Airfield Estates has begun the exciting venture of bottling the next 9 wines to be released! Listen in as Marcus and Lori Miller discuss the first wine off the line, the Lightning. Get an insider peak at the first flavors and aromas outpouring from this delightful blend.
Catch us here shortly as we preview the next wine!
With seasonal festivities rolling right along, Airfield Estates joins the hussle and bussle as the final crop has made it’s way into the cellar, and barreled and tanked wines continue to ferment beautifully. Listen below as winemaker Marcus Miller discusses the Rielsing crop which will produce this year’s late harvest, and learn from the rising Sommelier Mike Miller as he provides a lesson or two on nose and pallet nuances right from the barrel.
After a long couple of weeks pulling many late nights, Airfield Estates is back and ready to share the latest harvest happenings. Despite this years harvest being a bit later than last, Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers expects a record yield. This forecast appears no different for Airfield Estates, as things have shifted into high gear.
With all of the whites in except Riesling and Marsanne, the focus has shifted to the reds. Merlot hit the cellar today, proving to be as consistent as ever. Merlot is a Bordeaux variety. It is one of the most heavily planted varieties in the state of WA. Airfield’s block, planted in 1996, consistently produces top quality fruit offering flavors of currant, blackberry, and plum, with notes of clove and peppercorn. Winemaker Marcus Miller believes this years crop may just be the best yet. Listen below as Marcus discusses today’s events
Though a late harvest can raise nerves as season’s changes become a greater risk factor, there is tremendous potential as well as the fruit obtains better acidity and bolder color. Stay tuned for more harvest news and updates as the early mornings and late nights continue on here at Airfield Estates.
Anticipating and preparing for Mother Nature led Winemaker Marcus Miller and Grape Grower Mike Miller to the decision of harvesting and crushing Roussanne and Semillon varieties at Airfield Estates on Oct. 2nd, 2008.
Roussanne is a Rhone style, late ripening variety which is often blended with Marsanne. The Roussanne variety can be temperamental at worst and outstanding at best. Great care and attention must be given to this variety both on the vine and during the Winemaking process. At its peak performance Roussanne adds aromatics, elegance and acidity with the potential to age and further develop in the bottle. This year Airfield Estates may blend the Roussanne harvest with Marsanne and Viognier.
Semillon is a thin-skinned grape often blended with Sauvignon Blanc. Both varieties originated in Bordeaux. Sauvignon acidity is often used to coax fuller flavors to life from the Semillon. Though often blended for added balance, this years Semillon juice is tasting so good it may just find itself bottled alone as a single varietal.
Listen below as Winemaker and Grape Grower elaborate on the day:
Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted as the harvest continues to come off the vine. Next week may bring news of Pinot Gris, Merlot, and possibly Chardonnay.
Today marks the start of Airfield’s 2008 grape harvest! Harvest is a little late this year due to our long winter and cool spring. As long as we don’t encounter damaging frosts over the next two months, we are confident that this will be a excellent vintage. We are tasting wonderful fruit flavors in the vineyards.
The first grapes off the vine this year were our Gewurztraminer. We have been growing this variety for about 25 years, but always selling the grapes to other wineries. The 2008 vintage will be the first Gewurztraminer wine that we produce at Airfield Estates.
