2011 J|R|G Red
Vintage Notes
2011 got off to a late start and never caught up. Weather from July to the end of September was nearly perfect and saved the vintage. Powdery mildew was an issue throughout Washington since temperatures rarely got into the mid-nineties. As a result of the lower temperatures, it was a very compressed vintage with all the fruit picked in the last three weeks of October. It was a grower’s vintage (every vintage is a winemaker’s vintage) with the best fruit coming from vineyards that reduced crop level early and worked at keeping the canopies open to reduce mildew pressure and to allow sun into the fruit zone. Despite all these challenges, the wines show great finesse and depth. 2011 was a gift that will likely not be duplicated anytime soon. The bouquet of both wines is complex and beautiful. It is a vintage for cellaring.
Blend Details
51% Merlot
37% Cabernet Sauvignon
9% Cabernet Franc
3% Petit Verdot
Appellations
74% Horse Heaven Hill
18% Red Mountain
8% Walla Walla
Vineyards
30% Wallula
22% Alder Ridge
18% Klipsun
15% Canoe Ridge Estate
9% Champoux
6% Seven Hills
Harvest Dates
October 3 – November 2, 2011
Aging Profiles
22 months in new (36%), single use (14%) and neutral (50%) French oak barrels
Alcohol
14.1% by volume
Release Date
Fall, 2014
Production
536 cases of 750mL bottles
A blend of Merlot (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon (37%), Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine (predominantly sourced from Horse Heaven Hills) offers appealing notes of graphite, cocoa, cherry cola, barrel spices and red and blue fruit. It’s focused, rich and flavorful with a silky, captivating, refined feel. (Sean Sullivan)
Dark and lush, fragrant and ripe with juicy plum and black cherry; tangy and dense with smooth texture and a long, balanced finish.
Freshness and an open texture support reticent blackberry, floral and subtle toast notes in the flavor profile, lingering gently against modest tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2018. 536 cases made. (Harvey Steiman)
A pretty, floral and juicy effort, the 2011 JRG is a medium-bodied blend of 51% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Petit Verdot. Friendly, easy and certainly delicious, it should drink nicely for 4-5 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)
