VINTAGE HIGHLIGHTS
2021 was the 2nd warmest growing season we have ever seen since 2015. We also got to add a new term to the dictionary: "Heat Dome". Three straight days of triple digit temperatures in late June breaking heat records for the Willamette Valley. Bud break started like usual in the middle of April. We had the driest March through May that the Willamette Valley has seen through 128 years of record keeping! Bloom also appeared on time in early/mid June. While late June brought the “Heat Dome”, our grapes made it through thanks to bloom being finished at all our sites and there still being soil moisture, so they grew like crazy over those three days of hellish temperatures. While July and August turned out to be exceedingly hot and dry, September arrived with little rain which that allowed us to fully ripen the grapes. The hot and dry summer made for fruit that was extremely clean, resulting in excellent fermentations. All in all, mother nature gave us something to be grateful for on our 50th anniversary.

WINEMAKING
The grapes were carefully harvested from the east side of Blackberry Block over several days in the end of September and early October. They were sorted to remove any flawed bunches, then de-stemmed directly into several three ton stainless steel fermenters.The grapes were left to soak prior to ambient fermentation taking off, with regular punch-downs for cap management.This wine was aged for 16 months in 100% French oak barrels with 15% new oak, 15% once used oak, and 70% neutral oak.

WINE PROFILE
On the nose, the 2021 Blackberry Block wine shows notes of plum, black cherry, current, and hint of mocha. The palate is fruit forward with light tannins and a bright finish.

PAIRINGS
This wine will pair well with cedar plank salmon with a berry sauce or an Italian pasta suchas mushroom ragu.

THE STORY
The Blackberry Block is the first piece of land purchased by Alison and Alex Sokol Blosser when they succeeded Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser in the family business. It was named for the 20+ years of untamed growth of blackberry bushes throughout the block. Despite all the hard work to prepare the land for planting in 2008, it now thrives as one of Sokol Blosser’s Cellar Club designated wines.

SCORES
91 points - Wine Enthusiast