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2000

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Harvest: The grapes were picked on September 19 (rather late for such a warm vintage and site) at 24.7° brix, .69 TA and 3.45 pH. The grapes were hand harvested and delivered to the winery in a refrigerated truck.

Winemaking: The clusters were hand sorted at the winery and fermented on the skins for 19 days. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. 224 cases were bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 9, 2002.

Winemaker Comments: "The 2000 vintage was another fabulous year for Klipsun. Every year, Klipsun Merlot is a huge, fruity wine with ample tannins. In 2000, I worked to soften the wine by first making sure that it got very ripe on the vine and then by giving it an extended maceration period. The result is all the power and fruit one expects from Klipsun, but with a silky texture. The wine is already drinking well, but should also hold for at least ten years."

Tasting Notes: Deep red in color. Aroma of pie cherries and blackberries. The bright fruit flavors hold on the mid-palate and the long finish. This is serious Merlot with concentration and structure. Should age beautifully, but it tastes great now, so why wait?

Past Reviews:
"91 points. What Merlot should be." -- The Wine Enthusiast
"92 points. One of the best American Merlots." -- The Wine Enthusiast
"Wilridge is becoming a perennial best-bet Merlot out of Washington." -- The Wine Enthusiast.
"Wilridge's secret is the quality of its raw materials." -- The Wine Spectator

Status: Available.

Harvest: The grapes were picked on September 23 (typical for Klipsun) at 25.0° brix, .68 TA and 3.33 pH. The clusters were hand harvested and delivered to the winery in a refrigerated truck.

Winemaking: The grapes were hand sorted at the winery, crushed and cold soaked for 24 hours. The grapes were fermented on the skins for 20 days using Fermachamp Bayanus yeast. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels and fined lightly with egg whites. 168 cases were bottled unfiltered on April 9, 2002.

Winemaker Comments: "The 2000 Klipsun Cabernet wine was huge from birth and I made only limited attempts to tone it down. I figured that with Klipsun's legendary power and a fabulous vintage, I should just go for broke and make a monster Cab. If you like big wines, or are looking for a wine to lay down in your cellar for the long term, the 2000 Klipsun is for you. A case would also make a great wedding present, with a bottle for each anniversary for 12 years."

Tasting Notes: Dark red in color. The flavors are thick and rich, with red fruits and hearty notes predominating and with honey oak notes in the background. The ample tannins and fruit should allow the wine to age almost indefinitely.

Reviews: "Wilridge's secret is the quality of its raw materials." -- The Wine Spectator

Status: Available

Harvest: The grapes were picked on October 14 (typical for this cooler vineyard) at 24.1° brix, .93 TA and 3.39 pH.

Winemaking: The grape clusters were transported by a refrigerated truck in small lugs and hand sorted at the winery in Seattle. The grapes were fermented on the skins for 15 days using Pasteur Red yeast. The wine was aged in 2 and 3 year old French oak barrels for 16 months. 283 cases were bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 9, 2002.

Winemaker Comments: "The 2000 Stout Ranch is my first adventure with Syrah, one of my favorite grape varietals. I think Washington State has the potential to make great Syrahs, especially with grapes from cooler vineyard sites, and I plan to continue to seek out the best sources of fruit. I was impressed with the richness of the 2000 Stout Ranch almost from the moment the grapes were crushed. It's a thick, intense wine, with overtones of the smoky bacon flavors I associate with great Cote Rotie and Hermitage. Try this wine young with hearty fare, or save a few bottles and see how they develop."

Reviews:
"Aromas of spice, plum and blueberry; reticent fruit gains intensity as a core of jammy raspberry and spice emerges with airing. A first-effort wine, done up in a Cabernet-like power style. Pretty darn good." 89 Points. -- The Wine News, August 2002.

Status: Available

Winemaking: The grapes were picked on October 28 (typical for this late ripening variety) at 24.6° brix, .85 TA and 3.28 pH. The grapes were hand harvested, delivered to the winery in a refrigerated truck, and hand sorted at the winery. The wine was aged for 14 months in 2 and 3 year old French oak barrels. 140 cases were bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 9, 2002.

Winemaker Comments: "Nebbiolo is the King of Italian red grapes but is relatively rare in the United States. In Italy, Nebbiolo is the vine behind the great Barolos and Barbarescos of the Piedmont region. I think my 2000 Nebbiolo is very similar to my 1999, which was awarded 91 points by the Wine Enthusiast magazine. Both wines have a deceivingly light color in relation to their flavor and tannin levels. Try my Nebbiolo with your favorite Italian foods. I love it with pasta carbonara."

Tasting Notes: Brick red in color. The aroma is classic Nebbiolo, with violets and rose petals in the nose. The wine is rich and flavorful, with robust tannins and hints of tar on the finish. The wine is enjoyable young for the delicious fruit aromas, but also has the stuffing to age for several years.

Past Reviews:
"Nebbiolo has not distinguished itself in Washington, but here is a wine that could change all that… Alas, just 226 cases made." 91 Points -- The Wine Enthusiast

"Aromas of cherry, smoke, and dried flowers. Juicy, slightly dry-edged flavors of cranberry, cherry and spicy oak. I may have actually picked this blind as nebbiolo, which is high praise for a nebbiolo from outside Italy's Piedmont region." -- Stephen Tanzer

Status: Limited Availability

Winemaker Comments: "The fabulous 2000 vintage in Washington State presented me with my first opportunity to make a Mélange blend since 1997. In past versions, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon have been the dominant grapes in the blend, with Cabernet Franc playing a supporting role. In 2000, the Cabernet Franc was so tasty that I let it take the lead. I also could not resist adding a splash of Syrah to give the Mélange an extra push of fruit. It's a very food friendly wine and will go with everything from grilled fish, to chicken to pork.

Tasting Notes: Red in color with a hint of orange on the rim reflecting the predominance of Cabernet Franc in the blend. The aroma also has the spicy, peppery notes characteristic of Cabernet Franc. The fruit is bright with nice oaky undertones. Firm tannins on the finish indicate that a year or two of aging would be beneficial, but not necessary.

Past Reviews:
"A blend of 40% cabernet franc, 35% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 10% syrah. Medium red. Red fruits and exotic spices on the nose. Juicy, spicy and a bit high-toned; very oaky but with good flavor interest. An intriguing red blend." -- Stephen Tanzer

Status: Available

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