2022 Januik Winery - Red Blend Columbia Valley (750ml)

Mike Januik has been making wine in the Columbia Valley since the mid-1980s, building relationships with growers long before he struck out on his own. He founded Januik Winery in 1999, sharing a Woodinville production facility with sister winery Novelty Hill, and quickly developed a short list of vineyards he considered among Washington's finest. His approach favors small lot fermentations and careful barrel selection, marrying ripe New World fruit with a more classical sense of structure and restraint.

This red blend draws on some of those top tier sites, including Stillwater Creek and Ciel du Cheval, alongside other vineyards across the broad Columbia Valley appellation. It leads with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, rounded out with smaller amounts of Malbec, Grenache, and Cabernet Franc. The 2022 growing season was warm and consistent, yielding ripe tannins and balanced acidity. After hand harvesting, the grapes were fermented in small lots to preserve varietal character, then the wine spent about eighteen months in French oak, roughly forty percent of it new, to build integration and depth.

The nose offers expressive blackberry, raspberry, and chocolate notes, while the palate is plush and generous with dark berries, cassis, vanilla, and a touch of graphite. Round and seamless, it finishes with gentle spice. Try it with grilled steak, braised short ribs, or a hearty pasta.