A Pioneering Yakima Valley Grower Making Exceptional High Value Wines
You may not know that Airfield Estates was among the first to plant wine grapes in the modern era in Washington. Here's the scoop and some great recommendations.
In 1967 family patriarch Don Miller purchased Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon starts and planted them the following spring to see what would grow on the family ranch outside of Prosser. The following year he partnered with a local nursery and planted another 20 wine grape varieties in greenhouses for propagation. In 1971 the first commercial planting was established.
In the mid-1970s Don's son Mike Miller got involved in wine grape production and transitioned the farm into what it is today – 830 acres of wine grapes and 350 acres of Concord juice grapes. Airfield wine grapes were sold to other wineries until 2005 when Mike founded Airfield Estates Winery.
I reviewed the first few vintages of the estate winery shortly thereafter and I remember being very impressed with the clarity and varietal purity of the wines. After not tasting them for the past decade a full set of new releases arrived and they are more impressive than ever. Estate-grown, value-priced, exceptional in every way. My thumbnail reviews and scores are posted here.
For more of the history go here.
To purchase wines go here.
Airfield 2021 Founders Series 'Donald' Chardonnay
This is a solid, straight-ahead style – fruit-driven, firm in the middle, pushing clean apple and pear (orchard) fruit front and center. There's a touch of barrel toast and caramel as it winds down through the finish. 132 cases; 13.3%; $40 (Yakima Valley) 90/100
Airfield 2021 Merlot
Some of Washington's finest values from a family-owned winery come from Airfield. This mellow and flavorful Merlot is a fine example. Soft, smooth, with appealing richness enhanced by hints of cedar. 526 cases; 14.4%; $20 (Yakima Valley) 90/100
Airfield 2020 Reserve Merlot
The reserve gets extra time in wood, but keeps its balance and relies more on the estate fruit than expensive new barrels. This is a sturdy, even hearty style, the sort of muscular Merlot for which Washington has become famous. As with all the Airfield wines it's a fine value, with classic styling and structure. Unlike some other wines with a reserve label, this truly earns the title. 273 cases; 14.4%; $35 (Yakima Valley) 91/100
Airfield 2021 Dauntless
50/30/20 Merlot/Franc/Cab. THis classy right bank Bordeaux-style blend comes from estate grapes and offers value at a more than fair price. It is a fine companion to the equally excellent Merlot. It's nicely blended, seamless and balanced throughout. Black cherry, cassis, fungus, earth, olive and more are the highlighted components. Well beyond an every day wine, this can be enjoyed now and cellared for up to a decade. 225 cases; 14.2%; $20 (Yakima Valley) 91/100
Airfield 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Rare to find a Cab this good at this price. Classic black cherry and black currant fruit is framed with barrel toast and ripe tannins. The overall balance among fruit, acid, tannin and barrel could not be better. Is this as good as some of Washington's $150 Cabs? No, but it's closer than you would expect. 975 cases; 14.3%; $35 (Yakima Valley) 92/100
Airfield 2019 Founders Series 'H Lloyd Miller' Red
The blend here is 60% Cabernet and the rest fills in with Merlot and Cab Franc. Supple and strong, it's a Washington Bordeaux-style red wine at a very high level. Anchored in black fruits, roasted coffee beans and threads of black olive, oregano and herbs de Provence, this powerful wine should continue to develop in bottle over the next decade or longer. 248 cases; 14.5%; $50 (Yakima Valley) 94/100
Airfield 2020 Founders Series 'Michael L Miller' Red
A Syrah-driven GSM blend, this most appealing wine smoothly integrates the berry fruit, the varietal touches of spice and coffee and the chocolatey wrap around the tannins. It's a different take on Washington Syrah that is less in your face and more in your mouth if you get my drift. Delicious from start to finish. 263 cases; 14.4%; $50 (Yakima Valley) 93/100