2008 J|R|G Red
Vintage Notes
The 2008 vintage started off wet and cooler than average, thus delaying bud break by two weeks. Summer temperatures were average with the high heat only arriving in early to mid-August. Sporadic rain continued throughout the summer, which was unusual. Things cooled off after the third week in August, leading to perfect ripening weather through the whole month of September only interrupted by three days of rain in the beginning of October, which delayed ripening. A hard frost arrived the last week in October ending the vintage. It’s hard to put this vintage in perspective since it was our first to put into bottle, but judging by the wines, it was a good one. Both blends have fine layered tannins and exhibit verve and concentration with a full palette of flavors and aromas.
Blend Details
52% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Merlot
14% Malbec
4% Petit Verdot
Appellations
37% Walla Walla
33% Red Mountain
30% Horse Heaven Hills
Vineyards
33.1% Klipsun
36.9% 7 Hills
27.9% Canoe Ridge
2.1% Wallula
Aging Profile
20 months in new (46%), single use (39%) and neutral (15%) French oak barrels
Harvest Dates
September 27 – October 21, 2008
Alcohol
14.7%
Release Date
Fall, 2011
Production
205 cases of 750mL bottles
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In Paul Gregutt’s (NW Editor for Wine Enthusiast) year-end review on his blog – The Year’s Best Northwest Wine Bargains (quality and value), he highlighted all wines he had reviewed in 2011 that received either a Best Buy or Editor’s Choice designation and retail for $30 or less. The 2008 J|R|G Red Wine made the list (which was comprised of only 23 wines), joining such notable wineries as Mark Ryan, Woodward Canyon and Dunham “…producers who are still making top tier wines and pricing them below market value.”
Dark maroon/garnet color. Clean and sweet aromas of crushed red fruits… The flavors display ample dried cherry and currant fruit along with soft nuances of vanilla and cola. There is plenty of flavor and punch in this wine… Tasty and ready to drink now.
Dark in color. A pleasingly aromatic wine marked by brioche, plum, black cherry, wood spice and incense. Palate is medium bodied with tart, focused cherry fruit flavors that linger on a long finish. An impressively throttled back wine.
