The Queen Grenache-Mourvedre
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted by Kerloo Cellars, 'The Queen' is an elegant homage to the classic blends of the Southern Rhône, reimagined through the lens of Washington State's distinctive terroir. Named to celebrate the noble and commanding presence of Grenache—often regarded as the 'queen' of Rhône grapes—this blend marries the vibrant, high-toned red fruit and floral aromatics of Grenache with the rustic, savory structure and spice of Mourvèdre. Sourced from acclaimed, high-elevation vineyards in the Columbia Valley, the fruit benefits from warm daytime temperatures and cool desert nights. Winemaker Ryan Crane employs low-intervention techniques, often utilizing concrete fermenters and neutral French oak to preserve the wine's pure fruit expression, mineral tension, and bright acidity, resulting in a sophisticated red that balances power with grace.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2007 by winemaker Ryan Crane, Kerloo Cellars takes its name from the echoing call of the sandhill crane, symbolizing Crane's calling to craft authentic, terroir-driven Washington State wines. After studying viticulture and enology in Walla Walla and honing his cellar craft at Forgeron Cellars and Va Piano Vineyards, Crane built Kerloo around meticulous fruit sourcing from esteemed, sustainably farmed vineyard sites spanning the Walla Walla Valley, Yakima Valley, and Columbia Gorge. His cellaring philosophy prioritizes minimal intervention, foot-treading, native fermentations, neutral oak, and concrete maturation to highlight purity of site and varietal transparency. Kerloo built a devoted following for its cool-climate Rhone-style expressions and vibrant single-vineyard bottlings, including Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Boushey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and single-site Grenache, Syrah, and Grenache Rosé from benchmark crus like Upland and Painted Hills.
🍇 Grapes
Grenache, Mourvèdre