Vintage 2011

  • Artz
  • Boushey
  • Red Willow
  • Cabernet
  • Tempranillo
  • Exhibition
  • Confucius
Wine
2011 Fall Line Artz Vineyard  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Red Mountain
Composition
Cabernet Franc 45%
Merlot 44%
Cabernet Sauvignon 11%
Bottled
May 2, 2013
Production
311 cases
Reviews
92 points, Wine Enthusiast, March 2015: "This blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon impresses with its accents of dried herbs, cherry and bittersweet chocolate. It’s palatecoating in feel, with a dazzling sense of texture backed by fine-grained tannins."
 
91 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "Better, with additional minerality in its red and black currants, graphite, chocolate and dried earth aromas and flavors, the 2011 Artz Vineyard (45% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon) is medium to full-bodied, balanced and pure. It’s already hard to resist and should be consumed over the coming 7-8 years."
 
90-92 points (pre-bottling barrel sample), Wine Advocate, June 2013: "The 2011 Artz Vineyard is the most structured and tannic of the lineup. Comprised of 45% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in 34% new French oak, it possesses classic Red Mountain characteristics of dusty, rocky minerality, baker's chocolate, spice box and assorted red berry styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, well fruited and with firm tannin, it will need 2-3 years of bottle age and drink nicely through 2021."
 
89 points, Wine Spectator, May 2015: "A firm and chewy red, with fine-grained tannins around a sleek core of minty, green olive-accented dark berry flavors, lingering well. Best from 2016 through 2019."
Wine
2011 Fall Line Boushey Vineyard  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Cabernet Franc 36%
Merlot 33%
Cabernet Sauvignon 17%
Petit Verdot 14%
Bottled
May 9, 2013
Production
263 cases
Reviews
92 points, Wine Enthusiast, March 2015: "Coming from one of Washington’s most highly regarded vineyards, this standout blend of Cabernet Franc (36%), Merlot (33%), Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) and Petit Verdot (14%) delivers the goods with cherry, dried herbs, anise and bittersweet chocolate. Like many wines from this vintage, it’s elegantly styled but brings a silky, deceptively rich feel with fruit flavors that linger."
 
90 points, Wine Spectator, June 2015: "Lithe and expressive, with juicy flavors of cherry, floral and spice on a sleek frame. Refined tannins cluster around the finish. Best from 2016 through 2019."
 
90 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "The 2011 Boushey Vineyard is a perfumed, lively blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 35% new French oak. Mint, bay leaf, spring flower and sweet red and black currant fruit define the bulk of the bouquet, and this medium-bodied, elegant, and seriously drinkable Bordeaux blend will continue to dish out plenty of pleasure over the coming 7-8 years, if not longer."
 
89-91 points (pre-bottling barrel sample), Wine Advocate, June 2013: "A blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Boushey Vineyard (same oak elevage as the Cabernet) has loads of floral-tinged aromas of bramble, mint and both raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and well put together, with medium concentration, a supple, up-front texture and light tannin, it too will be ready to go on release. A solid 7-8 years of longevity sounds reasonable."
Wine
2011 Fall Line Red Willow Vineyard  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Cabernet Franc 47%
Merlot 39%
Cabernet Sauvignon 14%
Bottled
May 5, 2013
Production
310 cases
Reviews
91 points, Wine Spectator, 2015 (WS online 7/31/15): "Spicy, herbal and fruit-driven in equal parts, this elegant, deftly balanced red defines complexity and refinement under a layer of crunchy tannins. The currant, blackberry, rose petal and nutmeg flavors come together harmoniously on the lengthy finish. ... Drink now through 2020."
 
90 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "More fresh and lively, the 2011 Red Willow Vineyard is made from 47% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. It possesses plenty of black cherry, pepper, underbrush, wild herb and spring flower-like aromas and flavors to go with a medium-bodied, supple, elegant and beautifully pure style. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years."
 
89-91 points (pre-bottling barrel sample), Wine Advocate, June 2013: "Another sample with outstanding potential, the 2011 Red Willow Vineyard (47% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon) has ample black and blue fruit characteristics to go with loads of bramble, liquid flower and spice qualities on the nose. This medium-bodied blend has a polished, supple feel, rock-solid balance and juicy acidity. Enjoy it over the coming 5-6 years."
 
89 points, Wine Enthusiast, March 2015: "A blend of Cabernet Franc (47%), Merlot (39%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, this cool-vintage wine ventures toward the green and leafy with abundant herb and savory notes. It’s elegant in style, with a supple feel and fine-grained tannins."
Wine
2011 Fall Line Cabernet Sauvignon  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
Vineyards
Boushey 60%
Artz 33%
Red Willow 7%
Bottled
April 25, 2013
Production
333 cases
Reviews
88-90 points (pre-bottling barrel sample), Wine Advocate, June 2013: "A lively, pure barrel sample, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet that comes from 60% Boushey Vineyard, 33% Artz Vineyard and 7% Red Willow Vineyard. Aged for 18 months in 33% new French oak, it has pretty plum, flowers and herbal qualities as well as a medium-bodied, supple and softly fruited profile on the palate. Fresh, up-front and impressively balanced, it should be ready to go on release and have upwards of a decade of total longevity."
 
89 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "A delicious, medium-bodied, up-front and voluptuously-styled Cabernet Sauvignon that represents a solid value, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet aged in 33% new French oak) offers earthy dark fruits, damp herbs and loamy soil-like aromas and flavors. Coming from mostly Boushey Vineyard in Yakima Valley (also from Artz and Red Willow), it’s ready to go now, with low acidity and plenty of fruit, and should drink nicely over the coming 7-8 years."
 
Wine Spectator (website), 2014: "Firm tannins press against the modest pomegranate and plum flavors, coming together on the taut finish. Needs time to settle into itself. Best after 2015."
Wine
2011 Fall Line Tempranillo  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Tempranillo 100%
Vineyards
Boushey 100%
Bottled
April 18, 2013
Production
140 cases
Reviews
Wine Spectator (website), 2014: "Firm in texture, with juicy red berry and mineral flavors, mingling with a savory cast on the moderately chewy finish. Best after 2014."
 
89 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "Another great value, the 2011 Tempranillo shows the variety’s spice-driven character with ample black cherry, singed cedar, spice-box and dried earth aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, focused and straight on the palate, with notable, yet quality, tannin, it will drink well for a decade or more."
Wine
2011 Fall Line Exhibition  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Merlot 33%
Petit Verdot 24%
Cabernet Franc 18%
Tempranillo 16%
Cabernet Sauvignon 9%
Vineyards
Boushey
Red Willow
Artz
Bottled
April 21, 2013
Production
361 cases
Review
89 points, Wine Advocate, June 2014: "Borderline outstanding, and a solid value, the 2011 Exhibition exhibits notes of spice, cedar plank, underbrush and blackberry-styled fruit on the nose. Made from 33% Merlot, 24% Petit Verdot, 18% Cabernet Franc and the balance Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, this medium-bodied effort has some tannin to integrate and will be better in another year. Drink it through 2020."
Wine
2011 Confucius Says  [SOLD OUT]
AVA
Yakima Valley
Composition
Cabernet Franc 41%
Merlot 37%
Cabernet Sauvignon 15%
Petit Verdot 7%
Vineyards
Boushey
Artz
Red Willow
Bottled
April 28, 2013
Production
91 cases
Note
At the request of Wine Director Cortney Lease, this wine was blended and bottled exclusively for Confucius Says, a proprietary label of Wild Ginger & The Triple Door in Seattle, WA.