2023 "Cascadia"

Willamette Valley AVA   •   $24

Cascadia is a cofermented, minimal intervention red blend inspired by the fresh, quaffable reds of the Touraine region of the Loire Valley. I never rely on an exact “recipe” for this wine; instead I rely on the peculiarities of vintage and whim to compose the blend, and in 2023 the Cascadia is 97% Pinot noir and 3% Gamay.

The 2023 Cascadia’s perfume suggests fresh, ripe cherry, cinnamon, peeled orange, and a hint of soy. It’s a real pleasure to drink, as an uber-fresh melange of currant, loganberry, and raspberry fruits flood the palate, buoyed by tangy acidity and ripe tannins, which provide some grip. It’s undeniably light, and this everyday drinker is a wine of unconfected purity, as it was aged in neutral barrels that left no discernible oak characteristics.

As always, the grapes are co-fermented (i.e. not fermented separately and blended later) at cool temperatures and aged 9 months in a mix of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel tank. No additions or subtractions here, other than 60 ppm SO2 before bottling. 

12.8% alc •   5.2 g/L TA   •   3.87 pH   •   0 g/L RS (totally dry)