Mullan Road 2016 Red Blend, Cakebread, Columbia Valley

Mullan Road Cellars is a project led by Dennis Cakebread of Cakebread Cellars to produce first class wines from the unique microclimates of Washington State. Drawn by the high quality of wines coming out of the Columbia Valley. The grapes for Mullan Road Cellars Red Blend come from several outstanding, low-yielding vineyards in the Columbia Valley, including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard, as well as Stillwater Creek Vineyard and the Corfu Crossing Vineyard outside Royal City, an area soon to be designated the Royal Slope appellation.


The winemaker is Aryn Morrell, a Washington native who spent years making wine in Napa Valley with prestigious wineries such as Silver Oak Cellars, Joseph Phelps, Quintessa and Chappellet before returning to Washington in 2007. This Bordeaux-style Red Blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The wine aged 18 months in 34% new French and American oak.

This was awarded a Gold Medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. They said "Initial aromas of fresh black cherry, cassis, vanilla bean and juniper berry make way for deeper scents of sweet blackberry pie and dried strawberry. The palate offers concentrated flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant and dark cherry with a touch of spice. It’s framed by firm but silky tannins for balanced elegance."

Jeb Dunnuck scored this 91 points saying "Spicy oak, bouquet garni, and both red and black fruits emerge from the 2016 Red Wine Blend, which hits the palate with medium bodied richness, a seamless texture, and fine tannins. It's a balanced, elegant red that has fine tannins and loads to love. It should also keep for over a decade. This 2016 is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in 34% new French and American oak."
 

The Inernational Wine Report scored this 92 saying "The 2016 Mullan Road Columbia Valley Red Wine is a lovely showing in this vintage. It begins with inviting aromas of red and dark currants, which combine with spices, tobacco and forrest herbs. Medium to full-bodied with a wonderful velvety texture and nicely polished tannins framing the red and dark fruits. This is showing beautifully now."