2017 Anvil by Forgeron Minnick Hills Proprietary Blend, 1.5L
We were driven to produce a ‘Right Bank’-inspired Bordeaux Blend from the Walla Walla Valley and had been begging Minnick Hills to gain access to their best fruit so that it could be a part of our ANVIL program. Walla Walla Valley is the perfect place to make this blend due to the long growing season, which results in longer hang times and ultimately adds complexity the finished wine.
A beautifully deep ruby color in the glass, our Minnick Hills Proprietary Blend begins with aromas of currant, red berries, complex floral notes and hints of fresh herbs and graphite. In the mouth you experience a lovely medium-bodied structure with refined tannins and balance. Red fruits abound and lead into the precise finish. A great wine to enjoy with steak, or other grilled meats and vegetables.
The 2017 vintage was a difficult one to start, coming off one the coldest winters in Eastern Washington’s history. Despite a late frost our fruit survived. As Spring turned into Summer, Mother Nature delivered an ideal growing season, long enough for our fruit to fully ripen and short enough to ensure we could pick it before poor weather arrived.
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Varietal Composition | 46% Cabernet Sauvignon,
38% Malbec, 16% Merlot |
| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
| Vineyard | Minnick Hills |
| Harvest Date | 10/15/2017 |
| Acid | 4.5 g/L |
| PH | 3.93 |
| Aging | 16 months in 91% French oak, 21% new, 9% American oak, 80% neutraloak, |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Volume | 1500 ml |
93 POINTS, Jeb Dunnuck
Tobacco, damp earth, truffle, and assorted chocolaty black fruits emerge from the 2017 Proprietary Blend Minnick Hills Vineyard, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a round, silky texture, solid underlying structure, and an exceptional finish. It’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 10-15 years in cold cellars. The blend is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38%, Malbec, and 16% Merlot, all from a site in Walla Walla, that spent 16 months in 20% new French oak.
- Jeb Dunnuck
92 POINTS, Robert Parker
A blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Malbec and 16% Merlot from the Minnich Hills vineyard, the 2017 Anvil Proprietary Blend offers a red-fruited nose with aromas of dark cherry and black raspberry with red plum tones over sof red and purple flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced with a thoughtful amount of oak to lift the mid-palate before ending with fine-grained tannins that linger on the finish. The wine aged for 15 month in all French oak, 40% new. Only 255 cases were produced.
- Anthony Mueller
92 POINTS, Wine Enthusiast
MINNICK HILLS VINEYARD
Minnick Hills Vineyard has really become a special vineyard in our hearts. When the fruits of our labor are combined they truly make a magnificent blend. Having worked these wines separately it was really interesting finally putting them together. They worked so well together to create a much larger picture. We are excited to see what this wine will become in the upcoming years.
