Pursued by Bear has been produced by Hollywood actor Kyle MacLachlan since 2005.
The winery's name comes from the most famous stage direction in history, "Pursued by Bear," from Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," which theater fans will have heard of.
This is not your average celebrity wine, but a highly-scoring, mass-produced masterpiece made by Kyle MacLachlan from Yakima, Washington, a renowned wine-producing region.
From an outstanding vintage characterized by a long, relaxed ripening period, the 2018 Baby Bear Syrah is a handsome, intensely colored wine with aromas and flavors of wild blackberry, fresh blueberry, and dark spice.
Olive tapenade, smoked charcuterie and freshly ground black pepper complement a textured palate with silky tannins and bright acidity.
The finish is long and elegant.
The hand-harvested grapes were de-stemmed and passed through an optical sorter, with only the best fruit being transferred to stainless steel tanks for primary fermentation.
The wine is then transferred to new Taransaud puncheons (600L) for slow ageing, allowing the fruit and oak to perfectly blend and further enhance the wine's sophisticated, complex flavors and rich mouthfeel.
The owner, Kyle MacLachlan, is a Washington-born actor who gained widespread popularity for his role as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper in the 1990 TV series "Twin Peaks," based on the novel by David Lynch.
With a strong passion for wine, McLachlan began making wine in 2005 as another passion of his to pursue alongside his acting career.
A native of Yakima in Washington State's Columbia Valley wine-growing heartland, McLachlan produces three highly acclaimed Columbia Valley wines: Persuaded by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon, Baby Bear Syrah and Blushing Bear Rosé.
An overwhelming love for his hometown and a desire to stay connected to his family roots has translated into a passion and enthusiasm for artisanal winemaking.
McLachlan has quickly become an advocate and evangelist for the unique characteristics and flavor profiles of WA wines, and is involved in all aspects of Persuaded by Bear's wines.
McLachlan sees a strong connection between acting and winemaking in that they both balance process, patience and creativity.
He named his wine Pursued by Bear in homage to one of the most famous stage directions in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, Act III, Scene III: "exit, pursued by bear."
The stage directions are amusing and unexpected, not only reflecting his stage background, but also providing a subtle glimpse of his sense of humor.
"That phrase seemed like a perfect fit for what I was trying to do," he said.