On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, we had the opportunity to meet and interview Drew Bledsoe and Josh McDaniels. Drew is the owner of Doubleback and Bledsoe Family wineries. Drew is the co-owner of Bledsoe & McDaniels with Josh. Josh is the winemaker for all three of the wineries. We covered two Bledsoe & McDaniels wines, three Bledsoe Family wines, and, finally, three Doubleback wines. Check out what we learned from and about Drew and Josh.
Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Drew and Josh shared in the interview.
- Drew’s kids are interested in the business.
- The KWG Tasting Panel members are big fans of lacrosse and we were very happy to hear Drew’s daughter Healy is a D3 Women's lacrosse player!
- Doubleback was named for Drew “doubling back” to Walla Walla, WA.
- It is true Drew drank “Labatt Blue” with Ross Tucker in Buffalo. (Apparently pallets were delivered)
- Drew got into wine via blind wine tastings in the kitchen. Drew would slip in a Walla Walla wine and it would win!
- Drew’s goal was to make a wine that would stand up on the world stage. (Check that box!)
- Drew was originally planning to make only one wine. Well that plan certainly has expanded.
- In 2007, the Doubleback winery was started.
- In 2010 they started using their own fruit.
- Chris Figgins was the first Doubleback winemaker. He was also the winemaker at Leonetti Cellar at the time.
- The first Doubleback wine was a success and earned a spot in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List.
- Josh McDaniels was Chris’ protégé. He has worked on every vintage of Doubleback since our second vintage in 2008. He is now the winemaker for all three brands and has ownership in the Bledsoe-McDaniels brand.
- Josh is only 36 years old. He started a winery in high school at only 16 years old.
- Josh and Drew’s goal is to make wines that they like.
- They also started Bledsoe Family so they could make wines that their friends can afford.
- They purchased the Bledsoe-McDaniel “Coulee Vineyard” from Mimi Casteel. Mimi’s family owns Bethel Heights. Mimi met Drew back in his football playing days and even poured a Gatorade for him at a game. He told a funny story about that small world recollection.
- The vineyard has 38 acres planted. There are about 10-12 acres still available to plant.
- “The Mac” wine is named after Drew’s dad.
- 2021 was a great vintage. Very hot and very dry. Canopy management and experience were key variables! They even used sprinklers at times to cool the vineyards.
- 2022 vintage was much cooler.
Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Doubleback, Bledsoe Family, & Bledsoe & McDaniels that we covered with Drew and Josh. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also purchase the Bledsoe Family directly from their website. For the Doubleback and Bledsoe & McDaniels wines, you can sign up for their allocation lists here.
Doubleback Allocation List
Bledsoe & McDaniels Allocation List
- Bledsoe McDaniels 2022 Pinot Noir “Willamette Valley” $80 (KWGTP 93)
- Bledsoe McDaniels 2022 Pinot Noir “Coulee Estate” (Eola-Amity Hills) $125 (KWGTP 93)
- Bledsoe Family Winery 2021 Syrah “Stolen Horse” (Walla Walla) $69 (KWGTP 93.5)
- Bledsoe Family Winery 2021 “The Mac” Red Blend (Walla Walla) $65 (KWGTP 93.5)
- Bledsoe Family Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Walla Walla” $50 (KWGTP 93)
- Doubleback 2022 Merlot “Walla Walla” $98 (KWGTP 95)
- Doubleback 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Walla Walla” $118 (KWGTP 95)
- Doubleback 2021 “Estate Reserve” (Walla Walla) $188 (KWGTP 97.5)
You can find reviews of past and future wines of the Bledsoe portfolio that we cover on their respective KWG winery pages on our website.
Doubleback KWG winery page
Bledsoe Family KWG winery page
Bledsoe-McDaniels KWG winery page
We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! — Ken