1 - 2013 Browne Family Tribute Red Wine, Columbia Valley 750ml
1 - 2013 Browne Family Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley 750ml
1 - 2012 Browne Family Merlot, Columbia Valley 750ml
2013 Browne Family Tribute Red Wine, Columbia Valley 750ml
This silky red blend offers big fruit flavors and well-integrated, velvety tannins. Aromatics of pipe tobacco, leather and dark fruit layer with ripe boysenberry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The finish lingers with blackberry jam and toasty, graphite back notes. Pair with rosemary and peppercorn-crusted pork loin, lamb burgers or a grilled Portobello sandwich.
2013 Browne Family Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley 750ml
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Sweet and earthy with aromatics of violets, cedar and forest floor, this rich and full-bodied wine carries through with supportive tannins. Moderate alcohol suspends the sweet, fruit characters of the wine, rounded out by a lingering finish of black licorice, leather with dried fruit.
Vintage Note
The warmest vintage in a decade, 2013's growing season cooled off just in time for harvest, and picking proceeded at a normal pace starting at the end of August. Total tonnage, approximately 220,000 tons, was up easily five percent over 2012, a record for Washington State. With a warm 2013 vintage, growers spread out canopies a bit more than usual and adjusted crop sizes to achieve a good balance of acidity and phenolic ripeness. Mother Nature made picking advantageous; varieties reached ripeness at different times, allowing crews a well-phased, thoughtfully-planned harvest.
Winemaking
The fruit for Browne Family was harvested at the peak of phenolic ripeness and tested on the vine for flavor and structure. Once harvested, all grapes were hand-picked into small 1/2 ton bins and immediately de-stemmed. The winery "crusher", used to de-stem fruit was removed to maintain 70% whole berries during fermentation. This allowed for great extraction of color and increased the maturity of tannins making the wine more approachable. After pressing occurred, primary fermentation was completed in stainless steel. The new wine was then transferred to 59-gallon French oak casks; selected for their intense Cabernet Franc varietal characteristics and to balance the fruit tannins. The Browne Family 2013 Cabernet Franc was barrel aged for 22 months.
2012 Browne Family Merlot, Columbia Valley 750ml
90 Points, Wine Spectator
92 Points, Tasting Panel
Ripe fresh black fig and Santa Rosa plum aromatics introduce exuberant brambly notes of boysenberry and mixed berry flavors. Soft smoky, toasty nuances unfold as the wine remains open. A lingering, spiced plum chutney finish is backed by toasted oak notes.
The 2012 vintage, while starting off with a stunning resemblance to 2011, finished off the season well: average heat accumulation and cumulative precipitation. Most bud break occurred in early April. Although overall precipitation for 2012 was slightly above normal, it was not evenly distributed over the growing season. August saw low humidity, low precipitation, and high temperatures which kicked off berry ripening. 2012 brought medium-sized berries, concentrated colors and intense flavors.
Vintage Note
Merlot is chosen from Seven Hills and Mirage Vineyards for its lush, dark fruit character and from Klipsun and Force Majeure in Red Mountain for added structure and earthiness to the wine.
Winemaking
The fruit for Browne Family was harvested at the peak of phenolic ripeness and tested on the vine for flavor and structure. Once harvested, all grapes were hand-picked into small 1/2 ton bins and immediately de-stemmed. The winery "crusher," used to de-stem fruit was removed to maintain 70% whole berries during fermentation. This allowed for great extraction of color and increased the maturity of tannins making the wine more approachable. After pressing occurred, primary fermentation was completed in stainless steel. The new wine was then transferred to 59-gallon French and American Oak casks; selected for their intense Cabernet varietal characteristics and to balance the fruit tannins. The Browne Family 2012 Merlot was barrel aged for 25 months.
Cellaring
Crafted as a cellar worthy wine; enjoy now or cellar for up to ten years.