Pollard Red Wine | Pollard Vineyard 2017 / 750 ml.

Dark ruby with purple highlights, the 2017 Pollard Vineyard Red Wine offers seductive aromas of blackberry essence, dark cherry, juicy plum, turned earth and worn leather with subtle baking spices. A blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is medium-bodied and shows impeccable balance with a clearly defined framework of fruit. The expression is velvety on the palate, with a delicate but persistent finish. It’s a beautiful wine!

Bright, moderately saturated ruby-red. A faint note of musky reduction to the aromas of dark raspberry, flowers, mint and milk chocolate. Suave and smooth on entry, then easygoing and fine-grained in the mid-palate, with enticing floral lift to the moderately dense black and blue fruit and licorice flavors. I find this wine a bit more harmonious and filled in than the ’16 version, but then these vines are still very young (this ’17 was from just the fourth leaf). Suaver and longer than the 2016 release, with the tannins better supported by fruit. Not a sweet style, but this blend will give early pleasure. The Pollard wines are gently priced for serious Washington reds.