The 2019 Vintage was released to our Road 27 wine club at the end of August in 2022, it was released wider to the public in January 2023. This page is actively maintained with the vintage’s rating and awards, check back regularly for updates.
2019 Vintage Report
The 2019 vintage was an all-around cooler growing season. Cooler temperatures in the spring delayed bud break and bloom at both our Riverbend and Riverview Vineyards, resulting in delayed vine development into the summer. Moderate summer temperatures leading into harvest made for slow and even grape maturity. This resulted in proper grape physiological maturity at lower than average sugar levels.
Harvest began on September 12th with our Chardonnay and concluded on October 16th with our Carménère. Starting the second week of September temperatures dropped below historic averages, and for the most part stayed below average through the rest of the season. These cooler temperatures, as well as a frost event the second week of October significantly compressed the 2019 harvest. Fortunately, we were able to harvest all the fruit ahead of the freezing weather. The finished wines are lighter and more delicate than previous vintages, with lower than average alcohol levels, but are loaded with flavor and elegant tannin.
At Fielding Hills Winery we age the majority of our wine in 225 liter oak barrels. We source our barrels from a number of cooperages (barrel makers), most of which are French oak. We also use a small portion of American and Hungarian oak, as well as a few European-oak-blend barrels. Over the years we have begun to age more of our wine in larger 500 liter barrels, called puncheons. These larger barrels impart less oak aromas, flavors, and structure on the finished wine, producing softer more fruit forward wines. In addition to the 225L and 500L oak barrels, we also ferment and age our Merlot in a 3,000L French oak tank.
A new label and a new wine for Fielding Hills Winery will debut with the 2019 vintage. What we have affectionately been calling our “Fielding Hills Black Label” was born out of a desire to highlight distinct qualities that emerge during the grape growing and winemaking process. Vintage-to-vintage, we expect our “Black Label” wines to change as we spotlight different qualities that impress us in a specific vintage. The first wine in our new label is a Syrah. This 100% Syrah was specifically grown to be harvested earlier than our Classic Fielding Hills Syrah. The resulting wine is a lighter and more delicate Syrah, layered with earthy/savory notes and an unending freshness. Fermented 100% whole cluster, and bottled un-fined and un-filtered. With less than 50 cases produced, we have dedicated this label to being a Road 27 exclusive.
2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – 501 cases
Tasting Notes: Aromas of dark chocolate, dried herb, cedar, and shaved pencil are balanced with ripe currant and dark cherry. Concentrated flavors of black raspberry, plum, and licorice are supported with firm fine-grain tannins.
77% new oak | 23% used once filled oak (one vintage, i.e. 22 months)
95% French oak | 5% European blend oak
21% of finished wine was aged in 500L puncheons
92 pts – Wine Spectator
91 pts – Wine Enthusiast
91 pts, Critics’ Choice – Northwest Wine Report, Sean Sullivan
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2019 Estate Cabernet Franc – 238 cases
Tasting Notes: Seemingly endless aromas ranging from fresh strawberry, sweet bay, anise, marasca cherry syrup and vanilla crème brûlée drive this wine. Concentrated dark fruit flavors linger well into the finish, framed by delicate tannins and a fresh acidity.
50% new oak | 50% used once filled oak
75% French oak | 20% Hungarian oak | 5% American oak
44% of finished wine was aged in 500L puncheons
92 pts – Wine Spectator
92 pts – Wine Enthusiast
91 pts – Northwest Wine Report, Sean Sullivan
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2019 Estate Syrah – 278 cases
Tasting Notes: Aromas of black plum, dark cherry, and coffee are rounded out with barrel spices and subtle floral and earthy undertones. Chewy tannins are supported with a bright acidity that carries concentrated red fruit flavors well into the finish.
77% new oak, 23% used once filled oak.
79% French oak, 13% American oak, 8% European blend oak.
61% large format barrels (500L puncheons)
91 pts – Northwest Wine Report, Sean Sullivan
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2019 Estate Malbec – 272 cases
Tasting Notes: Bright aromas of ripe blue fruits are in balance with delicate floral and barrel spice notes. Freshly balance on the palate with big chewy tannins, the flavors range from spiced blackberry compôte to fresh bay and sweet espresso crème.
66% new oak | 34% used once filled oak
82% French oak | 18% Hungarian oak
20% of finished wine was aged in 500L puncheons
2019 Estate Tribute – Red Wine – 514 cases
Tasting Notes: Fresh aromas of red plum and ripe cherry are balanced with subtle earthy notes of green peppercorn, cardamom, and rosehip. Bright and expressive on the palate with flavors of raspberry and pomegranate, framed by velvety soft tannins.
36% new oak | 64% used once filled oak
76% French oak | 24% American oak
52% of finished wine was fermented and aged in a 30hL (800gal) French oak tank
93 pts – Wine Spectator
90 pts – Wine Enthusiast
91 pts – Northwest Wine Report, Sean Sullivan
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2019 Estate Carménère- 30 cases
Tasting Notes: There’s no mistaking the varietal aromas of Carménère: fresh red peppercorn, charred peppers, concentrated blue fruits, and sweet vanilla. Soft supporting tannins are complemented with flavors of black plum, ripe berries, and toasted oak.
100% used once filled oak
100% French oak
2019 Estate Merlot – 175 cases
Tasting Notes: Deeply concentrated with aromas of fresh raspberries, chocolate, roses, cedar, and a subtle chalky minerality. Soft powdery tannins are balanced with bright acidity, showing flavors of black cherry, sweet vanilla, and red currant.
78% new oak | 22% used once filled oak
100% French oak
25% of finished wine was fermented and aged in a 30hL (800gal) French oak tank
92 pts, Critics’ Choice – Northwest Wine Report, Sean Sullivan
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2019 Estate Black Label – 48 cases
Tasting Notes: Initial aromas of olives, leather, and forest floor eventually open up to reveal more delicate candied violet and boysenberry. Acidity and freshness drive the palate on this wine, with crunchy tannins holding it all together.
50% new oak | 50% used once filled oak
100% French oak
A new label and a new wine for Fielding Hills Winery will debut with the 2019 vintage. What we have affectionately been calling our “Fielding Hills Black Label” was born out of a desire to highlight distinct qualities that emerge during the winemaking process. Vintage-to-vintage, we expect our “Black Label” wines to change as we spotlight different qualities that impress us in a specific vintage. The first wine in our new label is a Syrah. This 100% Syrah was specifically grown to be harvested earlier than our main Fielding Hills Syrah. The resulting wine is a lighter and more delicate Syrah, layered with earthy/savory notes and an unending freshness.
Buy Wine