2021 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington
Tasting Notes
Sight: Dense ruby
Aromatics: Dark cherry, fig, clove, cinnamon, granite
Taste/Finish/Texture: Bold & concentrated fruit, velvety structured mid-palate, refined tannins. Dark cherry, cocoa nibs & baking spices on the palate
Vintage Notes
The 2021 vintage began with a mild, dry winter and only a few snow events in Jan. & Feb. Bud break occurred in mid-April, unabated by some snap freezes that caused initial alarm. Steady warm temps through spring gave way to a good, balanced fruit set. Summer brought record heat, topping 115°F at the end of June. Vineyard managers did an excellent job combating the above-average temps, which continued into Sept. & Oct., creating an early harvest. The crop was smaller than average but packed with concentration and high quality — another gorgeous Washington vintage!
Winemaking Notes
Our Conner Lee & Dionysus Merlots were harvested in late Sept. Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc were picked whole berry at peak sugar/acid balance in early Oct. Fermentation was on skins with a mixture of pump overs, pulsair, and punch downs 2-3 times daily for 12-14 days at 75-85°F for optimal extraction. Once the desired balance was reached, the wine was drained off skins into 100% (50% new) French oak barrels for secondary malolactic fermentation. Once through, the wine was sulfured and aged on lees till blended, and the wine was sterile filtered prior to bottling.
Specs
Final Blend: 60% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc
Appellations: 99% Columbia Valley AVA, 1% Wahluke Slope AVA
Vineyards:
56% Conner Lee Vineyard
43% Dionysus Vineyard
1% Weinbau Vineyard
Aging: 18 months barrel aging in 100% French oak barrels (50% new oak)
Alcohol: 15.0%
pH: 4.1
TA: 5.1 g/L
RS: 0.22 g/L
Production: 1587 cases
Bottling Date: June 22, 2023
What’s Included
2-bottles:
2x 2021 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington Case:
12x 2021 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington
The story of J. Bookwalter Winery is a story of family heritage, deep roots, and a centuries-old commitment to the land.
Ten generations of the Bookwalter family have been involved in American agriculture. But it was Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, who led the family into viticulture. After graduating from UC-Davis in 1963, Jerry spent 13 years farming in California’s San Joaquin Valley before moving his family in 1976 to the Tri-Cities in Washington State. Once there, he firmly stamped the Bookwalter name on the state’s nascent wine industry. From 1976 through 1982, Jerry helped manage the plantings of three iconic vineyards – Sagemoor, Bacchus, and Dionysus. He eventually became the vineyard manager of the famed Conner Lee Vineyard, which remains the largest source of grapes for J. Bookwalter wines. And in 1982, he leveraged his vineyard connections and industry knowledge to start J. Bookwalter Winery.
J. Bookwalter specializes in producing some of Washington’s finest wines through meticulous winemaking and exceptional vineyard sources. The winery’s tasting room in Richland includes a full-service restaurant, Fiction, and was named one of the best tasting rooms in the United States by Sunset magazine. J. Bookwalter also has a modern tasting studio in Woodinville and opened Fable, a casual dining restaurant located on the Columbia River in Richland, in 2023.
Today, J. Bookwalter is one of Washington’s most recognized wine brands with multiple awards and honors from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and the Wine Advocate, as well as distribution and sales in 35 states and Canada.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
2021 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington
Tasting Notes
Vintage Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$840.00/Case for 12x 2021 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington at J. Bookwalter Wines
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Oct 2 - Monday, Oct 6