Cougar I
Cougar I: 2010 Red Wine
GORDON ESTATE - Columbia Valley
COMPOSITION: 78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Syrah
Winemaking
For the inaugural launch of this collector’s series wine we decided to create a wine that plays to our strengths, the Washington State Bordeaux blend. A wine based on the classic Bordeaux varietals of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of non-traditional Syrah (from the Rhone region) blended in. To that end we combed the 2010 vintage of wines looking for amazing and interesting components with great success. Our first discovery was a highly aromatic Merlot that coincidentally was also a barrel trial of American Oak barrels of various styles and toast levels. Complementing the Merlot we chose an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from our original plantings of 30 year old vines. To complete the cuvee a dash of Syrah was added for depth of flavor and aromatic lift. The resulting blend was assembled and carefully bottled in March of 2014.
Cougar II
Cougar II: 2013 Red Blend
Columbia Valley
COMPOSITION: 50% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 22% Cabernet Franc
Winemaking
This wine opens with a brightness of blackberry and blueberry aromas layered in with dark chocolate, caramel, and graham cracker. It has a savory palate that is chock-full of dark fruit and lush, velvety tannins that lead to a long elegant finish.
Cougar III
Cougar III
Bergevin Lane Vineyards - Walla Walla Valley
COMPOSITION: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot & 26% Malbec
Winemaking
Crisp Aromas of “Crimson” cherry mingle with arenaceous hints of the gray Palouse soils found in the northern Walla Walla Valley. Fruit driven flavors of raspberry, strawberry and black cherry flow over a subtle suggestion of leather, star anise and baking spices. The finish is straight from a chocolatier, cocoa powder and semi-sweet morsels around dried cherry, rasp-berry and blackberry. Drinkable now and should age nicely to 2024.
Cougar IV
Cougar IV
Efeste - Columbia Valley
COMPOSITION: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot & 13% Syrah
Winemaking
Pretty and deep ruby/garnet in color, the Cougar IV blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah offers compelling aromas of dark fruits marked by rich plum, black raspberry, and dark cherry cordial. These are met with savory nuances of white pepper, dark olive and licorice, along with light oak tones of vanilla, toasted grains, and roasted coffee bean. Dark, extracted – almost nectarous – fruit flavors persist throughout, carried effortlessly along a full-bodied frame and impressively integrated tannins.
Cougar V
Cougar V
Mercer Wine
COMPOSITION: 39% Merlot, 31% Syrah, 16% Malbec, 5% Grenache
Winemaking
Cougar V features aromas of ripe black cherry and plum with notes of milk chocolate, coffee, sweet smoke, and pipe tobacco. This is balanced with hints of plush fruit and powdery tannins in the mid-palate, ending with a long lingering finish of Bing cherry and spice.
Cougar VI
Cougar VI
Canoe Ridge Vineyards
COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaking
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cougar VI is dark and concentrated. The wine features classic aromas of blackberry fruit with some subtle baking spice notes from aging in French oak. Fruit flavors continue on the palate, with balanced acidity and subtle toast notes enhancing a blackberry finish.
Cougar VII
Cougar VII
Reininger Winery
COMPOSITION: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
Winemaking
Fall without Cougar Football doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some football play…on words. Any run-and-shoot quarterback would be proud to sling this WSU Cougar VII Cabernet Sauvignon, dark-fruit cherry bomb, by Reininger. Intense scents of macerated black cherries, plum, blackberry, and black currant line up at scrimmage with judicious oak and floral notes at wideouts. The snap delivers a balanced attack revealing an opulent texture, velvety tannins with vaulting acidity that elevates the brutish cherry, red plum, and dash of nimble cassis. Elegant floral-oak spice waltzes in perfect harmony, from goal line to goal line, with sumptuous black-cherry high stepping it to the house.
Cougar VIII
Cougar VIII
Goose Ridge Vineyards
COMPOSITION: 38% Mourvedre, 19% Syrah, 16% Grenache, 15% Petit Sirah, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaking
The grapes for this blend were hand-harvested and gently processed into small vessels for fermentation. Fermentations were managed to regulate the development of concentrated flavors and soft tannins. The wines were aged 24 months in 85% French oak and 15% American oak barrels (85% new) selected to express the beautiful fruit supported by a nuanced oak character.
Cougar IX
Cougar IX
Basalt Cellars
COMPOSITION: Grenache 58%, Syrah 27%, Mourvèdre 15%
Winemaking
Basalt Cellars is recognized for producing exceptional Rhone style blends so when they were offered the opportunity to produce Cougar IX they went straight for a GSM blend. Grapes were sourced from top growers representing six Washington State AVAs. Each vineyard’s fruit was accretive to the blend. The fruit was hand-picked at perfect ripeness, destemmed and fermented in small lots, pressed at dryness, and aged in mostly French oak barrels for 18 months. You are going to love the result!
Learn more about Cougar IX and how to purchase it here.