2021 Bombshell
Tasting Notes
A beautiful bouquet of dark fruit aromas reveals layers of blackcurrant and blueberry jam. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied showcasing silky tannins and flavors of sweet plum, roasted fig, spice, and lingering savory nuances. The finish is remarkably smooth and exceptionally balanced ensuring that each sip leaves a lasting impression. Enjoy now through 2035, with optimal maturity peaking around 2029.
Vineyard Designation
100% Estate Grown
Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage will be recorded as one the warmest in Washington State history. With a mild winter and a warm spring, we saw bud break during the second week of April, about 1-2 weeks earlier than average. Then in late June, we experienced a heat wave for approximately 6 weeks. During this time, we saw over 35 days of 100°+ temperatures, with some daily highs nearing 118° Fahrenheit! This period of extreme heat began when the grapes were in a cluster and berry size development stage, causing grapes to stress out weeks before we vintners would prefer. Smaller berry size led to an overall 30% reduction in crop sizes for us. Nevertheless, the flavors that these smaller berries produced were phenomenal! We also saw rapid ripening at a pace we have not seen since 2015, and this created a very early start to harvest. By the end of August, we had brought in nearly 150 tons of sparkling wine grapes and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, hands down an August record for us at Airfield. By the end of September, we had crushed every white varietal, which was beneficial for us in winemaking as we could then give 100% of our attention to red varietals. October started off with nice warm temperatures, and the pace of grape harvesting was going very well, with ideal ripeness and exceptional quality. By the third week of October, we did see several freezing events causing our canopies to die. With only a limited amount of fruit remaining, it was easy for us to harvest the last remaining fruit before the end of October. In the end, the 2021 vintage made outstanding wine. Our white wines showcase bright fruit aromas with brisk acidity. Our red wines display dark fruit elements with structure and finesse. The wines created in 2021 will be age-worthy and enjoyable in their youth and will be wines that will make a lasting impression.
Winemaking Notes
The 2021 Bombshell is comprised of 47% Syrah, 33% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and 1% Grenache. All of the varietals for this blend were sourced from our estate vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Our goal when creating this wine was to see a bounty of fruit flavors and aromas, a nice touch of well-integrated oak, and soft tannins to create a well-balanced wine. Harvested towards the end of October at optimal maturity, the grapes were sent to various size fermenters. The grapes were then cold soaked for 48 before being inoculated with several different strains of yeast. Our extraction approach was more aggressive during the beginning of fermentation, which allowed us to extract the color and flavors we look for in each of these varietals. Once alcohol levels started to increase, we then took a more gentle approach to avoid harsh tannins and achieve our end goal of a soft, lush finish while maintaining balance and structure. After fermentation, each lot was then sent to a variety of new and neutral French oak barrels and inoculated for malolactic fermentation. After malolactic fermentation was complete, each barrel had its lees stirred twice a month for up to four months, this process helps build structure and roundness while enhancing the mouthfeel and acting as a fining agent to naturally soften the wine. The final blend was aged in 100% French oak for 18 months, with 20% being new French oak, 25% 1 to 3-year-old French oak, and 55% neutral oak.
Food Pairing
Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Blue Cheese Butter
Spiced Venison with Wild Mushroom and Truffle Sauce
Barbecued Ribs
Gouda or Comte
- Varietal Composition: 47% Syrah, 33% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and 1% Grenache
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Cases Produced: 2,812
- Alcohol: 14.3%
- pH: 3.82
- Acidity: 5.8