Syncline Winery Subduction Red 2022

Long inspired by Southern Rhone Valley wines, this is our answer to a Washington version of a Côtes du Rhône Villages wine. This blend of classic southern French varieties are unique and expressive, yet each contributes to creating a harmonious whole. This remarkable wine displays an enticing, brilliant ruby color. It delivers flavors of black raspberry, wild currant, and savory notes, followed by aromas of late summer berries, baking spices, and hints of licorice. The juicy midpalate, bright acidity, and rich tannins provide a decadent, versatile wine compatible with many foods and occasions.

Subduction Red is an exploration of Washington AVA’s and Rhone varieties. Grapes sourced from Horse Heaven Hills, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain are from vineyards with long-term Syncline contracts. What is essential for us is what each site contributes to the overall blend.

All fruit was hand-picked and de-stemmed into a mix of oak and concrete wine tanks.

Fermentation was with native yeast, managed with manual punch-downs, pumpovers, and pigeage.

Elevage occurred in a mix of neutral French oak puncheons, oak tanks and concrete wine tanks.

Bottled August 2023

Syncline ('sin-klin): a trough of stratified rock in which the beds dip toward each other from either side. The winery is named after the Coyote Wall Syncline visible from the property.

Owners and winemakers James and Poppy Manton's winery and vineyards are located in the Columbia Gorge AVA, which straddles Washington and Oregon. They were part of the small group that founded the Columbia Gorge AVA in 2004. The AVA is divided into a cool, rainfall-rich western part and a semi-arid desert eastern part. They source grapes from both areas of this special region and from top-rated growers throughout Washington State.

Started in 1999 with only 76 cases by a couple who had been making Pinot Noir in Oregon, Syncline's winemaking philosophy has remained consistent. All wines are delicate and elegant. They have built a strong reputation as a creative, limited-production,　autonomous estate winery with a vision of creating world-class wines while maintaining biodynamic estate vineyards, green building practices, and innovative winegrowing.