Midnight purple in color, with initial aromas of fresh blackberries, tar, and earth, then evolving to black raspberries, mint, milk chocolate, and desert herbs. Powerful and concentrated black fruit-plum, currant, berry, cherry-that takes a bit of time to unwind, then opens to a full mid-palate of ripe fruit. Big Red Mountain structure that will allow the wine to develop for well over a decade. A classic vintage for Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval.
40% Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot
From the winery: "This vineyard has again stood up to its reputation as one of the best in WA. The wines are very dark and the nose is raspberry, tar and a lingering scent of flowers and forest coupled with an almost palpable mineral quality. The early sophistication of the nose is upheld by the serene middle plate and enticing finish."
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Wine Advocate 94 points for 2003 and 2002 vintages.
2004 Ciel du Cheval--48% Merlot/30% Cab Franc/15% Cab/7% Petit Verdot
Perfumey red fruit with intense notes of cassis give way to gorgeously ripe black raspberry and cherry. This is a tightly wound wine, with great concentration and polished tannins. Practice patience and you'll find yet another collectible Ciel du Cheval red wine from Chris Camarda.
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As Chris Camarda has developed his style of winemaking over the years, he has focused on the primacy of the vineyard over variety. It is now the driving force behind Andrew Will. While the idea of terroir has become almost a hollow marketing tool, it has great attraction for Chris in its purest form. "I believe that an individual piece of property can form a signature - an identity - and it is that face that is the focus of my winemaking, " "We are trying to let the vineyards reveal themselves. I believe that if Washington is ever to be considered a great wine region we need to establish the characteristics of our geographical areas and the characteristics of each vineyard in those areas."
