points
2011 Proprietor’s Cuvée
92 Points, Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Lovely aromatics push scents of espresso, cassis, truffle and baker’s chocolate right up front. The wine is polished, fine-boned and balanced, with taut cranberry and raspberry fruit. It brings in subtle accents of chalk, earth, rock and lead pencil, building to a firm, beautifully structured finish. — P.G.
Dionysus-Weinbau Vineyards
Founded in 1968 through the vision of Alec Bayless, Sagemoor Vineyards was a pioneering effort that helped establish the Washington State wine industry. Its early vineyards are among the oldest large-scale plantings of vinifera grapes in the State. Today, the Sagemoor Group has more than 800 acres in production, supplying premium quality fruit to many of Washington’s most prominent wineries. A significant number of 1972 plantings are still producing highly acclaimed "old vines" Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Other varietals include Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and White Riesling, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Barbera. Excerpts from “The Wine Project – Washington’s Winemaking History”, by Ronald Irvine: “This (Sagemoor Vineyards) became the most important vineyard planting in the Pacific Northwest, with 466 acres of vineyard and no (captive) winery, it became a crucial supplier to many of the small wineries throughout the Pacific Northwest for quality vinifera grapes... Sagemoor Farms consistently produced some of the best grapes in the state. It can be said that Sagemoor Farms and its companion vineyards (Bacchus and Dionysus) truly became the mother vineyards for many of the first wineries that emerged in the ‘70s and ‘80s.... Even Oregon’s first wineries relied on Sagemoor fruit to get established....”
The Sagemoor group is comprised of four partnerships under common management, doing business as Sagemoor Vineyards: Sagemoor Farms, Bacchus Vineyards, Dionysus Vineyards and Weinbau Vineyards. Location is an extremely important factor in growing high quality grapes, and these vineyards are situated on some of the finest sites in the state. Sagemoor, Bacchus and Dionysus are located near Pasco on southwest facing hillsides with dramatic views of the Columbia River below. Weinbau is on the Wahluke Slope above the Columbia River near Mattawa.
Sagemoor customers represent the largest of Washington state wineries, as well as boutique niche market cellars. Our winemaker clients actively participate in viticultural decision-making within their preferred blocks in pursuit of their personal flavor profile goals. Precision farming techniques such as vigor mapping, Regulated Deficit Irrigation, soil profiling, micro nutrient analysis and “green harvest” thinning are applied to manage yields, balance canopy with crop load, optimize sun exposure and ensure consistent high quality fruit. We further tailor our services to give clients the choice of tonnage or acre contracts, hand-pick or machine harvest, bin or tub containers, transportation options and payment terms to suit their specific needs. We strongly believe that only through close, personalized working relationships with our clients can we realize the common goal of growing great wine!
Lauren Ashton Cellars works with a number of prestigious vineyards in the Columbia Valley. Select a vineyard below to read more about them.
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