2020 Andrew Will - Red Blend Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (750ml)

Andrew Will Winery was launched in 1989 by Chris Camarda, working out of a modest sixty by ten foot space and naming the winery after his son Will and nephew Andrew. Based on Vashon Island near Seattle, Camarda became one of the pioneering voices behind Washington's Bordeaux style blends, favoring restraint and elegance over flashy extraction. Since 2013 his son Will has led the winemaking, and the two continue a shared philosophy of letting a handful of exceptional vineyard sites speak clearly through single vineyard bottlings rather than chasing scores or trends.

This red blend comes entirely from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, one of the founding sites Camarda worked with from his very first vintage and among the most respected vineyards on Red Mountain. The 2020 bottling combines roughly two thirds Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc, reflecting a Right Bank inspired approach to the blend. Grapes are hand harvested, then transported by truck and ferry to the winery on Vashon Island, where fermentation takes place in small lots before the wine spends nearly two years aging in French oak to develop structure and depth.

Medium to full bodied, this wine offers red fruit alongside a firm, mineral edge that reflects Red Mountain's rocky terroir. Gripping tannins give way to a soft floral lift, with a food friendly, structured finish that rewards decanting. It pairs well with grilled lamb, braised short ribs, or aged hard cheeses.