2008 Rockwell Brown Red Mountain
Region: Red Mountain, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States of America
Third of the four year vertical we are trying out for #WAWineMonth. We had the 05, 07, 08 and 09.
Medium garnet red. Light baking spices on the nose with some tobacco but a bit muted overall. A bit younger characteristics to start on the nose but never really opened up. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus body. Layered palate with cherries, bitter dark cocoa powder, tobacco leaves, a touch of tomatoes, and damp earth. Solid minerality in the medium plus finish.
Tried to dig up a little bit of information on Rockwell Brown Wines online and reread through the emails from Jon Rimmerman of Garagiste. From what it sounds like, this estate's last vintage was the 2011 bottling of their Bordeaux blend before closing. Rockwell Brown Wines was owned and made by George H. Brown Jr. and Elizabeth Rockwell Brown with their first vintage in 2005. Both huge Bordeaux fans they made their wines with the help of the Hedges Family Estate. This particular bottling is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Each vintage was around 350 cases.
2016 till 2018.
Price Point:
$ - Purchased through Garagiste Email Offers for $23.93. Can be purchased online for $39.99.First wine to start off the night before diving into our peppercorn, rosemary, garlic and red wine marinated flank steak. Brick red with a dark ruby core. Lovely aged nose with notes of damp leaves, forest floor, wet tobacco, an old cigar box and undertones of dark plums. Palate even tasted like a 15 year old bottle. Not that it was over the hill or tired, but the complexity of the aromatics and smoothness on the palate. Moderate tannins (5/10) that were melted and delicious. Smooth moderate plus body with a ton of truffles, ground mushrooms, earthy and dried dark plums. Moderate plus finish, smooth and plush. Very enjoyable and did a great job starting off the meal.
Tried to dig up a little bit of information on Rockwell Brown Wines online and reread through the emails from Jon Rimmerman of Garagiste. From what it sounds like, this estate's last vintage was the 2011 bottling of their Bordeaux blend before closing. Rockwell Brown Wines was owned and made by George H. Brown Jr. and Elizabeth Rockwell Brown with their first vintage in 2005. Both huge Bordeaux fans they made their wines with the help of the Hedges Family Estate. This particular bottling is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Each vintage was around 350 cases.
2016 till 2018.
Price Point:
$ - Purchased through Garagiste Email Offers for $23.93. Can be purchased online for $39.99.