2019 Côt, Boushey

We've been making wine from the grape known initially as Cot (aka Malbec) since 2013, starting with grapes from Dineen Vineyard. Our style stemmed from an interest in Loire Valley versions of the wine. After a couple of years sourcing from Dineen, we went on the search for another vineyard that would show another side of the same grape, and in the 2016 vintage, we started working with Cot from famed Yakima grower Dick Boushey. The grapes come from his property in Sunnyside, WA, which sits at the top of a long, steep road that leads up to his house. This wine differs significantly from the Dineen version, with more fruit, structure, and acidity. Also, this wine has had ample time to age and is showing beautifully. It is easily my favorite vintage of the Boushey Vineyard Cot. And this wine can hold up to spicy meats thanks to its higher acidity and fruit center. Suggested pairing: Pork Chile Verde.

VINIFICATION
30% whole-cluster, native fermentation, lightly pressed and aged for 10 months in neutral barrel. 

TASTING NOTES
Pronounced aromas and flavors of tart black cherry, peppercorn, and pine combine with a long finish of lifted fruit.

ASPECT/ALTITUDE/CLIMATE/SOIL
South facing at 1200 feet.  Silt loam, wind-blown loess, and Missoula flood deposits on top of fractured basalt.