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Winemaker's Notes
Inspired by the great left-bank blends of Bordeaux, Dead Horse is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wine supported by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The 2009 Dead Horse is a testament to a beautiful vintage and the incredible work done in vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot show the power of this vintage, while the Merlot and Cabernet France lend balance and refinement. Each lot was fermented separately in 1.5-ton fermenters from between 12 and18 days. Then the wines were gently pressed to barrel where malolactic fermentation was completed. The wine was racked only twice prior to bottling and is unfined and unfiltered.
The 2009 Vintage
The 2009 vintage was unlike any vintage we’ve had in recent memory. Coming off of a stellar 2008 vintage, hopes were high entering 2009. The vintage got off to a slow start with bud break beginning very late. As we moved thru the summer months, we saw record highs sweep eastern Washington. As summer gave way to autumn, the heat did not relent. It became clear that a harvest that had started slow had suddenly transformed into a harvest marked by accelerated ripening and very little time between varietal pick dates. The final straw was an early frost that swept through eastern Washington on the 10th of October and continued until the 13th. Fortunately, at that point our harvest was 95% complete, and we were able to pull the last of our fruit on the 11th, avoiding much of the damage caused by the frost. Once the dust settled, we found the wines to have an impressive concentration, similar to 2003, but with better balance and overall focus. The wines in 2009 are broad and lush with big primary fruit character balanced by fine texture and refined acidity.
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Ciel du Cheval, Red Mountain
Owned and operated by Jim Holmes and managed by Ryan Johnson, Ciel du Cheval has helped pave the way for the fine wine grapes on Red Mountain. With 120 acres under vine, Ciel du Cheval is a major contributor to Mark Ryan wines. The very first vintages of Dead Horse and Long Haul were packed with fruit from Ciel du Cheval, a tradition that continues to this day.
Balancing polish and refinement in its power and depth, Ciel represents a feminine compliment to Klipsun's brazen muscularity. The vines are planted in a fan trellis system, which provides a more-dense canopy to shield the clusters from the intense heat of the site. This style of management allows the grape's sugars to develop harmoniously with its concentration and physiological ripeness, showcasing deep fruit flavors balanced with non-fruit complexity.
Klipsun
Named by Wine and Spirits magazine as one of the Top 25 vineyards in the World, Klipsun is truly a Washington icon. Located on the western edge of Red Mountain AVA, the vineyard was planted in 1984 by David and Patricia Gelles. There are currently 120 acres planted to vines, managed by Julia Kock. Klipsun fruit is all about power. It's placement on Red Mountain exposes the vines to strong nighttime winds that thicken the grape's skins, making a smaller berry with dense fruit concentration and broad-shouldered structure. These conditions, coupled with the natural, consistent heat of Red Mountain create a wine of big, bold aromas and muscular intensity and power.
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Past Vintages
2007 Dead Horse
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