As someone who grew up primarily in the American educational system from school to university and who was also a massive sports player and sports lover, being an Anglo-South African, I had to adapt and learn the skills of baseball, basketball and American football. Having played cricket and rugby already, I’ll let you guess which of the two sports I was more inclined towards. So when a few years ago, I was introduced to the superb wines of Drew Bledsoe by ex-England rugby international Simon Halliday, I certainly took an instant interest in the wines.
Drew, of course used to play Quarterback for the New England Patriots and was a great hero of the game while I was growing up, eventually handing over the reins due to injury, to another NFL player you might just have heard of… Tom Brady. For former NFL Quarterback Drew, owning a winery had long been an aspiration that would allow him to combine his passion for fine wine and his love of the Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. In 2008, Drew launched Doubleback, an estate-focused winery with the goal of producing ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley.
To make this dream a reality, Drew collaborated with his childhood friend Chris Figgins of Figgins Family Wine Estates, who consulted on all winemaking and vineyard practices while training current winemaker, Josh McDaniels, who assumed the role proper in 2015.
Since its first release, Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon has received numerous accolades, most recently 99/100 points from Robert Parker and 96/100 points from Decanter. The vision for Doubleback remains to be a premium wine experience completely focused on quality. I recently caught up with Simon Halliday, one of Drew’s greatest fans and admirers, and tasted through a new selection of releases ahead of his visit to the UK trade.
Bledsoe / McDaniels Pinot Noir 2021, Willamette Valley AVA, 14.1% Abv.
A beautifully deep, dark fruited Pinot Noir with broody black fruited aromatics with top notes of black cherry, blueberry, salty black currant and subtle earthy black plum compote nuances with a delicate kiss of vanilla pod spice. The palate is sleek and sophisticated with a fabulously harmonious texture and a creamy mouthfeel with seamless spicy tannins, soft energetic acids and an impressive black fruited purity and length. A truly superb expression of Oregon Pinot Noir from Ribbon Ridge and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs. Drink now and over the next 8 to 10 years.
(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Walla Walla Valley AVA, 14.7% Abv.
Wonderfully dark and opaque in the glass, the aromatics are positively brimming with ripe blackberry, creme de cassis, minted cherries, sweet dried baking herbs and black cherry compote over an impressively integrated premium oaking of sweet cedar, graphite, nori, kelp and vanilla pod spice. Full bodied and bold but also so very considered and balanced with a beautifully piercing concentration, vibrant tangy acids, and a long, sleek, regal finish. This is truly top-drawer Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon! Drink now and over the next 10-15+ years.
(Wine Safari Score: 96+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Double Back Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Walla Walla Valley AVA, 14.4% Abv.
A bigger, bolder, more opulent expression, this flagship Cabernet Sauvignon based blend boast rich, ripe aromatics of stewed black cherry, black currant compote, melted black liquorice and subtle hints of sweet-scented tilled earth, wet leaves and grilled herbs with subtle graphite nuances. Surprisingly supple, sleek and lithe on the palate, the wine possesses a weightless concentration, a seamlessly suave palate texture and silky polished creamy tannins on the blueberry fruited finish. This is a confident, bold, flagship expression with very impressive attention to detail. A true hedonistic treat for premium Cabernet followers.
(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The wines are exclusively imported into the UK by The Sporting Wine Club and available to private clients and UK trade at:
Thx so much
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