The Walls The Ramparts 2020
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Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spirits
Wine &
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The mourvedre comes from the sandy loamy soils at the bottom of the hill at Red Heaven Vineyard. The syrah comes from the rockier hillside areas and gren- ache from aa west-facing slope. Counoise comes from the center of the vineyard
Blend: 55% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, 13% Counoise
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 44% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre and 25% Counoise, the 2020 The Ramparts is fresh, vibrant and floral with cherry essences that sway with delightful floral aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is focused with a balanced structure and tight tannins that linger over the succulent finish.The wine rested for 18 months in all neutral oak. Best After 2023 Rating : 94+
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 The Ramparts checks in as 55% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, and the rest Counoise that was destemmed and brought up in 29% new French oak. Medium ruby-hued, with a subtle nose of ripe black cherries, dried herbs, pepper, and a touch of loamy earth, this carries to a medium to full-bodied, round, supple, forward, undeniably delicious red blend to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.
Range: 91-93 - Wine & Spirits
Other Vintages
2019-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Wine Cellar
International
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
A coveted source of top quality red grapes among premier Washington producers, the Red Mountain AVA is actually the smallest appellation in the state. As its name might suggest, it is actually neither a mountain nor is it composed of red earth. Instead the appellation is an anticline of the Yakima fold belt, a series of geologic folds that define a number of viticultural regions in the surrounding area. It is on the eastern edge of Yakima Valley with slopes facing southwest towards the Yakima River, ideal for the ripening of grapes. The area’s springtime proliferation of cheatgrass, which has a reddish color, actually gives the area the name, "Red" Mountain.
Red Mountain produces some of the most mineral-driven, tannic and age-worthy red wines of Washington and there are a few reasons for this. It is just about the hottest appellation with normal growing season temperatures commonly reaching above 90F. The soil is particularly poor in nutrients and has a high pH, which results in significantly smaller berry sizes compared to varietal norms. The low juice to skin ratio in smaller berries combined with the strong, dry summer winds, leads to higher tannin levels in Red Mountain grapes.
The most common red grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, among others. Limited white varieties are grown, namely Sauvignon blanc.
The reds of the area tend to express dark black and blue fruit, deep concentration, complex textures, high levels of tannins and as previously noted, have good aging capabilities.