Stella Maris Red Wine 2003, Columbia Valley -- Northstar Winery Shopping Cart
$29.00
-- The latest release of this popular Northstar Red Wine
"Concentrated blackberry, blueberry and a hint of dusty malt..."
Tasting Notes
Rich and accessible, this wine combines a supple, smooth structure, typical of
the Walla Walla appellation, with the jammy, ripe fruit-forwardness of the
Columbia Valley. Concentrated blackberry, blueberry and a hint of dusty malt
are featured. This full-bodied wine leads into a velvety-silky finish.
Vintage Overview
- The 2003 growing season began with a normal bud break-to-bloom cycle
in early April.
- Warm, dry and constant weather conditions during the summer months
created uniform berry maturation.
- Hot temperatures during the waning days of summer created excellent
ripening conditions.
- Modest spells of cooling precipitation in September ensured physiological
maturity and flavor development at harvest.
Vineyards
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Syrah are sourced from the best
vineyard sites within the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley.
- Vines are five to 20 years old and yield grapes with concentrated varietal
flavors of cherry and plum.
- Fruit from eight different vineyard sites and 14 individual lots contribute to
the final blend.
Winemaking
- At harvest, grapes were destemmed and crushed leaving 25% whole
berries intact.
- Lots were inoculated with Premier Cuvée and Fermirouge yeasts and fermented
separately for five days with daily punch downs.
- The wine was racked into barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging.
Lots were racked at three month intervals for clarity.
- The barrel regime features 60% French oak and 40% American oak with
65% new oak.
- The blend was created after 17 months in the barrel.
TECHNICAL DATA