2021 Petit Verdot
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Petit Verdot showcases a black ink-like color, prominent dark fruit aromatics, and bountiful flavors. Aromas of sweet plum, blackberry puree, and dark cherry are accompanied by subtle notes of savory black tea leaves. The palate unfolds with lush tannins, a full-bodied structure, and food-friendly acidity, delivering flavors of blackcurrant, bramble berry, sweet cassis, and an elegant touch of seared oak on the finish. Enjoy now through 2039, with optimal maturity around 2032.
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
The Petit Verdot grapes were sourced from reserve tier blocks on our estate vineyard. These blocks were carefully selected and cropped to smaller yields to achieve ripe, concentrated flavors. Harvested towards the end of October at optimal maturity, the grapes were destemmed, sorted using our optical sorter, and sent directly to small fermenters. Cold-soaked for 48 hours, the juice was then inoculated with a specific yeast strain for alcoholic fermentation. Our extraction protocol was balanced between aerated pump-overs and gentle punch-downs to extract the complex flavors from our Petit Verdot while maintaining tannin extraction and balanced acidity. Fermented on the skins for 15 days, the wine was drained from the skins, with the skins being sent to the press to gently extract any remaining wine. After pressing, the wine was sent to exclusive French oak barrels for 22 months of aging (45% new, 55% two-year-old French oak). During the first two months of barrel aging, the lees were stirred twice a month to naturally soften the wine and enhance its roundness and structure. Our choice in French oak aging has added a level of complexity while preserving the bountiful fruit aromatics of our Petit Verdot.
* Produced in a Vegan Manner (No animal byproducts used in the production of this wine)
Food Pairing
Chipotle Grilled Filet Mignon in Mango Salsa
Braised Lamb Shoulder with Fennel and Orange
Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Pecorino or Smoked Gouda
- Varietal Composition: 100% Petit Verdot
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Cases Produced: 141 cases
- Alcohol: 14.3%
- pH: 3.59
- Acidity: 7.4 g/L
- Ageability: Enjoy now through 2039, with optimal maturity around 2032.