2016 Collusion Red Wine
2016 Collusion Red Wine by Josh Phelps
Red Mountain/Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington State
Collusion tips its hat to the rich history of the west during prohibition, commending those who kept the industry alive by any means.
The first thing you notice about this wine – other than its dark color – are strong aromas of very fresh fruit. The texture is medium and lively, with flavors of black currants, blackberries, blueberries, and black licorice.
The finish is long and smooth, with very soft tannins. This is a mellow red wine. Drink it at a BBQ or on its own while relaxing in a comfy chair.
Winemakers Notes:
Garnet red in color, the 2016 Collusion opens with warm, sweet and inviting scents of blackberry jam, raspberry, forest floor, vanilla and cedar. The wine is very broad and open on the palate, with mingling flavors of fresh, ripe black cherry, restrained oak, vanilla and clove that continue well into the lingering finish. The luxurious mouthfeel provided by velvety, mature tannins assures that this wine will continue to improve in the bottle
Vintage:
The 2016 growing season in Columbia Valley began quite early, with high May temperatures pushing bloom to occur before the end of the month. Cooler, more normal weather prevailed through the summer months, leading to a smooth start for the harvest of our red Bordeaux varieties in late fall. Despite a bit of rain in October, the crop was generous, not just in terms of quantity, but also in the fresh flavors, balanced tannins and spot-on acidity of the harvested fruit.