Red Mountain is one of the smallest appellations in Washington State and one of the warmest with broad, southwest facing slopes near the Yakima River. Lacking in rainfall and soil nutrients, you would think this were an inhospitable area to grow anything. But grapes love this place and so do we. Sunset Bench recently joined the Kiona Vineyards portfolio and serves as our primary site for Red Mountain Malbec. Located just west of Ranch at the End of the Road, this newer vineyard shares many of Ranch’s desirable traits, including aspect, slope, and southwestern exposure. The predominant soil types of Red Mountain are Warden, Hezel and Scootenay which are a series of wind-blown loess. This variety of soil presents a combination of sand, silt and loam which are exceptional for growing grapes.
Varietal composition: 100% Malec. 15 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
Our 2020 Sunset Bench Vineyard Malbec delivers rich, satisfying aromatics and flavors. Truly a jewel from Red Mountain, this is a brilliant expression of Malbec. Dark as night and inky black in the glass, this wine is lush with juicy brambleberry, salal and currants and bright fruit aromas spilling into a cauldron of big, bold fruit. This robust and structured wine with dense, layered tannins is a show stopper that you can cellar for years to come or enjoy now.
