2021 Airfield Red Blend
* Pick-up orders for this wine may require up to 10 business days for processing. Please reach out to the tasting room in advance to confirm order readiness.
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Red Wine is a refined and approachable Bordeaux Blend, showcasing rich aromas of blackberry jam, red cassis, and blueberry compote, with subtle hints of cola, dark chocolate, and graphite. On the palate, delicate tannins are balanced by secondary flavors of smoked dates, black cherry, and sweet espresso. The wine concludes with a lingering finish, marked by savory toasted oak notes that persist. Best enjoyed now through 2032, with peak maturity expected in 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+ degree temperatures, with some daily highs nearing 118 degrees! 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! By the end of August, we had brought in nearly 150 tons of wine grapes, hands down an August record for us at Airfield. 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 saw several freezing events causing our canopies to die. 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 from 2021 will be age worthy and enjoyable in their youth and will be wines that will make a lasting impression.
Winemaking Notes
Sourced from our Estate Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA, each varietal in this red blend was harvested at optimal maturity between mid and late October. The grapes were destemmed but not crushed, and sorted using our optical sorter before being processed into stainless steel fermenters of varying sizes. The extraction method varied by varietal to highlight its unique characteristics. Following fermentation, the wines were aged in French oak barrels and inoculated for malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred twice a month for three months, enhancing the wine’s roundness and naturally softening its texture. After 10 months of aging, the final blend was crafted and aged together for an additional eight months. The wine spent a total of 18 months in 100% French oak, including 15% new oak, 35% two-year-old oak, and 50% neutral oak. The result is a blend where each varietal contributes to complex, evolving flavors, balanced with oak influence and a smooth mouthfeel.
Food Pairing
Grilled steak
Hamburgers
Pizza
Aged Gouda or Danish Blue
- Varietal Composition: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 18% Cab Franc 1% Petit Verdot
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Aging / Barrel Program: Aged in 100% French Oak for 16 months with 25% being New French Oak, 25% 2yr old French Oak and 50% Neutral French Oak.
- Cases Produced: 600 cases
- Alcohol: 14%
- pH: 3.84
- Acidity: 6.0
- Ageability: Enjoy now through 2030 with Optimal Maturity in 2026.