Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red Wine Blend 2019, 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. 2019 vintage – Notes of red cherry, cedar box and leather highlight the nose, with darker fruit including blackberry emerging at the end as it opens up. On the palate, dark plum and cassis stand out and a pleasing acidity matches up nicely with notes of light barrel toast and medium tannins. Flavors of red raspberry and savory grilled meats stand out on the balanced, lingering finish. Winemaker notes: Crushed gently and dropped into 1.5-ton bins, cold soaked 24 to 48 hours, then inoculated with a variety of yeasts, handpunched 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: 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 9% Syrah, 7% Sangiovese, 4% Tempranillo, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Grenache, 1% each Mourvèdre, Counoise and Nebbiolo.