B. Leighton Gratitude Red Blend 2020

B. Leighton Gratitude Red Blend 2020

“Thankful, humbled, and delighted” are my thoughts on the 2020 vintage, and Gratitude is an absolute representation of this incredibly beautiful vintage and wine. Marionberry, dried blueberry, blood orange and white lilac intrigue-and-collide with the senses, demanding further evaluation of this beauty, elegance and complexity. Forest floor, honeysuckle, fresh sourdough bread, nutmeg, and more to discover!

Critical Acclaim

94 James Suckling

This is a co-fermented field blend of 70% mourvedre, 25% grenache and 5% syrah. Cracked black pepper, smoked meats, olives and wild herbs on the nose, before evolving to juicy, sweet and perfectly-ripe berry and plum fruit. Supple and sleek, with a full body and creamy, seamless tannins. Joyful. Drink or hold. 

94 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Made from 100% whole-cluster grapes, the 2020 Gratitude Olsen Brothers Vineyard offers seductive red fruit tones with notions of potpourri and dusty cherry blossoms. The wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate, with succulent flavors of spiced red plum, pink peppercorn and juicy black raspberry and lifting tannins over the food-friendly and succulent finish. Just over 8,000 bottles were filled. Bravo! 

93 Jeb Dunnuck

Coming all from basalt soils and mostly Mourvèdre, the 2020 Gratitude Blend sports a translucent ruby hue as well as a great nose of spiced red and black fruits, peppery spice, and assorted meaty nuances. It’s medium to full-bodied, has fine tannins, and an overriding sense of elegance. Based on 75% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and 5% Syrah from the Olsen Brother Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, aged in neutral oak, it’s perfect for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years or so.

93 Vinous

The wickedly spicy and fresh 2020 Blend Gratitude mixes 75% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache and 5% Syrah. It’s cooling on the nose, with a white pepper flourish that gives way to dusty red currants and clove hints. Its textures are silky and soothing, with ripe strawberry and black cherry accentuated by rosy inner florals that form toward the close. This lingers impossibly long while maintaining a lovely freshness, as nuances of black raspberry and red inner florals slowly fade. It’s like something that’s straight from the South of France. Very nice.