2018 Spitfire
Tasting Notes
This Super Tuscan style blend, comprised of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, displays gorgeous aromatics of dried cranberry, tart cherries with red cassis. The palate showcases the wine's balanced natural acidity that bursts with secondary flavors of pomegranate followed by complex notes of leather, sandalwood, and savory toasted oak. The finish is lush and smooth.
Vineyard Designation
100% estate grown
Vintage Notes
The 2018 Vintage was a classic Washington State Vintage with a mild winter and very hot summer. The winter leading to Spring was mild and temperatures in March/April were slightly above average leading to our Estate’s Vineyard bud break in middle April. A warm Spring provided perfect growth for the grapevines. Our meticulous farming practices allowed us to manage vigorous growth throughout the growing season so the plants reached our crop size yield goals for each block. An extremely hot summer with cool nights during 2018 advanced the ripeness and growth in the vineyards that we haven’t seen in the last few years providing for an optimal vintage. The hot summer allowed grapes to reach optimal maturity and ripeness levels far exceeding anything we saw in 2017 and 2016. White grape varietals saw a lot more sun exposure creating bountiful aromatics with balanced acidity. The red grape varietals made wines that are lush with dark fruit aromas and silky tannins. The 2018 Vintage will be one to enjoy for many years to come.
Winemaking Notes
Each element of our 2018 Spitfire from our estate vineyard comes from our reserve designated blocks. Each lot was fermented in small 2-ton fermenters. Our extraction for the Sangiovese was gentle with punchdowns only 2-3 times per day. The Cabernet Sauvignon portion received more frequent punchdowns and pump overs for optimal extraction. The wines were then aged exclusively in French oak (40% new, 32% 2-year-old, and 28% neutral). For the first 3 months of aging, the lees were gently stirred in each barrel to help create roundness and balance. Aged for approximately 16 months in oak, the wine was gently racked from barrels to tank and prepped for bottling.
Food Pairing
Pizza Margherita
Italian Meatballs
Rustic Paella
Pecorino or Burrata
- Varietal Composition: 60% Sangiovese, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Cases Produced: 268
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- pH: 3.74
- Acidity: 6.1 g/L
- Ageability: Now through 2030 (Optimal Maturity 2026)