2018 Andrew Will Red Champoux Vineyard

The 2018 Red Wine Champoux Vineyard is dark and inward in the glass, with a youthfully coy bouquet of wildflowers, blueberry and crushed rocks. It's silky and cool-toned on the palate, with pretty red and blue fruits cascading across a core of citrus-tinged acidity. The 2018 leaves a lingering zesty tension, and lightly grippy tannins, nuances of kirsch and black currant.

A blend of 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Champoux Vineyard has already captured my heart with its delightful and lovely aromatics. It offers dusty plum, black cherry skin, blackberry essence and elements of dusty red and purple flowers along with hints of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and the floral element of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with fruit, earth and subtle oak spice before displaying an impeccably balanced structure with buttressing tannins and juicy acidity. The red blend continues to evolve and unwind on the palate with a thoughtful and complex finish. Just under 7,000 bottles were made after the wine aged for 22 months in 35% new French oak barrels. It’s gorgeous, and I’m going back for another sip. When it’s released in February 2023, you’ll want to add this to your cellar.

From a top site located in the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2018 Champoux Vineyard checks in as 58% Merlot. 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in 35% new French oak. A beautiful bouquet of red and black currants, chocolate, cedary spice, and dried herbs gives way to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated yet flawlessly balanced 2018. With ripe, velvety tannins, a round, layered texture, and a great finish, it can be enjoyed any time over the coming 15 years. This is another brilliant lineup of wines from Andrew Will. As I’ve written in the past, readers looking for classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blend can’t go wrong with these.