JB Neufeld, "Yakima Valley" Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Yakima Valley, WA

This gentle giant of a wine is an incredible introduction to a talented winemaker’s view of Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe tannins and dark jammy fruit are complemented with balanced acidity and a vibrant finish. Exclusive to Bonde.

COUNTRY: United State of America (USA)

STATE: WA

APPELLATION (AVA): Yakima Valley

REGION: Columbia Valley

SUBREGION: Yakima Valley / Red Mountain

VINEYARDS: Blend: Two Blondes, Artz, Dineen, Red Willow

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot

SOIL: Mix of silty and sandy loam

PRACTICE: Sustainable

VINIFICATION: Aged 22 months in 44% new French oak, bottled unfined & unfiltered

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep red garnet with purple reflection

BODY: Full (9-10)

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Ripe huckleberry, black currants, blackberry jam, basil, fennel

FLAVOR: Ripe tannins, balanced acidity, bright, clean, & vibrant fruit finish

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.6%

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION: Deep red wine sauce with braised venison, caribou, wild buffalo. Aged ribeye steak or seared duck or goose breast served with grilled fennel and root vegetables.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: 

JB Neufeld:

The winery was created by the husband-and-wife team, Justin and Brooke Neufeld. Justin produced its first vintage in 2008. The winery is the only of its kind in Washington, focusing exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon within the Yakima Valley AVA. The goal of the brand is to not only showcase the diversity of the terroir found in the valley through its vineyard-designate bottlings but to use that diversity to build a more complex and balanced Cabernet Sauvignon by blending sites as well.

The Yakima Valley AVA has the most diverse terroir of all the AVAs in Washington.  All the vineyards are located on south-facing slopes created by a series of ridges that are oriented West to East, which is a geological anomaly unique to eastern Washington.  

JB Neufeld's focus is to preserve not only the qualities of the wine but also the place and time from which they were made. They aim to build a Cabernet Sauvignon that possesses multiple layers of complexity that reveal themselves as the wine opens up in the glass. JB Neufeld achieves this by having a winemaking style that is dedicated, thoughtful, and precise to the terroir of their valley.

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS:

Yakima Valley is one of Washington’s most diverse growing regions. It also is the largest sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley, both in total size and planted acreage, with the valley home to over one-quarter of Washington’s total grapevine acreage. Like almost all of eastern Washington’s other growing regions, Yakima Valley soils are strongly influenced by the Missoula Floods, which were a series of dramatic cataclysms in prehistoric times. Moderate to deep silt-loam is layered over gravel or directly onto basalt bedrock. This foundation creates well-drained soils that are ideal for irrigated viticulture. Red Mountain was an island during Ice Age flooding. This tremendous natural force scoured the land, leaving only a barren basalt moonscape. Prevailing winds from the southeast deposited super-fine granite-based silt and dust particles, called sandy loess (pronounced “less”), on top of the rock. The resulting eolian soils are fine-grained, well-drained, and perfect for growing grapes with minimal disease and pest pressure.

Two Blondes Vineyard:

The vineyard is located in Zillah Washington, just outside of Yakima. The soils are a complex mix of Harwood - Burke - Wiehl series. They are silty loams formed in a silty loess eolian mantle over a lime-silica-cemented durpan. The 30 acre Yakima Valley vineyard was planted in 2000.

Red Willow Vineyard:

The furthest western vineyard within the Yakima Valley AVA. Made up of four distinctive blocks, the vineyard supplies fruit to over 20 wineries across Washington and Oregon. Founded in 1971 Red Willow is one of the oldest vineyards in Washington State. Our vines are grown on steep hillsides, with unique formations of soils unlike any other. the valley gradually rises putting it between 1100-1300 ft. elevation. A gentle south-east facing slope flows throughout most of the 60 acre block. Soils are classified as a Warden sandy loam.