Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red Wine Blend 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

Founded over 20 years ago in Walla Walla Washington, Tamarack Cellars helped forge what was to become one of the Northwest’s premier winegrowing regions. The winery was named for the Tamarack tree and is located in a restored WWII fire station and barracks. The Tamarack is a symbol for the land on which the grapes are grown and an emblem of the adventurous spirit and vision to make world-class wines in this unspoiled part of America. 2018 vintage – Firehouse Red is aged in 40% new oak barrels, mostly French and American oak with a compliment of Hungarian oak, and 60% 2nd and 3rd vintage barrels. Winemaker Notes: Crushed gently and dropped into 1.5 ton bins, cold soaked 24 to 48 hours, then inoculated with a variety of yeasts, hand-punched and pressed directly to barrel, where the wine finishes both primary and secondary fermentation. Only after one year in barrel do the individual lots of wine that compose the Firehouse Red get blended. Blend: 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 18% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 2% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache, 2% Counoise, 2% Sangiovese, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Nebbiolo. Tasting Notes: Bright and tart red fruit leads on the nose, including red cherry and pomegranate, followed by subtle floral aromas and spicy notes of savory pork roast. The palate is rich and focused with its tannins sitting in the mid-palate. Balanced flavors of red fruit are followed by fresh and pleasing savory tannins, showing notes of steak rub and cocoa that lead into a long, smooth finish.