Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, TannatVintage: 2022Type: Red Produced under the Tzum label, this red wine is a field blend combining cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, and tannat. Winemaker Nate Ready selects the fruit from a single acre of high-elevation volcanic soils in the Columbia Gorge. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented whole-cluster using native wild vineyard yeasts inside neutral open-top wood vats. It ages in neutral French oak barrels to allow the structural components to settle without wood flavor dominance. It pours a dark ruby color, opening with complex aromas of dark plum, wild blackberry, and tobacco leaf over a background of stone. On the palate, the medium-bodied, robust frame pairs concentrated fruit flavors with a firm, stem-driven tannin profile. Savory notes of cracked black pepper and crushed limestone develop as the wine breathes. A clean vein of natural acidity runs underneath, keeping the mouthfeel fresh and light. It finishes dry, leaving a lingering mineral trail.
