Syrah is a mystery to me – it’s one of the most forgiving of grapes, growing easily in a variety of climates and soils, and yet it is very exacting about what it needs to be excellent. Granite soils are what people talk about for the classic northern Rhone wines, and there are generally low fertility soils in the best spots, along with ideal aspect and exposure to the sun. Les Collines Vineyard is quite different from that, but the soil is primarily wind-blown loess with low fertility and easy exposure to the sun and the cooling wind. Here we think Syrah is distinctive and can gain complexity dependent upon the vintage and winemaking.

Cabernet Sauvignon is given pride of place in most cellars because it is usually represents at least a portion of the longest lived of bottles. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is from Seven Hills Vineyard, one of the pioneering Walla Walla vineyards (originally planted in 1972) and the wines tend to be very firm and solid but with elegance that arises over time.

Merlot from Washington State surprises many people; when you visit a Washington winery, they are likely to pour their Merlot after their Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot will often show as more sinewy and weighty at least in the early going. Seven Hills Vineyard is no exception to that rule and were we to craft a wine solely for a five to eight-year window, we would probably let Merlot be the dominant voice. But we’re aiming for complexity over time.

Cabernet Franc in Washington State and, particularly in Walla Walla, is a great portion of why we have come to this place. Often it is simply fun and fruity, but when it is not allowed to (over) ripen (at least in our view), it can remind an observant taster of a very ripe Chinon. Okay, maybe not quite like Chinon, but something like its herbal-floral wonder. With Seven Hills Vineyard, we find that we have to harvest early to keep those notes.

Petit Verdot usually shows up only in small portions in most places where it is grown, adding color and tannin to red Bordeaux blends. But I’ll never forget asking Gilbert Rokvam, the legendary winemaker at Chateau Lafite Rothschild, if he would characterize Petit Verdot as adding anything more than those two elements. He took care to engage my focus and said, “young man, without Petit Verdot, Lafite is not Lafite!” I slunk away.

Grenache isn’t exactly Rodney Dangerfield (nobody is laughing at Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Priorat) but most Grenache is treated with little respect. It’s seen as a blender for Syrah, a great grape for rosé, unless it comes from those two aforementioned places. Then it’s really great. Hmm. We think people are missing the boat – it can be as lilting as Pinot Noir but with a more generous and easier character. You probably shouldn’t age this for more than five or ten years (at the outside) but once you’ve tasted it, you’ll probably drink it all this week.