Winemaker Notes
Black cherry, dried herb and hints of espresso and mocha on the nose. Very refined on the palate, with generous fine grain tannins and a dense, savory mid palate that leads to a long, pleasing finish.
Pair with butterflied leg of lamb with rosemary, or a rich short rib dish.
Blend: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries and currants with hints of hazelnuts, cloves and cinnamon. Medium- to full-bodied with firm tannins and a chalky earthiness to its texture. Hints of violets and spicy herbs at the end. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark raspberries, lavender, dry straw and cedar frolic on the nose, while black cherry, earthy oregano and brown sugar flavors do the heavy lifting. This is a medium-bodied affair where the wine's soft acidity and creamy texture makes a second glass easy to pour.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Fresh, vibrant and juicy with elegant oak tones that waft from the glass, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is instantly impressive. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is mineral-driven with succulent oak and brown baking spices that offer rich and expressive flavors of plum compote and spiced cherries. The wine continues to unfold and unpack over the delightfully lingering finish. This drinks incredibly well for the price. This delightful wine was aged 20 months in 22% American oak barrels, and it's nicely approachable and punches well above its weight class. Give it a try!
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.
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.