By Buty
Merlot-Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Valley 2016

Vineyard
This wine is sourced exclusively from the sloping, sandy soils of the famed Conner Lee Vineyard. Originally planted in the early 1980s, Conner Lee is located at an elevation of approximately 1,125 feet on the plateau of Radar Hill, south of Othello, Washington. It is a cool site in a warm, sunny region. In our Eastern Washington desert environment, the spring and fall nights can be 50 degrees cooler than the daytime temperatures. The hot summer months of July and August ripen the fruit, while cooler fall temperatures keep the acids high and the pH low. Buty has bottled a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc since 2000, our inaugural vintage.

Vintage and Harvest
While the 2016 growing season delivered our fourth year in a row of early bud break and flowering, a well-timed mid-summer yielded our earliest harvest ever at Conner Lee; a near-perfect growing cooldown extended the season. This provided the grapes with an ideal amount of hangtime while preserving the natural acidity that is integral to our style - factors that resulted in particularly exceptional Cabernet Franc. While the 2016 season and every cluster were gorgeous, we picked the majority of our Merlot on September 15th at 23.8 degrees Brix, and the rest on September 22nd at 25.8 degrees. Our Cabernet Franc from Conner Lee's renowned 1991 Block was harvested on October 1st at 24.8 degrees.

Winemaking
We hand-sorted and destemmed the fruit. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc were fermented separately in wood tanks. The Merlot was fermented for 13 days, and the Cabernet Franc for 16 days, with both receiving aeration during fermentation. The wines were aged 15 months in Taransaud and Bel Air French Chateau barrels, with 31% total new oak and minimal racking. The final wine was blended just before bottling in January 2018.

Tasting Notes
Because 2016 yielded some of the most spectacular Cabernet Franc we have ever seen from Conner Lee, this gorgeous wine includes the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc in more than a decade. As a result, the nose displays alluring layers of red berries, cinnamon, ginger spice, and sweet cream, along with undercurrents of dusty cocoa powder. On the palate, jammy red fruit and floral notes mingle with savory hints of roasted red pepper coulis, all underscored by firm, rich tannins and lovely energy.

Details
Blend: 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc
Region: Columbia Valley
[Information Provided By Matador Vino]

Buty Winery, Columbia Valley (Washington) Merlot, Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard 2016
Price: $45
An energetic blend that’ll make you wonder what all the fuss about Cabernet Sauvignon is for. Clearly built to be a layered wine that works with the interplay of red fruit, fall spice and baker’s chocolate, which drive the nose and palate and finish together with good push and a lingering dusty chocolate cherry vibe. Bravo!
Points: 93
Reviewed By: Rich Cook
Review Date: Apr 23, 2019

2016 Buty Connor [sic] Lee Red
Rating: 93
Price: $45
A blend of 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Connor [sic] Lee Vineyard. It reveals aromas of bright deep floral cassis, dark cherry, hints of plum and cedar. It reveals fine fruit, spicy dark berry and black/red pepper flavors. It has fine tannins, elegant acid; solid density, yet is also fresh. Excellent balance, no heat, no greeness. A hint of vanilla frames fruit well. Pretty classy, elegant. Needs 4-6 years of aging.

2016 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Producer: Buty
Location: USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Color: Red
Price: $45
Rating: 92
Tasting Date: 4/11/2019
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck        
Source: The 2016s From Washington State
The 2016 Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot and Cabernet Franc (59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc) is another classic, old-school, authentic red wine from this team. Terrific notes of red currants, black cherries, forest floor, and leafy herbs all flow to a medium-bodied, seamless Merlot that has beautiful purity, ultra-fine tannins, and a seamless texture. I love its balance, and while it's already drinking great, it's going to evolve for a decade or more.

BUTY Conner Lee Vineyard Columbia Valley 2016
Score: 91
Release Price: $45
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Issue: May 31, 2019
Appealing, offering a refined structure and polished blackberry, coffee bean and dusty herb flavors that take on richness toward well-groomed tannins. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025. — TF

Buty 2016 Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot-Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley (WA))
Rating: 90
Price: $45
Designation: Conner Lee Vineyard
Variety: Merlot-Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Appellation: Columbia Valley (WA), Columbia Valley, Washington, US
Winery: Buty
Alcohol: 14.20%
Bottle Size: 750.00 ml
Category: Red
Date Published: 4/1/2019
Reviewed by: Sean P. Sullivan
Freshly cut bell pepper, flower and orange peel aromas are at the fore, followed by notes of cherry, graphite and dusty spices. Supple, soft, mouthwatering green pepper flavors follow, with orange peel accents on the finish, showing freshness and detail. It's equal parts intrigue and delivery. It will be too green for some tastes, but others will swoon. It has a very long life in front of it, and should outlast most of its peers. Best from 2021–2028.

Buty Winery 2016 Merlot and Cabernet Franc Connor [sic] Lee Vineyard
Rating: 90
Columbia Valley, Washington
Red wine from United States
Drinking window: 2019 - 2026
(includes a higher-than-usual percentage of Cabernet Franc): Bright, dark red. Aromas and flavors of cassis, bitter chocolate, spices and flowers, with an herbal hint of thyme lurking. A lively, fine-grained midweight with good life in the mouth. Winemaker Dowsett noted that Connor [sic] Lee is a very good source of fruit that's not overripe, even in hot years (the team leaves more foliage on the Merlot vines and tends to pick early). Incidentally, Buty also gets most of the old-vines Chardonnay at Connor Lee [sic], buying by the acre and making all the vineyard decisions. 90 2019-2026
Stephen Tanzer. Tasting date: June 2018