King Estate Next Red Blend

2019

COLUMBIA VALLEY

RED BLEND

THE HEAVENS

The Columbia Valley AVA lies in the Columbia Plateau, or Columbia Basin,

found primarily in eastern Washington State with a small section crossing into

Oregon. Stretching between the 46th and 47th parallels, the Columbia Valley is

in line with the famed French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The 2019 vintage started out with snow that delayed bud break. While still

above 20-year averages, summer temperatures were cooler than in recent years.

Cooler conditions extended into fall, delaying picking. Frost and freezes in

October brought harvest to an end with most, but not all, fruit in. Tonnage was

lower but quality was high.

THE EARTH

The soils found in the vineyards of the Columbia Valley are defined by the great

Missoula floods, a series of cataclysmic floods that swept through the Columbia

Gorge more than 10,000 years ago. Most vineyards lie below the floodwater

with soils of loess (wind-blown deposits of sand and silt) overlying gravel and

bedrock formed by sediment, providing a diversity of soil types that are well

drained and ideal for growing wine grapes.

THE BOUNTY

In the glass, the wine shows a deep red with ruby hues. Aromas are of black

cherry, blueberry, plum, cedar, caramel, baking spice, toast and vanilla with

some forest floor. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry jam and blueberry compote

appear on the palate, joined by cocoa, sweet oak, earth, cedar and chamomile.

Fruit forward and approachable, this wine balances the primary fermentation

notes with flavors from barrel aging and culminates into a long-lasting,

enjoyable wine with a lingering finish. Whole clusters are destemmed and cold

soaked for 48 hours with daily pump overs. Fermentation is in stainless steel

open-top tanks with daily punch downs. For optimum flavor and tannin profile,

the wine underwent délestage, also known as rack and return, followed by

extended maceration. Aged 10 months on French and American oak, 20% new.

Varietals: 42% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Mourvèdre

AVA: Columbia Valley

Alcohol: 13.5%