2023 TILTING AT WINDMILLS
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Deep purple-ruby color with intensely perfumed aromatics: framboise, kirsch, black cherry, spice, vanilla, and minerals. Ripe lush tannins from the Grenache and Syrah and some slightly firmer tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon interplay beautifully with the vibrant acidity and higher fruit expression. The palate is rich and expansive with dominant notes of framboise, kirsch, cassis jam, and blackberry. There are also secondary notes of anise, graphite, bacon fat, and roasted herbs. The finish is very long with notes of kirsch, scorched earth, and white pepper. Like previous vintages, this is a decadent mouthful of wine with refreshing acidity and great flavor delineation. It will not disappoint. Should reach maturity in 7-9 years and hold for 15+ years.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration average of 132 hours and a post-fermentation maceration average of 110 hours. 100% Native fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 2 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending. Elevage was 18 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak. The wine achieved its sparkly brilliance from 3 judicious rackings, no fining agents were employed. The wine was very gently filtered using crossflow filtration. The alcohol is 15.2%, pH is 3.84 and the titratable acidity is 6.4 g/L.
CASES PRODUCED 125
VARIETALS 54% Grenache, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah
APPELLATION Columbia Valley
LABEL STORY
In January of 2014, we were tasting through our 2012 Grenache barrels in preparation for blending them with Syrah and Mourvedre. These three grapes have a natural affinity to each other. But some of the Grenache barrels were voicing their preference loud and clear: they wanted to be married with Cabernet Sauvignon. We decided to listen. We put aside what we were doing and spent the next few hours trying different blends that included Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the end, we made a fanciful blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. We named the wine Tilting at Windmills—a reference to Don Quixote. It became one of our fastest selling wines.
The experience was a reminder to always keep our minds open and listen. We never intended to make this blend and would not have if we followed our intended path.
We continue to listen to our Grenache and when it wants to be with Cabernet Sauvignon, we oblige. This wine is our seventh vintage of this compelling blend.