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Sawtooth
Winery...
Where Winemaking Begins in the Vineyard
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In the heart
of the legendary Snake River Valley, with the Owyhee Mountains visible in the distance,
lies the scenic Hidden Valley—home of
 Sawtooth Winery — Idaho State’s second
largest winery. Founded in 1988, Sawtooth has developed a loyal following and has
earned a reputation for creating exceptional handcrafted wine.
The
idyllic setting of Canyon County — Idaho’s most prolific agricultural region
— has proven to be ideal for growing vinifera grapes of extraordinary quality,
and in 2007, the Snake River Valley was federally recognized as
Idaho State's 1st appellation. The soil structure, geography and climate of the area all play a role in producing fruit
of distinct character, resulting in wines that are rich with flavor and complexity.
Sawtooth
Winery produces several European wine varietals, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah — wines that are continually recognized for their
high quality and exceptional taste. The wines’ distinct labels, depicting a
beautiful scene of the Sawtooth Mountains, represent the grandeur of Idaho’s natural
wonders.
Overlooking
Hidden Valley, the winery is surrounded by fifteen acres of vineyards and
limitless, sweeping blue skies. We invite you to visit Sawtooth’s
tasting room with its selection of premium Idaho wines and other unique gift
items.
From the balcony, you can take in a panoramic view of the valley
below and the beautifully landscaped grounds of the winery
enhanced by its rose garden and gazebo. It’s the perfect
location to savor Sawtooth Winery’s delicious wines.
(Continue top next column)
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The
Winemaker
Sawtooth's Winemaker Bill Murray has had a passion
for wine for many years. Inspired while traveling Europe, Bill
started working in the industry in Napa, California. He
worked for Buena Vista Winery while studying viticulture in the
evenings at a local community college. A year later, he
went to
work for Acacia Winery. Bill worked at Acacia for 13
years, first as cellar master, and later as vineyard manager.
After Acacia Winery, he moved to Bouchaine Vineyards as an
oenologist and associate winemaker.
Today, Bill is thrilled
to be making premium boutique wine in Idaho at Sawtooth Winery. Using grapes primarily from
Sawtooth Winery's own vineyards allows Bill to maintain
the highest standards of excellence.
The
Vineyards
A unique combination of
geography, climate and soils found in Idaho's Snake River Valley
vineyards are producing grapes with outstanding varietal
character. High vineyard elevations, extra long hours of
daylight during grape ripening, cool nights, volcanic ash soils,
and ungrafted vines all contribute to the concentrated flavors
and naturally high acidity of Sawtooth wines. The warmer site of
the estate
Sawtooth
Vineyard is well suited to Cabernet Sauvignon along with
Cabernet Franc, Roussanne, Pinot Gris, Syrah, and Merlot.
Nearby
Skyline
Vineyard, one of the newest and largest plantings of
wine grapes in Idaho, lends itself to many different varietals
with south-, west-, north- and east-facing slopes creating many
different micro climates.
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Selected Sawtooth Wines
Main Line |
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2008 Pinot Gris
$12.99 [Order
Now]
Blend: 86% Pinot Gris, 10% Chardonnay, 4% Muscat
Double Gold, Idaho Wine Competition 2009Our Pinot Gris is
delicately fragrant with hints of apple, pear and citrus flavors
that linger in the mouth. This wine will be slightly tangy and light
with light floral aromas. A well rounded fruity Pinot Gris that will
leave you wanting more.
Vineyards: Sawtooth
Fermentation: This Pinot Gris was whole cluster
pressed to tank and fermented at about 50 degrees.
Blend: 86% Pinot Gris, 10% Chardonnay, 4% Muscat
Release Date: April 2009
2008 Riesling
100% Riesling
$9.99 [Order
Now]
Bronze Medal, Northwest Wine Summit 2009This wine has a great
nose filled with apple, pear,
peaches, and a hint of mineral. This wine has residual sugar and
balanced acid that provide complexity to this fruity wine.
Will pair well with sausage and spicy dishes. Enjoy this off-dry
Riesling with friends and family.
