Usually, when I write the Fall newsletter, I’m totally stressed about harvest. This year, however – calm, cool, and collected. No, I haven’t been using a meditation or mindfulness app though I probably should. Harvest is late this year – as in really late, reminding us of 2010 or 2011. Veraison, when a grape turns green to red, provides an excellent estimate of the harvest date. Usually, when the bunch is fully colored red, we harvest approximately 30 days later. Most years, we pick Red Willow Syrah right around Labor Day. When Brandon was there on August 30th, many of the clusters were still green. It’s going to be a while…but it’s going to be great.

This release features wines from both the 2018 and 2019 vintages. We have written extensively on the greatness of 2018. Dr. Owen Bargreen at Decanter magazine said this of the 2018 vintage, “Many Washington State winemakers consider 2018 to be one of the most captivating vintages in the past two decades — if not the best. The top 2018 red wine bottlings display remarkable poise, texture, flavour density and richness which span all Washington State AVAs.” Our fall MTA release includes two wines from the 2018 vintage.

From the Horse Heaven Hills, we have our second Cabernet Sauvignon MTA wine from Phinny Hill. An absolutely incredible 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the greatness of both the Horse Heaven Hills and the magical farming abilities of the Beightol Family. I feel this is one of the top three Cabernets made at Gramercy since 2005. You’ll have to visit to hear my other two choices.

Josh Raynolds at Vinous parroted similar praise for the Willamette Valley in 2018, rating it 94 points; one of the state’s highest vintage ratings ever. From the 2018 vintage, we introduce a new single vineyard Pinot Noir MTA bottling from Sojeau Vineyard. While past releases focused on the Ribbon Ridge AVA, we have moved to the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. It’s an emerging hipster neighborhood, more Williamsburg than Upper West Side. All the cool winemakers are moving to the area. The freshness, intensity, and aromatic complexity of this wine is remarkable. We look forward to a long relationship with the Peseau family at Sojeau Vineyard.

Next, we move to the 2019 vintage, which is very different from 2018, but still considered an excellent vintage. Again, many think the duo of 2018-2019 are our best vintages ever in Washington. While 2018 displays power, 2019 is more about freshness and aromatics, with red fruits and deep earthy flavors. It was slightly tricky as the vintage was delayed by cooler than average weather in September and ended due to frost in mid-October, but we love vintages like that.

The 2019 vintage is a paradise vintage for the restrained style of Gramercy. The 2019 Les Collines Syrah is classic Syrah goodness – pepper, smoked meat, red and blue fruit. I remark in the tasting notes that it will give the John Lewis Reserve Syrah (winter release) a run for its money. The 2019 Gramercy “Estates” wine is somehow even better than 2018. In 2019, we added a friend to the Estates party – 15% Cabernet Franc. And lastly, the 2019 Mourvèdre L’Idiot du Village. When I wrote the tasting notes, I had five bottles of wine open. I finished the 2019 Mourvèdre that night. Drained like a Steph Curry 3-pointer. It’s a stunning example of Mourvèdre, which, after a few drinks, I usually comment that it’s Washington’s best variety, most suited to our climate and terroir.

And there you have it. A set of releases that everyone at Gramercy is honored to show. As always, we are so grateful for your support. We love making wine and look forward to you having these wines with friends and family. We would also love to see you at the winery or an event soon!

Best,

Greg Harrington