2011 WINE ADVOCATE SCORES
Airfield Estates 2009 Aviator – 91 POINTS
The 2009 Aviator is made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec aged in 50% new French oak for 21 months. It was a barrel-selection of the best Bordeaux varieties in the cellar. It exhibits an inviting nose of sandalwood, exotic spices, incense, violets, herbs, black currant, and blackberry which set the stage for a rich, savory, plush, layered wine with excellent depth and length. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2024. There is one sweet wine in the collection. Drink: 2013 – 2024.
Airfield Estates 2009 Bombshell Red – 88 POINTS
The red wines begin with the opaque purple 2009 Bombshell Red, a blend of 45% Merlot, 41% Syrah, with the balance Malbec, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot aged for 11 months in 25% new French, American, and Hungarian oak. Spice box, cherry blossoms, incense, cedar, and assorted black fruits lead to a straightforward, juicy, pleasure-bent wine with enough structure to drink well for another 5-6 years. It is an excellent value. Drink: 2011 – 2017.
Airfield Estates 2009 Lightning – 91 POINTS
The 2009 Lightning is a blend of 65% Viognier, 25% Roussanne, and 10% Marsanne that was barrel fermented and aged for 11 months in seasoned oak with batonnage. Aromas of toast, mineral, honey, melon, peach, and apricot set the stage for a creamy-textured, layered wine with loads of tropical fruit on the palate. This well-balanced, lengthy effort will provide enjoyment for several more years.
Airfield Estates 2009 Reserve Syrah – 90+ POINTS
The 2009 Reserve Syrah was aged in 50% new Hungarian oak for 11 months. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it offers up alluring aromas of game, bacon, blueberry, lavender, and plum aromas. Mouth-filling, succulent, and structured, it has plenty of flavor but is quite one-dimensional at the moment. It has 1-2 years of aging potential so perhaps it will gain complexity in the cellar.
Airfield Estates 2009 Runway Cabernet Sauvignon – 89 POINTS
The 2009 Runway Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from the most fruit-forward lots in the cellar and spent 11 months in 25% new, mostly American oak. Cedar, cinnamon, clove, espresso, rose petal, and black currant aromas lead to an easy-going, savory, ripe Cabernet with excellent varietal character. Lightly structured on the palate, this medium-long effort will drink nicely over the next 6 years. Drink: 2011 – 2017.
BUY: $18 (Only Available to Wine Club Members)
Airfield Estates 2010 Runway Late Harvest Riesling – 92 POINTS
The 2010 Runway Late Harvest Riesling was made with 50-60% botrytis infected fruit and finished with 15% residual sugar. Peaches, tropical fruits, honey, and botrytis aromas lead to a viscous, vibrant wine with superb natural acidity that frames the fruit brilliantly. This wine is all about pleasure; how long it will last is difficult to say but there is no rational reason to defer your gratification. By the way, it is also an outstanding value in sweet dessert wine.
Airfield Estates 2010 Sauvignon BLanc – 89 POINTS
The new releases begin with the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, aged in stainless steel. Fragrant aromas of citrus, spring flowers, cut grass, and baking spices informs the nose of a dry, crisp, vibrant wine in which the fruit is nicely framed by the lively natural acidity of the vintage. Drink this excellent value over the next 12-18 months.
Airfield Estates 2009 Spitfire – 90 POINTS
The 2009 Spitfire is made up of 61% Sangiovese, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel where the wine spent 11 months. Smoke, cherries, rose petal, spice box, tobacco, and cassis lead to a full-bodied, savory, structured wine with 1-2 years of aging potential. It displays good volume and a lengthy, pure finish. Drink this tasty effort over the next 6-8 years. Drink: 2011 – 2019.
Airfield Estates Tempranillo – 90+ POINTS
The 2009 Tempranillo contains 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 11 months in a mix of oaks. The bouquet is somewhat reticent but with coaxing displays spicy black fruits and toasty oak. Savory and ripe on the palate with good varietal character, it is another piece of evidence of how Tempranillo can perform in eastern Washington. Drink this lengthy, nicely proportioned effort from 2012 to 2019. Drink: 2012 – 2019.
Airfield Estates Zinfandel – 90 POINTS
The 2009 Zinfandel is a whopper (16.4% alcohol) but the pH is a normal 3.58 and the wine offers up good briery, varietal aromas with no signs of heat. On the palate black cherry and spice notes offer a pleasing array of flavors in this dry, powerful Zinfandel. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. Drink: 2011 – 2017.