2021 Rocky Pond "11 Dams - DD Vineyard" Columbia Valley Red Blend

The 2021 11 Dams is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon and 51% Malbec. It's dark and brooding, leading off with a wave of green olive and sage before giving way to black currant. This is surprisingly fresh and vibrant, with masses of ripe blackberry and zesty spice, taking on a particularly spicy sensation toward the close. Hints of licorice combine with dried black cherries as the 2021 finishes long, potent and lightly structured. Frankly, this is a lot of fun to taste.

Somehow once again we scored a parcel of this impressive wine for more than 50% off! We offered the 2020 last year and it sold out fast. Rocky Pond is a small estate producer that sits in a brand new AVA in Washington called Rocky Reach. As the name suggests, this region is defined by exceptionally rocky soils. The bedrock is hard quartz and basalt, over the top is more rock, but this time in the form of glacial deposits, cobblestones and gravel. The DD Vineyard that provided the fruit for this wine sits on an elevated terrace directly above the Columbia River. The mighty river moderates the temperatures of the region while the rocky soils and fierce winds channeled down the river gorge result in very intensely flavored grapes with powerful, ripe fruit but also complex stony minerals. This wine, a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, fermented separately, aged in 33% new French oak for 22 months, then blended together. Another key to Rocky Pond's exceptional wines is their winemaker Elizabeth Keyser. Elizabeth made wine at Napa Valley stalwarts Cliff Lede and Hall before moving to Washington to take the job at Rocky Pond. The wine has some Napa Valley Cab like qualities, too - explosive dark fruit, ripe plum, blackcurrant, chocolate coated cherries, some graphite and espresso notes. Then comes a streak of liquid rock minerality, hot stone, dusty earth. The tannin structure is notable, but nicely refined from that long repose in French oak, it's a powerful wine, but not chewy and overly grippy on the palate. Every time I taste it I can't believe what we're selling this wine for! It's just such an outstanding bargain for this price. Seriously, grab a couple bottles to enjoy now and a few to put away in the cellar, this wine is going to impress for many years to come and the value is off the charts!