Gorman Winery “Zachary’s Ladder”
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This is where it all started for Gorman Winery. In 2002 it was the first and only wine produced.
- Zachary’s Ladder is a full-bodied and velvety blend from their best Red Mountain vineyards, Stanton, Klipsun, Quintessence, and Scooteney Flats.
- All of the barrels are once used, allowing the fruit to be the main component and “star” of this wine.
Varietal Composition: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot
Elaboration: Aged in 100% French oak for 20 months. Fermentation in stainless steel and finished in barrel.
Tasting Notes: “A gutsy red, this combines a bit of muscle with rich and zesty black cherry, espresso and dusky spice flavors while building richness toward medium-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2031. 750 cases made.” –Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
PRESS
2022 – 92 Wine Spectator
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Chris Gorman is the highly respected owner and winemaker at Gorman Winery in the northeast Seattle suburb of Maltby. After graduating from college in 1991, Chris spent three years working for a small Italian importer. His philosophy was, and still is, “to make wine, it is imperative to understand it.” So, for the next decade, he traveled extensively in the wine areas of Italy, Spain, and Germany before returning home and establishing Gorman Winery in 2002.
He began by choosing premium suppliers and respected growers, such as Kiona Vineyards, partnering with the finest coopers and suppliers, and producing small-batch wines that quickly gained a following. His wines have been described as delicious, raucous, and intense. Chris’s other love is music, and his Woodinville, Washington, tasting room features walls decorated with celebrity-signed guitars. Live music is offered there on Friday nights.