2018 FIANCHETTO
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
The 2018 Fianchetto from Firethorn Vineyard is another exquisite wine. It’s a blend of 37% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 28% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep ruby-purple color with a bouquet of ripe black currant, blackberry, black plum, ripe red fruit, violet, gravel, and cigar tobacco. Full-bodied with firm tannins, the palate is very complex with precise notes of cassis, black cherry, gravel, cigar tobacco, incense, espresso, vanilla, and dark chocolate. The finish is very long with well delineated notes of cigar tobacco, violets, cedar, and cassis. Properly cellared, this wine should reach maturity in 8-10 years and drink well for 20+ years.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration of 182 hours. 100% native fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 2 times each day during maceration and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending.
Elevage was 24 months in 80% new French oak from Troncais. After bottling the wine was aged in our cellar for four years prior to release. No fining agents were employed. The wine was very gently filtered using crossflow filtration. Alc 14.9%, pH 3.58, titratable acidity 5.9 g/L
CASES PRODUCED 80
VARIETALS 37% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc
APPELLATION Firethorn Vineyard, Columbia Valley
REVIEWS
96 POINTS | ERIC GUIDO, VINOUS
“A mentholated freshness introduces the 2018 Fianchetto as peppery rose tones complicate red plums and citrus-infused blackberries. This splashes across the palate with textures of pure silk, displaying balsamic-tinged red berries and a rich dose of autumnal spice. Powerful and complex, the 2018 leaves nuances of graphite, bell pepper and clove as a bump of residual acidity offsets its edgy tannins. This is the current release of Fianchetto, as Billo Naravane felt that the wine needed more time to soften its tannic girth.”
94 POINTS | JEREMY YOUNG, INTERNATIONAL WINE REPORT
“The 2018 Fianchetto from Rasa is a mélange of 37% Merlot. 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 28% Cabernet Franc which shows a medium ruby-blue core with a silver-pink rim. It offers up medium to full-bodied notes of cedary herbs, dried rose petals, candied blackberries, crushed pink peppercorns, sweet vanilla, toasted cloves, and wet earth. Seamless and layered on the palate, with fabulous purity and rich tannins, it will drink well now or over the next decade.”
LABEL STORY
The PineBrake Vineyard was planted with the forethought to fully express the voice of the place, its terroir. This can only be accomplished with vision, an unwavering attention to detail, and patience. Lots of patience.
The elevation, aspect, soils, and climate of PineBrake are all ideal for growing great grapes. But the intent of the grower to allow the site to speak is what makes this site so special. Sustainable vineyard practices and a strict adherence to integrated pest management protocols—which encourage biodiversity—are what ensures a balanced ecosystem and optimized soil health. These uncompromising commitments are what brings out the best of this vineyard.
The “Fianchetto” is a modern chess opening that optimizes the inherent value of the bishop. This notion of thoughtfully optimizing inherent value (both in chess and in the vineyard) is why we call this wine Fianchetto.
Pawn to G3.