2017 Cabernet Franc Rosé

SMELLS LIKE:  ripe mountain strawberry, orange blossom, rose petal

TASTES LIKE:  blood orange, strawberry, sweet rhubarb cobbler, white lily

MOUTHFEEL:  smooth, soft, bright & fresh, sweet lingering finish

DRINK WITH:  friends on the patio, poolside BBQ, hot dogs on the hiking trip

Heat and wildfires tested us, but the result was another solid vintage. The main issue for vintners was a cool and wet spring that pushed bud break back two weeks. We opened our canopies early to allow more sunlight and promote growth. Then early summer was very warm and this accelerated the season and pushed ripening back on track. The weather in Walla Walla was ideal during harvest, with our usual long warm days and wonderfully cool evenings.

Wildfires in central and eastern Washington worried many of the local winemakers. But there are no reports the smoke influenced the fruit in the Walla Walla Valley. “We were really lucky,” said Jean-François. “We did not get enough smoke for it to be an issue. During the heat spikes in August we had a very slight smoke haze that kept us from hitting the triple digits. And then as we rolled into harvest the winds changed and our skies cleared. The result was another amazing vintage with nice yields of bold fruit with great acidity.”

100% estate; sustainably farmed.

Founding member of VINEA.

VARIETALS:  100% Cabernet Franc

VINEYARDS:  71% Summit View, 29% Waliser

APPELLATION:  100% Walla Walla Valley

OAK PROGRAM:  100% Stainless Steel

HARVEST DATES:  9/28-9/29/2017

FINISHED ALCOHOL: 13.9%

PRODUCTION:  526 cases