Cult of Ceres Messor MMXVII

Winemaker’s Notes – The 2017 Messor is a Cabernet-based blend from the historic Dionysus Vineyard. As one of the most celebrated vineyards in Washington State viticulture history, the Dusted Valley family is honored to feature this extraordinary place through our fourth release of Messor, Ceres’ helper god who reaps the harvest. This wine is an extremely limited production and has been carefully tucked away to provide additional time to bottle age. It is a powerful yet elegant wine with understated weight and polish. The lingering fruit and earthy finish is driven by refreshing acidity and ripe, building supple tannins.

Vintage Notes – Surprise, surprise! When it was all said and done, the 2017 vintage was another  warmer than normal growing season. It started late after a long cold winter pushing bud break to late April, which is later than our historical average by ten plus days. There was plenty of available moisture in the soil profiles from the snow and the spring rains leading to some welcome extra canopy useful for the California sprawl system shading the grapes. Summer came and so did our heat pushing things ahead until the weather turned cooler in September slowing everything down and allowing for our treasured hangtime that provides plenty of freshness and natural acidity.

The 2017 Messor was fermented using native yeast, our noninterventional low sulfur winemaking practices. It was picked at the height of ripeness and almost equally divided between the Old Vine 1973 Block 16 and Block 14. Although these blocks are only separated by a gravel road, they each provide separate and distinct character to the blend. Block 14 was picked October 17th and brings more of the dark fruit and dusty earth. The Old Vines were picked just a few days later and compliment with redder fruit, intriguing dried herbs and abundant but super fine Old Vine tannins. The addition of 3% Petite Verdot brought harmony and polish to the mid palette while extending the lingering finish. This Messor is our favorite to date. After 5 years in the bottle, it is almost approaching its drinking window and will please for many years to come. The 2017 vintage shows all the hallmarks of Dionysus and Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon. It starts with a broad generous silky entry of sweet currant and hints of oak leading to darker fruit with more of that classic earthy fruit through persistent finish.

Blend – 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot | Appellation – Columbia Valley | Vineyard – Dionysus Vineyard

Wine Analysis – 5.38 grams/L Total Acidity | 3.87 pH | 14.5% Alcohol

Techniques – 23-28 day maceration. Barrel aged 20 months on fine lees and racked once before bottling. Bottle aged nearly three years prior to release. | Oak Program – 75% new French oak barrels | Production – 600 bottles

Price – $300 COC Member ONE 3-pack price | $480 COC Member TWO 3-pack price ($240 per 3-pack)