Winemaker Notes
Elegant and beautiful, this refined Cabernet Sauvignon captivates with its aromatic clarity, offering deep notes of black currant, thyme, rose petals, and graphite, accented by hints of baking spice, dark chocolate, and a savory earthiness. On the palate, vibrant flavors of black plum, blackberry, and lavender unfold gracefully, supported by polished cocoa powder tannins and a bold, enduring finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A brawny, complete red made entirely from one variety, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is sourced from a wealth of great sites, including Pepper Bridge, Summit View, and Yellow Jacket, in addition to estate sites Seven Hills and Ferguson. Nearly two years in French oak barrels round out the substantial tannins, impressive in their elegant, full-bodied power, the rich layers evoking notes of clove, dark chocolate, and blackcurrant. This should gracefully age a good 10-15 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Blackberries and bittersweet dark chocolate is a winning aroma combination for this brawny, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. With a bit of air time, aromas of grape hyacinth and pine bark join the party. Powerful, chewy tannins frame the wine's black cherry pastille, anise and black tea flavors. If you open this bottle any time soon, prepare to decant. It should age gracefully for another 12-13 years.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
This complex red has aromas of cocoa powder, walnuts, blackberries and dried herbs. It’s full-bodied yet elegant, with refined tannins and a long, sleek and flavorful finish. Try from 2026.
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Decanter
There's a real sweetness to the aromatics from the iconic Rocks District site, Yellowjacket Vineyard, planted in the cobblestones of this ancient river bed in 2000—notes of sweet tobacco, black plums and a touch of salty brine. The palate is ripe black plums, a noite of hoisin sauce and sweet earth.
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Vinous
Shavings of dark chocolate mix with lavender pastille and dried black cherries as the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley blossoms in the glass. It is silken in feel and beautifully balanced, displaying both weight and energy as polished red and black fruits slowly saturate. Fine-grained tannins wrap the senses in youthful poise as the 2022 finishes long and slightly chewy, leaving a tinge of licorice to fade. While enjoyable already, losing a few bottles in the cellar is highly recommended. Rating: 92+
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Responsible for some of Washington’s most highly acclaimed wines, the Walla Walla Valley has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years and is home to both historic wineries and younger, up-and-coming producers.
The Walla Walla Valley, a Native American name meaning “many waters,” is located in southeastern Washington; part of the appellation actually extends into Oregon. Soils here are well-drained, sandy loess over Missoula Flood deposits and fractured basalt.
It is a region perfectly suited to Rhône-inspired Syrahs, distinguished by savory notes of red berry, black olive, smoke and fresh earth. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot create a range of styles from smooth and supple to robust and well-structured. White varieties are rare but some producers blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon, resulting in a rich and round style, and plantings of Viognier, while minimal, are often quite successful.
Of note within Walla Walla, is one new and very peculiar appellation, called the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. This is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries are totally defined by the soil type. Soils here look a bit like those in the acclaimed Rhône region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are large, ancient, basalt cobblestones. These stones work in the same way as they do in Chateauneuf, absorbing and then radiating the sun's heat up to enhance the ripening of grape clusters. The Rocks District is within the part of Walla Walla that spills over into Oregon and naturally excels in the production of Rhône varieties like Syrah, as well as the Bordeaux varieties.