![]() ![]() Johnson started Devium Wine out of a rebellious streak. The best you can do is to try and take what is given to you and hand it back as unblemished as possible.” Keith Johnson of Devium Wine / Photo by Andrea Johnson Keith Johnson Devium Wine “I thought that was an apt metaphor for the winemaking process,” says Frost. The name Echolands is a callout to Greek mythology, where Echo, a mountain nymph, was only able to repeat the last line said to her. We definitely end up with a slightly different style because of that.” “It’s just that’s what my palate prefers. “We’re not beholden to numbers, but if I had my way, we’d never make a wine over 14% ,” says Frost. Ultimately, Frost’s hope is not only that the wines are higher in acid, but also lower in alcohol. “People were poking fun at us, saying, ‘You’re going to pick tomorrow? What’s wrong with you guys? Are you out of your minds?’ ” Frost says when he and winemaker Taylor Oswald dropped off picking bins for their inaugural wine, many in the area were surprised. “I have hopes of making wine that appeals to my palate, that is a bit more tense and that has more acidity than I’m used to getting.” “I tend to like things with a bit more tartness than others may,” says Frost. The wine is decidedly higher in acid than most from the state. The winery’s inaugural Syrah comes from well-regarded Les Collines Vineyard. “For me, it’s an opportunity to learn more, and certainly to find out what I know, which I already knew was not enough,” says Frost.įrost, along with his business partner, Brad Bergman, launched Echolands Winery earlier this year. When one of four people in the world who holds both Master Sommelier and Master of Wine certifications decides to make wine, wine lovers take notice. “I want you to feel the texture of the tannins and some graininess, but I don’t want it to be bitter and sticking out.” Doug Frost, MS, MW, of Echoland / Photo by Andrea Johnson Doug Frost, MS, MW Echolands Winery “I want there to be tension in the wines,” he says. In the winery, Savage uses a lot of whole berry and whole-cluster fermentation, with no new oak in aging. Even adding yeast seemed like you’re putting an imprint on the wine.” I wanted to take an absolutely pure approach. “It never felt honest, and I didn’t think the wines represented the vintage correctly. “Adjusting wines never felt right to me,” he says. ![]() “But I was against manipulation.” Many wineries pick at higher ripeness levels, but some add water, acid or both to balance flavors with the rest of the wine. “I didn’t really start out saying I wanted to make lower-alcohol wine,” says Savage. They’re also known for being released early. ![]() Savage Grace reds are notable for being up to 3% lower in alcohol than many Washington peers. Can you smell the vineyard in both of those wines? That’s a question I think is interesting.” “I liked having that same sparkling wine become the red wine. “I liked the idea of showing a vineyard in different stages and showing different winemaking approaches,” he says. There’s also a carbonic maceration offering, a “Blanc Franc” (Cabernet Franc made as a white wine) and a Cabernet Franc pét-nat. Savage Grace makes four vineyard-designated Cabernet Francs as red wines. “You could compare one producer to another, and one vineyard to another, and feel like you’re in a whole different world, but a world that’s connected via the grape,” Savage says of Loire wines. Michael Savage Savage Grace WinesĪ love of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc inspired Savage’s approach at Savage Grace Wines, located in the Columbia Gorge. In doing so, they are redefining not just what Washington is, but also what it can be. They craft unique wines that focus on vineyard designates, with fruit picked earlier and low-intervention winemaking methods. Recently, some winemakers have begun to chart a different path. They’re delicious, yes, and distinctly Washington but not necessarily distinctive from each other or showing a very specific sense of place. Thank You! We've received your email address, and soon you will start getting exclusive offers and news from Wine Enthusiast. ![]()
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