2020 III Nefer
III (Triple) Nefer's esteemed name comes from the first wine rating system created by the ancient Egyptians. I NFR was a wine for the people, II NFR was a wine for the nobles, while III NFR was reserved only for the pharaohs and the gods. Our III Nefer is made using only the best of the best Cabernet grape clusters set aside from our own Estate Vineyard on Red Mountain. Just as history suggests, this wine is a true icon!
** WINNER of a Double Gold Award from the SF Chronicle Wine Competition, a Gold Award from the Seattle Wine Awards, and 93 points from International Wine Report **
2020 Obelisco III Nefer, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Red Mountain
Vineyards: 100% Obelisco Estate
Bottling: 150 cases 750ml
Alcohol: 15.9% vol.
Barrels: 100% new oak, 100% French
Tasting Notes: This wine has a deeply intense dark purple color and is incredibly inviting with aromas of cranberry, blackberry, and baked cherry pie. The texture of this wine on the front of the palate is velvety and smooth showing its gracefulness. The ripe fruit flavors are interwoven with oak notes of baking spices and toast, layered over savory flavors of roasted meat and dried herbs. The concentration and density of the wine leads into a robust finish exemplifying the power of Red Mountain wines..
Cellaring: Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is drinkable now, showing youthful fruit and a silky texture. If you enjoy aging your wine, the natural acidity and tannin structure of this Cabernet will allow it to age gracefully for 20-25 years.
Production: All the fruit for this wine is from Obelisco Vineyard. The high-density planting yields smaller berries, which contribute to the concentrated flavors. This wine is composed of 50% free run wine which adds elegance and complexity to the blend. The other 50% of the blend is press wine, which adds concentration, depth, dark color and more structured tannins. This wine was aged for 20 months in 100% new, carefully toasted, French Oak.
Harvest notes: 2020 was a warm year in the vineyard, but early fruit set led to a long growing season and excellent hang time. Yields were high in the early part of the season allowing us to thin the crop keeping only the best clusters to fully ripen through the summer months. The sugars and flavors developed evenly and the prototypical cool Autumn evenings on Red Mountain allowed the grapes to retain their natural acidity and freshness. These conditions allowed us to pick the grapes at the perfect moment leading to wines with wonderful concentration and fully ripe fruit flavors.
