We are brought the last of our fruit in today! The first few weeks of harvest are usually the most difficult. Remembering how to use equipment you haven't touched in ten months. Working out the logistics and figuring out the new harvest. This was all compounded for us with breaking in a new facility and equipment. Everything is now running smoothly like a well oiled machine. We have over half our fruit in and will bring the rest in the next few weeks. Everything looks great so far. Word on the street was that we would have a late harvest but that has not been the case. I was out in the vineyards early and was amazed how quickly we caught up. Three weeks of awesome weather can do that. I think in some cases we have been a bit early like we were last year. Again the grapes have been wonderfully balanced coming into the winery. Washington is truly a remarkable place to grow grapes. Year after year we have great vintages.

A few things besides harvest that I am excited about are our upcoming releases. Both the Cab and the Carmenère are my favorite wines we produced in 2006. I know, I know all the wines are like my children but these two have shown the greatest potential. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills, 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot aged in 100% new French Oak barrels for 19 Months. This wine is also unfined and unfiltered. Elegance defines this wine with complex aromatics of dark cherries, currant, mint, vanilla and spice. The mouth-feel has fine grain tannins and a wonderful mid palate. This wine is definitely age-worthy! Not to be outdone, Cab's close cousin, our Carmenère is a big wine. Definitely the fullest bodied wine we produced in 2006. Originally Carmenère was called Grande Vidure in Bordeaux but a little over 100 years ago it was thought to have gone extinct, when a pest nearly wiped out all the grapes in Europe. Recently it was rediscovered in Chile where it was mixed up with Merlot. Now it has found its way to Washington State, and I think the best site for it to grow, up on Phinny Hill overlooking Champoux Vineyard. Our 2006 Phinny Hill Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills Carmenère is 90% Carmenère, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Aged for 19 months in 50% new and 50% used French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. Rich and full in the mouth with soft lush tannins. On the nose you'll find tanned leather, mole spices and smoke.

Come join Tertulia Cellars the first full weekend in November for the release of these two special wines. Dick Beightol, my good friend and the grower for Phinny Hill we be present signing the bottles with me. We will also be conducting tours of our newly broken in facility.

Ryan Raber
Tertulia Cellars
Winemaker