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Charles & Charles Red Post No. 35 Cabernet Syrah Blend 2018 (750ml)
Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $9.95
A full mouthfeel with a long and supple finish.
| Producer | Charles & Charles Red Post No. 35 Cabernet Syrah Blend |
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| Country | United States |
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| Region | Washington |
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| Subregion | Columbia Valley |
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| Varietal | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon & 40% Syrah |
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| Vintage | 2018 |
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| Sku | 17752 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Rated 92 Points by James Suckling
“Ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, olives and black pepper on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins framing a juicy, concentrated core of sweet, ripe black fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Lots of fruit but ends dry and stylish.” James Suckling June 2021
Charles & Charles Red Post No. 35
Cabernet Syrah Blend
Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and earthy, savory notes of tobacco and herbs, vanilla, and cocoa. A full mouthfeel with a long and supple finish. It’s an intense dark blue / purple in color with tremendous purity, depth, and focus. Tannins are elegant, and refined.
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon & 40% Syrah
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Alcohol: 14.1%
The Wine
Since the 2012 vintage, all of our Syrah has been fermented whole cluster (with stems) in stainless tanks with fermentations started with native yeasts that come from the vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested and fermented separately, whole berry (stems removed) in stainless steel tanks also with native yeast for both primary and secondary fermentations. From beginning to end, the Cabernet and Syrah were on their skins for 35 days on average. Fermentations proceeded slowly and the wine sat on the skins post fermentation for a week or so for additional extraction. This sort of slow, small batch winemaking is almost unheard of at the scale that we produce. It brings an intensity and richness that belies the low level of alcohol (13.9%) and price point. The resulting wine is bold, rich and textured but not over the top – it remains wonderfully restrained and focused. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and earthy, savory notes of tobacco and herbs, vanilla, and cocoa. A full mouthfeel with a long and supple finish. It’s an intense dark blue / purple in color with tremendous purity, depth, and focus. Tannins are elegant, and refined. The blend this year is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Syrah.
The Label
Charles Bieler & Charles Smith standing in front of the American Legion Post No. 35 building in Waitsburg, WA (north of Walla Walla). Charles Smith bought this building and painted it to create a conceptual art piece. Its intention is to provoke thought about the future while honoring the past. Strong, bold, true and now named for our American Legion Post No. 35 – this wine embodies traits we truly admire.
The Vintage
The 2018 vintage was marked with intense summer heat and what seemed would be an early harvest, but as soon as September hit, a few light rains came, and temperatures dropped and stayed down. This slowed everything down and allowed a nice drawn out gentle fall ripening period which is pretty ideal, especially for the late ripeners like Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest didn’t even start until mid-October and went right into early November frosts. This meant for exceptionally long hang time and gentle ripening.
The Vineyards
We are incredibly fortunate to work with a sensational group of farmers across the full reaches of Eastern Washington. This vintage we sourced from 17 amazing growers across the Columbia Valley with High River and Goose Ridge being the principal growers.
The Terroir
About 15,000 years ago the Columbia Valley was flooded by a series of ice age floods that deposited silt and sand over the entire area. The sediments deposited by the floods now make up the area’s present-day sandy and gravelly soils. These conditions are ideal for grapevines and fruit development and allow all our vineyards to be planted on their own roots. The northerly latitude means more sunlight during the growing months which allows extended phenolic development, embodying unusual texture and naturally soft tannins. Large diurnal swings (30+ degrees on average between high and low temperatures).
Charles & Charles Red Post No. 35 Cabernet Syrah Blend Description
Charles & Charles
When I decided to try my hand at winemaking in Washington State, I knew exactly who to enlist: renowned winemaker Charles Smith. We launched our joint venture with a Washington-grown rosé, inspired by my Provençal roots, ultimately kick-starting the American rosé movement.
Charles & Charles has always been about two guys turning Washington’s old-school dirt and New World fruit into a true original. We’ve been at it for over a decade now, crafting wines that still honor the terroir of Columbia Valley.
