from now through late 2012. This will enable to wine to blossom more quickly.