2022 Electrum
Created for owner Betsy Long by her husband and Obelisco's founder, Doug Long, this wine is blended to mirror the percentages of grapes planted in our own Estate Vineyard on Red Mountain. It's name heralds from the ancient Egyptian metal alloy comprised of gold, silver, and copper that was used to gild the top of tall obelisk monuments. Just like its namesake, Electrum shines atop our wine lineup as our flagship wine.
** WINNER of a Double Gold Award from the SF Chronicle Wine Competition **
2022 Obelisco Electrum, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Red Mountain
Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 6% Malbec
Vineyards: 100% Obelisco Estate
Case Production: 400 cases
Aging: 100% French oak, 25% 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 cherry red in color with aromas of black cherry, red currant, and dark chocolate. Upfront, there is a velvety texture, 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 comes entirely 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 grapes were hand-harvested, fermented for 2 weeks at cool temperatures to extract color and flavor, and then aged 20 months in a mix of new and old French oak to help mellow the abundant natural tannin found in Red Mountain wines.
Harvest notes: The 2022 growing season started out with a cold, wet winter, putting significant moisture into the soil. Early varieties started to bud at the end of March/early April, aligned with recent history. A freak blizzard hit Columbia Valley in April, stalling bud break for two to three weeks. Cool weather continued through bloom, and when summer temperatures finally arrived the growing season was already two to three weeks behind. October saw ideal growing conditions, with temperatures five or more degrees above average, resulting in near-perfect finishing weather given the coolness of the season. The wines show balance and finesse due to slightly larger berries and clusters.
