Electrum 21
2021 Obelisco Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Red Mountain
Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Malbec
Vineyards: 100% Obelisco
Case Production: 416 cases
Aging: 100% French oak, 50% new
Tasting Notes: Electrum is wine that embodies beauty and grace. It has quiet confidence, and it is a representation of everything that the Obelisco Estate Vineyard has to offer. Deep ruby red in color with aromas of ripe cherry, red currant, dark chocolate. A sip reveals a silky texture on the front of the tongue, bountiful but restrained tannins, and a long, complex finish. The wine shows focus of flavor and a lively freshness that will allow for graceful aging.
Cellaring: This red blend 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 based wine will allow it to age gracefully for 20-30 years.
Production: The fruit for this wine comes from Obelisco Vineyard on Red Mountain. The densely planted vineyard produces fewer clusters per vine and small berries which promote intense flavors and excellent concentration. The cool fermentation temperatures and 18 months in oak help to mellow the abundant natural tannin found in Red Mountain wines.
Harvest notes: 2021 was a warm year in Washington State. The heat dome that occurred in June reduced berry size and cluster size producing wines with amazing intensity. The vines managed the heat stress well and the grapes ripened evenly, and sugars and flavors developed in balance. In typical fashion, September and October were cool, allowing the grapes to retain acidity and freshness. The 2021 wines show classic Washington ripeness matched with elegance and brightness.
2020 OBELISCO Electrum Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA:Red Mountain
Winemakers:Ken Abbott
Blend:91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
Vineyards:100% Obelisco
Bottling:496 cases 750ml
Alcohol:15.9% vol.
Barrels:45% new oak; 100% French
Tasting Notes:Dark purple, magenta inky color. The first aromas to hit your nose boasts ripe fruit like loganberry, blueberry and cherry along with some cola, vanilla and some gentle oak tannin. The first sip on the palate brings the nose to fruition with the same notes of fruit and spice. The top of your palate experiences the buzz of the fruit and spice and then spreads over the whole mid-palate revealing slightly darker fruit tones and mellow spice. The wine finishes on the back of the palate with vanilla and concentrated dark fruit that lingers for a long and pleasant tail. The mouthfeel is smooth and coats the palate wonderfully. Just smell, sip and enjoy. Take your time enjoying yet another classic example of our signature Electrum Cabernet.
Cellaring:Because it is made from Red Mountain grapes this wine should age well for the next 12 to 15 years. Because it is Obelisco fruit, it is soft and inviting now for wine that is 90% Cabernet.
Production:All the fruit for this wine is from Obelisco Vineyard. The high density planting yields smaller berries, which contribute to the concentrated flavors, yet the fruit from this vineyard always makes wines with luxurious tannins and mouth feel. Combine this with 20 months in 45% new oak and you get a wine that invitingly combines great fruit and oak.
Harvest notes:2020 was a hot year that had lots of smoke in Eastern WA. The Obelisco vineyard was lucky to stay out of the fray of the direct smoke and did not see damage like some vineyards did. Oddly enough the atmospheric smoke of 2020 created a heat barrier and literally dropped the temperatures on Red Mountain by 15 degrees which bridged the fruit from the summer to the cooler fall which allowed a little bit more hang time for the grapes. However, the sugars developed very early while flavors developed a little bit later leading to more sugar to ferment to alcohol which means a slightly higher alcohol year for Obelisco. All in all, despite the challenges, the harvest went well.
