2020 Sally Mac
There are just under 3,000 acres of vineyard in the entire Walla Walla Valley, but it is home to a wide diversity of soils and microclimates. Individually and collectively, the terroir of the vineyards in our valley are unique in the Northwest and give us the opportunity to craft a wine that reflects the compelling and generally elegant character of Cabernet Sauvignon grown here, while also expressing the nuance and complexity of the Walla Walla Valley.
The wine is nuanced and layered - and satisfyingly delicious. The nose offers notes of cocoa, cream, and black fruit, while the palate delivers layers of red and black fruit, herbs and tobacco. With firm tannins and a remarkably long finish, this vintage is slightly riper and fuller, but remains elegant and fresh. Drink now through 2032.
•Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot
•Vinification: 100% hand picked, cluster sorted, and destemmed– mostly whole berry with some light crushing; a mix of hand punch downsand gentle pump overs.
•Aged: 20 months in 42% new French Oak, 58% in neutral French Oak (225L)
•Racked only once prior to final blending
•Bottled unfined and unfiltered on June 7th, 2022
| Download Wine Notes |
| Varietal Composition | 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot
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| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
| Acid | 5.7 g/L |
| PH | 3.78 |
| Aging | 20 months in 42% new French Oak, 58% in neutral French Oak (225L) |
| Fermentation | 100% hand picked, cluster sorted, and destemmed – mostly whole berry with some light crushing; a mix of hand punch downs and gentle pump overs. |
| Residual Sugar | 0 |
| Alcohol | 14.30% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 06/07/2022 |
| Cases Produced | 475 |
The second vintage of our Sally Mac Cabernet Sauvignon delivers on our goal to showcase the elegance of the Walla Walla Valley with a focus on the higher elevation sites with deep wind-blown loess soils. Nearly half of the fruit for the 2020 vintage was grown at our estate vineyard, Wheat Ridge (47%), in the Mill Creek area of the Walla Walla Valley. The remainder is sourced from Les Collines (42%), Seven Hills (6%), and our vineyard neighbor, Golden Ridge (5%).
Wheat Ridge Vineyard sits at 1,315 to 1,350 feet above sea level on deep wind-blown loess soils. The small 7 acre(2.8 hectares) block of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1998 to Clone 8. It features an ideal south sloping orientation that allows full ripening but, because of the elevation, the site experiences more moderated temperatures, generally avoiding the region’s highest and lowest temperature extremes throughout the year.
