World renowned. Washington grown.
2003 Grand Estates Shiraz
Good Value - Northwest Palate
88 points and Best Buy - Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
“ This seductive Shiraz displays a rich perfume of raspberries, honeysuckle and rose petals. The complex, fresh, and voluptuously textured palate leads to a supple, silky finish.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- Vintage 2003 began with a typical bud break in early April.
- Bloom followed in early June. Warm, dry weather conditions during this phase (the start of fruit maturation) contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation at the end of the season.
- High heat accumulation during late summer created excellent ripening conditions.
- Very modest precipitation in August and September cooled the vineyards and slowed the ripening process.
- At harvest, vineyards across the Columbia Valley had excellent physiological maturity and flavor development across varietals.
Vineyards
- The Grand Estates Shiraz is harvested predominantly from select vineyards located in the Horse Heaven Hills (balance and complexity), Wahluke Slope (texture and body), and Yakima Valley (aromatics).
- Columbia Valley Vineyards are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- Just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall reach the growing region annually. Vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.
- The soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.
- Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes.
Vinification
- Grapes were destemmed and crushed with 10% whole berries remaining, then fermented on skins 7-10 days with a twice-daily pumpover regime to gently extract color, aromas and flavors.
- The wine aged for 12-14 months in French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels. The blend includes Viognier (co-fermented) to add complexity to the bouquet and also depth and nuance to the finished wine.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.61 g/100ml
- pH: 3.73
- Alcohol: 13.9%