2018 Champoux

This wine is crafted to highlight the Merlot and Cab Franc from Champoux Vineyard that tend to get overlooked in comparison to the Cabernet Sauvignons. This wine has the same quality and complexity as Sorella in a package that showcases that great wines in WA can be Merlot dominant. Andrew Will is a co-owner of the vineyard with Quilceda Creek, Powers, and Woodward Canyon.

2018 was another warm vintage that cycled through cool and warm months at the start of the growing season. April was cool, delaying bud break slightly. Then May was one of the warmest on record, advancing bloom. This was followed by a cooler-than-average June. Bloom was notably fast and even, contributing to a larger crop size that required extensive thinning. July and August temperatures were quite warm, so much so that heading into veraison, 2018 was shaping up to be among the warmest vintages on record – and it still was based on Growing Degree Days. However, temperatures cooled considerably in September, creating ideal conditions for ripening.

The 2018 Champoux Vineyard has already captured my heart with its delightful and lovely aromatics. It offers dusty plum, black cherry skin, blackberry essence and elements of dusty red and purple flowers along with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and the floral element of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with fruit, earth and subtle oak spice before displaying an impeccably balanced structure with buttressing tannins and juicy acidity. The red blend continues to evolve and unwind on the palate with a thoughtful and complex finish. – Wine Advocate