2003 Washington State Vintage
Late-season heat pushed the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness, then a September cooling stretched harvest through late October.
Washington winemakers and wine grape growers felt 2003 was among the best vintages in the state's history, particularly for red varieties. Hot weather late in the growing season nudged the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness. Harvest began on September 2 at Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley, the state's warmest sites, and cool weather from September 10 allowed extra hang time and flavor development, stretching picking through late October. The statewide crop was 108,500 tons. Decanter's vintage guides call the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ripe yet well structured and the 2003 Merlot very good quality, with concentration and complexity.
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Open the appGrowing season
Hot weather hit late in the 2003 growing season, nudging the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness. Harvest began on September 2 at the state's warmest sites, Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley. Cool weather moved in on September 10, allowing extra hang time and flavor development, and that cooling extended harvest through late October. The statewide crop came in at 108,500 tons.
- Late-season heat pushed the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness
- Harvest opened September 2 at Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley, the state's warmest sites
- Cool weather from September 10 allowed extra hang time and flavor development
- The September cooling extended harvest through late October
- Statewide crop: 108,500 tons
- Washington winemakers and growers felt 2003 was among the best vintages in state history, particularly for red varieties
- Hot weather late in the growing season nudged the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness
- Harvest began September 2 at the state's warmest sites, Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley
- Cool weather from September 10 allowed extra hang time and flavor development
- The September cooling extended harvest through late October
- The statewide crop was 108,500 tons
- Decanter rates 2003 Washington Cabernet Sauvignon ripe yet well structured and 2003 Merlot very good quality, with concentration and complexity
The wines
Washington winemakers and wine grape growers felt 2003 was among the best vintages in the state's history, particularly for red varieties. Decanter's vintage guides call the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ripe yet well structured and the 2003 Merlot very good quality, with concentration and complexity.
- Winemakers and growers placed 2003 among the best vintages in state history, particularly for reds
- Decanter rates the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ripe yet well structured and the 2003 Merlot very good quality, with concentration and complexity
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See the Pivot+- Hot weather late in the 2003 growing season nudged the fruit to flavor and structural ripeness.
- Harvest began September 2 at Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley, the state's warmest sites; cool weather from September 10 extended picking through late October.
- The statewide crop was 108,500 tons.
- Washington winemakers and growers felt 2003 was among the best vintages in state history, particularly for red varieties.
- Decanter calls the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ripe yet well structured and the 2003 Merlot very good quality, with concentration and complexity.
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