VIP Allocation
The VIP Allocation includes: 3 bottles of 2023 Merlot, 12 bottles of 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 bottles of 2022 Estate Reserve, and 1 magnum of 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon.
JOSH'S NOTES - 2022 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Hailing almost half and half from our two estate sites, McQueen and LeFore, the 2022 Doubleback vintage was one to remember. I have always felt like sometimes you need to flirt with destruction in the pursuit of perfection. A cooler vintage, we finished picking after the first full week in November - the latest in my career but one that I am happy about. Our team crushed it - pun intended. Wet stone, charcoal, eucalyptus - balanced out by gobs of fresh plums, red rope licorice at a baseball game, and beautiful wafts of vanilla. A constantly changing, complex, and sexy nose. Aged in 7% concrete, 7% 2,000L ovals, and 68% new French oak. A soft entrance leads to building tannin that is ultra rich, glycerol, and has a super long, lush finish with hints of French oak and fine grains. Decant now and drink through 2049.
APPELLATION
Walla Walla Valley
BLEND PROFILE
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
6% Merlot
3% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
BARREL/AGING PROGRAM
22 months in 68% new French oak, 7% Stockinger Ovals, 7% Concrete Tulips, 18% neutral French oak
JOSH'S NOTES - 2022 ESTATE RESERVE
The first time this wine comes predominantly from our estate site, Schafer (48%), in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, slightly edging out McQueen (45%), with the remainder coming from LeFore. A perfect representation of three grand crus in the Walla Walla Valley and an absolutely stunning wine. Wet stone and slate, beautifully framed French oak, pipe tobacco, just the right amount of classic Cabernet herbal tones, perfectly ripe blackberries, and it continues to give more and more. This new Estate Reserve is full bodied, rich, large without rough edges, and has great energy to the way it “feels”. I tasted while writing these notes over multiple days and it only improved - a sign of great things to come. Truly hard to keep my hands off this wine and there is potential to be our finest to date. Drink 2029 through 2055.
APPELLATION
Walla Walla Valley
BLEND PROFILE
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Petit Verdot
BARREL/AGING PROGRAM
22 months in 50% new French oak, 50% neutral French oak
JOSH'S NOTES - 2023 MERLOT
One of my favorite projects to work on every year. This is all estate-grown Merlot from Walla Walla, predominantly from our Schafer site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Cherry, raspberry, menthol, sandalwood, and pencil shavings. I am in love with the mouthfeel of this wine. Rich, fat, medium plus tannin, all framed in an intense, ultra-pleasing way. Normally I wouldn’t describe “chalky” tannin in a good way but this has the slightest feeling of chalkiness but in a beautiful, juicy, sensation that I honestly can’t get enough of. The finish lasts for a long time.
APPELLATION
Walla Walla Valley
BLEND PROFILE
91% Merlot
9% Cabernet Franc
BARREL/AGING PROGRAM
65% new French oak barrels and 2,000 liter Stockinger ovals for 16 months