2021 Grenache
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Grenache offers red fruit aromas of loganberry, strawberry jam, grenadine, and pomegranate. This medium-bodied wine enters the palate with a smooth, silk-like texture and balanced acidity. Flavors of dried acai berry, cherry licorice, and a hint of white pepper embrace the mid-palate while a berry medley and touch of sweet, toasted oak round out the finish. Enjoy now through 2037, with optimal maturity around 2030.
Awards
90 Points Vinous
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 to 2 weeks earlier than average. Then we experienced a heat wave in late June that lasted roughly six weeks with over 35 days of 100°+ temperatures and 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 size for us. On the bright side, these smaller berries produced phenomenal flavors. We also saw rapid ripening at a pace last seen in 2015, creating a very early harvest start. 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 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 red wines display dark fruit elements with structure and finesse. The wines created in 2021 will be enjoyable in their youth but also age-worthy, making a lasting impression.
Winemaking Notes
Sourced from reserve tier blocks on our estate vineyard, the Grenache grapes were harvested in early October, de-stemmed but not crushed, and sorted using our optical sorter to ensure only the cleanest fruit was sent to fermenters. The grapes were then sent to a concrete tank and cold-soaked for 48 hours. After cold soaking, the grapes were warmed and inoculated with a special yeast strain to begin fermentation. Fermenting in concrete gives the wines more expressive aromatics and a touch of minerality. Grenache is a very delicate grape and must be treated as such, so our approach to extraction was very gentle – performing two aerated pump-overs per day with temperatures ranging from 84-87 degrees. After about 15 days of fermentation, the wine was drained, and the grape skins were sent to the press to gently extract any remaining wine. The wine was then sent to French oak barrels and inoculated for malolactic fermentation. Once malolactic was complete, the lees were stirred twice a month for two months to help create a rounder mouthfeel and finesse on the palate. Overall, the wine was aged approximately 18 months in 100% 2-year-old French oak barrels before being prepped for bottling. Our barrel selection was intentionally not to include new French Oak to allow the wines’ bright red fruit characteristics to be the star of the show.
Food Pairing
Grilled Flank Steak with Polenta and Roasted Tomatoes
Roasted Chicken or Turkey with Herbs
Mushroom Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Shepherd's Pie
Camembert, Manchego, Mild Cheddar, or Gouda
- Varietal Composition: 100% Grenache
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Cases Produced: 173 cases
- Alcohol: 14.3%
- pH: 3.66
- Acidity: 5.8g/L
- Ageability: Enjoy Now through 2037 with optimal maturity around 2030