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Hard Row to Hoe S & M 2016
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Oar House Club Price:
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calculated automatically
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Double Dip Club Price:
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calculated automatically
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>>>> Dark cherry and savory flavors
>>>> 2016 Vintage
>>>> Blend of Syrah and Malbec
>>>> Perfect balanced acidity
Composed of 50% estate Syrah and 50% estate Malbec and shows beautiful fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry and blueberry with aromas of black pepper, leather and tobacco. These are two grape varietals that excel in the Lake Chelan climate and soils.
Our Glacial Gravels malbec is grown predominately at the top of our hillside vineyard where it is steepest and rockiest. The vines must delve deep to gather moisture and nutrients and the soil helps to create a powerful but elegant wine with good structure.
Also rock-solid, the 2016 Syrah Malbec S & M is a blend of equal parts Syrah and Malbec that was brought up in 20% new French and American oak. Its more ruby color is followed by an intense bouquet of mulled red fruits, cedar, white pepper, and flowery incense. Medium-bodied, savory, nicely textured, and balanced, it's going to keep nicely for 7-8 years as well. -91 points Jeb Dunnuck, (formerly with Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
S & M stands for Syrah (50%) and Malbec (50%) from the Calicoat Vineyard, vinified separately, then blended. The result is a distinctive wine, displaying a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of blackberry, black cherry and blueberry, with scents of crushed black roses, mulberry, cracked pepper and incense. The flavors, as well, are bold, brimming with black and blue fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, French roast and gravelly minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy and velvety, with macerated berries, roasted nuts and touches of leather and mocha, followed by a long, smooth ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points. Rand
Sealey's Review of Washington Wines
LAKE CHELAN AVA INFO
Clear, glacial waters irrigate our vines Lake Chelan is an inland fjord measuring 55 miles long and is part of the North Cascade mountain range in north central Washington State. It is one of Washington's newest AVAs, receiving federal approval in 2009.
Geology:
Its geology differs from the rest of the state in that it was not influenced by the Missoula Floods that happened 20-10,000 years ago. At the time of the floods, Lake Chelan was glaciated and protected from the floods, thus the soils here consist of sandy gravels with an abundance of granite bedrock, mica and quartz of glacial origin. The soil here is also influenced by pumice from nearby volcanic eruptions 12,000 or so years ago, providing an ashy component, unlike other parts of the state.
Lake Effect:
Another distinct element of the Lake Chelan AVA is the 'lake effect'. Lake Chelan acts as a big heat sink that keep the temperatures a little warmer in the winter and therefore protected from some of the killing frosts that can occur in other growing areas and extending the growing season. Cool nights and warm days allow the let the grapes hang for a longer time, without becoming overripe.
Climate:
Our desert-like climate (only 10 inches of rain per year) allows us to regulate the amount of water the vineyards receive through managed drip irrigation. Irrigation water coming from the clear, clean glacial waters of the lake originating in the North Cascades mountains.
Certified Sustainable and Salmon Safe:
Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards is committed to the environment and to protect the water quality of the Lake Chelan watershed. We are the first vineyard in north central Washington to receive Salmon-Safe and LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certification.
VINIFICATION
The grapes for this wine vinified and aged
separately and blended just before bottling. Handpicked at optimal ripeness after a warm
growing season and then hand-sorted at the destemmer. The Malbec grapes were
gently destemmed leaving 100% whole berries. The Syrah was fermented with 20%
whole clusters added to the fermentation bins. Fermentation took place in 1.5-ton
stainless steel fermentation bins with 5 punch downs daily at peak of
fermentation. After fermentation, the grapes were gently pressed, settled
overnight then barreled as separate lots. The wine was aged for 22 months
before being blended, cross-flow filtered and bottled in September 2018.
VARIETALS
50%
Syrah
Estate
Calicoat Vineyard, Lake Chelan
50%
Malbec
Estate
Glacial Gravels, Lake
Chelan
TECHNICAL
INFO
Cases: 300
Harvest
Date:
Sept.
30, 2016 (Syrah)
Oct. 14, 2016 (Malbec)
Brix
at Harvest:
25.2° (Syrah)
24.5° (Malbec)
Alcohol:
14.5%
pH:
3.7
Total
Acidity: 0.60 g/100mL
Barrel
Regime:
10% new American oak
10% new French oak
Winemaker:
Judy Phelps
Vineyard
Manager: Don Phelps
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