Winemaker Notes
Stunningly expansive and expressive nose of bright cherries, plums, herbs and baking spices. The palate echoes the nose, complemented by a rich, silky mouth-feel. Most wondrous is the intensity with which the multiple facets of Camerata are presented and integrated; acid, fruit and tannins are in absolute synchrony, dazzling in their energy. A truly exceptional Camerata.
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon clone 191, the 2018 Camerata displays a firm and juicy nose with an undercurrent of mineral tension and floral essences that waft from the glass with juicy blackberry and plum aromas. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is delineated, balanced and precise, showing a well-made Cabernet with elegant mineral tension and well-defined tannins that sway across the mid-palate. The wine concludes with a soft element of pencil shavings, dried savory herbs and dusty roses on the delightfully lingering finish. It's a delicious wine that will indeed be food-friendly for more than a decade.
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Wine & Spirits
The 2018 Camerata returned to form, blending 73 percent cabernet with merlot (18 percent) and cabernet franc (9 percent). As with the 2017, the cabernet brings formidable depth to the wine, with dark purple berry flavors providing an exceptional, roiling core. But the merlot and cabernet franc play a leavening role, lining the black fruits with bright red ones, providing tension and complexity. It’s intense yet detailed, aided by a dusty, cedary savor and suave tannins.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cabernet Sauvignon comprises 73% of this wine, with the rest Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). The aromas offer notes of fresh cherries, raspberries, red currants, orange rind and herbs. The palate brings a lot of freshness and structure. Most Cadence wines required patience. This one is considerably more giving out of the gate but still has the structure for the long haul.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
A coveted source of top quality red grapes among premier Washington producers, the Red Mountain AVA is actually the smallest appellation in the state. As its name might suggest, it is actually neither a mountain nor is it composed of red earth. Instead the appellation is an anticline of the Yakima fold belt, a series of geologic folds that define a number of viticultural regions in the surrounding area. It is on the eastern edge of Yakima Valley with slopes facing southwest towards the Yakima River, ideal for the ripening of grapes. The area’s springtime proliferation of cheatgrass, which has a reddish color, actually gives the area the name, "Red" Mountain.
Red Mountain produces some of the most mineral-driven, tannic and age-worthy red wines of Washington and there are a few reasons for this. It is just about the hottest appellation with normal growing season temperatures commonly reaching above 90F. The soil is particularly poor in nutrients and has a high pH, which results in significantly smaller berry sizes compared to varietal norms. The low juice to skin ratio in smaller berries combined with the strong, dry summer winds, leads to higher tannin levels in Red Mountain grapes.
The most common red grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, among others. Limited white varieties are grown, namely Sauvignon blanc.
The reds of the area tend to express dark black and blue fruit, deep concentration, complex textures, high levels of tannins and as previously noted, have good aging capabilities.