Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the lineup is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is lush, still fresh and primary with vibrant aromas of raspberry liqueur followed by soft elements of forest floor, oak spices and delicate red and purple flowers. Full-bodied, the wine is a testament to the ageability of this bottling with its incredibly long life, presumably from the cold mountainous conditions that allow for a slower maturation and longer shelf life. This wine should remain a bulletproof juggernaut for more than a decade. I have amended the score and drink date to reflect as such.
As Washington’s leading grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon covers more vineyard acreage than any other variety in the state and continues to attract well-deserved notoriety and praise from critics and consumers alike. This popular variety finds a natural home in Washington’s eastern side, where an arid, continental climate and diverse soils of sandy loess and basalt give Cabernet its distinctly intense, Washington character. Concentrated in black currant, black cherry, forest floor and cocoa qualities, Washington’s best Cabernet Sauvignons have a bold richness, seamless texture and great longevity.
Cabernet leads the way in Washington’s Walla Walla, home to some of the state’s oldest wineries. Along the Columbia River Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills remains the source of some of Washington’s highest desired Cabernet Sauvignons. Yakima Valley, on the northern border of Horse Heaven Hills, includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines while the Wahluke Slope has one of the hottest and driest climates where strong summer winds blow, ensuring both smaller leaf size and grape clusters. The result is top quality wines with great concentration, phenolic ripeness and body.