Northstar Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Some currant, hazelnut and blackberry aromas with hints of lavender. Medium-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a subtle finish. Rather serene and delicious, with a little austerity at the end, in a good way. Drink or hold.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Looking at the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, this 100% varietal 2017 comes from the Cold Creek and Klipsun vineyards, and I believe was brought up in French oak. It’s a medium-bodied, charming wine with an elegant, easygoing style as well as outstanding aromatics of red and black fruits, dried herbs, flowers, and a touch of new leather. It will have a solid decade of longevity.
-
Wine Spectator
Svelte and tightly focused, with expressive blackberry, toasty spice and espresso that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2027.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Shifted more into the red fruit category, the 2017 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of black raspberry, dark cherry skin, red plum and redcurrant with subtle notions of dried sage and thyme, with a silky red floral lift. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is delightful and nimble across the palate, showing energetic acidity with baked earth elements and dusty plum in the mouth. Concluding with a long, winding finish, flavors of bitter dark chocolate and juicy currant remain in the mouth with black tea tannins.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of high cacao chocolate, spice, plum and red cherry are followed by silky, polished, elegant fruit flavors. It's undeniable in its appeal.
Other Vintages
2020-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
Northstar, located in Walla Walla, Washington, aims to make Merlots that can be considered among the world's best, using fruit sourced from one of the world's best regions for the variety: Washington state. Winemaker, David "Merf" Merfeld, blends New World fruit with an old world winemaking style, influenced by Bordeaux's "right bank," to create his highly-acclaimed wines. Northstar produces two Merlot-based wines from the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla AVAs, as well as the Stella Maris red blend and extremely limited production bottlings of the blending component varieties that Merf uses as his "spice box" in creating Northstar's Merlots.
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.