ShadowBuck Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Trystan's Vineyard 2020

This is a pre-arrival offering that is expected in spring of 2026 Our tasting impressions The Cabernet offers elegance, subtlety and refinement. The Malbec chimes in with power and sweet fruit. The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. This is a lighter, more elegant wine than you would expect. That's not to suggest it doesn't have ample heft. Enjoy it now or give it more time to evolve. A delight from a blend that harkens back to the earliest days of Bordeaux. About this wine Inspired by classic Bordeaux blends, this is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Both varieties were planted in Trystan Vineyard in 2014. The elevation is 1,250 feet, western facing at a 17% slope. The volcanic soil is Walla Walla Silt Loam. Grapes are hand-sorted and de-stemmed prior to crush. Fermentation is with encouraged high temperatures and punchdowns twice daily. Aged for 29 months in neutral oak with oak supplementation. About the grape Cabernet Sauvignon is a hearty grape that flowers and ripens late. It is highly adaptive to a wide variety of climates and soils. Its vines are capable of prodigious production, which must be restricted in order to produce the grape's best quality. Among the world's noble red wine grapes, it is the most popular and widely planted. Malbec rose to prominence in Cahors in Southern France, where it was often called Côt. These days, it is best known as the preeminent red grape of Argentina. It ripens best in warm climates and typically produces big, very dark, fruity and tannic wines. About the vintage Here are Tom's notes: The 2020 growing season in The Dalles was defined by early variability and late-season disruption. Spring conditions led to uneven fruit set and reduced yields, while summer progressed with generally moderate heat and steady ripening. Near harvest, widespread wildfire smoke forced rapid picking decisions and limited overall production. Where fruit was harvested prior to heavy smoke exposure, wines show focused ripeness, preserved acidity, and restrained tannin, reflecting both the challenges and select successes of the vintage.