Gorman Winery ‘Zachary’s Ladder’ 2020, Red Mountain, Columbia Valley, Washington

2020 vintage – An accumulation of all of Gorman’s vineyards, Zachary’s Ladder is the perfect introductory Gorman wine. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah & 15% Petit Verdot, from the Red Mountain Appellation. Fermentation: Stainless steel, finished in barrel. Aged 20 months in once-used French oak. Chris Gorman descended into the wine business after graduating from university in 1991. After 3 years working for a small Italian importer, and 10 years as a main stay in the Seattle wine trade, his mission was to make delicious wines. Choose the finest grapes in Washington state, use the finest coopers and suppliers, don’t settle, and don’t screw it up. Gorman is currently a 3-man winery, with the additional help of interns for harvest, bottling and partying. Producing just under 8,000 cases a year makes focusing primarily on quality very manageable. And that focus has been primarily on Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.