Airfield Estates Bombshell Red
WHY WE LOVE IT
- 100% Estate Grown.
- Each varietal was carefully selected for this blend, from blocks that are the best suitable for each grape varietal.
- This high caliber blend was created with a bounty of the best fruits and a nice touch of balanced oak and soft tannins to create a well-balanced wine.
- Bombshell will be age-worthy and enjoyable in its youth and will be a wine that will make a lasting impression.
Varietal: 47% Syrah, 33% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 1% Grenache
Elaboration: The grapes were sent to various size fermenters. They were then cold soaked for 48 before being inoculated with several different strains of yeast. Our extraction approach was more aggressive during the beginning of fermentation, which allowed us to extract the color and flavors we look for in each of these varietals. Once alcohol levels started to increase, we then took a more gentle approach to avoid harsh tannins and achieve our end goal of a soft, lush finish while maintaining balance and structure. After fermentation, each lot was then sent to a variety of new and neutral French oak barrels and inoculated for malolactic fermentation. After malolactic fermentation was complete, each barrel had its lees stirred twice a month for up to four months, this process helps build structure and roundness while enhancing the mouthfeel and acting as a fining agent to naturally soften the wine. The final blend was aged in 100% French oak for 18 months, with 20% being new French oak, 25% 1 to 3-year-old French oak, and 55% neutral oak.
Tasting Notes: A beautiful bouquet of dark fruit aromas reveals layers of blackcurrant and blueberry jam. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied showcasing silky tannins and flavors of sweet plum, roasted fig, spice, and lingering savory nuances. The finish is remarkably smooth and exceptionally balanced ensuring that each sip leaves a lasting impression. Enjoy now through 2035, with optimal maturity peaking around 2029.
PRESS
n/a
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Airfield Estates is a fourth-generation family vineyard based in the Yakima Valley, Washington. Today the winery is overseen by brother-sister duo Marcus Miller and Lori Stevens. The siblings prepared themselves for this endeavor. Marcus pursued an MBA in Finance and a degree in Viticulture and Enology, interning at Canoe Ridge in Walla Walla, he also worked as winemaker at Tsilan Cellars in Chelan and harvester at Montana Brancott Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. Laurie obtained a Master’s in Wine Business from the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, South Australia, with a background in retail distribution management..
Prior to its farming days, Airfield Estates operated as a training base for hundreds of Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. The airbase closed in 1944, and the airplane hangars and other buildings were auctioned off to the Miller family for $1. The ranch produced alfalfa, asparagus, potatoes, onions, and oats, as well as cattle and hogs. Founder H. Lloyd Miller’s entrepreneurial spirit brought him in contact with President Roosevelt to find the funding for the Rosa Canal Project in the Yakima Valley, enabling irrigation water access from the high mountains to the soon-to-be established 830-acre winery. In 1967, Don Miller, the current owner’s grandfather, planted three “test” varietals, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which would lead to more than 20 different varietals being greenhouse-propagated and commercially planted by 1971 as the oldest established AVA in Washington State.