Deep ruby color; blackberry, plum, black cherry, blueberry, chocolate, coffee, mint on the nose and palate.
Dry; puckering tannins; balancing acidity. Massive, extravagant structure. Medium-plus body. Blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon. 12% merlot, 8% petit verdot, 4% syrah from variety of sites in the Columbia Valley AVA—Stone Valley, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Dionysus, Klipsun, and Lefore. Wine spend 19 months in French oak, 29% new, 71% used. 14.6% ABV
The Valdemar story begins in 1889 when Joaquin Martínez Bujanda began a family winery in Oyón, a small town in northern Spain. His son and grandson followed in his footsteps. Don Jesús Martínez Bujanda created Bodegas Valdemar in Spain in the 1980s. His son, Jesús Martínez Bujanda (5th generation) fell in love with the Walla Walla Valley while he was a student at the University of Washington. That led him to create Valdemar Estates in 2019.
The website notes: “Jesús lives with his wife, Conchita Sánchez Sarabia, and his two children, Teresa and Jesús (6th generation), in Walla Walla. Since then, we have created some of the finest examples of Spanish wines at Bodegas Valdemar. Today, Jesús Martínez Bujanda and his sister, Ana Martínez Bujanda, represent the fifth generation to lead the family business. Together, they opened Valdemar Estates, the first internationally owned winery in Washington state. It is here where they are making their mark on the family’s legacy of innovation while pursuing their passion for wine.”
Valdemar Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Entre Nosotros 2021 is graceful cab from Walla Walla with pleasuring red and black fruit flavors and an elegant finish. Significant tannins demand decanting. Fresh, balanced, savory finish, easily likable after exposure to some air. Pair with grilled red meats—ribeye, New York strip, sirloin. Lamb chops seasoned with rosemary and thyme. Burgers topped with smoked gouda or aged cheddar and bacon. Wild game—venison, wild boar, duck. Pork dishes—barbecued, pulled pork, pork chops. Eggplant parmesan, mushroom risotto, roasted or stuffed portobello mushrooms. Cheese—aged cheddar, aged gouda, gruyère, gorgonzola. $38-45
