| BUY MORE! SAVE MORE! | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | Washington Washington (Columbia Valley) |
| Winery: | LIMINAL |
| Grape Type: | Cabernet Franc |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Vintage: | 2022 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Liminal WeatherEye Vineyard The Mountain Tower is made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot.
All three of these blocks lie quite close together on the steep north-facing side of WeatherEye. Here, full ripeness is reached while preserving great varietal character and lively acidity.
Elegant and evocative aromas of red and black currants, dark plum, violet, Ugandan chocolate, wild tobacco, crushed vanilla bean, and dried thyme. Suave and poised on the palate, with beautifully complex black and blue fruit compote, crushed wild roses, clean tilled dark earth, and windblown herbs. This wine, though drinking great now, is still gathering power, and will age gracefully for many years to come.
The views from the top of Cam Myhrvold’s majestic Red Mountain property inspire one to dream big. What is possible? In vineyard manager Ryan Johnson, Cam found a willing partner - ready to explore the full potential of the site. Ryan spent 15 months researching the 360-acre site and learning the land, before planting a single vine.
The top of the property reaches over 1,200 feet of elevation. As a result, the highest vineyard sites feature fractured basalt lava barely covered by a skiff of windblown soil, bringing to mind the rocky growing regions of Côte Rôtie or Priorat.
As of 2023, 37 acres have been planted. LIMINAL has exclusive access to many of the vineyard’s diverse blocks. Varieties include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Though we are always, by definition, at the precise intersection of past and future, from a distance we can offer a more meaningful context; we can perceive a nexus: a game-changing moment where the future is laid out—the possible—as a rethinking and refining of the past.
THE PLACE
The liminal space can be physical too: the natural manifestation of a metaphysical concept. The long, winding ribbon that runs along the top of Red Mountain where WeatherEye is located is such a place, such a threshold. To the south and west lies Red Mountain’s past, the first vineyards planted nearly 50 years ago. One of the smallest AVAs, Red Mountain is home to some of the state’s most renowned wineries and highly rated wines. Sandy soils, gusty winds, low rainfall, a southwest-facing slope, and extreme temperature variation all contribute to the creation of age-worthy wines of intense color, balance, and richness.
From the well-established vineyards of past, blustery winds rush up through the High Canyon and whistle over the ridge to the north. Lacking a wine history, the northern side is a rural expanse of wild scrub brush, yarrow, and sage, overlooking the large farms and small ranges that punctuate the valley. Tightly spaced vines, many trained on poles, cling to the vertiginous slope of inhospitable rocky soils. Here, the morning sun bathes the vines while the hillside provides some protection from the punishing afternoon heat; the wind is still present, but with less momentum than to the south and west.
MOVING FORWARD
Amidst these harsh conditions, a new expression of Washington emerges. This is the future as conceived by Cam Myhrvold and Ryan Johnson, a future in which we are inspired to participate. But, as this mental picture illustrates, there is no forging the future, without first understanding the past. Together, Ryan and Chris have over 40 years involvement in Washington wine and a passion to serve as stewards for its future. Cam and Marty, too, have a long history of seeing possible futures and striving to attain them.
THE WINE
The usually lighter-hued Grenache is dark ruby in color and compellingly structured. The Syrah, a midnight ink, pulses with purple fruits, floral elements, wild game. The depth and complexity, the concentrated structural force, buoyed by a freshening acidity, are all notably present in the most impressive quantity. In short, the wines are DIFFERENT—reflecting the next level efforts of Cam and Ryan. Their passion and precision drive this project from its roots. Literally.
OUR AIM
At LIMINAL, our over-arching goal is to reflect the effort, passion, and work that was put into this special place, in the wines; to translate the vineyard and all its qualities, into the glass. If the story is one of complexity, our goal remains simple: a dedication to using fruit from the most exciting and ambitious vineyard in Washington to create wines that shine on the world stage.
Liminal WeatherEye Vineyard The Mountain Tower is made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot.
All three of these blocks lie quite close together on the steep north-facing side of WeatherEye. Here, full ripeness is reached while preserving great varietal character and lively acidity.
Elegant and evocative aromas of red and black currants, dark plum, violet, Ugandan chocolate, wild tobacco, crushed vanilla bean, and dried thyme. Suave and poised on the palate, with beautifully complex black and blue fruit compote, crushed wild roses, clean tilled dark earth, and windblown herbs. This wine, though drinking great now, is still gathering power, and will age gracefully for many years to come.
Review:
The 2023 ‘The Mountain Tower’ combines Cabernet Franc (48%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is study, well-structured wine with outstanding flavor and aromatic range. Tar, anise seed, dark chocolate shavings, red bell pepper and black rose petals all mark the nose. The palate is lush and soft on the tongue, with good underlying tension. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2038-
-Owen Bargreen 96 Points
WeatherEye Vineyard - multple block blend.
