2005 Columbia Valley Cedarosa
Released November 23rd, 2007
Price $26.00

• Fruit: 55% Merlot/ 45% Cabernet Franc
• Appellation (AVA): Columbia Valley
• Vineyards: Cabernet Franc: Weinbau Vineyard 100%; Merlot: Conner Lee Vineyard - 60%, Wallula Vineyard - 40%
• Vinification: Small lot, open top fermenter. Pressed to barrel after 10 days of maceration.
• Aging: 14 months in 100% French oak barrels. 40% new barrels.
• Wine notes: This is the second release of our reserve blend "Cedarosa". Comprised of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this blend is mad in the style of the wines of St. Emillon on the "Right Bank" in Bordeaux. The name is a contraction of the words "Cedar" and "Ponderosa" and is inspired by the cedar trees which are a feature of the estates in Bordeaux, metaphorically representing the nobility, longevity, and strength of the local wines. This wine exhibits notes of blackberry, currant, cassis and licorice. The 2005 wintage gave us the most ripe and supple tannin structure that I have yet seen. Cabernet Franc adds some structure to the finish. More tannin ripeness means that, while this wine should greatly reward a year or two of celaring I would tend to enjoy these extraordinary 2005 reds in the next four or five years.
• Production: 225 cases