Vineyards: Sawtooth Vineyard
Fermentation: This year's Riesling was fermented cool in
stainless fermenters to preserve the bright fruit flavors of
Riesling
Released: June 2009
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2006 Viognier
83% Viognier, 17% Roussanne
$9.99 [Order
Now]
Silver Medal, NW Wine Summit 2008Tasting Notes: Aromas of ripe
pear, apple, with hints of honey, mineral and yeast. Crisp acidity
proceed rich, flavors and a creamy finish. The nice fruit flavors of
the Viognier blend well with the rich, intense mouthfeel of
Roussanne to produce a wine that is a terrific food wine but also
very nice by itself.
Vineyard: Sawtooth Vineyard
Fermentation: This wine was 50% barrel fermented in
older oak cooperage and sur lie aged for 5 months to bring rich
creamy flavors to the mouth. 50% was cool fermented in tank to
preserve the crisp fruit flavors of Viognier.
Released: January 2009
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2005 Syrah
86% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 7% Cinsault
$16.99 [Order
Now]
Silver Medal, NW Wine Summit 2008
Bronze Medal, San Diego International Wine Competition 2008
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of plum, raspberry, strawberry and creamy spices proceed
rich fruit flavors with round, supple tannins and long finish.
Fermentation:
The grapes for this wine are ripened to optimum flavors in the
vineyard, then hand picked and carefully destemmed to a red
fermenter. After fermentation is completed the wine is gently
pressed from the skins and moved to small oak cooperage for 14-16
months of aging in small oak barrels.
Vineyards:
Sawtooth & Skyline Vineyards
Released: April 2008 |
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2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
90% Cabernet, 7% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
[Order
Now]
Tasting Notes:
This Cabernet Sauvignon is filled with blackberry and cherry
with hints of vanilla. The wine has integrated tannins and nice
fruit through the finish. This is a great wine that you can share
with friends and family. Pairs well with blue cheese and pork loin.
Fermentation: A
terrific blend of Bordeaux varietals grown on the south facing
slopes of our estate vineyard. The rocky, shallow volcanic
soils on this slope help control vine growth and maintain heat
allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen to its full potential.
Vineyards: Sawtooth Vineyard
Released: July 2009
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2006 Tempranillo
100% Tempranillo
$19.99 [Order
Now]For a limited time this
season, Sawtooth Winery's 2006 Tempranillo is
available online.
Tempranillo is named after the Spanish word "temprano" for "early"
referring to the fact that this grape ripens sooner than the other
traditional varietals in Spain. This rare offering is our second
release of Tempranillo and is made in the classic wine style.
Blend: 100% Tempranillo |
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Reserve Line
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2006 Reserve Merlot
$16.99 [Order
Now]
Blend - 76% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Franc,
5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. A rich, well rounded
wine. This Merlot is rustic and dense with smoky tobacco sweetness.
It has undertones of earth and dried fruit.
Vineyards: Sawtooth & Skyline Vineyards Fermentation:
This wine is a beautiful blend of Bordeaux varietals. The grapes
for this wine were allowed to hang on the vine to achieve optimum
flavors then hand harvested, fermented and aged in small oak
cooperage for 17 months. Blend - 76% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8%
Cabernet Franc,
5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. Released:
April 2009 2006 Reserve Gewürztraminer
Ice Wine
100% Gewürztraminer
375 ml
$29.99 [Order
Now] Tasting Notes: Opulent aromas of
peach and apricot nectar, with hints of orange, honey and holiday
season spices. This wine has rich and luscious fruit nectar flavors
with nice acidity and a long memorable finish.
Vineyards: Sawtooth Vineyard
Fermentation: Hand picked on an early, cold November
morning while the grapes were still lightly frozen. Immediate
pressing yielded sweet nectar-like juice of 34.2 brix. A slow,
cool fermentation followed to preserve the intense fruit aromas of
this concentrated wine. Fermentation was stopped at 16.9% residual
sugar leaving the wine with nice sweetness but crisp acidity to
balance intense fruit flavors.
Released:
June 2008 |
How to order
Sawtooth wines:
Visit the
winery's secure, online wine shop;
Please direct questions regarding online orders to:
orders@corusestates.com
or 206-728-9063 ext. 300.
Call the winery to order:
208-467-1200; OR
Email the winery:
billm@sawtoothwinery.com
G E T T I N G T H E R
E
Copyright © 1997 - 2009 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved.
Updated:
12/29/2009
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