2020 Andrew Will - Red Blend Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (750ml)
The 2020 Andrew Will Red Blend from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain embodies Washington’s Bordeaux-style tradition—restrained, soil-driven, and built for nuance rather than flash. This is a true single vineyard bottling that showcases the site’s character on Red Mountain, one of the founding vineyards Camarda worked with from his very first vintage.
Blend and sourcing: roughly two-thirds Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Franc, all from the esteemed Ciel du Cheval site. Grapes are hand harvested and transported by truck and ferry to the winery on Vashon Island, where fermentation happens in small lots before the wine spends nearly two years aging in French oak to gain structure and depth.
Palate and finish: medium to full-bodied with red fruit notes and a firm mineral edge that speaks to Red Mountain’s rocky terroir. Gripping tannins give way to a soft floral lift, and the wine finishes with noticeable balance and a willingness to reward decanting.
Why it stands out: a vineyard-forward red blend from a pioneering Washington winery that prioritizes site expression and elegant balance over immediate impact, with a patient winemaking approach that sustains complexity over time.
- Grape composition: approximately two-thirds Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc
- Vineyard: Ciel du Cheval, Red Mountain
- Vinification: hand harvested; fermentation in small lots
- Aging: nearly two years in French oak
- Pairings: grilled lamb, braised short ribs, aged hard cheeses