Salmonberry, herbes de Provence, Amaro, crushed stone.
Liminal Syrah High Canyon Block is made from 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier.
WeatherEye Vineyard - steep slope of High Canyon block.
Dark ruby/purple.
Ethereal aromas of black fruits threaded with violets, aniseed, cacao nibs, bee pollen.
Bass notes of Syrah - blackberry compote, fresh ink - in sublime counterpoint with Viognier’s floral lift glide through to the long finish.
Review:
"More black and blue fruits, iron, lavender, and some background meaty notes emerge from Liminal’s 2020 Syrah WeatherEye Vineyard High Canyon, a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier that spent 16 months in used barrels. With medium to full-bodied richness, a silky, elegant mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and flawless balance, it’s one of the true gems in the vintage. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more."
- Jeb Dunnuck" 97 points
Hightower Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot.
As Hightower Cellars' signature wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Red Mountain wine – bold and full of the flavors that make this region so special. As much as possible, Tim and Kelly Hightower take a non-interventionist approach to winemaking. They place great emphasis on vineyard selection, picking, pressing, and blending so that Hightower wines are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. They let the powerful and concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle.
Aromas of tart blueberry and lush red cherry dominate the nose, while firm tannins and full body lend structure to this inky, pigmented wine. The palate features notes of dark fruit, fresh cut wood, and dried tobacco. This wine is an excellent candidate for decanting, as the aromas evolve wonderfully over time to express softer, lush fruit and hints of herbs and spices.
Red Mountain AVA 100% (Hightower Estate Vineyard 56%, E&E Shaw Vineyard 44%)
New Oak 71%, Neutral Oak 29% (American 67%, French 11%, European 11%, Hungarian 11%)
Un-fined and un-filtered
Pairs with grilled red meat, fig and olive tapenade, bacon wrapped dates.
100% single block Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 20 months in 100% new French oak.
Place
This beautiful block sits on the lower section of the Red Mountain side of the vineyard. Featuring a perfect southwest aspect, it gets the maximum sun exposure for depth and concentration. The land itself is wind-blown loess covering an alluvial floodplain, dotted with indigenous sage.
Winemaker's Notes
Explosively and exotically nuanced aromas of crème de cassis, Himalayan blackberry, black roses, dried violets, pencil shavings, crushed volcanic rock, and liquefied river minerals. While extremely dense and concentrated, this wine has a lot of grace and poise on the palate. The finish of inky deep black fruits, richly refined oak tones, and exotic floral notes, is utterly bewitching. Leave it for 5-7 years if you can or decant well before drinking. This is a 30-year wine in the making.
Murray Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%, Merlot , 6% Malbec, 6%, Petit Verdot.
A beautiful ruby color, this wine is very fruity with lots of plum and just a hint of characteristic Red Mountain minerality. It is very smooth with a slight texture of tannin on the back. This wine is a real Cab crowd pleaser.
As much as possible, winemakers Tim and Kelly Hightower take a non-interventionist approach to winemaking. They place great emphasis on vineyard selection, picking, pressing, and blending so that Hightower wines are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. They let the powerful and concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle.
They age in the oak barrels until they are ready to bottle.Neutral Oak 52%, New Oak 48% (American 57%, Hungarian 15%, French 14%, European 14%).
After primary fermentation, all wines are pressed directly into 59 gallon oak barrels. Aging for 19 months.
Estate Vineyard 75%, Shaw Vineyard 21%, Red Willow 4%
Red Mountain AVA 100%
Intense ruby red color. Hints of spices, fruit and flowers, a bouquet that reflects the soil on which it is born, rich in Alberese. In the mouth it is soft, with a pleasant acidity that makes the wine fresh and lively. Sweet and ripe tannins give the wine a pleasant persistence. Riserva dei Colli is an excellent expression of the Estate's Sangiovese, so much so that it bears its name.
Review:
Bordering on opulent, this red features blackberry, black currant, plum, iron and spice aromas and flavors, matched to a velvety texture. Firms up as the resonant tannins emerge, yet remains harmonious and long. Drink now through 2032. 1,700 cases made, 570 cases imported.
-Wine Spectator 93 Points
The wine has a white gold color with a fine sparkle. The nose displays minerality and hints of citrus. On the palate the wine is balanced and sustained with a finish that is fresh with notes of lemon.
The Blanc de Blancs is a true wine for gastronomy pairing well with the finest fish: sea bass with salt crust, scallops, grilled marinated squid with lemon, thyme, olive oil as well white meats such as veal tartare with ginger and lemon.
Review:
James Suckling Lots of white flowers with fresh and dried apples plus hints of bread dough. Asian pears. Medium- to full-bodied with density, velvety texture and a very dry finish. Flavorful and slightly bitter with richness, structure and class. 2016 base wine with reserve wine from 2014. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 95 Points